Being seen when riding

[Cigaro]

I tend to dress entirely in black when I ride my bike (no real reason other than I think it looks cool, and my lid, jacket, gloves and boots are black and I wear black jeans to go with it). I was told the other day that I am a nob as I'm putting myself at risk of not being seen - however thinking about it I don't see how someone could miss a bright red bike with lights on.

Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?

[firefox]

I ride a all black bike, black boots, black pants, black top, and black and blue helmet
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bye bye gti <^>( ' . ' )<^>
*officer* what caused the crash ? *firefox* you see that wall up there sir ?
*officer* yes what about it *firefox* i tooted my horn but it refused to move i had to teach it a lesson.

[Luke_Retrofly]

If ayone tries to look at me I normally hide behind the nearest bush!
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Flounced - Long overdue
Fuck you bitch I'm in the top 10 list I can do the what the fuck I want!

[TheShaggyDA]

Even if you were riding this, there'd still be someone who would pull out in front of you. Might as well wear what you like and assume all of them are going to.

https://www.jettink.com/Goldwing%20yellow.jpg
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[killa]

It's a stupid statement TBH....

If its winter and it dark most of the time, then yeah, maybe a hi viz jacket.
I dont think you're hard to be seen on a motorbike, especially with your lights on, day or night.
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[iloveriding]

What a great looking bike, I missed out on a yellow Goldwing a couple of weeks ago. I was gutted
Tony

[feef]

imagine your'e riding along a road, with a hedge/wall/line of parked cars to your left, and a junction ahead.. it's quite possible someone waiting to pull out the junction can't see your nice red bike because of the obstructions.

As it is, there's not That much you can do, althuogh there is the art of "Looming" I'd say it's an art, rather than a skill, as some people have it.. and some don't.

I seem to have mastered this art, as people often move over for me, where they don't for other bikes.

a
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[Mooncatt]

for me doesnt really matter what i wear there is always some dumb pr**k that will look straight at you and just pull out anyway.
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current bike...CBR400RR
"you always need more chicken"

[akaDAVE]

I always ride under the presumption that I am invisible.

I wear mostly black leathers, predominantly black lid and my bikes......black. Nicely camouflaged.

When it comes to cars pulling out of junctions I have my lights on, slow down and move from side to side in my lane from to get thier attention.
When I pass I do it as far away as possible imagining that they will go for me as soon as I'm within range.

It's verging on paranoia but it's worked so far.

On roundabouts I would be more shocked if a car didn't pull out on me.
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GSXR600

[Nicky-Jano]

I have a bright pink jacket and people still pull out on me.

[map]

[Hairy Ben]

Risk compensation innit...

Swaddle thyself in fluorecent clobber and you feel safer. And the safer you feel, the less attentive and more careless you are.

"Don't need to worry about that car... he'll have seen me won't he..." etc...

Human nature yer see.


I try not to rely on other road users for my own safety.

I've seen them, and have planned round them for my own survival. That's the important bit.

Them seeing me is nice, but not vital.
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...and thus true enlightenment is achieved.

I think, therefore I am... I ride a BMW, therefore I smell of wee...

[mistergixer]

[Walloper]

[CortezTheKill...]

[KTM Gordo]

There is the argument that in an accident it could be said that you weren't taking steps to make yourself obvious to others.

The Highway Code suggests: "Make yourself as visible as possible from the side as well as the front and rear. You could wear a white or brightly coloured helmet. Wear fluorescent clothing or strips. Dipped headlights, even in good daylight, may also make you more conspicuous." https://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/04.htm#69

Whatever you do, always assume that other road users haven't seen you. In my opinion, wearing a HV jacket may make you more visible and I often wear one:

https://images.fotopic.net/y5mcik.jpg

But equally, sometimes I don't:

https://images.fotopic.net/yx6qrs.jpg

Whatever you do, expect the unexpected.

HTH
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Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.

KTM 990 Adventure | KTM EXC 250 Racing | Land Rover Freelander SE Td4

[Walloper]

My theory.

If you are a 38 ton truck the pricks will undoubtably wait and not pull out.

If you are a 200 kg biker they will think. "Well I'm in this protective cage so I'll survive any impact and that's only a measly bike coming towards me". and then pull out.

Expect the Expected.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[eifion]

I ride in all black though my leathers have reflective piping that glows in winter under headlamps. IME road positioning and behaviour contribute more to being seen than a hi viz jacket.

In fact, hi viz can cause problems, if a driver spots a glimpse of hi viz through a rainy, misty windscreen, and associates hi-viz with construction workers, traffic wardens, crossing patrols, surveyors etc. - i.e. things that are stationary / very slow, not things bowling towards him at 50mph.

And hi-viz waistcoats could act as dazzle camouflage. I.E. break up the outline of something and it makes that thing harder to recognise.
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SR125 -> 6 year gap -> SV650 -> Deauville -> NC750X -> Vstrom 650

[Diggs]

I don't think it matters what you wear nowadays as towns are so full of colours/lights etc that adding your own is unlikely to make a difference...

The best way to be seen is, as a previous poster said, to anticipate the prat at the junction and move out in your lane until you are past... Sideways movement is far more visible than anything else in traffic simply because it isn't expected therefore catches the eye...
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Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...

[KTM Gordo]

[TheShaggyDA]

That's because they don't want to get stuck behind you
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[SoND]

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=115327&highlight=

"Sorry mate, I didn't see you."

https://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i280/Pte1643/Photo-0040.jpg


Some people are just stupid beyond belief.


I've found there is a noticeable difference in the amount of people trying to kill me when I switch between no lights, sidelights and dipped beam.

I think with no lights is the worst, followed by dipped beam and sidelights are the best. Less people think you are flashing for them to go. Having 2 lights might help because if you flashed both of them should light up.

[SonicTheHedge...]

[colin1]

im a great believer in hi-vis vests

day glo fluorescence works well in the day

and reflective strips are fantastic at night

however a lot of the time, im too idle to wear it even tho i carry it in my bike

A loud bike is great for getting you noticed.

I used to have people pull out in front of me all the time when i was on my scooter as it was quite quiet, but since the exhaust baffle has got loose and its mega loud, no one pulls out in front of me, and people even get out of my way to help me filter

Loud cans for the win.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[mr.z]

You might find (to your dismay) that yellow is not the best of the dayglow colours