How to Install a Pinlock Insert

A Pinlock insertis the best fix for a fogging visor, and fitting one is genuinely a two-minute job with no tools — but the first time, it looks alarming, because you have to flex the main visor to get the insert in. Done right, it seats with a reassuring snap and seals fog out for good. Here's the process, and the two mistakes that make people wrongly conclude Pinlocks don't work.

Before you start: confirm the fit

Two things must be true. Your visor must be Pinlock-ready — look for two small pins, one at each side of the inside of the shield. And your insert must be the correct one for your exact shield; inserts are shield-specific, so an insert cut for a different helmet won't line up with the pins. If you're unsure which you need, our inserts and shields roundup explains matching the insert to your model.

Step 1 — Remove the visor

Take the main shield off the helmet — every quick-release system differs, so check your helmet's manual, but most release with a lever or button at the pivot. Working with the visor off the helmet gives you the room and the control to flex it safely. Lay it inner-side up on a clean, soft surface.

Step 2 — Set the pins to the "open" position

The two pins are usually eccentric(off-centre), which is how you later tension the seal. Before fitting, make sure they're turned to the position that gives the loosest fit — this makes the insert easier to seat. You'll tighten the seal afterwards by rotating them.

Step 3 — Seat the insert

Hook one side of the Pinlock insert over its pin, silicone-bead side facing the visor. Then, gently flex the main visor— bow it slightly by pressing the top and bottom edges toward each other — and slip the other side of the insert onto the second pin. Release the flex slowly and the insert settles into place. This is the step that looks scary; the polycarbonate visor flexes far more than you'd think, and you won't break it with a gentle bow.

Step 4 — Tension the seal with the eccentric pins

Now rotate the eccentric pins (a coin or the edge of a plastic tool works) to draw the insert tight against the visor, until the silicone bead makes a continuous, even seal all the way around with no gaps. This is what creates the sealed air gap that stops fog — a loose seal is the number one reason a Pinlock "doesn't work."

Step 5 — Peel the protective film

New inserts ship with a thin protective film on the inner surface. Peel it off. This is the second classic mistake — riders leave the film on, see it fog or haze, and blame the insert. Remove it, refit the visor to the helmet, and you're done.

How to tell if your helmet is Pinlock-ready

Before you buy anything, confirm your shield can take an insert. Take the visor off and look at the inside face near each lower corner: a Pinlock-readyshield has two small pins (sometimes recessed) that the insert clips onto. If you see the pins, you just need the matching insert. If there are no pins, your shield can't take a Pinlock as-is — you'll need to replace it with the Pinlock-ready version for your model first, which is also the moment to fix a scratched visor (see our shields and inserts roundup for the RF-1400 and RPHA 91 shields).

It's also worth checking the insert sizeprinted on the packaging — Pinlock makes several (30, 70, 120), and the number relates to the width of the distortion-free zone, with 120 being the widest "Max Vision" size. The right insert for your shield is the one cut for that exact shield; the size tells you how much of your field of view it covers. Buy the correct one for your helmet and it'll line up with the pins perfectly.

Care and the two mistakes to avoid

The Pinlock's inner lens is soft and moisture-absorbing, so clean it only with a damp microfibre cloth and never with solvents or paper towel. The two mistakes to avoid, again: not tensioning the eccentric pins enough (leaving a gap that lets fog in), and forgetting to peel the protective film. Get both right and you'll wonder how you rode without it. If your underlying visor is scratched, fit a fresh Pinlock-ready shield first — see when to replace your visor.