So, I plan to get a 2012 Triumph Bonneville SE sometime in the next couple months.  The two colors I am considering are Phantom Black and Intense Orange.



I like both, alot, but after considering the gear I was going to buy, I am not sure which color to choose.  I was planning on this suit



Clearly I am not trying to look like a badass out on the road, but if I got the orange bike and that particular suit....I would look like a clown.  I dont care a lot about how I look...but that is just too much haha.

So, my question is, what do you think would serve me better as far as visibility? A bright orange bike with black suit, or hivis suit with black bike?

I realize hivis only does a little bit for you....but the odds are so far against us out the road, every little bit helps.

hi=vis suit with a black bike

Quote from: spokes100 on June 17, 2012, 04:45:31 PM
hi=vis suit with a black bike

This is what I was thinking at first, but isnt the bike the largest part of what someone sees, rather than the rider?

the bike is large but you and your helmet and upper body stick up higher than the bike, nonetheless a lot of what a person sees is the background so if you stick out from the background they see you. I used to drive tractor trailer and people that pull out in front of trucks always say they didn't see them because they are mostly neutral colors and they blend in to the background.  if you can stand to wear a yellow helmet that helps too.

A bright bike is more likely to be seen when parked (so nobody backs into it).

While I haven't seen any actual studies as to what's noticed more, I've always thought a bright helmet is best. It's the highest part of the bike / rider, and it's worn all the time (assuming you are ATGATT) .

Spokes beat me to it......

I think it was that euro study, but you're something like 35% less likely to be hit if you are wearing a white helmet.

Answer: whatever makes you look like the bike cops in your area.

Cops wear white helmets. People sees bikes they just don't care. But when they see a white helmet they think Cop long enough to make them pause, even if they then realize not a cop.

Contrast is what makes things 'stand out'...  For instance, a yellow sign with a black border is more noticeable than the same sign in a solid yellow...

Also, a brightly colored bike is only bright from the side view, its color doesn't really show up to other drivers from the front or rear when going down the road... I have a bright yellow bike and people still pull out in front of me just as much as my buddy on his black bike.

- Bboy

I have a white helmet and others riding in a group with me said they could see where I was in their mirrors easier when compared to the darker helmets. I also have a white bike and lighter colored jacket. Partly because I wanted to stay cool in heat of summer, but the visibility is a bonus. Now I wonder why I ever wore black. It looks cool, but it's so hot in traffic and nobody could see me. I do still were a black jacket sometimes when it's cooler out, but the white helmet stays.

I also ride a certain way in traffic. Instead of staying in one position in my lane, I shift around within my lane and also tap my breaks when I'm slowing. It seems to keep people off my tail and lets them know I am not an empty space on the road just because they can see through me. As for people turning left from the opposite lane, just look out for those. A bike is least visible from the front and back no matter what you do. Assume they can't see you.

I don't have the study off hand but I pasted and copied one over here talking about how hi-vis is better. Which is why you will see many fire departments are going from red engines to hi-vis engines.

Mary

I wear one of these now:



(shoei rf1100)

I rekkon bright clothing helps you stand out but, the rule i stick to is ride as if no one can see you and avoid it all. I have a black bike and jacket and I ride as if I'm not seen and can count close calls I've had on one hand, and yes I have both hands lol.

Quote from: NesquikNinja on June 17, 2012, 04:39:04 PM
So, I plan to get a 2012 Triumph Bonneville SE sometime in the next couple months.  The two colors I am considering are Phantom Black and Intense Orange.



I like both, alot, but after considering the gear I was going to buy, I am not sure which color to choose.  I was planning on this suit



Clearly I am not trying to look like a badass out on the road, but if I got the orange bike and that particular suit....I would look like a clown.  I dont care a lot about how I look...but that is just too much haha.

So, my question is, what do you think would serve me better as far as visibility? A bright orange bike with black suit, or hivis suit with black bike?

I realize hivis only does a little bit for you....but the odds are so far against us out the road, every little bit helps.

The orange is sexier, that's for sure.   

One of the reasons they now put taillights in the rear window of vehicles is because that is the height people are looking at while driving, so I say clothing/helmet color is more important than bike color. You could always get the orange Trumpet and wear an orange Icon milspec vest

For daily riding I wear my black jacket and silver helmet, because even with hi-vis stuff your basically invisible to idiot drivers anyway, and I keep my eyes scanning the road ahead.

When it gets foggy/rainy I wear hi-vis pants and raincoat over my black jacket, just so that I could be seen in the dim, but I still drive like I'm invisible.

I agree with mister on this, that unless you wear something that makes someone look twice (police! blinky-lights! bikini!) you're basically going to be invisible anyway and I always drive like no-one sees me.

IMHO I would go with whatever you prefer and forget the hi-vis stuff unless you really want it. If you like the orange bike, get the orange bike! 

I have that suit.  I think it helps but there are no guarantees.  Other riders have commented that it does really stand out. 

In the end the most important piece of safety gear is the thing you put inside your helmet.

So true ^^

So, If I get the orange one, is the bonus of the hi-vis suit worth looking like a clown?  Again, Im not trying to be a BA....I stay far from half helmets and leather vests...

Ha... I googled orange motorcycle suit and found this....

http://technabob.com/blog/2011/12/17/safety-sphere-motorcycle-airbag-jacket/

What if you get the orange bike you seem to like more, and then get whatever jacket or suit makes you feel like a BA. Just always remember to ride like nobody can see you, because you could put on flashing lights and the brightest day-glo gear and there is still some teenager texting and driving.

They do make helmets with that orange color scheme that are pretty visible....  I have this one with the orange and black stripe... http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/38/19653/ITEM/SparX-S-07-Stryder-Helmet.aspx

That orange suit is the bombdiggity.

I think Ill just get the orange bike with a yellow helmet adn the hi vis yellow suit.

How could you miss that? 

Quote from: NesquikNinja on June 18, 2012, 12:26:30 PM
That orange suit is the bombdiggity.

I think Ill just get the orange bike with a yellow helmet adn the hi vis yellow suit.

How could you miss that? 

the bike color won't matter at all. most crashes are head on's. your frontal area has very little definition besides the head light, and that appears to be A CAR at a very far distance to most car drivers, instead of a bike. the headlight obscurs your hi-vis helmet and jacket with it's brightness.

look into GLOVES in hi-vis, and a huge checker board pattern helmet. or zebra stripes. or anything with an unnatural pattern.

the safest, most important thing you can do to prevent collisions is:

reduce your speed
anticipate other drivers' actions



the rest is marketing.