Why is motobike gear all black?

**hXc** · 3rd February 2008, 20:28

Black is the new [insert colour of your choice here].
That's why.

**James Deuce** · 3rd February 2008, 20:29

Originally Posted by Soul.Trader

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.

Why do so many hunters in bright clothing get shot and killed every year?

You're not comparing like with like either. Our visual processing only works reliably up to about 20 km/hr. Over that and your personal experience is filling in the gaps. People only look at an object on the road for about a 10th of a second when making a decision to pull out in front of it. Motorcycles don't appear to be moving until they are relatively MUCH closer to the driver making the decision, due to their small size in relation to the background and their lack of width to provide clues to the size of the approaching vehicle. We judge approach speed and trajectory by triangulating on two points of the approaching and judging its approach relative to our own velocity. This is why vehicle headlights are at the extreme outside edge of a vehicle. It gives you a shot at guessing it's distance and approaching speed at night because there are two reference points.

Nowhere in this decision making process is colour factored in.

On an open highway, where you have time to analyse an approaching vehicle, factors like colour can be added to the equation, but the second most deadly spot for motorcyclists are intersections, where the decision making process does most emphatically not contain enough time for subtleties like colour.

**MotoGirl** · 3rd February 2008, 20:30

Originally Posted by Jim2

Bright colours don't help.

That's precisely what I was thinking. People can't see bright pink trucks so why would they notice a biker in a pink jacket? Plus, the black looks good on any bike.

**Grub** · 3rd February 2008, 20:30

Originally Posted by 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?

Don't take any notice of Jim2, it's not personal, he's always like that.

**hXc** · 3rd February 2008, 20:31

Originally Posted by 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?

Sounds like someone is referring to themselves in a round-a-bout way...

**hXc** · 3rd February 2008, 20:33

Originally Posted by Jim2

On an open highway, where you have time to analyse an approaching vehicle, factors like colour can be added to the equation, but the second most deadly spot for motorcyclists are intersections, where the decision making process does most emphatically not contain enough time for subtleties like colour.

If I may be so noob-ish...what is the most deadly spot for motorcyclists?

**98tls** · 3rd February 2008, 20:33

Originally Posted by Soul.Trader

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.

Motorcyclists could wear faggot purple with pink racing stripes and still not be seen.Buy whatever coloured gear you like but dont ever get to thinking every car driver will see you,much better to "expect the unexpected" and adhere to it strictly when riding on heavily populated roads.

**James Deuce** · 3rd February 2008, 20:33

Originally Posted by 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?

Because other road users don't see you. You must not factor your visibility to other road users into any decision you make while riding a motorcycle. You will be hurt or worse if you do. We disagree with you because of long painful experience. You are quite wrong in your assertion that making yourself visible is in any way important on a motorcycle. It will help with more observant drivers and riders out there, but the first words a motorcyclist invariably hears at an accident site are; "I'm sorry mate, I didn't see you."

Followed by, "You must have been speeding."

Followed by, "Serves you right for riding those death traps."

I'm not having you on.

**James Deuce** · 3rd February 2008, 20:34

Originally Posted by hXc

If I may be so noob-ish...what is the most deadly spot for motorcyclists?

Corners.

10fc

**Grub** · 3rd February 2008, 20:34

Originally Posted by Soul.Trader

I intend on getting a fluoro vest for bad weather/long night rides.

I'd suggest wearing it for short rides, more accidents happen close to home. Busy roads around the mount and the quality of the drivers mandates it. Only riding in Chowick could be worse.

The point about relying on your hi-viz vest is well made though. A couple of serious bikers got very antsy when it was suggested that ACC might mandate them. They felt, with some justification, that new riders would just expect them to work and feel that they didn't have to ride defensively.

I still agree with you though ... I wear viz gear because if it makes just 1% difference of being sen, then I'm nuts not to take that advantage

**98tls** · 3rd February 2008, 20:34

Originally Posted by hXc

If I may be so noob-ish...what is the most deadly spot for motorcyclists?

Everywhere.

**Soul.Trader** · 3rd February 2008, 20:34

So I can conclude from this thread that this motorcycle community doesn't think we should be doing everything possible to make ourselves seen? Well, case closed I guess - that would be why I cant get decent coloured gear. But I hope I never see another post from a motorcyclist having a whinge about how a car didn't see them - even though they were wearing black clothes, on a dark coloured bike (which has a tiny profile compared with other vehicles), and probably had no headlight on. Dang stinkin' motorists.

**Maha** · 3rd February 2008, 20:36

Originally Posted by hXc

what is the most deadly spot for motorcyclists?

The 'G' Spot???....who the hell knows where that is?....bet its hiding somewhere Black!!!!

**Soul.Trader** · 3rd February 2008, 20:36

PS: If anyone tries to convince me that black (a colour which reflects next to no light) is no more or less visible than blue or yellow (colours which reflect a lot more light), I know they're full of shit.