Hi-viz kit?

[natefz6]

With me now doing more motorway miles her indoors is insistent that I get myself some Hi-viz equipment. After doing the M4 in some of the storms last week I am starting to agree, I could not see some cars and vans for the water coming up off the road.

I currently have Dainese Gore-tex textiles, they are getting a bit tatty after 6 years of commuting 5 times a week. I also have a Shark RSI that has more dents in it that a 1980's Ford Escort at the banger races.

So I am in the market for the following;

1, New helmet, loud in color or white, not too loud in noise from the motorway.

2, New textiles, hi-viz jacket at least, Gore-tex preferred.

Has anyone got any recommendations or seen any good offers recently?

Cheers!
____________________
"no I didn't steal it that's just the way I ride"

[Northern Monkey]

No recomendations, but IME, yellow helmets really work. Noticeably less people fail to see me with a yellow hat on, than with my white hat

Mine was a cheapy one, but rated$* sharp
____________________
Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[Itchy]

I'd go less with clothing, more with LED lights and modulators.

Though of course you can go belt and braces.

Because on a bike you're not exactly moving much, to veer into the other lane you need very little movement. In the city you may put your foot down once or twice on a motorway not really.

Human eyes are designed to pick up movement* and light as such bright moving things get spotted by us.

Which is why when I ride by side roads I will twitch the bike with my headlamp on to increase my chances of being seen if they are looking my way so they don't look through me or see me as part of car.

LED lights are deeply annoying, add in a modulator which changes the frequency of them and you've got virtual movement which is way move visible than an unmoving luminous jacket. I think such jackets are so common they've lost their effect and blend in. But LED lights with a modulator kind of make you keep noticing them.


You can fit a kit for about £40 or make your own for barely anything.


*This was demonstrated in Afghanistan and Vietnam, when helicopter gunships came, soldiers would run away, which highlighted their presence to the gunship gunner/pilots. They died horribly, the NVA and Mujahideen found out if they stayed still they would attract less attention to themselves and not get killed by the gunships.
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Ben90]

Just had this delivered today;

https://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/pict/371118532500_1.jpg

They're going on ebay for £20 atm (half off RRP) not from the seller name pictured.

It's got stretch panels on the shoulders and down the sides so it fits well and doesn't flap about. It's also sized so a medium sized vest fits a medium size guy with a motorcycle jacket on top, no buying the size up.

It also increases your choice for a gore-tex jacket now the colour doesn't matter as much.

Would recommend. Although if you're doing all kinds of crappy weathers on the M4 you may want bright sleeves too.. Still, one to consider.
____________________
Yamaha FZ6 S2

[map]

[Northern Monkey]

On a related note, can I legally attach a flashing light to clothing?

I know I cant have a flashing light on my bike, but do those rules apply to clothing?
____________________
Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[Confusion]

[map]

[natefz6]

Good point a vest or over jacket might be better..

I saw this

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RUKKA-ARMA-S-GORE-TEX-MOTORCYCLE-TOURING-HI-VIZ-FLOURO-WATERPROOF-WARM-JACKET/271411157788?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D23982%26meid%3D9007002295585982195%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D9421%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D221450780602

I don't mind spending a bit but a grand on a jacket!

Does anyone have any experience of Macna stuff I saw this that looked interesting?

https://www.getgeared.co.uk/macna_vision_led_light_red?sc=43&category=348
____________________
"no I didn't steal it that's just the way I ride"

[The Disapproving Brit]

I have one of these:

https://www.ghostbikes.com/products/On-Road-Gear-Motorcycle-Jackets/10992-oxford-bone-dry-switch-motorcycle-jacket-and-back-protector.html

I've only ever worn it when it's wet out, and so far it's never let me down. For £40 you can't go wrong.
____________________
Current Bikes: 1983 Honda VF400FD / 2003 Honda VT750 Shadow
Bike Test Passed 18/03/09, Car Test Passed 14/05/13

[grr666]

[Llama-Farmer]

It completely depends on your budget.


If I had the money, and they fitted properly, I'd end up going for a white Shoei/Schuberth, Rukka textiles including hi-viz jacket, and Daytona boots.


They really are the best, but they do command a price. They'll last for years (decades even) if you take care of them but they aren't the best value by any means.


The jacket I've got is an RST Paragon III (I think it's a III, maybe a II) high vis. I think the Paragon IV is out now though.
____________________
Current Bike: 1999 Honda CB600 FX Hornet
Next Bike: I want a CBR-RR. And I want an F800 GS-A. And a VFR 800. Can I have all 3?
Dream Bikes: Honda VFR750R RC30, Honda NSR500, Ducati 996 R

[andy_uk]

[talkToTheHat]

Lights work better than bright colours in all conditions

Retroreflectives work well when there are lights shining on them in otherwise dark conditions, but only in those conditions and less well than lights.

Don't break up your outline, a rider and motorcyle made of patches of many colours works like camouflage (or 'dazzle' camouflage when the colours are vastly different to the surroundings and each other). If recognisable outlines are hard to make out, the human brain's highly developed yet seriously glitchy image processing will fail to identify the subject or fail to accurately judge the speed and position of the subject.

I don't wear high vis very often. It's handy as a pedestrian when there are no lights to hand, but from experience a paraffin lantern works amazingly well, as I have discovered when directing emergency vehicles to remote locations.

Belts, bands, stripes and patches within a well defined outline work really well. Respro make stars, stripes, chevrons and uncut sheets of material that sticks well to textile riding gear and provides some retro reflective markings, get a plain helmet and decorate it with retroreflective stickers/tape.

Dipped headlights and rear lights should be on at all times, consider some LED running lights and space them as wide as you can on the bike, but be able to turn them off if they dazzle at night.

It's not statistically significant because sample size of one, but both times I was wearing high vis, and was seen but the other party failed to determine my speed and position. The first time I habitually wore high vis becasue I was a noob, the second time I put a tight fitting vest on to stop my waterproof oversuit flapping and distracting me, having not worn high vis for years.
____________________
Bandit. does. everything.

[Pol Anorl]

reflective stickers?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331288266135?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331288269129?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331288858613?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
____________________
GOOD GAME BODYGUARD: https://i.imgur.com/8WePGgf.jpg
20:30:37 Pyro.: I don't sort of like men, I take every advantage to choke on dick.
Jewlio Iglesias: You live in Liverpool - Chances are, the front door has already been kicked off the hinges

[grr666]

[talkToTheHat]

For clothing, these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Respro-I-Shot-Reflective-Stars-Sticker/dp/B006WG1SFC
____________________
Bandit. does. everything.

[natefz6]

[ADSrox0r]

I had one of those tabard jobbies, they get fucking clarty after a few proper bad weather rides and they just don't wash. Complete waste of money for the all-weather rider.

I use a belt/brace thing now when it gets to darker weather, one of those things rozzers used to wear and it's very effective and doesn't get ruined by road-filth. That and a reflective chequer-pattern wrap on the helmet.

[natefz6]

Tabard (I had to look up what that meant) arrived today. It fits well and looks better than a normal Hi-viz, although still a bit errr ghay. So I am happy with that for my body for now, time will tell on how it picks up the dirt from the M4. I might try spraying it with the shoe protector stuff.

Additional lights for my viability still interest me. Has any one used something like these?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorbike-LED-Handguards-Hand-Guards-Suitable-For-Triumph-Tiger-1050-SE-/190776744810?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item2c6b2e1b6a

I was looking for some hand guards any way and these might help for keeping some wind off my knuckles and provide something else for drivers to spot in their review mirror?

Helmet wise I am looking at something like one of these

£185
https://www.ministryofbikes.co.uk/product_images/k/066/yellow__08237__95174.jpg
Ebay Linky

or
£250
https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTMzOVgxNTQz/z/JJ0AAOxyVLNTA3Vs/$_57.JPG
Ebay Linky

I don't really like flip helmets after having a few so think I will go for the cheaper option. Only concerns is the noise as I had an AVG that looked similar that is much louder than my (current) shark on the motorway. I am going to see if I can find a local dealer to try it on and see what the build quality is like.
____________________
"no I didn't steal it that's just the way I ride"

[Doomsnite]

[Northern Monkey]

I have a cheap high vis textile jacket, I just chuck it in the washer once a month. Baby wipes to keep it clean seems a bit OCD
____________________
Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[Doomsnite]

Sense the sarcasm
____________________
Triumph Street Triple-R
Sold: Honda Hornet CB600F-Y / Yamaha YBR125