What's the deal with black?

[AJ Huff]

There are way more black helmets for sale. I feel fortunate to find a red and white helmet that I think is going to work out.

Today I stopped into a shop to try on a jacket because I cant for the life of me find mine..Pretty sure I have a First Gear Kilamanjaro (sp?) in wine. Well nothing at the store. (Only saw 2 helmets in the store my size. Much more difficult shopping when all you have is online). Look online and ALL of the options in my size are black. WHY! Black is hot..And I think less visibility. Seems crazy that this is the top color out there.

-AJ

[JJ]

There are way more black helmets for sale. I feel fortunate to find a red and white helmet that I think is going to work out.

Today I stopped into a shop to try on a jacket because I cant for the life of me find mine..Pretty sure I have a First Gear Kilamanjaro (sp?) in wine. Well nothing at the store. (Only saw 2 helmets in the store my size. Much more difficult shopping when all you have is online). Look online and ALL of the options in my size are black. WHY! Black is hot..And I think less visibility. Seems crazy that this is the top color out there.

-AJ

ANYTHING "black" in Arizona is not really a very good idea....

[Tom H]

For helmets. I really don't like black or white ones. Silver works, but that color has limited models. If you have a helmet you like, go online to one of the places like J & P Cycle or Cycle Gear. See if they list your brand and model, then look at the sizing chart. A small may be a medium in another brand. Also they usually have the shape of the helmet shown as well.

Jackets you really need to try on or know the brand and model that fits you best. Some may be perfect around the body, too short arms and vise versa. Look at reviews and even contact the mfgr to see if they can tell you the sizes.

Tom

[Kev m]

I don't remember what forum I was on when I helmet sales rep pointed out that helmets (hard shells with foam liners) are insulating like coolers.

As such shell color often doesn't have much an affect on wearer head temperature.

This guy took multiple helmets, put them in the sun for a while, and took temperature measurements on the inside of the liners.

Prior to that I often bought white helmets assuming they would be cooler. But now I have a variety of colors, including black, and I've not noticed any real difference.

Though I agree brighter still equals more visible.

[JayDee24ca]

I want a snazzy H&B open faced helmet in sparking metal-flake red, like I had in high school! It was da BOMB!

[twowheeladdict]

There are way more black helmets for sale. I feel fortunate to find a red and white helmet that I think is going to work out.

Today I stopped into a shop to try on a jacket because I cant for the life of me find mine..Pretty sure I have a First Gear Kilamanjaro (sp?) in wine. Well nothing at the store. (Only saw 2 helmets in the store my size. Much more difficult shopping when all you have is online). Look online and ALL of the options in my size are black. WHY! Black is hot..And I think less visibility. Seems crazy that this is the top color out there.

-AJ

Black is a good starting point for a custom paintjob. 

I used to paint match my helmets to the bike before I learned about the 5 year rule.  Now I keep my helmets inside when not using and buy a new one when I buy a new bike. 

[kingoffleece]

I've seen several studies with the conclusion that white helmets are most visible-so I wear while.  Plus, my Guzzi decals look great on them!

[Guzzi Gal]

At least you're not stuck with helmets that have crapy graphics because your size is XXS.

[Alfetta]

At least you're not stuck with helmets that have crapy graphics because your size is XXS.

i would buy a sock hat and wear it under the next size up helmet before i would don that cap..!!

MAN UP

[moto-uno]

 ^  That's probably the best graphic'd (is that a word ?) helmet I've seen in quite some time :) . Peter

[AJ Huff]

Oh,.too many years in a hard hat where no painting or stickers were allowed.for safety reasons..I didn't think I could comfortably cover a motorcycle helmet.

-AJ

[AJ Huff]

I don't remember what forum I was on when I helmet sales rep pointed out that helmets (hard shells with foam liners) are insulating like coolers.

As such shell color often doesn't have much an affect on wearer head temperature.

This guy took multiple helmets, put them in the sun for a while, and took temperature measurements on the inside of the liners.

Prior to that I often bought white helmets assuming they would be cooler. But now I have a variety of colors, including black, and I've not noticed any real difference.

Though I agree brighter still equals more visible.

That's a good data point on the helmets Kev. I can let the black helmet issue go then but the jacket issue pisses me off. Why are they all black!! I'm only looking at textile. I can understand black leathers.

-AJ

[Guzzistajohn]

I like a white helmet. Mostly because everyone else has a black one!

[Kev m]

That's a good data point on the helmets Kev. I can let the black helmet issue go then but the jacket issue pisses me off. Why are they all black!! I'm only looking at textile. I can understand black leathers.

-AJ

I'm with ya. I've never had a black textile jacket for that reason. Currently gray and high vis yellow on the good one.

[Guzzistajohn]

I prefer not wearing black OR grey, Blends in with pavement.

[SmithSwede]

I have never worn anything but a white helmet in 40 years of riding.   Pretty sure if I got a non-white helmet now I’d get killed within six months

[Guzzistajohn]

I have never worn anything but a white helmet in 40 years of riding.   Pretty sure if I got a non-white helmet now I’d get killed within six months

It's gotten to be like a ritual for me. If it's good enough for Gene........

[PeteS]

With closeout items black and white are usually the last to go. I wanted to replace my HJC 3/4 helmet and that model was being closed out. The only one I was able to find in my size was black, my first.

Pete

[Ncdan]

I've seen several studies with the conclusion that white helmets are most visible-so I wear while.  Plus, my Guzzi decals look great on them!

You are absolutely right, the reason most all LE agencies issue white helmets to their motor officers.

[SmithSwede]

That’s also a good point.   More than once people have told me they thought I was a cop on my bike.  Only thing I can figure is the V7 is white and black, and my helmet is white.

I’m not complaining. 

[Seventy One]

 My first helmet was silver. My first bike was black and grey. My first jacket was grey and black. Cars pulled out in front of me on a weekly basis. I was very close to giving up riding in my first summer. Then I got a white helmet and a hi-vis jacket and all that changed.

I still wear white helmets but now wear a black Aerostich two-piece. I don't think jacket color makes much difference but the white helmet sure does.

Local shop doesn't carry any white helmets because, as they told me, "we can't sell 'em".

[Dharma Bum]

I normally ride with a white Bilt modular but for around town in the summer I have an HJC three quarter in black.  Decided to "make it more visible " this winter.

[slowmover]

I don’t care what I look like. I can’t see me. White is the safest so that’s what I wear.

[AJ Huff]

If I can't find my jacket this week I'm going to look into maybe Olympia. the Dakar jacket comes in pretty light gray. I think black is just too hot. It's physics. It's like the motorcycle gear companies don't ride motorcycles.

-AJ

[AJ Huff]

Anyone familiar with Sedici jackets?

-AJ

[Kev m]

If I can't find my jacket this week I'm going to look into maybe Olympia. the Dakar jacket comes in pretty light gray. I think black is just too hot. It's physics. It's like the motorcycle gear companies don't ride motorcycles.

-AJ

What brands are you looking at?

Klim and Stich both come in multiple colors.

As I thought a lot of other brands do, though I don't pay as much attention, but I thought there were color options from REVit,, Tour Master, Icon, Alpinestars, Dainese, etc.

Yeah some of them have all black options and many of them have black panels along with colors, but lots are brighter too

https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle-jackets-vests?query=Jackets

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

Ya'll telling me WHITE is more visible than my ugly loud Shoei???  Oh no! Thats the only reason I settled on this color!

[Vagrant]

I saw a guy in Az a couple of months ago with a florescent orange helmut. 10 time the visibility of anything I have ever seen.

If you bring that Minnesota black "Stitch" to Georgia it will be up  for sale on the first 80 degree day.

[Bisbonian]

Black is stylish for many people and there is only so much space in a store.

The Hurt Report showed white helmets to be under-represented in crash statistics. How you interpret that data is up to you. I choose to believe better riders choose white helmets and they are more aware of their surroundings.

[AJ Huff]

What brands are you looking at?

Klim and Stich both come in multiple colors.

As I thought a lot of other brands do, though I don't pay as much attention, but I thought there were color options from REVit,, Tour Master, Icon, Alpinestars, Dainese, etc.

Yeah some of them have all black options and many of them have black panels along with colors, but lots are brighter too

https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle-jackets-vests?query=Jackets

Unfortunately I am constrained by jacket size and colors other than black aren't available in all sizes.

-AJ