How does colour on your gear affect your safety?

**p.dath** · 15th June 2009, 17:45

I'm starting to look at replacing my gear at the moment. I've been thinking about getting a jacket with some colour in it, like red or yellow, because I'm thinking it will make me more visible.

While talking to one retail bike shop I asked them about the colours different jackets are available in, and expressed my desire to be more visible without looking like a flourescent knob.

They told me they didn't think colour made any difference to visibility, and I might as well stick with a simple black jacket.

I know this is a bit subjective, but what are your opinions on this matter? Should I hold out and get something with a bit of colour in it, or not worry about it?

**98tls** · 15th June 2009, 17:51

Would say that anything helps i guess but from my experiance not even having a brightly cloured bike makes them see you any better,for my money always ride with your headlight on not that even that guarantees anything.

**pete376403** · 15th June 2009, 17:54

White crash helmet makes cagers take notice - they think you're a cop.

(Riding down South earlier, wearing a white helmet and a bright yellow flouro jacket. Bike is a KLR but has a very bright headlight. Came up behind a car just before the bridge into Blenhiem and the old biddy driving took a glance in the mirror and pulled to the side of the road. I'm sure she thought I was a cop)

**vifferman** · 15th June 2009, 17:59

Whelp, back when I had my Evil Black Viffer, I bought a red'n'black Teknic jacket (mostly red). I still had my old black leather jacket. I noticed on days when I communtered wearing all black, motorists tended to get out of my way more than when I wore the red jacket. I think I was more scary wearing a black helmet, gloves, jacket and pants on a black bike, then wearing a 'friendly' red jacket and ghey gloves (black, yellow and silver).
It's not at all scientific, but I never crashed wearing the leather jacket*. I crashed "a few times" wearing the Teknic.

FWIW, if you're communtering frequently, you will get covered in road spooge and traffic fumes. If you're wearing black, it won't show, so you won't need to wash your gear...

* Of course, the frequency of times I ended up on the road had nothing to do with me selling the black leather jacket shortly after buying the bike...

**Badjelly** · 15th June 2009, 18:02

Originally Posted by p.dath

...and expressed my desire to be more visible without looking like a flourescent knob.

And what's wrong with looking like a fluorescent knob? Scared people will snigger behind your back? Poor wee dear.

**Drew** · 15th June 2009, 18:04

Get a Lucky strike jacket. Mostly white, with red bits.

I only ever wanted one cos they are cool as all fuck, and were the colours Swantz rode, but if you wanna add safety to the list of reasons to get...

**Rob Taylor** · 15th June 2009, 18:07

Stay with Black,,If ya wear bright stuff you make a very visible target.Your headlight on is the best way to be seen....Unless you ride a BMW

**duckonin** · 15th June 2009, 18:10

Study others out there and yes colour does make a difference, maybe more so the helmet from behind first up, then your jacket hivis stands out a long way...Front on distance wise your headlight, by a winning margin closer up your helmet then jacket...

My wife wears a pink jacket hard to keep clean sure, but it can be seen a long way off, when approaching from behind, yep go for a bit of colour Yellow, pink, black and white, together work well, I wear black (leather) but my helmets are my key along with blazing lights..

Still a heap will not see you as they drive along in their own world...

**sunhuntin** · 15th June 2009, 18:18

i honestly dont think they make much difference with all the blind car drivers we seem to have here. sometimes i reckon i could hook up LED xmas lights and still have near misses. however, i will wear a fluro vest in dark conditions just for my own peace of mind. i feel the reflective bits help a lot. my rjays pants have a thin strip of reflective material down both legs, and i found that a lot more cars saw me than if i was wearing jeans etc.

**gilly** · 15th June 2009, 18:46

I've got a glorious high vis vest supplied by ACC.

Who cares what you look like.

**caseye** · 15th June 2009, 19:04

Will it hurt to try it?
No , so go on buy the brightest one you can find, make sure it lights up good at night too!
Give it a month or two then come tell us what you've noticed, or not noticed about wearing it.

**98tls** · 15th June 2009, 19:07

Originally Posted by gilly

I've got a glorious high vis vest supplied by ACC.

Who cares what you look like.

Xactly,look as stupid as you like i care not.

**P38** · 15th June 2009, 19:10

I just got a new camo jacket.

Funny thing is it sticks out llike dogs balls in the visability dept.

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$130 from Living the dream in Hamilton

http://www.livingthedreammc.co.nz/

**AllanB** · 15th June 2009, 19:13

Shit man - car drivers can not tell what colour your skin is under you bike gear

There was an article in The Press that summer we were all killing each other on the roads - a comment was passed that riders in reflective gear were perceived as 'whimps' by some drivers, whereas they stayed clear of a hard arse biker in tatty old leathers.

I believe black helmets are dangerous - I find when driving a car a coloured helmet much easier to spot. And that's from someone with a black bike and black leathers (coloured helmet though). If you have a black helmet paint some bright flames, racing stripes or skulls on it.

**James Deuce** · 15th June 2009, 19:49

It makes no difference at all. There are no statistical indicators to suggest that fluoro vests and white helmets make any difference at all. If it's any help I see more riders with fluoro jackets having a lie down in peak hour traffic than I do people wearing practically anything else.

You're invisible. Get over it, get used to it, and FFS don't lecture people about what they wear.