To wear Hi-Viz or not to wear Hi Viz!

[RVB1019]

That is today's question.

While visiting the BMW Louisville Dealership, I tried on an XL Olympia AST jacket in Hi Viz Yellow.
http://www.olympiamotosports.com/ast_mens/mensasttouringjacket_neon.jpg

They also had Hi Viz Orange and another jacket was Hi Viz Orange and black.
http://www.olympiamotosports.com/voyager/voyager_red.jpg




While I know the obvious advantages, are there LT riders wearing these day glo colors? I felt silly wearing them in the store.

Yes, safety first but the Kilimangro has the same protection and it doesn't scream looky me like the ASTs.

Go Hi Viz Yellow or Orange or the Killi? You thoughts?

[PMitchell]

Rob,
It's a personal choice. I could give a rat's a** what others may think when they see me coming! At least they see me! :yeah:

[info]

Hi viz yellow here.
Not looking for a fashion statement.
Ever notice the road workers with hi viz clothing?
Most people do.

[SilverBuffalo]

When you see it going down the road it doesn't look silly (in my opinion)

in fact I think it looks pretty cool,
maybe next time I buy gear it might be high vis,
Will it help? I don't know, some of em don't see trains coming!

[mark1rob]

We have the yellow in the Joe Rocket Phoenix. The main reason we picked the color was to be more visable on the road. And oh yah, it does look kinda cool.

[dmatson]

I think the Olympia gear is very nice in any color, the hard part is to try and pose like those guys.

[Gino]

Go Hi Viz Yellow or Orange or the Killi? You thoughts?

I'll be in the market to replace my jacket before the end of the year and have made the decision to go with the hi-viz yellow stuff (and probably helmet color to match :D ).

I got sick of all the "blacks" and "greys" for gear a while back (I currently wear red helmet/jacket combo) - and anything extra to add to my visibility get's my money this next time around.

[Heracleitus]

Both my wife and I love the visibility of our jackets. It is a comforting feeling knowing that we stick out like a sore thumb. :)

[brianbeemer]

In winter we wear red and in summer SWMBO wears yellow and I wear red. Choice of colours only because of what was in stock at the right size at the time! The bike is also bright red and has additional reflective strips on the panniers (always on), plus high level brake etc etc. Anything to be seen...

[Steve_R]

I saw 4 on the way to CCR, one on an LT, one on R1200CLC and two on Harleys and let me tell you it DID NOT sneak up on you. :eek: At CCR I saw more rider and pillions coming in on them. Me, I like them. It will be the next jacket I buy. Plus it will meet the Hi-Viz/reflective requirement when I go on military installations on the bike for work or PGR missions alone.

OBTW, it is a fashion statement for me, I LOVE to be seen. :D

[hschisler]

I think the hi-viz colors are a great idea, and do increase one's visibility on the road. Combine some reflective patches or striping and they work at night, too. Some people don't like the bright colors, but to each is own.

BTW, who is that distinguished gentleman on the left in Paul's photo? :)

http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14718

[pkpr1998]

I saw 4 on the way to CCR, one on an LT, one on R1200CLC and two on Harleys and let me tell you it DID NOT sneak up on you. :eek: At CCR I saw more rider and pillions coming in on them. Me, I like them. It will be the next jacket I buy. Plus it will meet the Hi-Viz/reflective requirement when I go on military installations on the bike for work or PGR missions alone.

OBTW, it is a fashion statement for me, I LOVE to be seen. :D


Show off! :p

[PMitchell]

I think the hi-viz colors are a great idea, and do increase one's visibility on the road. Combine some reflective patches or striping and they work at night, too. Some people don't like the bright colors, but to each is own.

BTW, who is that distinguished gentleman on the left in Paul's photo? :)

http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14718

WELL, since you asked it's Howie, and to the right, Just Joe & Michael. BTW, I got a hair cut since that photo . . . looked a bit bushy around the ears! :histerica

[jorawro]

I purchased the Olympia in high viz yellow and love it. As was said earlier - there is no way to sneak up on somebody!!

[Brian-NC]

Go with the brightest, loudest thing you can find. Try this next time you're out driving your car. Look for motorcycles, tell me what you see. About the best you can do is seeing the headlight, followed by the helmet, then the upper chest area.

Until the helmet makers start making Hi-Viz solid helmets, I'll be wearing Hi-Viz jacket and or traffic vests. The only color helmet that I recommend is, solid white or (2nd choice) solid yellow. In fact, a study done in Europe several years ago indicated that you would increase your visibility by 25 % if you wear a solid, white helmet. I'm convinced. If you can't spring for new, Hi-Viz jacket, try one of the vests out there on the market. Olympia, Icon both make a nice one. There's a lot of cheaper traffic vests on the market too. Try www.ridesafer.com and www.visionvests.com.

In regards to visiblity, I read a quote in the last issue of ON that I liked, "you never hear a driver say, I didn't hear him coming, it's always, I didn't see him".

We should try to make ourselves as visually loud as possible. We all know the story on so called, "loud pipes" right?

Brian

[NOGILLS2]

When Miss E and I were setting up gear, She wanted yellow, I wanted black. So as with most things we compromised.

[Steve_R]

Yep. Miss E can be seen and you can't. And that's a good thing. :D

[Sereman]

That is today's question.

While visiting the BMW Louisville Dealership, I tried on an XL Olympia AST jacket in Hi Viz Yellow.
http://www.olympiamotosports.com/ast_mens/mensasttouringjacket_neon.jpg

They also had Hi Viz Orange and another jacket was Hi Viz Orange and black.
http://www.olympiamotosports.com/voyager/voyager_red.jpg




While I know the obvious advantages, are there LT riders wearing these day glo colors? I felt silly wearing them in the store.

Yes, safety first but the Kilimangro has the same protection and it doesn't scream looky me like the ASTs.

Go Hi Viz Yellow or Orange or the Killi? You thoughts?


The best piece of gear I have ever invested in>

[Patdcop]

I have always carried a small dry bag on top of my top rack wrapped with a Hi-Viz vest and I have a white bandana tied to it so it flaps in the breeze.

[DaveDragon]

I have High Viz Diamond Grade Reflective Tape all over the the GS and LT.
My Tourmaster Jacket as well as the Mesh Jacket has High Viz Reflective Piping all over it.
I also have High Viz Tape on my Helmet.

[tvolk]

I am going with a hi-vis yellow next time I can rationalize getting a new jacket. The problem for me now is that my AeroStich Darien just will not wear out.

[Hallen12]

The following is cut and pasted from my posting June 2007 on the MOA Reader's Forum; I still feel the AST is the way to go. The AST without the liner jacket is superior to the Airglide in a hard rain in the summer; unless you live in a northern tier state you will be way too hot in the Airglide in a summer rain, since you have to wear the underjacket to keep you dry inside the outer mesh jacket. However, the mesh Airglide without its liner jacket is much cooler in summer (non-rain) conditions than the AST (when worn without its liner jacket and all vents open). I wear the AST as long as I can into late spring (NJ), then I switch to the Airglide when it gets above 85F.

June, 2007:
I am probably, other than the Olympia management and staff, one of the few riders who owns both the Airglide and AST jackets, his'n hers, each.

Both are excellent, although my wife feels self-conscious in the iridescent green AST jacket (tough).

IMHO the green AST is a superior jacket for visibility in low light (dusk, fog) conditions, and is easier to convert to rain mode (don't have to take it off to put something hot and waterproof under it; the outer jacket is the rain barrier). I wear mine with the Ranger pants. The AST is not a good choice in humid conditions above 85 - 90 F, though. However, earlier this spring it saved me while walking across a gas station apron to go inside - without the hi-viz jacket, I would have become a hood ornament on a 15 mph Corvette that nailed his brakes when he saw the jacket.

The Airglide relies on a waterproof (yes, it really is) under jacket/pants, as it is mesh, and therefore superior in humid weather above 85 - 90 F. With the underjacket and pants it's good down to 30 F at 75 mph, and at 65 years young, I'm farly cold-blooded. I got the AST jackets because at 30 F the Airglide noticelably leaks cold air a little at the bottom rear, where it joins the pants. Had I bought the bushwacker with a skirted bottom like the female Airglide, I wouldn't have had to buy the AST, however I like the hi-viz aspect of the AST. 04/2008: Since this original posting I had a close encounter with an SUV in a gas station; we both pulled away at the same time, and they nailed the brakes when the iridescent green caught their eye. My bad.

[DaveDragon]

While at STC I picked up an Olympia Neon Red High-Viz Vest for $69.00 minus 15% discount, from Tellico Motorcycle Outfitters (http://www.tellicomoto.com/).

Great little store with a nice selection of gear.

[RVB1019]

I think it was Steve Rowe who purchased perhaps an even more versatile jacket than the Air Glide- the GT Air All Seasons Transition Jacket.

It has panels that fold in that allows for air flow like the AirGlide but on cooler days, simply zip up these panels and you have a increased warmth. Add the liner and insulated vest, and he was comfortable in the mid 40's.


He reported that the Hi Viz Orange was clearly visible by other riders on the Cherohala Skyway from miles away.

http://www.olympiamotosports.com/gt_air/gt_air_2008.jpg

[ez_rdr55]

I have mixed feelings about being seen. Yes the cartards will see you, but then there's that whole target fixation thing...It gives them something to aim at!

[Tandemfusion]

I bought a GT Air Transitions about 6 weeks ago. Thus far it has proven to be a great design.

My LT is my daily commuter and at least in these parts that often means going to work when it is 30 to 35 degrees out and going home when it is 60 or more. With all three parts (thermal and waterproof liners and outer jacket) it is fine down in the low thirties (hasn't been colder than that since I bought it, but it felt VERY good at those tems). Shedding the thermal layer and the waterproof layer it's comfortable as it warms up. Above 75 or so zipping down the panels keeps it comfortbale up in the 80's. (Once the real heat its I suspect it's back to my Vanson Ventmax and the Frogg Toggs for rain.)

For me the versatility of one jacket not just working but working well across a range of temps and conditions was the reason for the purchase. The hi-viz green is a real plus as well.

[DaveDragon]

I think THIS is much better than the one below.

http://www.photoreflect.com/prbin/prpv.dll?photo?s=0&i=04RK00OA000199&p=&e=
http://www.photoreflect.com/prbin/prpv.dll?photo?s=0&i=04RK00OC010032&p=&e=

[NeoSirfir]

Personally like the Aerostitch Roadcrafter 1 piece suit in black...but with Hi-Viz yellow on shoulders, elbows, knees and forearms. Also all the other reflective bits are good. Get a lot of good stares and smart a$$ comments, but my response is "You saw me, didn't you?" That's really the point. Hi Viz ist gut!

[hschisler]

I bought the Olympia hi-viz yellow vest at Tellico Motorcycle Outfitters during STC last week. Same unit as Dave's, but the other color. Rode to work today with it on and a guy at the office said he saw me a mile away. That's the whole point...

[Sharkey]

I bought one of Olympias Hi vis vests. You can wear it with any jacket. I had to get one for self defence. When my wife bought her Spyder on our first long ride together I almost got run off the road twice. Had to knock on one ladys window to get her attention.