Hi Viz . . . yay or nay?

[Grey Thumper]

I get the impression ATGATT is pretty much a foregone conclusion for most riders on this site (or at the very least, All The Gear Most Of The Time, or Most Of The Gear All The Time).

What about Hi Viz though? Seems much more debatable and a matter of personal preference.

[BRUMBEAR]

My jackets both have small reflective strips but high vis couldn't hurt

[a_hippie]

It ain't a bad idea at all. I have a suit with several bright white/reflective stripes. If I were buying a new suit, I'd probably add more bright color to be easier to see. I run headlights ALL THE TIME. Headlights will save your bacon ..

I mostly am ATGATT, but I'll run lighter in some places. The helmet all the time. Pavement always wins . .
\
Good luck!

Regards,
j

[jstark47]

I bought a new Rev'it jacket last year. I bought it for features and fit and price. It's just a fringe benefit that it came in screaming electric phosphorescent insect-guts greenish-yellow. It's the most hi-viz bit of gear I've ever owned. But does it really help?

I have auxiliary lights mounted on the fork tubes of one of my bikes. I think they help. Having situational awareness about other vehicles and using smart lane positioning for maximum visibility helps. The occasional SMIDSY weave when appropriate helps. All these things work together incrementally to manage risk.

I'm sure the hi-viz jacket adds its contribution towards risk management. I don't think it does much by itself, but it adds something as part of the total package. But I wouldn't buy a jacket that fit poorly or didn't have the right features merely because it was hi-viz.

[faded sun]

In Canada the headlights are on all the time by law, long before it became ordinary for cars to run with them on. The bright gear might give you an added degree of visibility (especially at night) but I still get people acting like I'm not there. There is no substitute for predicting the worst and staying awake.

If you are going to ride aggressively then you have to expect that drivers (cagers) are not going to react as quickly as you want them to. Most of them don't see you because you are moving faster than the rest of the traffic flow and it throws their prediction off.

My gear always has reflective tape. I know from being a driver and bicycle rider that you are invisible in the dark without it on a bicycle. At least your motorcycle has a bunch of lights to help.

[Grey Thumper]

Well, this is me, so I'm obviously a believer.



But like jstark and faded sun said, being situationally aware (and trying to predict how things will go) are way more important. Hi Viz only helps with the cagers who are actually paying attention. But what the hey, it's completely passive, cheap (a Hi Viz vest barely costs anything, and a white helmet is usually the cheapest color), and reflects heat more than black stuff.

[Jarlaxle]

Yes! I wear a hi-vis jacket, hi-vis helmet; my riding pants are gray (couldn't find hi-vis), but they do have reflective piping. Visibility is GOOD.

[Hanson]

A thousand words.

Safe Travels,
Richard

[Thumper]

Yep.



(the pants are cool weather only...but yeah, I rock the hi-viz gear. Helmet & jacket always; if I could find hi-viz mesh pants I'd wear that when it's warm instead of the kevlar jeans I usually wear.)

[blues2cruise]

I also wear high viz. Aside from being seen a bit better...I like the bright colours.