Being seen. Why is black the favoured colour for motorcyclists?

[rocketman1]

Black jackets, pants, helmets, is it fashion, or is it cool to be in black and be hard to see.
Most motorcycle stores have majority black clothing for sale
Hey I have black jackets , pants and boots, I wear this colour only because, it is the main colour the shops sell.
BUT, I have a silver helmet, and I ride often with guys that have mainly white and silver helmets. (yeah we are not cool)

The point I want to make if anyone is interested is that when following these bikes the riders with white, silver and light
coloured helmets are far more visible at distance than those with dark helmets that just blend them into the countryside.

I am an older rider, so I dont give a hoot whether my light coloured helmet is cool or not.

If it was fashionable to have light coloured helmets I think riders would be more visible and hopefully be seen more by the one eyed cagers.

[tigertim20]

Black jackets, pants, helmets, is it fashion, or is it cool to be in black and be hard to see.
Most motorcycle stores have majority black clothing for sale
Hey I have black jackets , pants and boots, I wear this colour only because, it is the main colour the shops sell.
BUT, I have a silver helmet, and I ride often with guys that have mainly white and silver helmets. (yeah we are not cool)

The point I want to make if anyone is interested is that when following these bikes the riders with white, silver and light
coloured helmets are far more visible at distance than those with dark helmets that just blend them into the countryside.

I am an older rider, so I dont give a hoot whether my light coloured helmet is cool or not.

If it was fashionable to have light coloured helmets I think riders would be more visible and hopefully be seen more by the one eyed cagers.

the majority of stuff on the shelf is usually black / dark colour.

I dont think many riders see it as a fashion choice.

[slofox]

Black jackets, pants, helmets, is it fashion, or is it cool to be in black and be hard to see.
Most motorcycle stores have majority black clothing for sale
Hey I have black jackets , pants and boots, I wear this colour only because, it is the main colour the shops sell.
BUT, I have a silver helmet, and I ride often with guys that have mainly white and silver helmets. (yeah we are not cool)

The point I want to make if anyone is interested is that when following these bikes the riders with white, silver and light
coloured helmets are far more visible at distance than those with dark helmets that just blend them into the countryside.

I am an older rider, so I dont give a hoot whether my light coloured helmet is cool or not.

If it was fashionable to have light coloured helmets I think riders would be more visible and hopefully be seen more by the one eyed cagers.

It's so we can run away and disappear into the darkness after a chase we escaped from (just before we crashed the bike...) :whistle:

[Blackbird]

I am an older rider, so I dont give a hoot whether my light coloured helmet is cool or not.

If it was fashionable to have light coloured helmets I think riders would be more visible and hopefully be seen more by the one eyed cagers.

I was 62 when the attached photo was taken 10 years ago so I must have been a trend setter :bleh: . Still got the silver and black leathers and they still fit me. I have a light multi-coloured helmet and mostly wear a hi-viz vest but it's debatable how much they contribute to our visibility if other road users miss a decent headlight shining towards them. You're right about the availability of coloured clothing though. Just bought a Rev'it mesh jacket for summer. Three different colours available overseas, only black in NZ

[OddDuck]

About ten months ago I bought a Helite Turtle airbag vest, high vis yellow primary colour and broad retroreflective silver striping. Never thought I'd be in the high vis brigade... the primary purpose of the vest was some level of protection in the event of a crash.

Thing is, though - it works. Definite improvement in drivers spotting the biker, particularly twilight / after dark.

Agree with comments re white / yellow helmets - by far the best choice for visibility, probably better than a vest.

[BMWST?]

have aways had light coloured helmets i would never get a dark colour I always try to get white with some graphics

[MarkH]

I saw someone riding a bike with a white helmet and I thought "wow, that really stands out". My next helmet was white and so was the one after that. When I need to replace my current helmet it will be with a white helmet again.

In some ways the black gear is helpful, the white helmet really stands out against the black gear, high contrast is not a bad thing if you want to be visible!

[george formby]

Must admit my next hemlet will be hi viz yellow. They stand out like mutts nuts.

When I started riding, before I started shaving daily, my Dad made me wear a hi viz helmet and the logic has stuck with me.

I'm still looking for a good self adhesive hi viz product to brighten up my existing helmets.

[R650R]

Bikes don't get seen because people DONT LOOK, plenty of hi vis cyclists and transport and logistics workers who will also agree.

[BMWST?]

Bikes don't get seen because people DONT LOOK, plenty of hi vis cyclists and transport and logistics workers who will also agree.
but you may as well try to stack the deck in your favour.esp at little or minimal cost/inconvenience( ie order a helmet instead of take one of the shelf)

[george formby]

but you may as well try to stack the deck in your favour.esp at little or minimal cost/inconvenience( ie order a helmet instead of take one of the shelf)

True, some people don't look and many don't see.

But as above, every little helps.

I've never considered "the look" of bike gear. Does it fit? Does it work? Is the price right? Sold.

[Banditbandit]

Black jackets, pants, helmets, is it fashion, or is it cool to be in black and be hard to see.
Most motorcycle stores have majority black clothing for sale
Hey I have black jackets , pants and boots, I wear this colour only because, it is the main colour the shops sell.
BUT, I have a silver helmet, and I ride often with guys that have mainly white and silver helmets. (yeah we are not cool)

The point I want to make if anyone is interested is that when following these bikes the riders with white, silver and light
coloured helmets are far more visible at distance than those with dark helmets that just blend them into the countryside.

I am an older rider, so I dont give a hoot whether my light coloured helmet is cool or not.

If it was fashionable to have light coloured helmets I think riders would be more visible and hopefully be seen more by the one eyed cagers.

Didn't see no hi-viz in The Wild One ..

[Beekeeper]

The main reason is that as soon as you don a high vis vest you become a total cock.

[eldog]

The main reason is that as soon as you don a high vis vest you become a total cock.

Or just another rebel against the system of conformation?

Taking responsibility for ones own safety no matter how little it may seem, is worth it.

Being different is hard.

Black is slimming dont you know.:bleh:

why is it those same black clothes always seem to shrink the fastest....

[nerrrd]

The main reason is that as soon as you don a high vis vest you become a total cock.

Hmm, seems some don’t even need a vest.

Surely the real question is, if you don a piece of motorcycle clothing that isn’t black, what does that make you?

[george formby]

Hmm, seems some don’t even need a vest.

Surely the real question is, if you don a piece of motorcycle clothing that isn’t black, what does that make you?


A minority?

[FJRider]

...Surely the real question is, if you don a piece of motorcycle clothing that isn’t black, what does that make you?

Get seen better ... :cool:

[Beekeeper]

Wear what you like, its to us to be aware and drive with lights and whatever clothing we deem appropriate, including black. The other end of the spectrum are the "Polite " vests, white helmets and bikes so beloved by the cocks.

[Beekeeper]

Mind you the cocks have a point as cars do slow and get out the way when they see one.

[Berries]

The other end of the spectrum are the "Polite " vests, white helmets and bikes so beloved by the cocks.
Get fucked. I have a white helmet because when I was in the market everyone and his dog had a matt black one and I don't really want to blend in with all you cocksuckers. I then read some research that said it did not matter what colour helmet I wore because it was me riding the bike and my risk wouldn't change so when trying a new one on for size last month I went matt black to match the bike. I'm just thankful I don't have a red bike, imagine how embarrassing that must be. Might as well dress in hi-viz with a fucking strobe light on your head.

[SaferRides]

I started wearing a high vis after riding in a group where one person wore one. I was surprised how much more visible he was than the rest of us.

It does help on the motorway, probably because drivers are more likely to notice the colour in their peripheral vision.

But it doesn't help if people don't look before pulling out in front of you...

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[Beekeeper]

Get fucked. I have a white helmet because when I was in the market everyone and his dog had a matt black one and I don't really want to blend in with all you cocksuckers. I then read some research that said it did not matter what colour helmet I wore because it was me riding the bike and my risk wouldn't change so when trying a new one on for size last month I went matt black to match the bike. I'm just thankful I don't have a red bike, imagine how embarrassing that must be. Might as well dress in hi-viz with a fucking strobe light on your head.

you fearsome fucker you..

https://vochtprobleem.info/img/3dc5d29e34c01eb79d9300532b4e2cc1.jpg

[Berries]

I want one of them now.

[Dadpole]

And I used to wear this - and had the bike to match. https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=204428&d=1271324778 The traffic used to part like the Red Sea when I steamed up from behind.

[GazzaH]

I started wearing a high vis after riding in a group where one person wore one. I was surprised how much more visible he was than the rest of us.

It does help on the motorway, probably because drivers are more likely to notice the colour in their peripheral vision.

But it doesn't help if people don't look before pulling out in front of you...

....Like the lady driving a sporty saloon near EIT today. I was following an arborist truck that turned left on a risky junction off the 70 kph road, heading towards the Napier/Hastings expressway. Knowing that the truck blocked sight of me (and my newly-washed high viz!) from anyone at the junction, I passed him cautiously peering left to the junction ... and sure enough a car pulled out of the junction right across my path. The driver mouthed 'Sorry' at me. Hopefully the near-miss made her a bit wiser and a bit more careful next time (as it did for me). I'm just relieved to have avoided t-boning her to complete her lesson.

[Berries]

Hopefully the near-miss made her a bit wiser and a bit more careful next time (as it did for me). I'm just relieved to have avoided t-boning her to complete her lesson.
Too many of those crashes. You can blame the car driver for pulling out when they couldn't see that the way was clear, and rightly should, but too many riders don't do what you do and just bimble along in the massive blind spot and wonder why they end up sprawled on the bonnet.

Positioning is way more important than the colour of clothes if you ask me.

[ellipsis]

....Like the lady driving a sporty saloon near EIT today. I was following an arborist truck that turned left on a risky junction off the 70 kph road, heading towards the Napier/Hastings expressway. Knowing that the truck blocked sight of me (and my newly-washed high viz!) from anyone at the junction, I passed him cautiously peering left to the junction ... and sure enough a car pulled out of the junction right across my path. The driver mouthed 'Sorry' at me. Hopefully the near-miss made her a bit wiser and a bit more careful next time (as it did for me). I'm just relieved to have avoided t-boning her to complete her lesson.

...no sighs needed...you should have known that could happen...you avoided a near death...well done...another KB thinker...you're odd...:love:

[GazzaH]

The Ride Forever silver training I enjoyed on Sunday more than paid for itself already!

[Beekeeper]

The Ride Forever silver training I enjoyed on Sunday more than paid for itself already!

funny thing is if you get squashed while out riding you have ridden forever

[Odakyu-sen]

I wear black leathers (and a white helmet).
I prefer the black as I want to assume that I am invisible. There is the risk that wearing a Hi-Viz vest will lure you into assuming that drivers will see you. Maybe they will. Maybe they won't. Better to assume that they can't/won't/don't see you, and ride accordingly.

[GazzaH]

That's illogical cap'n.

[Scubbo]

i buy whatever is best fit on special... usually ends up white... no-one wants white leathers, but $2500 white leathers for $750... can't complain :eek:

[eelracing]

Black is the favoured colour because motorcyclists are inherently a very conservative bunch.

The majority of us are still tooling around on what is essentially 100 year old technology in chain drive and sliding forks etc.Funny front ends and complex drives are shunned on the showroom floor like the runt of the litter because we don't want a bar of it.

But we're old and crusty and maybe a new E-Bike riding generation will demand to be dressed like some Ziggy Stardust wannabe...or even worse a boogielicious disco diva.

I'll stick to black.

[Motu]

The reason I wear black is pretty simple - a few days ago my wife was given a light coloured leather jacket...it was suggested that I might like it. Her response was ''He'll just get it filthy.'' We have been together over 40 years, but a few months ago she committed a cardinal sin - washed my cutoff DJ. When my gear gets that shiny look, I know it's almost perfect.