Hi-viz - do you bother?

[JulianHJ]

I've been riding a little over 3 years, and I've covered about 15k miles. In that time I've worn an orange hi-viz vest over my jacket. My textile kit is black, as it my helmet and rucksack, and I ride year-round in all weathers. I used to use a hi-viz rucksack cover as well, until I bought a larger bag (Kreiga R30).

The high viz is fading, so I'm considering a replacement, but I'm not sure if it's worth it. I'm on a Tiger 800 with a reasonably tall screen, and I always ride with the fog lights on (no issues with dazzling people).

Do you bother with any hi-viz kit, and if so, what?

[Dr Jekyll]

I do for commuting, a bright green overjacket. For weekend riding, which by preference is on sunny country lanes, I suspect it might be counterproductive.

[CoolHands]

No

[Zarco]

I don't bother. My bike is bright green though.

If I was commuting decent distance everyday I might get something. Quite like the luminous green helmets.

[warch]

I only really use a bike for riding to work. I've never worn a high viz, except whilst under instruction. I don't have a problem with doing so though. I also ride quite a brightly coloured bike.

[patchb]

Never, although if I’ve got my one piece leathers on they are probably brighter than a hi vis!

If I’m riding my Tuono I do have the high beams on however it has black headlight covers so this kinda reduces them to normal headlights. The bike is bright orange.

If I’m riding my ZX6R track bike I have no lights on as it doesn’t have any, however it is bright orange/white with big blue numbers on so pretty visible. This is generally paired with the one piece mentioned above.

If I’m riding my WR250F this only has a low beam, my riding kit is all bright blue/green/white.

I generally try and stay visible without having to resort to wearing a bloody hi vis, my road helmet is white/black/day glow yellow and my off-road lid is bright teal. I think a combo of bright bikes, bright kit and lights is enough. I’m not sure I’d fancy riding about on a black bike with full black kit but I also don’t see the benefit really in wearing a hi vis, I don’t think riders wearing them stand out any more when I’m driving the car...

[bogie]

I dont commute on a bike, I might wear some then. I mostly ride country lanes in lightly populated areas. My regular riding gear does have the odd bit of reflective stuff on it, but mostly black leather jackets and jeans, with black or coloured helmet.

All bikes have default lights on these days, you would have thought that might be enough to see headlights coming towards you

Also plenty of instances of coppers, instructors, blood bikers being knocked off their (hi-viz) bikes with (hi-viz) gear on ....if some drivers really are not even looking what they are doing or paying attention they are not going to see you whatever you are wearing

Edited by bogie on Saturday 9th March 18:35

[PH01]

C'mon Polite, we know you're out there. Now's the time to 'fess up !

[Pothole]

Not really. My lights are always on. My textile st weather jacket has some yellow fillet panels but not much:



actually more than I thought before I found that pic - I don't look at myself in the mirror much! In fair weather I'm usually in a leather jacket and jeans. I have recently bought this, though:

[obscene]

None but I usually have a white lid for commuting to stand out. Also has LED's in it for night use but I forget to charge it up.

[CAPP0]

Think it probably depends on what riding you're doing. I wear a hi-vis overthingy (gilet?) during GMT, i.e. when it's likely to be dark on my commute but ditch it when we're on GMT.

My Arai is also flu yellow, purchased specifically for the commute.

When I was knocked off by someone who said they didn't me, I sent pictures of the helmet and the hi-vis to the insurers and asked exactly how anyone could have not seen me. I won that case - don't know how much difference the pictures made. It didn't stop her knocking me off, mostly because she was looking 180 degrees away from me when she shouldn't have been.

I don't wear any hi viz when I'm out for a general ride, unless I use the Arai.

[Pothole]

Just for clarity the yellow lid is only ever worn with the textiles. I have been using a Nitro Union Jack open face otherwise but just acquired a cheap Biltwell Gringo for evaluation. Damn you wind and rain for holding that up!

[CAPP0]

What's that LS2 lid like? They're dead cheap I believe - any good?

[Pothole]

CAPP0 said:

What's that LS2 lid like? They're dead cheap I believe - any good?

It's OK. I only got it because it was £35 at a show. Once I got a pinlock it was much better. Doesn't vent as well as my last two HJCs and is pretty noisy, but you gets what you pays for. I'll invest in a decent one, probably another HJC flip, in the Autumn.

[wiliferus]

If I’m out for pleasure on a weekend, no, no hi vis. Black leather jacket and jeans.

If I’m commuting then yes I generally wear a hi vis tabard.

I completely accept there’s no logic in that to be fair. My bike is orange though so I don’t exactly blend in.

[Birky_41]

Sometimes I wear my 'Polite' his vis

[GavC88]

I have a blue bike, black textiles and a white lid.

I carry a hi-vis jacket for when it’s rubbish weather, but in reality hardly wear it.

Been riding about 2 years and no issues with not being seen yet

[skahigh]

My bike and my gear is all black, in winter when commuting I wear a yellow hi-vis vest over my jacket, the rest of the time no.

[black-k1]

Road positioning is way way more important than day-glow.

[Billyray911]

I don’t routinely wear high viz and mainly ride in all black textiles with either an R30 or R35 backpack.I have high viz stuff for when the weather is gash and I was bought a lightweight high viz vest that expands to fit over my rucksack too.I look like a ponce in it,but it works well.