Effects of High Visibility Apparel for Biking

[Walloper]

Hi Vis is one of the hot subjects for biking again.

I sometimes use an HG Anorak which is cut from a garish Hi-Vis Yellow with several 3M reflective panels all over it.
It's got all the CE protection and 100% Gortex-ness and is lovely and warm with tons of pockets to get stuff lost in.

I don't wear it all the time as I own several bike jackets.
I wore a Road Worker's Hi-Vis vest when doing the bike test and continued this for a few weeks after passing the test.
I do not really find that there is ANY advantage in 'being seen' as anyone who decides to pull out on top of a biker doesn't give a toss what the biker looks like anyway. So I stopped wearing the Road worker's vest.

I was interested to know if anyone else wears hi-viz to be seen?
Or just for fashion.

Today I was wearing hi-vis jacket on a street lit 50MPH road when a twaaat in a Grey Ford Transvestite van decided to pull out on top of me from a side road on my right. It was not a surprise as I have been riding for years and know to expect this shitty behaviour.

There are some who want to make changes so we will all be forced to wear this shit. Where do the figures that support use if Hi-Viz for bikers come from?

p.s. Soon as I'm the Prime Minister of Britain (or King of Scotland) I will change the law to give all bikers priority and give Karma to all who vote for me.
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[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Got flouro bits on my leathers because they look cool in the photographs, and some reflective strips on my textiles. That's it for me. Cars don't pull out on me much, but I usually have a race can.

Race can > High vis.
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[TheSmiler]

If a driver can not see a motorcyclist normally it isn't going to affect their sight if you wear a hi-viz jacket unless you are wearing it in the dark.

Agree with ham here if you have a loud exhaust then they will be looking out for the thing that is making a loud sound and will be looking around where it is coming from.

Of course won't always help but having both can only be an advantage.
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[ms51ves3]

Since I got a fluorescent orange helmet, it definitely makes a difference with people seeing me. It stands out a crap load more the standard fluorescent yellow that is over used so much it's become a normal colour in an urban environment.

[sickpup]

I have the same jacket and don't find it at all warm.

I don't wear it to be seen as I know full well you need to look to see and road users whether the are on foot, two wheels or four or more rarely open their eyes.
I wear it so when I inevitably get knocked off I can put in the incident report to the insurance company that I was wearing a fluorescent coat with Hi-viz bits on a bright green bike with reflective stickers so there is no excuse not to see me.

[Walloper]

The auld 'Loud Zorsts Save Lifes' plan doesn't work either.

I had a Thundercat with a De-waffled Micron slip on fitted and a R1200GS with a Remus System. Both fuk-off LOUD.

The issue with a loud can is that sound waves are very directional creatures so what you hear when loud can is moving towards you is reflected sound waves. These are very much more reduced that what pours out the rear.

That's why people with bullhorns/megaphones point them towards the crowd when using them.

I see bikes me all the time but me toons are Blastin' M8 and me Sub-Woofer is bangin' so me can't hear dem pipes blud.



The only folk who will hear loud cans are those who have Radio 3 on at volume position 2-3.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[Mikey3]

My dad wears high vis and even stuck a couple of strips down the front of his forks (his bikes a work horse, so he doesn't care XD) just to make it look odd and perhaps make drivers look twice, so far every time i've spoken to him on the phone, i.e most days, he gets people pulling out on him left, right and centre.
One time one car pulled out, and another followed, was it not for the sufficient gap between the england following the america car, he would have been creamed but managed to go between the two, with a cheeky 'sorry' followed by a little giggly shrug from the driver.
As my friend Jon said, if the driver isnt paying attention or doesnt care, it doesn't matter if you're dressed like a f****ng banana, they still won't see you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynXnGcOn4Uc

see this video if you haven't already and it just reinforces the point.
a drivers' last priority is driving, and we are made to suffer because of a failing on their behalf.
Mike
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'04 Yamaha WR450F
'99 SV650 Streetfighter Project - mid build
'Motorcycling is about what you do; not about what you own, or how much you spend on it'

[Dazbo666]

I wear a hi-viz (BCF) waistcoat at night and when commuting thru the winter. It's become habit rather than giving a false sense of security.
I'm under no illusions that an inattentive driver could pull out on me at any time regardless of what I'm wearing.
And for the record I also run a LOUD baffle-less Beowulf end can to be noticed a little more
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[Dazbo666]

I wear a hi-viz (BCF) waistcoat at night and when commuting thru the winter. It's become habit rather than giving a false sense of security.
I'm under no illusions that an inattentive driver could pull out on me at any time regardless of what I'm wearing.
And for the record I also run a LOUD baffle-less Beowulf end can to be noticed a little more
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[Dazbo666]

oops, multiple posts due to sausage fingers using a new android phone
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[Pete.]

Hi-vis on a bike don't stay very hi-vis for long - unless you're a fair weather rider

The idea behind hi-vis is to trigger the brain into noticing a highly un-natural colour.

Most building sites require the wearing of vests for two reasons - it alerts plant operators on the prescence of personnel close by with even the most fleeting glimpse and it identifies people instantly who do not belong on site (supposing they are not wearing one). It's very effective, and works on the road too.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Mac_Black]

I voted "I think it's gay".. But seriously, I'm with those that believe it doesn't matter anyway.
I wear full black, the only time this changes is during the evening when I change to a clear visor.
I ride fast and to the average driver, unpredictably.. So high vis is not going to be doing me any favours.

Instead I make sure that I'm assertive in my riding and I give plenty of indication of what I'm intending to do.
I stay clear of the numpties at most points, I ride as I like and zero fucks are given. Very rarely do I find myself getting beeped at or getting pissed off at others, even less do I get into hairy situations.

[bikertomm]

[Walloper]

[TheSmiler]

For those that think cans won't work or hi vis then the only other solution would be having a distinct engine sound for a motorbike that could be overheard above cars.

Be rather annoying, most wouldn't like it but it is how most people notice emergency vehicles before the flashers they hear the sound. You could take the same idea here most people would hear an exhaust before they see a hi vis jacket. An when they see the high viz jacket it will most probably be too late.
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CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
A2 completed 23/07/15 Ready for the Golden Crisp Packet

[keggyhander]

The person who said exhausts don't make a difference is mistaken.

I've been on the bike and following my dad in his car and he said it was very obtrusive. That's straight-through pipes though.

Strangely, since putting ape hangers on and wearing a skull mask, people don't seem to pull out on me.

In fact, sometimes it's like Moses parting the Red Sea.

[sidewinder]

I wear a high vis waistcoat.for the only reason it keeps a bit of wind chill off.and stops my jacket getting coverd in crap..
Dont know about summer though not had a bike long enough

[sidewinder]

I wear a high vis waistcoat.for the only reason it keeps a bit of wind chill off.and stops my jacket getting coverd in crap..
Dont know about summer though not had a bike long enough

[sidewinder]

I wear a high vis waistcoat.for the only reason it keeps a bit of wind chill off.and stops my jacket getting coverd in crap..
Dont know about summer though not had a bike long enough

[sidewinder]

I wear a high vis waistcoat.for the only reason it keeps a bit of wind chill off.and stops my jacket getting coverd in crap..
Dont know about summer though not had a bike long enough

[Darylw27]

While doing my CBT and a few lessons I had numerous people pull out in front of me even though I was wearing what was supposedly 'HI-VIZ'. After passing my test, I find that a loud can works much better, seems to make people curious what is making the sound and be more alert. At the end of the day, some people are just dicks/zombies and can't see beyond their wheel.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

OT: Ohh too slow sidewinder... Bit like the BCF server..You hit 'Submit' and sometimes it just hangs there although it has posted.

I'm in my aldi hi-viz textile at the mo. Not noticed any difference, unless I'm on the twin with the thunder pipes fitted. Bass frequencies are omnidirectional...'I can't see a motorcycle yet I can feel it coming'

Reflective stuff works a bit better. I feel more visible at night. My helmet has 2 large reflectors at the front. Any head movements are more noticeable.
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[G]

Noticeable difference adding a reflective jacket when riding home down the M4 at night in rush hour (so lots of filtering).
A little difference in the day time.

Definitely noticeable difference with louder cans commuting in the day through Reading.

[Seb]

It makes a difference up to a certain point, commuting on the GS or XJR was a very different experience to doing the same ride on the SP1 or ZX9 for the most part. However there are some people who are just going to wipe you out regardless of what you are riding or wearing (as demonstrated by the little old lady who nearly took out my SP1 a few years back, you could't make that bike more noticeable even if it was on fire ).

So no, I don't think it's going to make a noticeable difference in the long run, it's just more pointless euro legislation.
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[Glenben92]

It's been proven many times that the governments precious statistics show that most bike accidents don't involve a car. And when they do, I'd agree that a Hi Viz vest wouldn't make a difference. If a huge red bike with high beam on and a bright blue helmet isn't enough to be noticed, a fucking yellow coat won't help. It's just something ELSE for them to get money from. VAT from selling at least one vest to EVERY biker and fines for people not wearing them. Love "Great" Britain, me.
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