Lititz BMX Inventory List

Artifact ID: 26.0002

Artifact Name: BMX Action Visor

Category: Gear

Date: 80's

Source: Online
Collection: Lititz BMX Archive

Location: Lititz, Pennsylvania

Home <<< | Next Artifact >>>

Historical Context

Lititz BMX post about a BMX Action Magazine Visor from the early 1980's

The BMX visor has a pretty interesting evolution tied closely to motocross, early BMX racing culture, and style trends. Here’s a clear timeline of how it developed.

1. Motocross Origins (Late 1960s–1970s)

BMX inherited much of its early equipment from motocross.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, motocross riders began using helmet visors (also called peaks) to:
- Block sun glare ☀️
- Deflect roost (dirt thrown by bikes ahead)
- Protect the face in crashes
Early motocross helmets like the Bell Moto‑Star Helmet and Bell Moto‑3 Helmet included molded or bolt-on visors.

As BMX racing emerged in Southern California in the early 1970s, kids simply copied motocross gear, including visored helmets.

2. Early BMX Adoption (Mid–Late 1970s)

By the mid-1970s, BMX riders were wearing full motocross helmets with visors.

Iconic riders like:

Stu Thomsen
Bob Haro

were frequently photographed wearing visored helmets.

Magazines like Bicycle Motocross Action Magazine and BMX Plus! helped cement the look.

The visor became part of the BMX racing identity, not just safety gear.

3. Detachable Visors & BMX-Specific Helmets (Late 1970s–1980s)

As BMX exploded, companies began making helmets specifically for BMX instead of motocross.

Common features:

Plastic bolt-on visors
Lighter shells
More ventilation

Popular examples included helmets from:

Bell Helmets
JT Racing
Moto 3

Visors also became customizable, often cut shorter by riders or replaced after crashes.

4. Style & Sponsorship Era (1980s)

In the 1980s, the visor became more than functional—it became a style statement.

Riders often:

Tilted visors up or down for style
Added sponsor stickers
Matched them to jerseys or pants

Brands like:

JT Racing USA
Answer Racing
Troy Lee Designs

began offering replacement and custom visors.

Custom-painted visors from Troy Lee became legendary in BMX and motocross.

5. Freestyle BMX & Visor Variations (Mid-1980s–1990s)

When freestyle BMX grew, helmet styles changed.

Flatland and street riders sometimes used:

Skate helmets (no visor)

But in BMX racing, the visor stayed standard.

Riders still preferred full-face helmets with adjustable peaks for:

Sun protection
Roost
Crash deflection

6. Modern BMX Visors (2000s–Today)

Modern BMX race helmets still include visors, but they are:

Shorter
More aerodynamic
Often flexible to prevent breakage

Major brands today include:

Fly Racing
Fox Racing
Troy Lee Designs

The function remains largely the same as in the 1970s.

7. Interesting BMX Visor Trivia

Early BMX kids sometimes cut down motorcycle visors to make them lighter.
Some riders ran without visors to reduce weight or improve visibility.
In vintage BMX restoration, finding the correct visor for helmets like the Bell Moto‑3 Helmet can be one of the hardest parts.