As a bike rider, making use of sunglasses for eye protection is obligatory considering the fact that we have all sorts of things that could get in contact with the eye and will be a great nuisance. Some riders usually tend to say that since they use the shield of a helmet, protecting the eyes with sunglasses is not necessary but I feel that it is an absolute necessity.

Generally, there are two main reasons why as a biker, you will have to put on sunglasses; Protection from UV light and impact. Apart from choosing your sunglasses based most probably on convenience, comfort and personal preference, it is highly recommended on a technical basis that the lenses of the glasses should have  ANSI Z87.1 and UV400 ratings and the frames should be made of polycarbonate. As such, you are sure your glasses also meet the specifications for bikers’ glasses.

On Slipper Clutch .

So, the polycarbonate is a polymer that has been engineered in such a manner as to resist heat, shock, impact and scratch. Every UV400 rated lenses help prevent the surface it covers from both UVA and UVB lights that are quite harmful especially to the human eye. On the other hand, the ANSI Z87.1 impact rating is what serves as standard in the U.S for safety glasses.

As of what concerns the style, it is all up to you but your primary riding type matters too. The ridding glasses used by a casual suburban rider are going to be totally different from a rider who is fan of dirt bikes.

Vintage Biker Goggles

Torn between Casual and Branded Biker Sunglasses ?

More often than not, there is that tendency for bikers to go after the sunglasses that are produced by the same brand as their motorcycle. Some will do this because they somehow pledged their loyalty to the brand and others do it for the sake of it. Either way, such a concept will not always be possible to achieve as not every brand produces sunglasses. Also, putting on the brand’s sunglasses is no guarantee that they are the type that you need for your riding style. For instance

As a bike rider, making use of sunglasses for eye protection is obligatory considering the fact that we have all sorts of things that could get in contact with the eye and will be a great nuisance. Some riders usually tend to say that since they use the shield of a helmet, protecting the eyes with sunglasses is not necessary but I feel that it is an absolute necessity.

Generally, there are two main reasons why as a biker, you will have to put on sunglasses; Protection from UV light and impact. Apart from choosing your sunglasses based most probably on convenience, comfort and personal preference, it is highly recommended on a technical basis that the lenses of the glasses should have  ANSI Z87.1 and UV400 ratings and the frames should be made of polycarbonate. As such, you are sure your glasses also meet the specifications for bikers’ glasses.

Brembo Recall.

So, the polycarbonate is a polymer that has been engineered in such a manner as to resist heat, shock, impact and scratch. Every UV400 rated lenses help prevent the surface it covers from both UVA and UVB lights that are quite harmful especially to the human eye. On the other hand, the ANSI Z87.1 impact rating is what serves as standard in the U.S for safety glasses.

As of what concerns the style, it is all up to you but your primary riding type matters too. The ridding glasses used by a casual suburban rider are going to be totally different from a rider who is fan of dirt bikes.

Torn between Casual and Branded Biker Sunglasses ?

More often than not, there is that tendency for bikers to go after the sunglasses that are produced by the same brand as their motorcycle. Some will do this because they somehow pledged their loyalty to the brand and others do it for the sake of it. Either way, such a concept will not always be possible to achieve as not every brand produces sunglasses. Also, putting on the brand’s sunglasses is no guarantee that they are the type that you need for your riding style. For instance, brands such as Moto Guzzi and BMW rather sell through dealers. As for Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Triumph, and KTM, they sell sunglasses on their websites.

So, In a nutshell, the manufacturer-branded sunglasses are somewhat a mix of everything.

Below we have done our best to describe the glasses that suit every riding type;

• Long Trips and Touring : If you are the type who spends a lot of time on the road, there is a high chance that for your own security, you already putting on a full-face helmet but what happens when the wind and dust sneakily find their way through the helmet? That is where sunglasses with foam eye-cups become even more useful. For those who would like to economize a couple of bucks in the long run, it is advisable to go for glasses with replaceable foams.
• Performance riders and cruising : No matter what your performance riding entails, be it competitive racing or the likes of it, you will need glasses that remain on the right position on your head the whole time so you are not distracted. Also, there is no way as a performance rider would you appreciate any obstruction so do not go for small lenses nor heavy frames. If you don’t put on shields, make sure your glasses are strong enough.
• Riding Off-Road : You can’t call yourself a dirt rider and not encountered either of these; dirt, dust, mud, plant life, water. These are part of the dirt rider’s routine. With off-road riding, there a lot of being splashed about but you won’t want any of that to reach your eyes. Depending on the weather, you may want to go for glasses with anti-log treatment. Also, the ventilation aspect is glasses is essential too. You will not want to have heat buildup within the glasses with no way of evacuating it.
• Casual Riders : If you are the type who takes out your bike maybe once or twice a month, then you may just want to go for the basics; poly-carbonate frames with UV blocking and impact resistance certification.

BMW and Moto Guzzi each sell two styles of sunglasses, but only through dealers. Ducati, Yamaha, Indian, and Harley-Davidson all sell sunglasses on their websites and at dealerships.

So, In a nutshell, the manufacturer-branded sunglasses are somewhat a mix of everything.

Below we have done our best to describe the glasses that suit every riding type;

• Long Trips and Touring : If you are the type who spends a lot of time on the road, there is a high chance that for your own security, you already putting on a full-face helmet but what happens when the wind and dust sneakily find their way through the helmet? That is where sunglasses with foam eye-cups become even more useful. For those who would like to economize a couple of bucks in the long run, it is advisable to go for glasses with replaceable foams.
• Performance riders and cruising : No matter what your performance riding entails, be it competitive racing or the likes of it, you will need glasses that remain on the right position on your head the whole time so you are not distracted. Also, there is no way as a performance rider would you appreciate any obstruction so do not go for small lenses nor heavy frames. If you don’t put on shields, make sure your glasses are strong enough.
• Riding Off-Road : You can’t call yourself a dirt rider and not encountered either of these; dirt, dust, mud, plant life, water. These are part of the dirt rider’s routine. With off-road riding, there a lot of being splashed about but you won’t want any of that to reach your eyes. Depending on the weather, you may want to go for glasses with anti-log treatment. Also, the ventilation aspect is glasses is essential too. You will not want to have heat buildup within the glasses with no way of evacuating it.
• Casual Riders : If you are the type who takes out your bike maybe once or twice a month, then you may just want to go for the basics; poly-carbonate frames with UV blocking and impact resistance certification.

Read: Ducati Panigale 4s Vs.BMW HP4 Race and Top 10 Global Motorcycle Events

Pic Source – Aliexpress, Redbike
Video Credits – Roxceen Store