Triumphrat

Fishnchimps · 01-18-2009, 07:08 PM

I'm curious of opinions regarding jacket color and visibility.

Here in Florida there are a significant amount of elderly drivers who are legally blind and still behind the wheel. AND there are the tourists who suddenly realize that they want to turn across all lanes of traffic to get to their destination.

I find myself more aware of what others are wearing, how visible they are in their jacket. (Bike color visibility would be a whole nother discussion).

Seems that the majority of what's on the market, and what I see on the road are either black or grey. Sometimes with a little color infused.

Wondering if there's ever been any research in visibility of jacket
colors or color combinations.

LaneSplitter · 01-18-2009, 08:47 PM

Fishnchimps,
I don't know about any studies that have been done, but I wear a First Gear Torrent jacket in the yellow and black and find a lot more people looking at me when I go by (I commute in L.A. traffic).

Glenn

Fishnchimps · 01-18-2009, 09:30 PM

Olympia has just posted new jackets on their website.

The Viper and

The Bonneville

Both have options of solid color or subtle hi viz

I too have had the experience where I KNOW I was seen due to my jacket.

It also influenced my decision NOT to buy the very common Platinum/Silver Triumphs that I was encountering. The grey/silver blends too well with the road.

Catenaccio · 01-18-2009, 10:21 PM

Although the high vis colors are incredibly bright, I can't bring myself to consider them. So, I wear jackets with red accents.

Wombat · 01-18-2009, 10:27 PM

I wear a Belstaff jacket similar to Lanesplitters, but it is getting on and has faded a bit, so to keep the dickhead gate guards happy on base, I wear an Icon Mil-spec vest over it.

Fishnchimps · 01-18-2009, 10:33 PM

Shortly after I posted I came across this:

"It is noted that the color red, used for fire fighting equipment, is one of the least visible of vehicle colors."

..."Some of the studies I have found, such as the "Motorcycle Rider Conspicuity and Crash Related Injury: Case-Control Study" in the BMJ (BMJ, ex British Medical Journal), published in January of 2004, seem to indicate that black is the worst possible color in terms of visibility (i.e., wearers are involved in more crashes), while yellow and white are the most visible.

Silver is also apparently not a good color under many real-world conditions, because it tends to blend in with the background colors of the road surface."

CCSO3932 · 01-21-2009, 04:13 PM

The best colors to wear are white, silver, yellow or that neon safety green. Reflective patching or piping Colors like red that may be easy to see in the daytime are actually difficult to see at night. An easy way to test this is to take some different color t-shirts (preferably plain shirts) and have someone walk towards you car at night. I may surprise you how close they will get with some colors before you see them.

eelmgren · 01-21-2009, 04:43 PM

Dress like a cop. They'll see you!

:

TucsonBill · 01-22-2009, 06:59 PM

I have a big yellow motorcycle, a big yellow helmet, and a big yellow and black jacket. I get comments all the time about how visible I am compared to other motorcycles. I also have a really loud horn and really bright lights. I'm not a believer in loud pipes saving lives, but I think quiet motorcycles make friends.
I don't understand the use of the disruptive patterns often seen on sportbikes and sportbike riders' helmets. It looks like dazzle camouflage use in WWI! If you're being shot at, you don't want to be seen. Survival on a motorcycle requires being seen!

jberger · 03-15-2009, 11:41 PM

I've been riding a new Olympia Hi-Viz jacket for two weeks now. Say what you like, it gets you noticed, no doubt about it. I ride in Denver rush hour traffic most days, and I think at this point I'll feel naked without it....