High Visibility jacket or vest

[Jeannot]

I will be doing some commuting with my new acquired bike, driving back on the motorway at around 02:00am, I am thinking to buy some high visibility jacket/vest to put over my jacket. Can anyone recommend one (I would like to avoid the velcro fastening if possible), thanks

JC

 

[gscommuter]

I will be doing some commuting with my new acquired bike, driving back on the motorway at around 02:00am, I am thinking to buy some high visibility jacket/vest to put over my jacket. Can anyone recommend one (I would like to avoid the velcro fastening if possible), thanks

JC

Most m/c shops or market stalls ell the hi vis vest with zips. Or if oyu want to go the whole hog try an Icon vest. http://www.motorcycleinfo.co.uk/index.cfm?fa=contentGeneric.twhhyjzpxapzkouq&pageId=99925
Look well made, but should given their price. Bumped into a guy with one who rated it highly.

 

[Wicker]

Try e-bay. Various ex-police issue hi-viz surplus for sale which tends to be better quality than some of the workwear available from local markets, etc.

 

[Zed Zed]

icon

can recommend this reflective waist coat

no flapping in the wind

appears well made zip feels strong !

any questions pm me

 

[Slowdown]

can recommend this reflective waist coat

no flapping in the wind

appears well made zip feels strong !

any questions pm me

Quick question: Linky or piccy?

 

[Jeannot]

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Most m/c shops or market stalls ell the hi vis vest with zips. Or if oyu want to go the whole hog try an Icon vest. http://www.motorcycleinfo.co.uk/inde...q&pageId=99925
Look well made, but should given their price. Bumped into a guy with one who rated it highly.
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Looks nice but at £50 a bit pricey. Only $55 dollars in the US...
JC

 

[Steptoe]

=Jeannot;1424622

Looks nice but at £50 a bit pricey. Only $55 dollars in the US...
JC

If your worried about price, put a traffic cone on your head.

 

[Jeannot]

If your worried about price, put a traffic cone on your head.

Yes I may try that...

Wish I had a bottomless wallet (and yes I know my safety is priceless before you say). Just spend £2,500 + £420 on equipment, so yes I am looking after my hard earned pennies.

JC

 

[AxeGrinder]

If I wanted to wear a hi viz thingy...I'd put on a nylon work vest...

If these are good enough for novice road racers to travel at 170+ miles an hour, then they're good enough for me!

If it falls apart, it costs about £1 to replace...

Personally I think it's all a waste of time...My Father was killed riding in the dark with a bright blue xenon headlight approaching straight at his killer...If someones not goin to L@@K, it doesn't make any difference if your wearing matt black or an electric blue neon light suit!

 

[mike wright]

can recommend this reflective waist coat

no flapping in the wind

appears well made zip feels strong !

any questions pm me

I have one and its good quality..doesnt make you look like a road worker on the way home and definately made people look twice on a few occassions. I still ride with the same safety but it seems to help.

 

[EggChaser]

I go a Sam Brown style hi viz belt with shoulder strap from
http://www.beseenonabike.com

However looks like their website is down at the moment

just for infor website is really a cycling one that happens to have a view items that are appropriate for motorcycles as well - stickers, hi vis armbands and clothing etc.

As I have one of their e-mail addresses from buying through them will send them an e-mail to warn about the site.

 

[Steptoe]

...

Personally I think it's all a waste of time...My Father was killed riding in the dark with a bright blue xenon headlight approaching straight at his killer...If someones not goin to L@@K, it doesn't make any difference if your wearing matt black or an electric blue neon light suit!

My sentiments entirely - i never wear dayglo/hi-vis or with my headlights on during the day, i ride as if no one has seen me, which obviously they don't . And i don't have many "moments" at all.

 

[richie]

My sentiments entirely - i never wear dayglo/hi-vis or with my headlights on during the day, i ride as if no one has seen me, which obviously they don't . And i don't have many "moments" at all.

My sentiments almost - I do wear High viz jacket except its now fairly black. But agree with always thinking that I am invisible to most drivers.

Every little helps however

 

[V2 TRV]

I dont wear it at all - I wanna look cool as I try my emergency stops

 

[tyclyd]

I found these the best...

I used to wear a Hein Gerrick High Vis jacket but have moved away form that and like you wanted a easy to use high vis overjacket. I found that the 1894000 Element II Hi-Vis Coat Yellow from Arco;

http://www.arco.co.uk/products/1894000/119387/Element_II_Hi-Vis_Coat_Yellow

Was one of the best and locally they are around £15. Completely waterproof, zipped (not velcro), i removed the liner and hood and it has been great. Not the most stylish but anything that may just give you the edge is good in my opinion.

Gary

 

[bowser]

Hi Viz

Just remember when wearing your hi viz that in most cases it does not actually make you more visible to other vehicles. Hi Viz was developed for people working on or close to roads, so they could be seen in the headlights of vehicles, not riding a motorcycle.

I you ride a bike and especially if you have your lights on it is almost impossible to see the hi viz bits of the jacket anyway, in addition they are reflective NOT illuminated I make this point as they only reflect back light.

Most common kind of accident is T bone, with car pulling out into path or side of bike, if the headlights of the car are not pointing at you they wont be reflecting any light back at the driver.

Head on accident not so common, with you driving toward a car with headlights on any extra reflection from a Hi Viz is negligible.

Only time Hi Viz makes a real difference is when a vehicle is following you, and in 20 years of policing I have never seen an accident where a bike has been hit up the chuff where not seeing the vehicle was an issue, it is normally the driver of the vehicle behind knows you are there but just does not appreciate you have slowed down or stopped, and fails to brake in time.

This is not to say don't wear one or that it wont help at all, but just be aware that it is not as efficient at making you visible as you think it is. personally I would say the cost of the hi viz would be better spent on better or more lights (or both).

But again remember that being seen is NOT the main reason bikes get taken out, even when drivers say "I didn't see you" they generally have and what they really mean is I saw you but completely misjudged how fast you were traveling so pulled out anyway, even at slow speeds most drivers judge motorcycles to be further away and traveling slower than they really are.

You need to assume that every vehicle will pull out into your path every time and ride accordingly, Its a sad fact that with most of us and I include myself in this, better thinking is far more important than better equipment !!!!

 

[FatAl]

I have to agree with Axegrinder, steptoe and bowser on this, if they don't look properly they won't see you, no matter what you're wearing or lights you have on. It didn't help me in broad daylight on a white and dayglo police bike with lights on, plus white helmet and dayglo jacket. ( an airbag in the fuel tank might have helped though ) It's best to treat everyone out there as a blind fool.

 

[Slowdown]

I got rammed from behind while wearing a hi-vis jacket by a 17 yr old. On a roundabout during daylight hours too It wasn't her first time either! (....insert innuendo here.....)

It's what Steptoe says really - only I can't turn my lights off. They'll pull out on you no matter what you're wearing.

Wearing a dayglow jacket does make you feel a bit more sanctimonious though when you're filling out the accident/claims forms.

 

[bowser]

I have to agree with Axegrinder, steptoe and bowser on this, if they don't look properly they won't see you, no matter what you're wearing or lights you have on. It didn't help me in broad daylight on a white and dayglo police bike with lights on, plus white helmet and dayglo jacket. ( an airbag in the fuel tank might have helped though ) It's best to treat everyone out there as a blind fool.

lucky I was not on it at the time, but traffic at a stand still, big white marked police motorcycle parked in the road blue lights on, mine tape everywhere car came accross junction and hit the bike at about 20mph, "I didnt see you there !!!" what hope have everyone else got !!!

 

[Jeannot]

Thanks guys for all the tips. Good point about not making me more visible from the front. I will probably get a zipped vest, any little help will make my wife feel happier anyway.
JC