The 1980s film, The Blues Brothers, follows Jake and Elwood Blues on ‘a mission from god’ to reunite their band for a performance and raise money to save their childhood orphanage. The duo’s aura of sublime simplicity is complemented by a monochromatic wardrobe, consisting of black suits, ties, fedora hats, and Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses. Even after dark, the Ray-Bans took what could be a plain, G-man appearance to the epitome of cool.
For motorcycle riders, sunglasses aren’t just an expression of style. They can be essential for protecting your eyes from wind and debris, not to mention reducing glare and increasing visibility in challenging light situations. And yeah, they can also make you look cool, but not every pair of shades will make the cut on the open road. Designed for life behind bars, here are five pairs of sunglasses designed with motorcycle riders in mind.
Biltwell RAMBLR The Biltwell RAMBLR Sunglasses are a natural extension of the brand’s no-nonsense approach to motorcycle gear, designed by riders who rack up the miles. Since 2006, Biltwell has built a reputation for crafting gear that blends performance, quality, and undeniable style, and the RAMBLR shades carry that legacy forward. Inspired by long rides and legendary events like the El Diablo Run and Kernville Campout, these sunglasses are built to handle the road while keeping your eyes protected and your look sharp.
Constructed with durable polycarbonate frames featuring a sleek satin finish and gloss black accents, the RAMBLRs deliver both resilience and visual appeal. Riders can choose from impact-resistant grey smoke or red mirror lenses, both of which are treated with anti-scratch, anti-glare, and UV-blocking coatings. The stainless-steel hinges add long-term durability, and each pair meets European CE standards for eye protection.
The sunglasses come packaged in a crush-resistant molded clamshell case with a soft interior, plus a drawstring cleaning sack—practical additions for life on the road. [Biltwell]
Ray-Ban Meta The Ray-Ban Wayfarer with Meta technology blends timeless style with cutting-edge smart features, making it a compelling option for motorcycle riders who value both form and function. Worn by cultural icons like Bob Dylan, Robert Redford, and Andy Warhol, the Wayfarer silhouette has defined cool for decades. Now, with Meta’s integrated tech, these iconic frames offer modern functionality like hands-free video capture, open-ear audio, and voice-activated communication, all without compromising their classic look.
For riders, the built-in 12 MP ultra-wide camera and five-mic array provide practical benefits beyond style. Whether capturing footage for fun or documenting road incidents, the ability to record HD video hands-free adds an extra layer of safety and accountability. With 32GB of onboard storage, crystal-clear audio playback, and up to 4 hours of use per charge (36 with the case), these glasses are perfect for long rides. They’re prescription-ready, available in a variety of frame and lens colors, and come in two sizes for the perfect fit, proving that smart eyewear can be sleek, stylish, and road-ready. [Ray-Ban]
Vallon Moto Aviators The VALLON Moto Aviator Sunglasses are a bold, modern reinterpretation of classic 1970s aviators—purpose-built for today’s motorcycle rider. With their distinctive styling and performance-focused design, they offer both a unique look and serious functionality. Riders can choose G-15 green-tinted polarized lenses for daytime glare reduction and color contrast, or NR-76 yellow NightRider lenses with a purple anti-reflective coating for night riding, brightening and reducing glare.
Built for the road, the Moto Aviators feature shatterproof polycarbonate lenses, an ANSI Z87.1 safety rating, and a lightweight TR90 Grilamid frame available in either black or desert tan. At just 23 grams, they’re as light as they are tough, with durable OBE five-barrel hinges ensuring a secure fit.
Each pair includes a faux-leather hard case and a microfiber cloth, and with every purchase, VALLON pledges to fund 1 kg of plastic waste cleanup and recycling worldwide, making these sunglasses as eco-conscious as they are road-ready. Whether cruising under the sun or riding into the night, the Moto Aviators are built to perform with style. [VALLON]
Heat Wave Visual Quatro The Heat Wave Visual Quatro sunglasses are standout options for motorcycle riders looking for bold style, serious protection, and real-world functionality. Heat Wave Visual, founded by Justin Hertel and Doug Karlson, evolved from Party Shades Co. into a prominent brand in the motorcycle, car, and custom truck scenes.
Designed with riders in mind, the Quatro lineup offers a sleek, aggressive look with practical features like interchangeable lenses, custom color combos, and the all-new Quick-Latch side-shield system that meets ANSI Z87+ safety standards for lateral debris protection. Whether you choose the standard Quatro (142 mm wide) or the larger Quatro XL (164 mm wide), both feature a 52 mm lens height and are available with UV400 lenses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays.
Riders can opt for non-polarized, polarized, or photochromic lenses, all of which utilize top-tier glare-reducing filters for crystal-clear vision. Comfort and grip are enhanced with rubberized Hytrel inserts on the arms and now at the nose bridge, ensuring the glasses stay in place even at speed. Backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee and no-hassle warranty, these sunglasses are made to be worn hard and customized to your style. [Heat Wave Visual]
Flying Eyes Optics Cooper Aviator Designed and engineered by pilots, the Cooper Aviator Sunglasses by Flying Eyes address the specific difficulties of wearing sunglasses with snug aviation headsets and helmets. As headset ear cups became tighter to improve noise reduction, traditional rigid sunglasses caused painful pressure points and allowed noise leaks.
Flying Eyes solves this with ultra-thin, flexible temples made from patented Resilamide, a material designed to flex and conform to your head without wrapping around your ears. This innovation eliminates pressure, maintains a proper headset seal, and makes them easy to put on or remove, even while wearing a helmet.
Blending classic aviator style with modern performance, the Cooper Aviator Standard is Flying Eyes’ widest frame and is available in two sizes to accommodate both regular and narrow faces. With shatterproof polycarbonate lenses that block 100% UVA/B rays (polarized options available), 14 lens colors, and a smooth, balanced nose pad for a secure fit, these sunglasses are built for comfort, durability, and clarity. They’re also prescription-compatible, making them an ideal solution for pilots, motorcyclists, and anyone needing uncompromised eyewear under pressure. [Flying Eyes Optics]
From the timeless cool of the Blues Brothers to the practical needs of modern-day riders, sunglasses have always been more than just a fashion statement—they’re a fusion of form, function, and identity. They protect your eyes, enhance your vision, and let you channel your inner road warrior with confidence. Choose wisely—because, on a motorcycle, your shades aren’t just part of the look—they’re part of the ride.
This article contains affiliate links, which means Bike EXIF may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something we referenced.
