Total Motorcycle Community Forums

As Mintbread says. Just assume cagers can't see you, even when they are looking straight at you, cos that is pretty much the case. Getting all lit up like a christmas tree is supposed to help but I've never seen much evidence of that. If you like black gear but are concerned about being seen, what about buying some black leathers for the daytime and some more colourful/reflective lightweight gear to wear over it at night and in low visibility. That's mostly what I do.

The secret of a happy life is rational compromise.

I'd just get what colors you like. No point in getting gear that you don't think looks good because than you will not want to wear it. If you want the peace of mind, get some reflective tape anf put on various spots of your bike and helmet.

lunchmeat wrote:I was wondering about this, as I'm new and have yet to buy riding gear.


I suppose my main question would be: What is the most visible color in the spectrum, and how much of it should I use?

Flourescent orange is most visible to normal sighted people - may not apply to the color blind...why many emergency vehicles are painted flourescent lime green. I saw a review of a textile jacket/coat in bright lime green last spring in Cycle magazine iirc. Looked good in the photo.

I'd like to have a leather jacket in flourescent color but settled for white, with white helmet. Although obviously brighter than black or brown, I'm now sure this 'color scheme' pretty much just blends into the urban/suburban background. I'd seriously considering painting them flourescent orange if the Krylon would stick

I've often worn a flourescent orange bicycling jacket - even other motorcyclists do a double take - definitely car drivers notice sooner and don't pull out from side streets or lane change towards me as happens when I'm in my leathers.

I'd suggest brightest colors as much as you can get/tolerate.

Or you can do what I did when I first bought my bike... Black and White cruiser, with a windshield and saddlebags. Throw in a blue jean jacket (cops around here wear their blues while riding). And to top it all off, a white helmet... Believe it or not, I actually inadvertently pulled a lady over, and I had several bike cops give me a double-take, I guess wondering what one of their own was doing out of his zone!
Wrider

Hot pink is the best color for riding gear.

I ride in Los Angeles and always wear my trusty reflective harness.
Loud clothes save lives.

Flipper

Mintbread wrote:Personally, I wouldn't even bother.

I wear black from top to botttom and have come to the realisation that it does not make a lick of difference what colour you wear.

+1
I heard one theory that all black was better. The eye saw the larger mass of black better than a wild, bright color pattern. The colors acted as a camouflage within the city and the eye was slower to notice.
I usually go in black topped with a white half shell.
They all think I am a cop for a half second
The main thing is to realize that none of them can see you and act accordingly.

I once had a bright yellow car that I loved. The first days I drove my tan car after trading in the yellow one, I noticed people pulling out in front of me like crazy, which had not been an issue with my yellow car.

For those old enough to remember, tennis balls used to be white. Then, after research, they started manufacturing bright yellow ones-- because they were more visible. The yellow was then modified to a cross between flourescent green and yellow, and has remained that since.

Two anecdotal stories, but there might be a reason...

The first thing I did when I bought my first bike two months was tp get it the tank and fenders painted bright yellow. I don't need any convincing.

MSF also sells bright orange vests with reflective tape on them for about $18. If orange is good enough for hunters, it's also good enough for me.

Yeah, I would think orange would make sense since construction workers use it and it's used exclusively on all construction materials (cones, barrels, signs, etc). Visibility is a high priority for that field. If they use it I'd assume there is some serious research behind it.

catwoman wrote:I once had a bright yellow car that I loved. The first days I drove my tan car after trading in the yellow one, I noticed people pulling out in front of me like crazy, which had not been an issue with my yellow car.

For those old enough to remember, tennis balls used to be white. Then, after research, they started manufacturing bright yellow ones-- because they were more visible. The yellow was then modified to a cross between flourescent green and yellow, and has remained that since.

Two anecdotal stories, but there might be a reason...

The first thing I did when I bought my first bike two months was tp get it the tank and fenders painted bright yellow. I don't need any convincing.

MSF also sells bright orange vests with reflective tape on them for about $18. If orange is good enough for hunters, it's also good enough for me.

At one point I was driving a very beat up grungy old Ford Taurus station wagon. I did not have a problem with people pulling in front of me. When I changed lanes, people would move out of my way. They looked at that car and assumed I would crash into them.

When I got a new small SUV, I was startled at how people would assume that I wouldn't want to dent my nice shiny SUV and they pulled in front of me, would block me from merging/changing lanes, etc. There was definitely an advantage to that beat up old car.

Now that I ride a bike, I assume that no one will yield.

Sorry to hijack your thread.