Which colour for high vis vest?

**p.dath** · 11th May 2010, 20:41

Originally Posted by Slyer

High Vis wearers are namby pamby little bitches who do everything in their power to make motorcyclists look as tame looking as possible.
Being a biker is about being a badass motherfucker who doesn't give a shit, the road is OUR bitch.

Some day you high vis wearing little bitches are going to get the shit kicked out of you and you're going to DESERVE it for making us look weak.

Has your period started? If it's cramping badly try some panadol and a hot water bottle. Don't worry, you'll feel less grouchy in a week.

**Footless** · 11th May 2010, 20:41

Not sure if Hi Vis is the answer, but .......

DONT WEAR ORANGE - YOU LOOK LIKE A ROAD CONE - I HAVE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS TO ROAD CONES

**98tls** · 11th May 2010, 20:43

Originally Posted by Bass

I think that's a very narrow view.
Coming down the motorway at night in the rain when the tail-light bulb shit itself a couple of months back, I was quite grateful for the refectorised hi-viz vest.

Thats wonderful dear and i am sincerely happy that your happy,not to mention broadminded.

**Spearfish** · 11th May 2010, 21:02

Its hard to judge when a vest its working, only when it doesn't, you never meet the ones who spot you a little better for it.
I have never had a close call being rear ended at night with a vest only without one. The only time I farked up was wearing a backpack.
To be honest I don't notice it on, I don't make decisions based on it being off or on, I can't even see it unless the mirrors have moved in to much, its just part of the kit. And they are free in some shops, or were, as part of the ride forever promo.

**pete376403** · 11th May 2010, 21:12

[QUOTE=Usarka;1129747067]One that makes you look like a cop is the best bet. Get a white bike aswell. QUOTE]

Thats not as silly as it sounds - I've got the yellow green jacket, plus a plain white helmet. when I'm behind a car they can't see what sort of bike it is, they just see a fairing and a bright headlight. I've had car drivers pull over to the left to let me through (and not just a courtesy move, either, this has been a "glance in the rear view mirror - shit what have I done now" swerve to the left)

**pete376403** · 11th May 2010, 21:14

Originally Posted by Cloggy

Yeah, I can't see much of a point in wearing a hi-viz vest on a motorcycle.
OK if you are a road worker or a mayby a cyclist.
But if they haven't seen my headlight shining brightly, I don't fancy the chances of them spotting a hi-viz vest I might be wearing.

Does you headlight shine brightly to the side or the rear? Not everyone gets hit head on.

**pete376403** · 11th May 2010, 21:18

Originally Posted by davereid

Didn't see the motorbike ?

I think its true.

The most visible bike I own is the K100.. Joe average sees me and thinks I'm police. If you want to be visible be a threat. Get the motorists concious brain engaged, Wear the yellow and green.

It would be interesting to see the figures on how many police bikes are taken out by the SMIDSY crowd. I'd suggest the number is very low. Yet when the disco lights are off they are not that much more visible that the bike.

**Bass** · 11th May 2010, 22:03

Originally Posted by 98tls

Thats wonderful dear and i am sincerely happy that your happy,not to mention broadminded.

My apologies.
Just for a moment there I thought you might be interested in meaningful debate
I stand corrected.

Actually, when I think instead of react, I refuse to be drawn into a typical KB name calling session. So, a more measured response then.

I disagreed with you and said so. I then gave you an example of why I disagreed with you.
Your response was some pretty juvenile sarcasm.
Why?
Your history on this site is better than that. You have demonstrated that you can be thoughtful and helpful, so why did you react that way?

**robertvi** · 11th May 2010, 22:17

Originally Posted by Spearfish

To be honest I don't notice it on

I can check if it's on and even check if it's zipped up by glacing down at the reflection in the black fuel tank, which becomes

ORANGE

from the reflected light. Yes sorry, ROAD CONE orange - but at least it's not PIMMS-AND-LEMONADE orange.

**Stickman** · 12th May 2010, 16:44

Wake up all of you! Turn your lights on and free up the pipes. Noise is the only thing car drivers respond to! Your high vis coat will ragdoll you in all likely hood so you are dead either way! :P

**Ixion** · 12th May 2010, 16:52

Originally Posted by pete376403

It would be interesting to see the figures on how many police bikes are taken out by the SMIDSY crowd. I'd suggest the number is very low. Yet when the disco lights are off they are not that much more visible that the bike.

They are very experienced safe riders however. I sometimes ride a big white BMW. With a green-yellow fluoro jacket. And a plain white helmet. Yes, the drivers who use their mirrors tend to move over when they see me behind. But there's still plenty that are totally oblivious , both when I'm behind and when I'm approaching. Those that see, see. Those that don't , won't no matter what you do.

However, all things said , wearing hi-viz is very unlikely to make you LESS safe. And you have to wear something.

**shrub** · 12th May 2010, 17:15

but then driving a car (ideally a Volvo) is even more sensible.

I'm not very sensible.

**Bass** · 13th May 2010, 11:29

Originally Posted by shrub

but then driving a car (ideally a Volvo) is even more sensible.

I'm not very sensible.

I think that your post pretty much sums up the whole discussion - well done

Nothing more to be said.

**Old Steve** · 13th May 2010, 20:45

I'm a firm believer in that anything helps.

So I bought the largest learner bike I could, Hyosung GV250. I figured that size might just make me a little safer.

I wear a white helmet, it's the highest and most visible part of a rider's anatomy.

I've taken the baffles off the back of the mufflers, my son says he hears me coming up the street over 500 metres away. If he can hear me from indoors then maybe a cager will become aware of my presence.

I wear a fluoro-yellow hi-viz vest with reflector stripes. My wife followed me home one night and pulled up so she could see just how far away I was visible, she could see me for nearly a kilometre.

Now my wife, who has a degree in phsychology and physiology, has an interesting point of view. She says it all comes down to perceived threat. To a cager, feeling secure inside their metal prison equipped with seat belts and airbags, the only things which they see as dangerous are trucks, buses and other cars - vehicles as large or larger than themselves and capable of intruding inside their cage of sheet metal in the event of a collision. Motorbikes and cycles are seen as unlikely to injure them, so while they may see the biker they don't register the biker as a threat. And pull out without indicating ....

**davereid** · 13th May 2010, 20:51

Yeah, there is a thread here somewhere about "motorcycle myths". I intend to pick it to bits at some stage. Myth 2 apparently is that loud pipes save lives. This of course is complete crap. My BMW is a silent ghost. My 650 has a race pipe. I have NEVER had a pedestrian step in front of the 650, it happens regularly on the BMW. As for the threat thing, I agree, I posted some stuff on that idea earlier. That is Myth 1 appaently, that car drivers dont care about us. Thats no myth, its absolutely how it is. Ride the BM with a green flouro jacket... suddenly car drivers see a cop, think "threat" and DO give way. When I konow they would have chanced it were I in black on the 650..