Hi vis clothing

Macky

Macky

Macky

Soldato
Joined
5 Apr 2009
Posts
6,165
Location
West Midlands
Anybody here where it when riding their bikes? My dad's telling me I can't get a bike unless I wear a hi-vis vest on it. I'm pretty sure hardly any bikers wear hi-vis clothing. Pretty annoying as will look like a complete tool, I guess better than being hit by a car but nobody I know who has a bike has been hit by a car, not saying it doesn't happen just that is a hi-vis jacket necessary for a 50cc bike?
 
Being visible is important on a bike. A lot of accidents involving bikes are caused by car drivers who don't see the bike until it's too late. It happens to all sorts of bikes, including 50cc bikes.

It's better to just agree to your Dad's terms rather than fight him and end up not being allowed a bike at all. Besides, you'll look cool regardless - you'll be riding a motorbike! :)
 
Hi vis clothing on a bike makes not a jot of difference to whether you have an accident or not. It makes you slightly easier to see on the road but it's not any sort of guarantee that you will be safer. If your taking the first steps into biking on a small capacity 50cc then the quality of training you plump for and your attitude and skill on the road will have more of a bearing on the risk level.

I haven't worn high vis kit on the bike for years. I owned a white BMW K100RS a long time ago and wore a high vis jacket on that for giggles. It made car drivers behave very well indeed!!. :cool:
 
I wear contrasting leathers (black & white) to make it slightly easier for people to spot me. In winter when I'm in my black textile jacket I wear one of THESE. It has stretchy panels so doesn't flap around in the wind. And a zip at the front rather than velcro.

But as someone else said, your riding is what'll keep you safer in the end. Positioning yourself for best visibility. Not getting too close in behind large vehicles near junctions etc. Just being aware of what's around you :)
 
I am getting back into biking 20 odd years after I left. Since the only accident I had, in 1990, had the woman who hit me say

"I didn't see you"

I shall be wearing some hi vis stuff. Not going to go overboard though.
 
Fair enough. Cheers for help opinions guys. Thinking about just getting a hideously bright hoodie or whatever. :p
 
I don't wear Hi vis and nor do my biker mates. But there are some reasonably cool looking jackets out there with it built in.

A bib? Forget it.
 
I have a Hi-Vis jacket on all the time. I said to my mum when I got my bike, I want to be seen and be safe. Also have a white lid for the extra visual. It's better to be seen than not. Just think of the advert where the guy drives out of the t-point junction and didnt see the bike. That could be you with no hi-vis on.
 
just get the "peacocking" lights from the think bike adverts... you know... the massive flashing circles on the back of your bike with your name in it with arrows pointing towards you :) hi vis bib won't make any difference then hehe

but i really do like the look of those hi vis jackets that rocklobster and maccapacca suggested! hi vis and a decent look to them too... think i shall be investing in of of those :)

another alternative is putting on all the clothes / helmet you want and then getting some one to splatter you with high vis paint randomly... get a sort of modern art/abstract design about it... and i'm sure it will get you noticed :p
 
the_candyman said:
I have a Hi-Vis jacket on all the time. I said to my mum when I got my bike, I want to be seen and be safe. Also have a white lid for the extra visual. It's better to be seen than not. Just think of the advert where the guy drives out of the t-point junction and didnt see the bike. That could be you with no hi-vis on.
Click to expand...

Bar the fact I'll have a 50cc bike which would be topping out at about 30mph. :p
 
4T5 said:
I'd rather Die looking cool than live looking like a ****.
Click to expand...

You beat me to it. Except I'd say I'd rather look like a tool and live than look cool and die! :D

In winter I wear an extra hi vis vest over my Buffalo jacket all the time. In summer I used to have a lightweight hi vis but it broke. Now I just rely on the hi vis on the jacket.

Essentially, your Dad is a smart man. You can also negate it by getting a cool looking jacket with it all built in, rather than one that looks like a building site bog standard hivis jacket.

You would also be surprised. I see A LOT of bikers wearing hi-vis, except power rangers and hog riders. (Everyone in between pretty much).

You sound quite young and inexperienced, correct me/apologies if I am wrong. If this is the case, get hi vis!!!!!!!!!! Please do not take a gamble on a being seen without hi vis for the sake of looking cool/saving money.

Is your life worth risking to look cool over?

Also, as above, get a decent helmet. I've seen a hi vis (yellow) looking helmet before. Quirky as hell but no one could EVER argue they didn't see him. A white one will do a good job too!
 
Thing is Macky.. Any of your mates who might give you a hard time for not looking 'cool', the vast majority would forget about your existance with-in a year of being either crippled or killed. So really, why care too much what they think.. Chances are in a decade you won't be having much to do with many of them anyhow.

Forget the hoody, unless it's slipped over some form of decent protection. In the respect of protective gear, you have a lot of options open to you that in the past we never had.

And 50cc is pretty much irrelevant.. The results of an accident is decided by variables of which speed is just one of many.
 
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