Triumphrat

Ballacraine · 08-26-2008, 06:48 PM

Firstly, I apologise for the length of this post. I would have submitted it as an article but couldn't see how.

I have never been mainstream in anything, average at a lot of things, and crap at some...yes... but never 'mainstream.'So you must expect and allow for an element of eccentricity. Also I am not about to 'prove' my hypothesis by quoting statistics.......Statistics can be made to 'prove' anything you like.

In the realm of attempting increased safety margins, this is my personal,....probably controversial ...and certainly unfashionable credo. All 'seat of the pants' style observations, but they seem to have stood me in good stead for a long time.

Convention is that we have heavily silenced, garish multi-coloured, randomly patterned, high power bolides and wear garish multi coloured random pattern leathers and top of the range helmets and ride with lights on.

All fine and good.

I can't help feeling that my alternative approach...Used sucessfully (touch wood) for the last thirty plus years is just as valid in its own way.
I have 'fruity' exhausts on a predominantly black bike, wear black two piece leathers and usually a black helmet. I only use my headlamp in reduced visibility.
None of these factors on their own should be relied upon...Moreover, there is no substitute for being aware of your own vulnerability and mortality ;0)
I don't care if you do wear a top of the range Arai, hit something head on at anything approaching 30mph+ and you are maimed or dead. Believe it!
Where your quality protective gear pays for itself is in comfort and glancing impact with abrasion scenarios. I have marshaled for the MGP & TT for many years, so I have seen the results more frequently than most outside of the medical profession.

I define 'fruity' as being louder than standard without being overtly offensive. Despite what some folk say about the sound being all behind you, this is not the case. It radiates from the bike...Yes, most of it is behind you but there is sufficient radiated ahead of you for it to be of at least marginal value. The first clue that bikes are approaching during the TT & MGP is always the sound from about 1/2 to 1/4 mile away. With modern vehicle soundproofing and loud ICE devices negate this to some extent, but in my opinion some potential benefit is still there. The sound output is over quite a large waveband and some frequencies are likely to be picked up. It may be difficult to pinpoint the direction the sound is coming from, but if it provokes some reaction of the 'Wassat?' variety, at least they are alerted of your presence in the area.

I can't help feeling that todays jap rocket ships are too quiet and quick for their own good on todays roads. Just a flash of headlamp in the car mirror and they are with you and gone...Quick as that! No audible warning of the impending whirlwind at all. At least if you have a reasonable amount of audible presence you are not solely reliant on the visual sense of other road users.

Headlamps being on in daytime can give difficulty to others in judging speed and distance. This applies to dipped as well as main beam and the fancy modulated ones. Which are probably illegal anyway.

Next point, the human eye is set up to be driven by shape recognition. Military camouflage breaks up the outline of objects, often with garish multi coloured random patterns......
Sound familiar? ;0)

OK I'll spell it out.....

Your highly expensive 'Power Ranger' leathers, combined with your 'bling' garish helmet and bike, break up the shape you present to the observer. It will take them a fraction of a second longer to spot you and recognise the shape of a bike and rider.
I'll admit black may not necessarily be the most sensible choice but black is my favourite colour

No I am not a Goth Boy, I am a crusty old bearded greaser. Anyway, back to the point....

Any block colour bike, helmet and leathers, should give you a better chance of being seen and recognised immediately for what you are.

I make no claims that this is the 'one true way', it isn't...I am just putting forward what works for me, despite it being at variance with the accepted 'Big Brother Knows Best' safe way.

Food for thought?

Nige.

Tbirdnz · 08-26-2008, 07:19 PM

Well Nige I think I must claim credit in you posting this thread, given as I put doubt on your 'noise' gets attention comment on another thread.

However I don't believe black is a good transmitting colour, incidentally nor is red ! Maybe against a white sky then a black shape is clearly visible but mostly we ride against a background of dark shapes. I live in the country and my experience is that green and dark cars merge into the background of trees and bushes from relatively close distances. I drive/ride out of my gate against an avenue of tall trees, I really have to look, as opposed to glancing to see if someone is coming as I've seen dark shapes are practically invisible.

If I am ever waiting for a friend at a meeting place on my bike, I can see him coming by his yellow coloured jacket firstly then his dipped lights, then his entire shape. Albeit within a second but it is the yellow jacket that stands out. Mine is red/black, not as good.

I agree with fruity or flutey pipes, my TB has a great (modified from stock) sound, as least I think so and it still passes the government check. However I don't think it contributes one bit to road safety. My CB1300 is as quiet as a sewing machine, I like it that way, understated power, if you've got it, you don't have to flaunt it !

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Ride on !

Ballacraine · 08-26-2008, 07:44 PM

Any solid colour will work...Some better than others.

I still reckon relying on solely being seen is a dodgy premise.

The chances of other road users being both blind & deaf must be significantly lower.

Nige.

Edit: Sorry, I inadvertantly posted 'black 'instead of 'block' in the original post...Corrected.

themaster · 08-26-2008, 08:01 PM

I like this post. I hadn't considered breaking up my profile - will pay more attention next time to see if it really makes that big a difference!

I think it's worth mentioning that *any* colours you wear can be made *invisible* by the right light.

All I say is choose your colours carefully.

You can't see black at night on unlit roads; you can't see orange/red well on a lit street at night; you can't see grey/silver well when it's cloudy/raining/foggy

(says me with a garish silver/black power ranger suit

)

Ballacraine · 08-26-2008, 08:09 PM

All the more reason not to solely rely on just being seen!

Nige.

Tbirdnz · 08-26-2008, 08:58 PM

Well having spent a bit of time in air-sea surveillance I can honestly say if you wore a black wet-suit in a black dingy looking for help then the chances of being seen are practically zero.

It's not for nothing that life-jackets are the colour they are. Not that I've found any of that colour either !

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Ride on !

IrlMike · 09-02-2008, 06:39 AM

Nige

Great post, I'm totally with you on the sound issue, fruity's the way (not excessive) & it does work! In town & going past my neighbours or pedestrians it's up the gearbox & down on the loud handle. Courtesy, respect & tolerance all go together imo.
That's a mighty interesting point re camoflage etc. I like black gear &...er, well, the bike's mostly black too, tho' my new jacket now has grey & off-white (night reflective) panels as well as er...black

I do use my dipped headlight tho' all the time. A lot of roads here can be sharply shadowed by trees in the (not long enough!) sunny intervals that characterises the otherwise grey Irish weather. In those shadows, vehicles are hard to spot - dipped headlights improve this 100%. If I just used the headlight for this situation, I'd be having to think about this & flicking on & off all the time - easier to leave on, job done. I agree that 'high' beams do cause distance/speed judgement problems in daylight - but not so, dipped beams, just my opinion.

Mike

Ballacraine · 09-21-2008, 01:53 PM

I suppose if a dipped beam is adjusted correctly, it may have some value.

The situation you describe I think I would call reduced visibility, so I probably would be using them myself.

IMO though you can beat hedging your bets with using more than one of the senses.

Nige.

Ganson · 09-22-2008, 08:27 PM

I have to agree with Ballacraine, although I never thought about it that way.

Tbirdnz mentioned:

Quote:

Well having spent a bit of time in air-sea surveillance I can honestly say if you wore a black wet-suit in a black dingy looking for help then the chances of being seen are practically zero.

That is all good in the water, but my military time was spent in Army reconnaissance units, and i will tell you that at night with minimal lighting, the person who stands out the most is wearing solid black (or something reflective of course).
While on patrol in the desert, my team and I would wear desert camo trousers (to blend in with the sand) and woodland camo shirts (to hide against the dark sky). This kept our shapes obscured when walking along the night sky. Black is good for police use, because it stands them out from a crowd, but remains looking like a "tactical" police uniform.

So I guess I will stick to my black leathers.

Ballacraine · 09-23-2008, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ganson

I have to agree with Ballacraine, although I never thought about it that way.

Tbirdnz mentioned:

That is all good in the water, but my military time was spent in Army reconnaissance units, and i will tell you that at night with minimal lighting, the person who stands out the most is wearing solid black (or something reflective of course).
While on patrol in the desert, my team and I would wear desert camo trousers (to blend in with the sand) and woodland camo shirts (to hide against the dark sky). This kept our shapes obscured when walking along the night sky. Black is good for police use, because it stands them out from a crowd, but remains looking like a "tactical" police uniform.

So I guess I will stick to my black leathers.

Black goes with anything anyway, so the wife says.

What I really don't 'get' is those folks that have make specific leathers, let alone model specific. PX your leathers too?

Nige.