Hi-viz is an idiotic fad

[george formby]

If I have to force my way out I pick a 'pussie' type motorist to pull out in front of.
One of those people who have their car headlights on in daytime or something flash are far more likely to actually brake as opposed to a falcon with mismatch panels...
we really need for awareness is lasers pointed straight ahead from bike. Cars could be fitted with an audible laser detector alarm like what fighter jets have and then no excuse for not seeing us.
Might annoy people with radar detectors though lol...

Pussie? I drive with me lights on. People struggle to see my van. And your right, I would let you out. Prolly give you a wee courtesy flash to acknowledge I've seen you, too. Just hope you would not flick me the bird like so many other motorists stranded at a junction trying to get into traffic do when I give them space to pull out and a wee ect ect.

Laser idea good!

Despite the innuendo, I was serious about me helmet post. My dad made me wear one when I was learning & recently a friend learning bought one. They stick out like mutts nuts. Above cars, hedges, fences ect. And the movement attracts the eye. Very uncool looking, though.
I would be very pissed off being made to wear a hi viz jacket or vest to comply with the law. My bike is hi viz yellow already.

[Stylo]

Pussie? I drive with me lights on. People struggle to see my van. And your right, I would let you out. Prolly give you a wee courtesy flash to acknowledge I've seen you, too. Just hope you would not flick me the bird like so many other motorists stranded at a junction trying to get into traffic do when I give them space to pull out and a wee ect ect.

Laser idea good!

Despite the innuendo, I was serious about me helmet post. My dad made me wear one when I was learning & recently a friend learning bought one. They stick out like mutts nuts. Above cars, hedges, fences ect. And the movement attracts the eye. Very uncool looking, though.
I would be very pissed off being made to wear a hi viz jacket or vest to comply with the law. My bike is hi viz yellow already.

Wasn't impressed by the guy wearing the Fluro on his new Bonneville on Cashmere Rd the other morning and nearly lost it after he over took us in the car, going far too fast on the corner .

Fluro to me means "I'm new and I'm bold' hence, much caution required

[george formby]

Wasn't impressed by the guy wearing the Fluro on his new Bonneville on Cashmere Rd the other morning and nearly lost it after he over took us in the car, going far too fast on the corner .

Fluro to me means "I'm new and I'm bold' hence, much caution required

That's another valid take on it. New rider, born again rider, not as confident as I used to be rider. All to be considered.

It's a circular argument. I think freedom of choice is the main point. Personally, safety priority no 1 is to continue getting better & smarter as a rider.

[Oakie]

Haven't read the whole thread but I guess it'll be the same polarised opinions as the other Hi Viz threads.

For me, my personal choice is to wear Hi Viz in the thought that it can't make me less visible ... but I still ride like I'm wearing camo gear.

Final word ... a number of times I hear or read people slagging off Hi Viz wearers ... and the commonaity is that frequently their tirade starts with "I saw some (insert your own disparaging noun) wearing Hi Viz today and ... blah blah blah". For me, I need exlore their rant no further than their first two words ... "I saw...." That's good enough for me.

Oh ok ... this is the final word then. I was ambivalent about hi viz until one day I was riding through a shady cutting. There was a biker coming the other way and his hi viz vest registered in my brain first as something on the road ahead before I saw him or the Gold Wing he was riding. That convinced me.

[caspernz]

Final word ... a number of times I hear or read people slagging off Hi Viz wearers ... and the commonaity is that frequently their tirade starts with "I saw some (insert your own disparaging noun) wearing Hi Viz today and ... blah blah blah". For me, I need exlore their rant no further than their first two words ... "I saw...." That's good enough for me.

Oh ok ... this is the final word then. I was ambivalent about hi viz until one day I was riding through a shady cutting. There was a biker coming the other way and his hi viz vest registered in my brain first as something on the road ahead before I saw him or the Gold Wing he was riding. That convinced me.

My thinking too, there are times when I'll don the hi-viz gear and others when I'll head out in one piece mostly black leathers.

As if I give a hoot about what another rider thinks of my clothing choice...

[skippa1]

Haven't read the whole thread but I guess it'll be the same polarised opinions as the other Hi Viz threads.

For me, my personal choice is to wear Hi Viz in the thought that it can't make me less visible ... but I still ride like I'm wearing camo gear.

Final word ... a number of times I hear or read people slagging off Hi Viz wearers ... and the commonaity is that frequently their tirade starts with "I saw some (insert your own disparaging noun) wearing Hi Viz today and ... blah blah blah". For me, I need exlore their rant no further than their first two words ... "I saw...." That's good enough for me.

Oh ok ... this is the final word then. I was ambivalent about hi viz until one day I was riding through a shady cutting. There was a biker coming the other way and his hi viz vest registered in my brain first as something on the road ahead before I saw him or the Gold Wing he was riding. That convinced me.

Your opinion isn't isn't strongly biased one way though aye

[Oakie]

Your opinion isn't isn't strongly biased one way though aye

Like everyone else probably ... I'll admit to having a firm preference. I'm comfortable with that.

[skippa1]

Like everyone else probably ... I'll admit to having a firm preference. I'm comfortable with that.

I think that's called a polarised opinion.....

high viz can indeed mean less visibility. If you see road workers, supermarket trolley collectors, charity collectors, school crossing monitors...........all wearing high viz? Not wearing it sticks out as highly visual. Fishing vessels often use black flags, they stick out on floats more than orange or yellow. Compulsory head lights should be better than high viz.....but still bikers are not seen. High viz does not cut it

also a polarised opinion

[pritch]

The original article just makes the point that it is personal choice whether we wear Hi-Viz or not, and the writer thinks it should stay that way.
He also explained how it may well be compulsory eventually. Hopefully not too soon.

[Grumph]

I think that's called a polarised opinion.....

high viz can indeed mean less visibility. If you see road workers, supermarket trolley collectors, charity collectors, school crossing monitors...........all wearing high viz? Not wearing it sticks out as highly visual. Fishing vessels often use black flags, they stick out on floats more than orange or yellow. Compulsory head lights should be better than high viz.....but still bikers are not seen. High viz does not cut it

Add burglars to that list - in ChCh at least i understand that hi vis is the costume de jour for daylight burglaries as no one sees it.....

[James Deuce]

The original article just makes the point that it is personal choice whether we wear Hi-Viz or not, and the writer thinks it should stay that way.
He also explained how it may well be compulsory eventually. Hopefully not too soon.

That, and battery powered electric bikes, will be the end of motorcycling for me.

[TheDemonLord]

You might be safer if you bought some proper motorcycle gear.

When I loose a few kilos and get a bike that warrants a one peice set of leathers, then I will get a set.

[James Deuce]

Are you planning to go racing? If not, one piece leathers are a pain in the arse. Sometimes literally.

[skippa1]

Are you planning to go racing? If not, one piece leathers are a pain in the arse. Sometimes literally.

+1 on that shit

[nzspokes]

You're too bloody right DemonLord, but good luck convincing this lot. KB members live in an alternate universe where they're actually convinced hi-vis works like camouflage and is indeed less visible than dressing up like the road. The cognitive dissonance is mind-blowing.

My personal feeling on it is that if people on bikes are going to complain about not being seen, the least we can do is make ourselves as visible as practical.

By making yourself invisible? Human eye picks shapes at speed. Colour changes that perception. Put a rider wearing black in a hivis vest and to a quick look he is no longer a person, just a bunch of confused colours. The outline is everything.

So if you want Hi-viz, go for a full suit.

Military camo does not hide the subject, it confuses his outline.