Black helmets.

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

I'm getting a new helmet this christmas as a pressie from my parents but have been warned off getting a black one by my (riding for 20 years) dad. But I was wondering if anyone who has gone from a coloured to a black helmet has noticed much difference in people seeing/noticing them, especially in heavy traffic. I'll be wearing a day-glo bib but will they see that if i'm filtering?

Odd question but thanks for any help.
____________________
Pictorgraphicalfantastical

[Frost]

Daylight it doesnt matter one bit.
Nighttime it doesnt matter one bit.

Early morning and dusk is when it really makes a different. During the day or night people can see you clearly, howeverwhen visability is reduced and you don't have a light on it helps you to be seen alot more.
Most drivers don't look down at bike level for a bike and so may miss even a brightly colour bike, but a bright coloured helmet is alot closer to the level at which a driver is likely to look (when you look at a car, you see the people inside, not the numberplate)

Allthough a light coloured helmet CAN make a difference, ive found from expirence that it does not. I've had days with a bright helmet where every twat has pulled out on my, and weeks and weeks of black helmet riding (regular lid) without people pulling out.

Bottom line is that people arnt going to see you at times no matter what you wear. white helmet might reduce this by 5%, but regardless of how often it happens if your not alert enough nor capable of reacting correctly and in time your in trouble.
Riding skills matter alot more than helmet colour.

[mr.z]

I've got 3M reflective tape on mine (looks quite good, as it a silver helmet anyways, though i ment to pick up the black one ) with headlights aiming at it the effect is quite impressive.

In the dark it helps, but personally i think i they can't see a motorbike in braod daylight wearing a black helmet with an eye burning day glow vest then youv'e not got allot of chance anyway! but if it will put your parents at rest then get a coloured one, or something to match the bike...

Being seen in the day is allot down to positioning, you can be totaly decked in day glow but if your in a cars blind spot or behind a bus then it will make no difference, try and stay protected but visible...

filtering is a tricky one, i don't filter unless the traffic is at a stand still, and only then in bad traffic, filtering while moveing is tricky because people will see a space and will not look for anything comeing, your very lucky to get an indication, and when they smash into you writeing your bike off your potentially the one who has to pay for it!
But i'm very cautious, i watch police bikes filter through moveing traffic quite quickly, they do it every day, so there are safe ways of going about it.
____________________
>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[Git]

The only thing I do not like about black lids is that my head gets considerably hotter and sweatier come summer, apart from that

[stinkwheel]

Lifted directly from the highway code

https://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/images/069_motorcycle_beseen.gif

So now everyone knows what to wear this season.

So where can I get some purple trousers?
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Fortuna]

Must....resist...Big...purple...helmet...jokes.

[yambabe]

Dunno how true it is, but when I first started to have riding lessons the instructor I was out with (different company to the one I eventually passed with) said he was finding it hard to see my mirror checks & lifesavers from behind as you can't see the movement as well when wearing a black lid.

He said that any car drivers who were watching me might have the same problem & miss my first indication of intention to move.

Like they will notice anyway....
____________________
Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Oh well, it's between a ROOF and an Arai (the cheap one) so I will see. Though maybe getting the orange one to match my ginger hair would be good?

Getting bought trousers and gloves too! Any tips on all-year round gloves, or is it a case of getting off my arse and looking?

Never thought of the heat in summer from wearing a black helmet. Thanks
____________________
Pictorgraphicalfantastical

[stinkwheel]

Get whichever one fits you best. If they both fit equally well, get the Arai.

EDIT: I don't think there is any such thing as an 'all year round' glove, if they keep you warm in winter, they will be uncomfortably sweaty in summer. Go to Hein Gericke (sp?) and try some on, ask for advice. Their gear is top notch and not too pricey.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Sparks!]

I wear all black trousers, jacket, boots, gloves and about to buy an all black helmet too and have never had any visibility problems

Nothing apart from the usual anyway. I could have a big orange flashing beacon selotaped to my crash helmet and 50% of cars still wouldn't notice
____________________
Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[Finglonga]

All black gear the only white is the Arai on the helmet.
____________________
Andy Sez....
F.Y.Y.F.F.

[Demonic69]

Black and silver now, to match the Blade. Was all black gear before. They can't see you because they don't look, it's got jack all to do with what you're wearing.
____________________
Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[Bendy]

It makes a difference in low light conditions.

I commute home every night in the dark now (in the car) and it's really easy to lose sight of a dark biker - one red tail light easily merges in with lots of other red tail lights and when that's all you can really see of them, that's not great. This is why I got a hi-viz vest - the difference between someone wearing one and someone not is immense at night and I've decided that if I'm going to be filtering home in the pitch dark, I'd rather be seen.

During the day however, I'm all in black. Yeah, a bright helmet might make me slightly more visible but I figure if they can't see a bright yellow and black motorbike (apparently the most eyecatching colour combination possible) then a blob of white up top isn't going to make a massive difference. I did notice a reduction in people doing 'didn't see you' moves when I changed from the all black CB though, so there's definitely something in being a bit brighter.

[Demonic69]

[Bendy]

Ask the woman who drove into the back of me when I was sitting at the traffic lights.

[Demonic69]

Ah right, there's no bloody excuse for that!
____________________
Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[Bendy]

But more in general, I just like to have an awareness of all the vehicles that are around me, and I don't like it when I 'lose' a bike that was there a minute ago. I'm talking 4 lanes of slow moving, lane-swapping, filtering, randomly braking, not indicating, foglight-using traffic in the pitch dark - anything that stops drivers 'losing' you in amongst all those lights has got to be a good thing. Having something that doesn't look like just another headlight or taillight is a bonus.

[map]

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

To be honest im not seeing a great deal of difference in your pic Map. But maybe night will make a difference. I'll be wearing a hi-viz vest/builders vest to be more visible this time of year.

So basically it's be careful whatever I get as it dont make much difference, thanks
____________________
Pictorgraphicalfantastical

[map]