Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I know the US Military makes every motorcycle rider wear one - Is that just on base or is that everywhere? Do you Military guys feel safer with it on?

i was under the impression, at least in Hawaii, that it's required to wear if the rider is in uniform. Which usually means they're going to work on base or somewhere.

My ex's father is stationed in Hawaii and he's explained it to me before, I can't exactly remember though. So someone should be able to clarify

Active duty military are supposed to wear a reflective vest any time they're in uniform, and it's *strongly* suggested to wear it in civvies. Wreck without it, or other gear, and you can really screw your career and benefits over. They don't take kindly to the destruction of government property...

I wear a hi-viz jacket most of the time anyway (we're retired USAF; I was the tagalong, the Spouse Thingy was active duty) and when I'm in ym black leather jacket I wear an ICON vest. And yes, I do feel more visible; perhaps not safer, but more visible.

I'm not military - but I have a high viz vest I bought that I tend to wear whenever I'm going to be riding in the dark or the rain. It makes a huge difference in traffic, people try to kill me a lot less.

Nalian wrote: It makes a huge difference in traffic, people try to kill me a lot less.

That really makes me want to wear mine

I know its raising a dead post, but the answer to the OP question is yes, we have to wear one at all times, on and off base, in and out of uniform. Its not only for the Navy/military, but for our life insurance also. If something, god forbid, does happen, your life insurance will not pay if you were not wearing your vest. And yes, it does make me feel more noticed, even in an area where most riders you see are wearing them, people still look at you like your a paranoid freak, lol.

We also have to take a MSF course to be able to even bring a bike on base, and if you ride a sport bike, you have to take a MSF and a sportbike specific class. We also have to participate in a MSF BRC/ERC every 3 years to keep our base pass for the bike.

I know its kind of a plug for the new Icon Mil Spec backpack, but its awsome. Because if you wear a backpack to work on your bike, you have to put another vest around your backpack, and having the new Mil Spec pack made out of the same orange as the vest, and the way it fasntens in the front, you dont have to wear the vest underneath it.

Actually, I've heard that the base/post commander gets to dictate the details of when/where service personnel must wear the reflective vest.

Some commanders say only on base, others will say all the time.

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When I was in the vest and helmet was only required on base (vest was required for military and dependents only but not DOD civilians) and just high vis, did not need reflective. A cheap hunting vest was ok. (I had the supply Sergent lend me a road guard vest)

BUT I got out almost 25 years ago and vest requirement was only in effect the last 3 months I was in Army, and was required by base commander (actually the Sgt Major's idea) but not yet a Army wide reg. (at the time hi vis clothing like rider classes were a fairly new concept and very hard to find)

Another strange thing was that a vest and helmet was required on a motorcycle but not on a bi cycle or moped!

Also Harley used to make a mil spec black reflective vest back in the 80s.

A revised instruction came out just a few months ago, US Navy wise anyway, and they added more detail to what you have to wear, and what class's you have to take. The new instruction states a high visibility jacket/vest must be worn at all times, on and off base. Base Commanders can add to the instruction, but can never take away from.

The fact that the Navy/Marine Corp loses more people in Traffic accidents then it does in warzones is a big thing at the moment, and 45% of the accidents are motorcycle accidents, and those are majority sportbikes.

I wear one at times I feel really at risk--mostly early morning commutes before the sun is up. I figure everyone's a little blurry eyed and therefore with my black bike I could use a little extra POP.

Icon Mil Spec. Very comfortable.