Conspicuity

[PacWestGS]

I read that some simply paint their black helmets white. Besides voiding warranty, does this do any damage to the helmet?

Paul

Paul if you are really concerned about your helmet buy those 'Arrow' stickers and put them on the back, they are really trick but I'm not that worried about my solid Blue C1 or my Red/Black/Silver Shoei. Everything else I do to be seen ("Like me looking") is more important than what color my helmet is.

My wife's helmet is White but that is so it matches my blue helmet (Pacific Blue / Alpine White) GS. (I'm so vain, I'll bet they named the song about me)

 

[BRADFORDBENN]

This might sound like a dumb statement, but I know it to be true from experience, the lighter color and more reflective the helmet is, the cooler it stays inside on a sunny day.

 

[PacWestGS]

This might sound like a dumb statement, but I know it to be true from experience, the lighter color and more reflective the helmet is, the cooler it stays inside on a sunny day.

I've also heard from some people with lots of experience that fuzzy tiger ears help block the sun and also provide a high level of conspicuity for other drivers.

 

[B2BWYLD]

....We should all ride like we are invisible...(not-visible)...anyway....


.....it sucks....but it's safer....


...and wear a white invisible helmet too!.....

 

[robsryder]

Be Seen

I believe that the idea is for both the bike and rider to be highly visible to other drivers. I'll describe what I've done for myself and my R11RS to enhance visibility.

For me -

I favor black flip-lid type helmets and I have two - a Nolan N100 for warm weather use and a Shoei Duotec for cold weather. For both helmets I've removed all graphics, helmet name, DOT sticker, etc. from the exterior of the helmet.

I obtained some of the 3M diamond reflective tape (Gator used to sell this stuff by the foot at rallies, I got some more from an airhead who works for 3M). The stuff I use is the same as used on highway signs and is a bit more heavy duty and reflective than the stuff sold by RiderWare House.

I cut the 3M tape into pieces to maximize the use (triangles and rectangles). While doing this my wife remarked that the pieces looked like a "jack-o-lantern". So that is how the reflective bits are placed on the back of my helmet. Folks have commented as to the noticable "pumpkin head" riding on the bike at night.

I wear a one-piece Stich which has a high visibility strip on the back of the suit. The suit itself is grey (shows less dirt!).

I also have a high reflective "traffic boy" belt that I sometimes wear and a high reflective vest.

For the bike -
The rear surfaces of the bags also have the 3M tape applied. I've placed LED running lights in the rear turn signals to augment the tail light - from what I've seen riding behind other BMWs the rear tail light needs some help.

I have placed the flashing LED Hyper lights under the tail light to augment the brake light. A friend and I switched bikes one time. When I rode behind him I noticed that the Hyper Lites and LED running lights were much more visible than the stock tail and brake light.

I've replaced the front turn signal bulbs and fixtures with some that accommodate dual filament bulbs. These are also called Running Lites - the turn signals are always illuminated with the lower wattage component of the bulb - much like the standard offering on Hondas and Harleys.

And I've replaced the sad excuse for a horn that came stock with some dual Fiamm horns that can also help to increase my visibility if someone begins to encroach on my space.

 

[bmdubyou]

I believe that the idea is for both the bike and rider to be highly visible to other drivers. I'll describe what I've done for myself and my R11RS to enhance visibility.

For me -

I favor black flip-lid type helmets and I have two - a Nolan N100 for warm weather use and a Shoei Duotec for cold weather. For both helmets I've removed all graphics, helmet name, DOT sticker, etc. from the exterior of the helmet.

I obtained some of the 3M diamond reflective tape (Gator used to sell this stuff by the foot at rallies, I got some more from an airhead who works for 3M). The stuff I use is the same as used on highway signs and is a bit more heavy duty and reflective than the stuff sold by RiderWare House.

I cut the 3M tape into pieces to maximize the use (triangles and rectangles). While doing this my wife remarked that the pieces looked like a "jack-o-lantern". So that is how the reflective bits are placed on the back of my helmet. Folks have commented as to the noticable "pumpkin head" riding on the bike at night.

I
And I've replaced the sad excuse for a horn that came stock with some dual Fiamm horns that can also help to increase my visibility if someone begins to encroach on my space.

Very interesting & good info. Thanks for chiming in! Do you have any pics of that helmet??

 

[BouncinBob]

Hi Viz

KBasa is wrong (cool, I got to say that)

In my experience red fades more quickly and to a color most homophobic males would be unwilling to wear.

I did 2 things around the same time. I added a second set of driving lights (one set hight, above the headlight) to the front of the bike and got a Hi Viz with black ballistics Roadcrafter. Speaking with the fine folks in MN they indicated the contrast seemed to be more visable. Back to the point, since I did those two things I am almost never have my right away impeaded. In 2 years and 40,000 miles I'd say it has happened twice.

 

[robsryder]

pumpkin head helmet

Very interesting & good info. Thanks for chiming in! Do you have any pics of that helmet??

Here they are - as seen from the back. Left is Nolan for warm weather and on the right is the Shoei for cold weather.

 

[carockwell]

For ultimate daytime conspicuity on a naked bike ( actually my Vespa) I wear a fluorescent orange helmet. Friends say that their eyes get riveted to it when I am in traffic. The sight of the strange bobbing orange ball ( my head )gets everybody's attention. It looks so wierd from a distance. It just plain works.

 

[jakfrost]

'Rider Wearhouse' has some really neat items to raise your 'conspicuity', (sounds like something you might take a laxitive for...), on page 29 of their catalog
www.aerostich.com
the yellow or red 'Arrow Head' retroreflective directional arrows are really innovative..
There, thats enough big words for one day, my head hurts

Jim W.

 

[mistercindy]

Shoei makes helmets in a high-viz yellow which I bought in their RF1000. Very dork-like, but it is high-viz.

 

[bmdubyou]

ROBSMOTO: Here they are - as seen from the back. Left is Nolan for warm weather and on the right is the Shoei for cold weather.

Cool...thanks for the photo!

For ultimate daytime conspicuity on a naked bike ( actually my Vespa) I wear a fluorescent orange helmet. Friends say that their eyes get riveted to it when I am in traffic. The sight of the strange bobbing orange ball ( my head )gets everybody's attention. It looks so wierd from a distance. It just plain works.

Yeah, I think that WOULD be very conspicuous! Ive actually looked for an orange helmet...never found one.

 

[tessler]

Here they are - as seen from the back. Left is Nolan for warm weather and on the right is the Shoei for cold weather.

Dude, your little friends are pretty cool ÔÇö just a wee bit maniacal (which is a good thing if it gets the attention of cagers behind...)!

What do you guys think about these Arrow thingies from the Aerostich cat?


.

 

[TheSlashFiveTourer]

Yeah, I think that WOULD be very conspicuous! Ive actually looked for an orange helmet...never found one.

ORANGE helmet, you say? Check out the Shoei TZ-R in PURE ORANGE or their RF-1000 AXIS YELLOW for interesting headgear while on the '84RT.

Interesting article about ORANGE helmets by Art Friedman over on
MOTORCYCLECRUISER.com about his own helmet:

"Before you settle on basic black, however, consider a brighter color. The Shoei RF1000 that I currently wear 97.9 percent of the time is painted a solid bright orange.
When I first started wearing this color scheme, I was amazed at how aware other drivers suddenly became of my presence. Over the years I had tried spotlights, headlight modulators, and bright suits and jackets. Nothing ever had the effect that my orange orb created. If orange is a little too, er, individual, for you, other solid bright colors would probably have similar effects. Florescent colors would be good, but solid yellow, red or white will also stand out more than black or another dark color during daytime. I am also convinced that a solid color is more visible than any pattern or graphic. While a checkerboard scheme might make a large surface more eye-catching, I think a helmet is too small for these sorts of treatments to increase conspicuity."

 

[brownie]

Visibility,etc.

Paul..............

Visibility comes in 2 flavors, day & night. I religiously wear my "sissy" vest (Vision) ALL the time. I believe it helps in heavy night traffic (part of my commute). During the day, I'm not so sure, but it makes me feel a LITTLE more conspicuous.

During the day, when temps are over 90 (very often) I don't wear the Vision on highway riding: blocks precious air on the RT, not a problem on Igor (the RS).

WHITE helmet, with several liberal strips of SOLAS (safety of life at sea) reflective tape. I even have a 1/2 inch on the top part of my visor.
Have had many compliments of the visibility of my helmet. And yes, I use a Kisan modulator on both bikes.

Does all this stuff guarantee anything??? Of course not, but it reduced the stupid things I see in front/back of me. FWIW- my very old Conspicuity "orange" vest faded after about 8 years; the Vision is holding up quite well.

There is also a social side to all this safety stuff; it's not for everyone.....


Shep

Mobile, AL

 

[FredRydr]

If you want hi-viz over your torso, just buy a $20 - $50 over-vest or over-jacket rather than paying $300 - $600 for a motorcycle jacket in the hi-viz color. You'll appreciate the flexibility that affords; there are times you may not want that "look" for social reasons, especially off the bike. Think of jacket resale, too. Finally, hi-viz shows dirt quickly, which is much easier to deal with when the dirty bit is just a thin washable shell.

Fred

 

[robdogg]

I ordered black riding gear since it will not fade as noticeably as the colour jackets. It does have a reflective stripe across the back and I've asked for a reflective stripe to be included on the sides of the jacket. In busy freeway traffic (which I do not travel on that often), I will continue to wear my green vest, as well as using the additional driving lights. Next summer, I may acquire a white helmet.

My wife used to be concerned about my riding at night until she followed me home and was amazed how much reflection was given off by the 3M black reflective tape on the two paniers and top box from such a great distance. It works superbly at night and just blends in with the paniers in the daytime.

I read that some simply paint their black helmets white. Besides voiding warranty, does this do any damage to the helmet?

Thank you for all of your imput and if any of you have painted your helmet, please share with me if painting adversely affected it in any way.

Paul

Having increased visibility from behind can't be a bad thing but most safety folks these days are saying that getting hit from behind only accounts for about 2% of motorcycle related incidents. Frontal collisions are by far the more common so a bright helmet, possibly a vest, but for sure, a good set of driving lights and maybe a HID headlight seem to be the best insurance giving the statistics.

 

[steviewonder]

BMW MOA reflective decals are nice looking and increase night-time visibility too. You can buy them online through the store.

https://stl.bmwmoa.org/source/Orders/index.cfm?section=Orders&task=3&CATEGORY=GENMERCH&PRODUCT_TYPE=SALES&SKU=8202&DESCRIPTION=&FindSpec=&CFTOKEN=33137161&continue=1&SEARCH_TYPE=find&StartRow=21&PageNum=5

 

[robsryder]

Folks sometimes ask at rallys or other gatherings where I obtained either my "traffic boy" reflective belt or my reflective vest.

I think that the "traffic boy" belt (like a Sam Browne-type belt, but only real reflective) came from a Seattle based BMW dealer. It was several years ago and I don't recall specifically. Here is something somewhat similar:

http://www.safety-gear.breflective.com/reflective-belt-sash.php

Here is another style reflective belt, apparently used by a BMW rider:
http://www.safety-gear.breflective....es_reflective-safety-harness-motorcycle-3.php

The vest that I have came from Woman Biker -

http://www.womanbiker.com/product_view.php3?id=50

http://www.womanbiker.com/product_list.php3?cat=10

My vest is red, white, and blue - just like the French flag

Both the vest and "traffic boy" belt easily fit over my leather jacket and can be secured or opened easily.

 

[BobFV1]

Jeff Dean has addresed the white helmet issue very well - please take a look:

http://jeff.dean.home.att.net/white-helmets.htm

With regard to bright colored gear fading - who cares - it looks cool when it's faded - shows that you ride rather than model for motorcycle mags!

I have a black BMW Savanna II jacket, which is great because while it is black, it has great reflective strips way up high on both shoulders - these jackets are being discontinued and there are some smoking deals on them now!

Ride safe!