Hi Viz. Do you believe It Helps?

[fazersharp]

if we didnt care then we'd have all of our bikes covered in high viz instead of the lovely paint jobs they have.

I would quite like a white fzs 600

[noggythenog]

Do it fazersharp....there was a guy on here from norway had a white one it looked nice......imagine how he must have blended in.......would have had to wear black clothes so folk could see him

[fazersharp]

I think a white bike will just have to wait and be my next bike

[darrsi]

Open road - yes. Definitely.
City riding - rarely.


And when it comes to SMIDSY, not sure it helps very much. Swerving before intersections is a lot more effective.

I agree with you there, if I see a car poking out of a side street I'll move side to side within the lane as the human eye notices movement far more than colour.


As for wearing hi-vis, I never ride without it, for two main reasons. Firstly, the insurance issue as already stated earlier in the thread. Secondly, for my wife's peace of mind.
I personally don't give a fuck about what I look like, so don't care if I'm looked down on by other bikers for wearing it. If I have to wear a pink tutu and bunny ears to stop my wife shitting herself every time I get on the bike, that's what I'll wear. 

My motorcycle has some hi-vis tape put - white on the front, red on the back. I often wear hi-vis in the open road. My "winter" bicycle is taped in hi-vis tape. So nothing against hi-vis.

However, as far as effectiveness goes, out of town it's a lot more effective. In the city... it seems to help a lot less. IMO, the list is like this:

1. Lights - adding two fog lights at the sides, to make the front look as wide as possible.


2. Good lane positioning according to situation (to increase visibility) and weaving at intersections (what is a man when he stops drinking and driving?!   ).
3. Speed and braking - always assume you're still invisible. Always!
4. Hi - vis.
5. Crash pads and helmet, if all else fails.

I wrote a blog article on hi-vis decals limitations for bicycles. People often expect a bit too much of it.

http://www.bike.bikegremlin.com/2015/09/02/bicycle-lights/

"...adding two fog lights at the sides, to make the front look as wide as possible..."


Just in case you stumble upon any grizzly bears whilst out riding. 

[darrsi]

I think a white bike will just have to wait and be my next bike

My last bike was white, and soooo much easier to keep clean than my black Fazer.
Although it's obviously faster in black, i don't think i would ever buy a bike in that colour again.
One quick shower of rain and it looks dirty all over again, even after just cleaning it. 

[Slaninar]

"...adding two fog lights at the sides, to make the front look as wide as possible..."


Just in case you stumble upon any grizzly bears whilst out riding. 

It seems to work better than just centre headlights. For cars pulling in at intersections at least.

[darrsi]

"...adding two fog lights at the sides, to make the front look as wide as possible..."


Just in case you stumble upon any grizzly bears whilst out riding. 

It seems to work better than just centre headlights. For cars pulling in at intersections at least.

A biker passes me on the way to work every morning and he has sidelights, and admittedly you can spot him a mile away.

[fazersharp]

My last bike was white, and soooo much easier to keep clean than my black Fazer.
Although it's obviously faster in black,

White is just black without any black in it

[Frosties]

For the last couple of years I've had yellow lens protectors on my bike and I think these are amazing, whilst filtering I notice more cars move aside for me. I wear a Hi Viz jacket that I nicked from work, it covers my arms too. I never used to wear any Hi Viz until a work mate mentioned a story of some guy coming off his bike and laying in the road and was hit by a car that couldn't see him, his bike was some yards away. Think about it, dressed in Black in the dark and lying on a road. He might still have been hit by a car wearing Hi Viz but it might have given the driver a few vital yards to brake.

That's just reminded me of a bloke a few months back with these fitted - saw the bugger coming a mile off filtering down the M4. Damm good shout - i'm off hunting     HANG ON - IS YELLOW LEGAL?

"...adding two fog lights at the sides, to make the front look as wide as possible..."


Just in case you stumble upon any grizzly bears whilst out riding. 

It seems to work better than just centre headlights. For cars pulling in at intersections at least.

With you on this also Slaninar - all the wiring is done and the Cree LED spots bought, just got to mount them.

[slappy]

Fitted mine a few months back,, noticed more cars seem to move out of my way now

[fireblake]

Yellow is legal.  Amber is not

[mr self destruct]

My motorcycle has some hi-vis tape put - white on the front, red on the back. I often wear hi-vis in the open road. My "winter" bicycle is taped in hi-vis tape. So nothing against hi-vis.

However, as far as effectiveness goes, out of town it's a lot more effective. In the city... it seems to help a lot less. IMO, the list is like this:

1. Lights - adding two fog lights at the sides, to make the front look as wide as possible.


2. Good lane positioning according to situation (to increase visibility) and weaving at intersections (what is a man when he stops drinking and driving?!   ).
3. Speed and braking - always assume you're still invisible. Always!
4. Hi - vis.
5. Crash pads and helmet, if all else fails.

I wrote a blog article on hi-vis decals limitations for bicycles. People often expect a bit too much of it.

http://www.bike.bikegremlin.com/2015/09/02/bicycle-lights/

Interesting article. I was considering fitting some extra lights and this has convinced me now.

[darrsi]

Saw a car the other day that had yellow lights and my eyes were instantly drawn to the change of colour, so I put some yellow self adhesive film over my lights last night when I got home.

Two people at work have commented on them already, and that was in daylight today with the bike parked up and lights not even on, so I'm hopeful they'll stand out at night as well.
Just a shame I won't get to admire them myself. 

I'll take a photo later to show you.

One side went on a lot smoother than the other, so I may do it again as I have enough to do a few and I'm a fussy bastard.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172030444802?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=470897431106&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT




Photos are a little deceiving regarding brightness as the lights flared them out a bit, but you get the idea.

[hotmetal]

My mate had green headlight protectors on his FZR600R. Even the copper had to admit he saw him coming from miles away (unfortunately). Copper said he could see matey's point that it was safer for him to stand out from the crowd but if everyone had whatever colour headlights matched their vehicle where would we be? I think he would've got away with it if it hadn't been for the text on his number plate saying "Aren't you a nice copper?"

[darrsi]

The photos have degraded even more after putting them on here to be honest, you can hardly see any colour other than on the wall.
Took a bit of getting used to seeing a different beam in front of me on the road and on the rear of cars.
I s'pose you could describe it as stale piss yellow.