Fluoro vests?

**jaffaonajappa** · 14th June 2011, 17:57

Originally Posted by Maha

Very cool from HD...

Reflective gear does not have to be naff.

the pocket on the back is for your backup hand gun.......for when the HD riders see you in the vest...

**z500nz** · 14th June 2011, 18:02

Originally Posted by p.dath

It's just a vest. Easy to wear and use.

Probably doesn't make that much difference during the day, but they definitely stand out more at night and in low light.

If your concerned, wear one. If not, don't bother. Is it that hard?

Like he says, what's the issue? It's your choice ... at this time anyway.

Just don't moan about drivers not seeing your body size and black clothes if you get flattened by a car coming out of a side street at night - because your rear light and headlight are even less effective from the side!

Just think of the last time you had to dodge a pedestrian/jogger who was crossing the road at night, while dressed all in black, or a cyclist with no lights because they expect you to see them in the streetlights!

**Fatt Max** · 14th June 2011, 18:28

Originally Posted by Maha

Very cool from HD...

Reflective gear does not have to be naff.

Wow, that means you will be able to see the Harley riders wave at night as well......oh, hang on......ermm...

**Fatt Max** · 14th June 2011, 18:31

Originally Posted by z500nz

Just think of the last time you had to dodge a pedestrian/jogger who was crossing the road at night, while dressed all in black

Where I come from, a 'pedestrian or jogger' on the road at night dressed in black usually has your TV, laptop or microwave under his arm. Run the fuckers over I say and do your bit to lower the crime rate.....

**imdying** · 14th June 2011, 18:49

The blade has running lights in the mirrors. LED, so very white, and very bright, everyone comments on them. I would fully encourage everybody to give them (LED market lights spaced as far apart as you can get) some considerations. Sure not to everyones taste, but you're a long time dead. I would put good money on them being waaay more likely to save your arse than a fluro jacket.

**Voltaire** · 14th June 2011, 19:03

Originally Posted by jaffaonajappa

Makes me wonder...how the hell did any motorcyclists survive the 70's, 80's and 90's? They didnt have fluroro vests - but they survived? makes no sense.....

I wonder that too having rode in the 80's and 90's..... car stereos were less loud.... cars less powerful....Less mobile phones.... I used to ride round London but I don't like riding in Auckland traffic.... too much lane changing and random U turns. Once grid lock arrives it should improve.

**Hitcher** · 14th June 2011, 19:45

Originally Posted by Maha

There is a time/place for a Fluoro vest, that, most would agree.
Not so much during the day..
Night riding though/in the rain, the only bit of you a following car can see is about 10sq inches of red tail light. Not enough in such conditions.

I'd only agree in conditions where the rider wasn't wearing a backpack, carrying a pillion or hiding behind a top box. The most visible any rider wearing fluoro is is to themselves in the mirror when they're taking stock of how sexy they look before heading out for a ride.

Even then I wouldn't agree very strongly because, to the nearest significant number, fuck all motorcycles are rear-ended at night, even when it's raining.

**varminter** · 14th June 2011, 19:52

Originally Posted by imdying

The blade has running lights in the mirrors. LED, so very white, and very bright, everyone comments on them. I would fully encourage everybody to give them (LED market lights spaced as far apart as you can get) some considerations. Sure not to everyones taste, but you're a long time dead. I would put good money on them being waaay more likely to save your arse than a fluro jacket.

I've been looking for something like that, where did you get 'em?

**wingnutt** · 14th June 2011, 20:16

when I came back to riding i started on a goldwing which had 5 forward running lights, and four rear running lights. the gear I has night lighting, I was astounded that the dip sticks still didn't see me! I mean the bike isn't exactly small either.

Only defensive riding saved me many a time.

I added two spot lights to the front, problem solved, still the occasional blind twerp, but mostly its great.

so no I wont wear a fluro, and if acc smith trys to force me, Ill give one back to him all cut up nicley to fit in his letterbox

**Geeen** · 14th June 2011, 20:22

I don't think it matters if you wear one of not, People wont see you of they don't look in the first place. My jacket has reflective lettering on it and my lights are farkin bright even on dip. Still see heap of people pulling out without looking, they do it to me when I'm in my big black work van with the lights on as well. We just have to be super aware of our surroundings and assume no has seen us.

**jaffaonajappa** · 14th June 2011, 20:25

Originally Posted by Geeen

I don't think it matters if you wear one of not, People wont see you of they don't look in the first place. My jacket has reflective lettering on it and my lights are farkin bright even on dip. Still see heap of people pulling out without looking, they do it to me when I'm in my big black work van with the lights on as well. We just have to be super aware of our surroundings and assume no has seen us.

+1.
I like this version bestestest

**Old Steve** · 14th June 2011, 21:19

I'll take any added advantage I can get.

However, I'm aware that irrespective of what I'm wearing, my safety is my own responsibility. Ride safe, first and last.

So I wear a yellow fluoro vest. I also ride with my headlight on high beam during the day - to hell with aggrevating other motorists, they have to see me to be aggrevated! I have also taken the baffles out of my exhausts - OK maybe only 1% of motorists will have their windows down and hear me but I'll take every single percentage point if it makes me less likely to be knocked off.

My wife drove behind me in an urban street one night, she stopped and watched me ride down the road. She could see me in my fluoro vest in her headlights and under the street lights for 1.5 km.

There is some data that points to motorists ignoring orange safety vests because they see them but process the image as that of a road cone or other static safety marking. Go fluoro yellow!

**FatHead** · 14th June 2011, 21:24

I wear one of these http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ty-vest-Review and I get a lot of space using that other lane on wellington motorway and am sure I get mistaken for a cop every now and then.

I wear one because like others on here I am trying to be a bigger more visible blob on the road. If I could I would paint my bike Flouro Yellow and have a big red flashy light both sides (not that that would make everyone see you, try following a ambulance and see how many times they have to brake hard because some fucktard has not seen or heard them coming). If you dont want to wear one I DONT CARE but I wish they would bring down the ACC for anyone who does and see how many put one on!!!!!!

I too ride expecting I have been covered with an invisibility cloak and no other motorist has seen me and have so far only had one incident where a taxi turned in front of me when I was a lot younger and managed to get away with a broken finger and bruised knee.

My 2 cents