Why is motobike gear all black?

[moT]

Black = cool
cool = Drift
Leathers = Hide
Hide = Thick skin
Thick skin = Dinosaurs
Black = Drift
Leathers = Dinosaurs
Black Leathers = Dino Drifts

[CHOPPA]

I went a step further and got a hi vis suit..... haha not sure if id wear it to a pub though!

[jonbuoy]

After you've been riding for a few months in all weather your nice brightly coloured outfit till be looking decidedly black anyway. How much of the riders body do you see on a fully faired bike from straight on? Get yourself a brightly coloured helmet if it bothers you.

[alanzs]

Hi viz yellow is the new black....

[alanzs]

I went a step further and got a hi vis suit..... haha not sure if id wear it to a pub though!

I have an Aerostich full suit in hi viz yellow. I wear mine all the time. People notice me, which is the point, even at the pub... What people think of me is really none of my business.

[pritch]

I really don't think it matters what you wear. When riding around town on the moped (which has stickers all over the front to make it more visible) I see people look straight at me, then immediately pull into the piece of road that I'm about to be occupying. It's possible they have far greater faith in the made-in-China" Suzuki brakes than I do. Then again they probably just don't give a shit.

Which just goes to reinforce the belief I had that the lizard brains only react to a perceived threat. Some are too dim even then...

My perfect scooter accessory would be a holster in the parcel tray to hold a .45 handgun. Most road users should be able to percieve a threat if bullets started whizzing around their ears. Shame about the collateral damage though.

[Pwalo]

Black is sooooo slimming.

[wysper]

I have really enjoyed this topic.
It has been interesting reading how people react to opinions and advice that differ from their own.

It was in intersting point from the guy that said no matter what colour the rider was wearing from front on it looked black.

Also the differing science points has been really interesting - cones of the eyes stuff etc.

At the moment I am a cyclist and as a carry over from being a biker i cycle like people cant see me and if they can they are trying to kill me.
When I go through a round about I take a full place on the road, i have never had grief from cars when i do that. It is almost like they appreciate knowing where I am and what I am doing.

As to the hi vis.. i would probably wear it but more so I felt safer. And when I get a motorbike again. I will still ride like no one can see me and they are all trying to kill me. I think the safest thing you can do is ride well and use your anticipation.

Newbies - listen to what some of these experienced members are telling you. Alot of them have learned the hard way.. breaking bones.. loosing skin etc.
They are giving you good free advice.

Lets RIDE

[alanzs]

As to the hi vis.. i would probably wear it but more so I felt safer. And when I get a motorbike again. I will still ride like no one can see me and they are all trying to kill me. I think the safest thing you can do is ride well and use your anticipation.

Exactly right.
Hi viz is slimming as well as visible. I never have to ask "does my ass look big in this?"

[Swoop]

I stronlgy object to you using facts in a discussion such as this. This behaviour is morally unforgiveable.

It is OK. The facts are wrong... Hi Viz doesn't save yer' arse.

[moT]

you dont need to wear a high vis or leathers the law states the minimum protective clothing that should be worn is a helmet. As long as you wear a helmet (with the strap tightened) nothing can possibly go wrong and you cannot possibly die (except ofcorse if you speed or drink). Its the same with a seatbelt in a car if you wear one you cannot possibly die in a car accident even if ur crushed between 2 trucks at 100kph you will be fine, this rule also is the same with lifejackets and safety harneses. its what i call the protective bubble of OSH and LTSA

[<Rhino>]

My cordura gears all black, can't find anything that otherwise.

[portokiwi]

I have a leather jacket but even that make me look fat...... I blame the padding.
I brought black becouse at the time thats what they had....
The Fonz wore a black leather jacket. he is cool
James Dean wore a black leather jacket.
The police over seas wear black and they look good.
Fighter pilots wore black leather jackets.
So wearing Black leather jackets are part of our life. feels good, looks great, warm to wear and slimming to the eye. Why change?????

[Aa7]

since wearing my yellow hi-viz now for the last six months solidly, admitedly at night i feel WAY more visible and safer but for some reason during the day i have been hit once by a woman pulling into me while i'm looking at her face in her mirrors and trying to pull on the anchors while she blamed me for changing lanes into her when i was in the same place all along and she just didnt use her eyes and also knocked off at a roundabout since wearing it.

I used to just have close calls when i wore only my black leathers - it's crazy but i honestly feel more of a traget now during the day in my hi-vis rather than safer. people see them and hone in on then it seems ahahahah at night it works very very well but during the day it seems the yellow is not the best option and black may be better :S:S

the last time i was knocked of my bike was yesterday morning and the woman just said the obligatory "I didnt see you" when i asked her why she drove straight into me so i asked her why she thought i was wearing a bright yellow and reflective striped jacket . she was dumbstruck and had another look just to say "oh yes, so you are. i didnt see that either" :S:S at night these work well but during the day it seems they make little to no extra difference. maybe the orange ones may work better in the day rather than the yellow ones. i might head down to NZ Saftey and buy an orange one just to test this theory but honestly am thinking i will only wear these during the night after my recent experiences with them.

[moT]

very good point. When in rome