Why is motobike gear all black?

**Usarka** · 3rd February 2008, 21:04

Originally Posted by Soul.Trader

So I can conclude from this thread that this motorcycle community doesn't think we should be doing everything possible to make ourselves seen?

First step to doing everything possible to stay safe is to be open to all the possiblities of what will kill you and what will save you. (tip, most of both of these are you)

Attitudes like this are the wrong approach:

Originally Posted by Soul.Trader

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.

Being closed minded about safety isn't the way to keep alive. Trying to understand as many different situations and anticipating them is a good start.

Granted high-vis is great for a lot of situations. I could spell out many where it isn't so good (as many here already have), and that black may be better, but you've said you won't listen.

Good luck!

**sAsLEX** · 3rd February 2008, 21:11

Originally Posted by McJim

Red goes with anything except green

What you been smoking willis?

**Horse** · 3rd February 2008, 21:15

Originally Posted by Grub

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

Actually the research suggests that wearing hi-viz reduces your risk of being involved in an accident by 37%. For some reason people get upset when I mention it.

**McJim** · 3rd February 2008, 21:16

Originally Posted by sAsLEX

What you been smoking willis?

Ah but you forget young Grasshopper, I have neither SP nor nice titties. Fat bastards with greying hair can't realistically get away with a red jacket on a green bike....besides, there's a big horny Gorilla at the door - I need to pretend no one is home....

**jrandom** · 3rd February 2008, 21:19

Originally Posted by Horse

Actually the research suggests that wearing hi-viz reduces your risk of being involved in an accident by 37%.

Probably a confusion between correlation and causation.

It's been discussed here before; the sort of folk who'd be likely to wear hi-vis stuff are the sort of folk who are less likely to bin in the first place.

**MacD** · 3rd February 2008, 21:20

Originally Posted by Soul.Trader

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.

I really wasn't going to bother again, but for one more time, vision is about contrast, not brightness. The human visual system can adapt over about 10e6 units of brightness, but is sensitive to as little as 1% contrast. A light object against a light background is just as hard to see as a dark object against a dark background. Patterns can produce camouflage effects.

Contrast and motion, two things that will help you be seen on a bike.

Black is fine as long as it in contrast with something else, like that bright headlight on the front of your bike.

Motion: move laterally in your lane when approaching an intersection. Motorists misjudge the distance and speed of approaching motorcyclists (called the time to arrival illusion), moving laterally helps improve that judgement and also causes something termed "popout" where an object can be found in a complex scene without active visual searching.

Guess I'm full of shit, or maybe you're making some unfounded assumptions?

**Horse** · 3rd February 2008, 21:23

Originally Posted by jrandom

It's been discussed here before; the sort of folk who'd be likely to wear hi-vis stuff are the sort of folk who are less likely to bin in the first place.

Gee, if only the researchers had thought of that. Foolish scientists:

The validity of our findings depends on the ability to control for confounding. In this study a wide range of potential confounders were measured and modelled in the multivariate analyses. Riders wearing high visibility clothing and white helmets are likely to be more safety conscious than other riders. However, we were able to adjust for sociodemographic variables, the propensity for risk taking behaviour (such as younger age, alcohol consumption, licence status, and motorcycle riding experience) and environmental characteristics (such as light conditions, weather, and speed limit zones).

**Kickaha** · 3rd February 2008, 21:23

Originally Posted by 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.

Only 20 years wearing black for me and the one accident I had it wouldn't have mattered if I had fluorescent flashing lights mounted on my head he still would have got me

I don't ride with my headlights on either, I do ride as though everyone is out to kill me though

**Highlander** · 3rd February 2008, 21:24

Originally Posted by MacD

...
Guess I'm full of shit...

Try All Bran and Prunes.

**Hitcher** · 3rd February 2008, 21:26

Perhaps there should be a "Hoary Chestnut" thread...

**98tls** · 3rd February 2008, 21:27

Originally Posted by Kickaha

Only 20 years wearing black for me and the one accident I had it wouldn't have mattered if I had fluorescent flashing lights mounted on my head he still would have got me

I don't ride with my headlights on either, I do ride as though everyone is out to kill me though

No choice for me mate as the ole TLS came with them wired for on all the time,who knows it may have helped.

**skidMark** · 3rd February 2008, 21:30

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?

Visability is a good thing but the problem is you get into a state of mind that "Oh they have seen me."

Reality most likely is they have not, then you get nailed. Took 3 cars nailing me off before realising never ever assume they have seen you. They are all out to get you, is a good mentality to have.

3 knocked me off...one guy rammed me with his car nearly knocking me off. Then lied to police, thus i now have no license.

What goes around comes around though.

Skid.

**Grub** · 3rd February 2008, 21:33

Originally Posted by Horse

Actually the research suggests that wearing hi-viz reduces your risk of being involved in an accident by 37%. For some reason people get upset when I mention it.

Well yeah ... this is KB. We know stuff ... we've been riding for a thousand years ... never had an accident ... I've already made up my mind ... etc etc

When really the reason is ..
" ... not on your life, only queers and mommy's boys wear those things .... I'm a biker FFS, I wear black! ..."

Don't worry, these same arguments were all trotted out over wearing
- seatbelts
- crash helmets
- pushbike helmets

Ya can't let science get in the way of a good closed mind

**James Deuce** · 3rd February 2008, 21:40

Science funded by a company with a financial stake in proving a point isn't science.

The stuff I was using was from research into the effects of motion camouflage on visibility of motorcyclists and trains. They are both afflicted by the same problem in that they appear to be motionless in regard to the background until they are almost on top of you. Trains because they are so big in relation to the background and bikes because they are so small.

Grub, you know I've been fucked up by accidents BIG time. I'm relaying my experience, on top of the research of scientists who aren't looking at product specific research funding.

Visibility had everything and nothing to do with my accidents and in none of the injury accidents I've had was I doing anything illegal or stupid from a legal perspective for any blame to be pinned on me.

I struggle with your attitude, I really do.