Hi-Vis - interesting article on preferences

[Muzz]

On the pushbike I wear Hi-Viz, either any of my bike shirts (one is so bad the name of it when sold was "ugly" , sure is different) or a Hi-Viz over vest on normal clothes.  Interesting comment about not being seen.  Over 8 years after our earthquake and orange road cones still role the roost.  A lot of people, me included, have decided to go to that eye catching luminous yellow-green so that you can be separated from being yet another road cone.

On the Guzzi I just wear my riding suit which is grey and black.  it does have luminous strips and piping which really do show up at night.

[Two Checks]

Wth is a pushbike?
A HD?

[bad Chad]

I have noticed that how one sets Hi beams makes a ton of difference.   Setting Hi beams too high for day lite driving sucks.  But I do think and have see lights set so that HB could be run in day light with out being offensive, but still garnering  attention.  It can be done, and work pretty well.

[Kiwi Dave]

Wth is a pushbike?
A HD?

A bicycle with pedals that propel you when you push on them.   

[Two Checks]

Quote from: Kiwi Dave on Today at 06:30:41 PM

A bicycle with pedals that propel you when you push on them.   

Why not call it what it is-a bicycle?

[SmithSwede]

I’ll offer my considered opinion.   I’m not arguing with anyone.  We’re all adults and if you want to wear all black that’s fine with me. 

I think Hi Viz provides a significant safety benefit.   But obviously not 100%.   It is true that dingbats manage to hit huge firetrucks with flashing lights, hi-viz, and the whole schmear.

I have never owned a helmet other than a plain, solid white one.  I think this is considerably more visible, and you get the benefit of people thinking you are a cop. 

I wear an engineer’s hi-viz vest over my gear.   $9.   It’s mostly orange since I think that orange is more visible to the eye compared to yellow.   But I hedge my bets because my vest usually has decent sized yellow stripes on it too. 

The reflective stuff makes a huge difference at night or in bad weather.

My evidence?  Well, people seem to notice me much better in traffic when I wear this gear.   I’ve also had my wife or daughters follow me home on various occasions, and they report that I’m very, very much more visible wearing the high viz. 

Related comment.  Unlike most people, I have rejected the social custom that it is somehow rude or déclassé to use your horn.   I make liberal use of a loud horn.   If some situation is getting hincky, or I’m giving more than about 1/2 seconds worth of attention to somebody who looks like they are going to Do Dumb, then I’m on the horn.   I am convinced that being aggressive on the horn has saved me dozens of times.    Sure, I’m totally prepared to aggressively brake or steer too, but the horn is the opening gambit.   Blast them with sound waves.    Make them hesitate or take a second look or get HOOA.   After the “rude” sonic treatment you can always give them a friendly wave or an Aw Shucks grin, now that they didn’t kill you. 

I also a huge fan of the SMIDSY weave.  I do that all the time and again strongly believe it makes a difference. 

[Kev m]

Along those lines.

I think nothing is black and white.

Nothing is a panacea.

Wearing brighter colors may help, but (assuming your lights are working) wearing dark ones might not actually hurt.

Reflective materials seem to me to be a free one...I don't know where the downside is.

High beams are definitely annoying, the benefit may outweigh the few target fixated ones or road ragers, but by how much and at what cost to general hatred of our kind?

Same goes for headlight modulators and brake pulsators, though perhaps a little less hatred and a little more stupid target fixators or dumbass ooppssers.

Bottom line, there are many tools in the box, any one might save us or cost us, but likely the biggest inputs are fate plus our own actions (attentiveness).

[Ryan]

Just bought a new jacket, hi-res was the reason why. And I often ride with my high-beam on during the day. They have to see me to bitch about me.

[Two Checks]

Nothing like blinding oncoming drivers with high beams. They do that during daytime, too. They will darn sure see you but nothing else.

[Kiwi Dave]

Quote from: Kiwi Dave on Today at 06:30:41 PM

A bicycle with pedals that propel you when you push on them.   

Why not call it what it is-a bicycle?

Why not call what you're riding a motorbicycle?

[ampm7]

I wore yellow types of jackets for years along with a yellow accented helmet. I also used my hi-beam (gen 1 FZ1) but lowered it a bit so that wasn't blinding to oncoming traffic or behind someone as it is somewhat like an animal being blinded by the light and it disorients them. Just use my low beam and spots on my Harley. Now when I am on familiar roads and in the winter (SoCal), I will wear my black leather and sometimes a black helmet or a hi-viz one depending on which day of the week and how much traffic there is but when on a long trip I will wear a hi-viz vest. I have been down before and no amount of hi-viz would have kept me from going down. I think situational awareness is the most important thing and not doing something stupid is next. Hi-viz definitely helps especially on gray days and knowing how to get out of a situation and steering through a slide is most important.

[Furbo]

As an MSF Rider Coach and Rider Coach Trainer, I preached HiViz for years, but personally put no stock in it at all for all the reasons previously mentioned. Until.

I rode up to SE England to do a Rider Coach Prep for the US Air Force and saw many local riders wearing traffic yellow helmets. The thing about them was that the movement of the riders head, when looking right-left, etc combined with the bright color really caught the eye. 

I've been wearing them since and made sure my son had one when he started street riding. Cant recall how many times riding partners have remarked on how easy it was to follow me because of the way the lid stood out.

[Cam3512]

I wear various hi viz clothing, to include dry bags.  I realize I notice other bikers wearing it, it just catches my eye.  Look at it this way, it can't hurt.  If leather vests and sleeveless Sturgis T-shirts are your thing, thanks I need a laugh.

[Two Checks]

Quote from: Kiwi Dave on December 24, 2019, 02:20:32 PM

Why not call what you're riding a motorbicycle?

When you were a kid did you say pushbike or bicycle?

As for the hi viz shirts they have become fashionable. Wearing one makes you look like you work outside rather than at a computer.

When I worked at MODoT we didn't have any vests or anything else to make us stand out in a crowd. But we got $35 a month "metro area bonus" which was actually like military combat area pay.

[averb]

Quote from: Kiwi Dave on December 24, 2019, 02:20:32 PM

Why not call what you're riding a motorbicycle?

When you were a kid did you say pushbike or bicycle?

Pushbike

[bad Chad]

I doubt headlight modulators piss people off, assuming they are used as designed and acting on the low beam.  I used to ride with one, and don't recall having anybody give me grief over it, aside from other bikers who just didn't like the idea.   I have seen dozens of them in use over the years and not once did I think they were two bright.  In most cases I did notice them far sooner than I would have a standard headlight, because they were modulating, which caught my attention!   They work by cycling the voltage from 100% to 50% repeatedly, they do not turn the light on and off.    I did occasionally have people ask if my headlight was working correctly, and once in a great while I would notice vehicles seemingly pulling out of my way, I assume they were mistaking me for a motor cop.   I did get a kick out that.

[wirespokes]

I think headlight modulators were even recommended in the Hurt Report. As I recall, they're legal in all states, and they've never irritated me when I've seen them. They also save electricity which is a good thing considering the old bikes I ride with minimal charging systems. One of these days I'll have to wire one up.

[Two Checks]

Modulating the voltage by 100% IS turning the headlight off.
Iirc state laws only allow the voltage to be modulated a certain percentage.
It does reduce bulb filament life.

[wirespokes]

I've heard it doesn't reduce filament life. I've also heard of using a turn signal flasher - hard to imagine getting pulled over for the headlight not flashing strictly per law.

[slowmover]

I wear an orange vest everytime and if I forget it I come right back for it. I know it makes a big difference because I’ve seen the double take and the attention I get as opposed to without it.It also helps I wear a white helmet and a black jacket with patches.On the black Stone the impression is I’m the law which really focuses them.As to the vest, my ego is not so in control that I care what I look like vs safety.As a late friend said “what do I care what I look like I can’t see me”.I disagree with the green over the blaze orange.When I was a utility worker there was certain vegetation that the limey-green blended in perfectly if the sun was out. I argued with OSHA that if green was better why didn’t hunters use it and why are construction barriers orange?

[JohninVT]

Headlight modulators are incredibly annoying.  I think they should be banned.  Same with riding with your high beams on.  The point is to be visible, not to annoy and distract other motorists.  I think that sort of approach to riding is counterproductive.  I always assume I am invisible to everyone on the road(except the po po). 

I don’t wear hi-viz jackets but I do like reflective piping on them.  I tend to use brightly colored, hi-viz or white helmets and gloves.  My reasoning is that my head and hands are what are moving on the bike as I ride.  That’s especially true approaching intersections.  My head is swiveling, my hands are moving around on the bars and I almost always do the SMIDSY weave.  Yes, I’m sure a hi-viz twatsuit(my favorite Roper-ism ever) would be even more visible.  I’m still not going to wear one. 

[wolfeguitars]

My goal is to look as much like Ronald McDonald as I can when riding.

I was T-Boned 3 weeks back while driving my pickup by an illegal alien guy who admitted he was reading a text & not paying attention!  I was actually prepping to ride my Cali sidecar rig BUT was wary of possible rain. Good thing! It was a somewhat light "smack"  but & was moving at 25mph & the light damage was on most of the rt side. Still $2200 damage....but I was glad I left the bike at home. Could've been much worse!

[twowheeladdict]

You could be wearing a bright clowns suit with flashing lights and bright streamers, and the cage drivers still wouldn't see you.

I don't think they want to see you.   

Extra lighting, and Hi-Vis will give those that are at least trying to look for hazards a better chance of seeing you.  You still have to ride like you are invisible.  If you do that you lessen your chances of someone hitting you. 

I wear Hi-vis when I do, and not when I don't.  Really depends on where I am planning on riding and what time of year.  Hi-Viz works better on overcast and rainy days than it does on bright sunny days.  My rain gear is Hi-Vis. 

[bad Chad]

Modulators only work by cycling from normal voltage to half.  They do not get any brighter than the headlight would be if it were just on without a modulator.

I ran one for several years and didn't have to change the bulb. Just my experience.

I think I'll get another one soon.  I felt it garnered more notice than Hy Viz,  especially now that so many trades are now required to wear them.  The more Hy Viz around, the less people will notice it.

[centauro]

I have noticed that how one sets Hi beams makes a ton of difference.   Setting Hi beams too high for day lite driving sucks.  But I do think and have see lights set so that HB could be run in day light with out being offensive, but still garnering  attention.  It can be done, and work pretty well.
[/quote

+1!
With original spec wattage bulbs, High Beams are not bothersome to oncoming traffic, but should not be used at night in traffic.
I have been doing this for several years.
As an added benefit, on our older machines (T, T-3, SP, G5, etc.) you have also noticed that the Flash button on your bar switch flashes the LOW Beam. This feature allows the Low beam to flash while the High beam is on. Therefore, if your high beam is on during the day, it can be supplemented with a quick flash  every now and then to either signal your intentions or presence, as needed. Now, If your Hi beam is on on a dark deserted road at night, the flash feature could give you some momentary extra light before approaching a curve or low visibility area.

[Gusable]

I always wear hi viz jacket. The exception is my tan darien jacket and it’s got reflective bits on it.  I also always use my high beam and my aux lights.  When your in your cage and you see a Moto coming at you from far away, and he’s all lit up with Moto lights” down on the front axle— it looks like a spaceship and I can see that triangle of lights from FAR off.  When they knock you down your lawyer can argue “ there’s no way they didn’t see my client”

[Two Checks]

"Your Honor, I couldn't see him because his lights blinded me".


MO law states headlights must be dimmed within 500 ft of oncoming vehicles and 300 when following.
This includes daytime.

[Ryan]

This board is riddled with comments about weak headlights and how to improve night visibility. Now suddenly my headlight that isn't adequate in the dead of night is going to be blinding at high noon? I hate miss-aimed lights, lifted trucks, and morons who can't be bothered to dim their high beams at night. Unless it is a dreary, overcast and dark day, I never have been blinded by an oncoming headlight. Next time the sun is shining, I'll park the Stelvio with the high beam on and walk towards it. If the light blinds me, I will stop using it. If not, it stays on during the day. Before daytime running lights lit up every car on the road, we stood out. Now we blend into the background of other vehicles. One of the cues people unconsciously use to judge distance is the space between the lights. With only one, we are often overlooked as being farther away than we are. Brightness seems to substitute for the space between lights and makes me register as a vehicle in their immediate vicinity, and I will use that to my advantage.

[oldbike54]

 ^^^

 Let's parse this out a bit . On an overcast day the pupils in our eyes will be dilated , so high beams will present a huge contrast in brightness . Sudden change in the amount of light entering the human eye can cause a form of temporary blindness . On a really bright day our pupils will be contracted , so the sudden change in brightness will not cause the same effect .

 Dusty

[Lannis]

No way anyone's headlights ever blinded an oncoming driver in the daylight, don't care what the law says. ....