Why is motobike gear all black?

[Soul.Trader]

So here's an obvious question that needs asking - why is all our gear the same colour as the road? Why spend hunreds, or even thousands, buying expensive motorcycle gear with the sole purpose of trying to be safe - but ironically, all this same gear is black in colour, making is near invisible in certain conditions.

Why isn't there more gear available that's fashionable and brightly coloured? I saw this video a little while ago (http://youtube.com/watch?v=kh2U2O6_m50), which made me wonder why this type of gear isn't more widely available. I'd love to own motorcycle clothing like this, but simply cannot find it. Is it purely a cultural thing, that morocyclists refuse to wear stuff that isn't black?

[Trudes]

Well, doesn't have to be.... Quasi has some very brightly coloured gear on offer!

[Highlander]

Black sells so it is most of what the shops stock, because it is most of what they stock black sells.

I make a point of getting something other than black.

Several times I have gone into Bayride and said "can you get me one of these in anything other than black".

[Soul.Trader]

Well, doesn't have to be.... Quasi has some very brightly coloured gear on offer!

If I go into "Sports Jackets" on Quasi's site, I see black, mostly black, or brightly coloured if you have breasts and a slight physique. The race suits are, *ahem* a bit much, for most people, so I wont really consider them. The Sports Pants come in ONLY black, as does Touring Gear.

[Zoolander]

Why isn't there more gear available that's fashionable and brightly coloured?

Really? None of my gear is black. And there are so many choices available when buying gear I would be surprised if anybody struggled to find colours. Shop around, you'll be suprised.

[Grub]

- why is all our gear the same colour as the road?

EXACTLY! {bling sent}

I had to work really hard to find some gear with colour in it at a reasonable price. I don't get the black-bike craze either .. get this, not just blck but matt black so that it transmits no light at all!

People who do that really have to be mental.

[Soul.Trader]

Really? None of my gear is black. And there are so many choices available when buying gear I would be surprised if anybody struggled to find colours. Shop around, you'll be suprised.

Well I bought my gear today from a pretty well stocked shop. I'm extremely satisfied with my gear, but a little miffed that there wasn't a SINGLE piece of coloured clothing in the shop. BTW, I dont consider stuff like that Quasi gear to be "coloured" just because it has a few coloured streaks on black leather.

[James Deuce]

Bright colours don't help. Some light colours blend you into a confusing background and help motion camouflage convince drivers you aren't really there. People identify shape and size before the identify colour and they most certainly don't view a motorcycle as the same sort of threat as a car or truck.

Wearing bright colours to make you more visible should be secondary to riding like you are invisible.

I answer to your question: Leather is either black or brown for most commercial clothing applications. Post war motorcyclists wore black because it made them look more menacing. It is now the core fashion in motorcycle clothing.

Black also goes with anything. Matching leathers or cordura to your current bike goes horribly wrong when you change from a lime green Kawasaki to a mostly red Honda.

[Trudes]

I had to shop on-line and get my silver and black Shift jacket from the states, give it a go and see what what you can find.

[Soul.Trader]

Bright colours don't help. Some light colours blend you into a confusing background and help motion camouflage convince drivers you aren't really there. People identify shape and size before the identify colour and they most certainly don't view a motorcycle as the same sort of threat as a car or truck.

Everything you said here is true, except the first four words. Nothing will ever convince me that bright colours wont make a difference, nor will it convince the road workers in their hi-vis vests, or hunters wearing orange jackets. We emphasize greatly safety and visibility, and spend thousands keeping ourselves safe, then we wear the worst possible colour for the purpose. It's nothing short of senseless.

[Madness]

People who do that really have to be mental.

Stark-raving certifiably bonkers.

The dude in the YouTube clip looks like a Smurf imho.

[Maha]

Well I bought my gear today from a pretty well stocked shop. I'm extremely satisfied with my gear, but a little miffed that there wasn't a SINGLE piece of coloured clothing in the shop. BTW, I dont consider stuff like that Quasi gear to be "coloured" just because it has a few coloured streaks on black leather.

So ah, what colours would you like leathers to be? Serious question.
I wouldn't buy anything else but black pants (even if there was a choice) I have a Black/White/Blue Jacket.

[98tls]

After road riding for 29 years in nothing but black gear i fail to see the problem really,if your that bothered buy a flouro vest.......really.FWIW ride with your headlight on.

[Soul.Trader]

After road riding for 29 years in nothing but black gear i fail to see the problem really,if your that bothered buy a flouro vest.......really.FWIW ride with your headlight on.

I intend on getting a fluoro vest for bad weather/long night rides, but I really dont agree there is no issue. I'll conceed there isn't an issue as soon as motorcyclists in black gear stop bitching about motorists not seeing them.

[Soul.Trader]

I might add, does anyone else ever feel people come onto this website solely to disagree with other people's posts? The more time I spend here, the more true it seems to be. I really can't see why anyone would disagree that visibility is a good thing?