Total Motorcycle Community Forums

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

Now, in all honesty, I'd love to be decked out in a black leather jacket with a black helmet, y'know, for style and whatnot, but in reality I know that'd be a very bad idea even if I had some experience under my belt. So I've decided to go the opposite route.

I have read that a white helmet increases visibility by 27%, or some statistic (I'll have to look it up again), and I'm sure the same thing goes for a jacket, but I was thinking I'd go for a bright yellow helmet and a black and yellow jacket (even if it doesn't go with anything; I'll probably look like an underweight bumblebee), and maybe I'd even consider a stripe of reflective yellow tape on the back of my boots.

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

yellow, Orange or white will increase visibility, you may not think you look as cool but people will see you. You could allways buy some reflective tape or a reflective mesh top ( like the kind construction workers wear) and wear that at night or poor driving conditions

You can also buy black tape that'll reflect white in the dark. Line the lower edge of your helmet, put a strip across the back of the bike. Some on your boot heels, where ever you think you can get away with it.

Might even be possible to get a design cut out of it Big skull or something on the back of your helmet.

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. I have been hit as many times wearing all black as I have wearing a white helmet and flourescent yellow jacket and pants.

You might as well just wear what you want, not what you think others might see.

visibility at night is probably the biggest concern... at night, lighting up makes more of a difference than color... i would consider making the bike more visible through the use of lights and making you more visible through the use of retro-reflective material... there are plenty of options - from vests you can wear over your jacket to tape you can apply to just about anything...

I have a few small strips of Scotchlite tape on my helmet, my tail bag, and my saddlebags. They're virtually unnoticeable during the day, but really stand out at night.

I might try to find some of that black reflective tape and put a couple of strips on my leather jacket. My fabric mesh jacket has some reflective stitching and piping on it.

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. I have been hit as many times wearing all black as I have wearing a white helmet and flourescent yellow jacket and pants.

You might as well just wear what you want, not what you think others might see.

What Minty says.

Assume others cannot see you and ride accordingly. Maybe some brighter colors may help but I've no doubt these brightly dressed riders have close calls too. Be bright and use reflective tape if you like but YOU will have to be the aware and defensive rider at all times.

Oh, indeed, riding safely is always the best way to avoid any bad circumstances, but as a beginner I'm not sure if I should go out in style, or sacrifice the looks and go with visibility. While it's true that you have to ride like you're invisible, I'm sure every little bit will help.

I will try the reflective tape idea, as i wouldn't like to be wearing a flourescent jacket whenever it was cold. (My motorcycle jacket will become my main jacket.)

At any rate, though, are there any general suggestions for complete beginners? I'm sure it'd help someone out.

Don't worry about what other people like or don't like, wear or don't wear. It's what you like that counts. Find riding gear you like, and buy it. It's your statement and it's got to please you. If you want visibility add light and or reflective tape to your bike.

If you get yourself a nice flaming pink set of full leathers, you can pretty much guarantee that a lot more people will be looking at you.

Seriously, the reflective tape idea is not bad. I've seen some bikers wearing it at night and it tended to make them more visible at a further distance (particularly when worn on the helmet). I'm thinking of getting some myself.