Bad Accident

[ClassicVW_imp]

I still disagree that these colors don't stand out. True, they are more noticeable on a dull day, but they are noticeable anytime because there's little or nothing in nature that are these colors and we are not conditioned to seeing them.

As has been stated before with the fire engine example, a few drivers are just so zoned out or out of it that they will never see you, even if you were wearing a jacket with flashing lights.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Was thinking on this today riding my little 80-mile catch-all loop, 60 miles freeway some urban and suburban, canyons and so on.

On the freeway the only bikes I noticed (coming my direction) as far as being conspicuous were the ones with bright headlights. Most have reasonably bright lights, but one guy had dual headlights and they were very bright. Then a police bike, not sure of the year and brand, had a single headlight, very bright.

Wearing Hi-Viz gear is certainly not going to lessen your conspicuity but whether it reduces your chances of being in an accident, my experience has been to the contrary. So I ride very defensively for the most part and just don't expect anyone to see me.

That's where I think all this Hi-Viz stuff can get some folks into trouble. They think they are lit up like the Fourth of July, or Christmas tree, and that everyone will see them. Nope, not the case. More likely it will attract someone who has a bad attitude and wants to mess with you because they don't like bikes, or they are jealous you are having more fun than they are, or whatever.

I still disagree that these colors don't stand out. True, they are more noticeable on a dull day, but they are noticeable anytime because there's little or nothing in nature that are these colors and we are not conditioned to seeing them.

As has been stated before with the fire engine example, a few drivers are just so zoned out or out of it that they will never see you, even if you were wearing a jacket with flashing lights.

But the color alone does not convey the trajectory of the object, what the object is, or even if it is a threat.

As I was saying, by all means, wear any type of gear, my cautionary statement is don't expect anyone is going to notice you in a way that will prevent an accident. Only riding skills can help us there, lane position, looking well ahead, anticipation of events, covering the brakes, being in the right gear, knowing your machine. And so on.
Color to me is just a fashion, not a function, I guess.

[Cormanus]

Was thinking on this today riding my little 80-mile catch-all loop, 60 miles freeway some urban and suburban, canyons and so on.

On the freeway the only bikes I noticed (coming my direction) as far as being conspicuous were the ones with bright headlights. Most have reasonably bright lights, but one guy had dual headlights and they were very bright. Then a police bike, not sure of the year and brand, had a single headlight, very bright.

Wearing Hi-Viz gear is certainly not going to lessen your conspicuity but whether it reduces your chances of being in an accident, my experience has been to the contrary. So I ride very defensively for the most part and just don't expect anyone to see me.

That's where I think all this Hi-Viz stuff can get some folks into trouble. They think they are lit up like the Fourth of July, or Christmas tree, and that everyone will see them. Nope, not the case. More likely it will attract someone who has a bad attitude and wants to mess with you because they don't like bikes, or they are jealous you are having more fun than they are, or whatever.

I still disagree that these colors don't stand out. True, they are more noticeable on a dull day, but they are noticeable anytime because there's little or nothing in nature that are these colors and we are not conditioned to seeing them.

As has been stated before with the fire engine example, a few drivers are just so zoned out or out of it that they will never see you, even if you were wearing a jacket with flashing lights.

But the color alone does not convey the trajectory of the object, what the object is, or even if it is a threat.

As I was saying, by all means, wear any type of gear, my cautionary statement is don't expect anyone is going to notice you in a way that will prevent an accident. Only riding skills can help us there, lane position, looking well ahead, anticipation of events, covering the brakes, being in the right gear, knowing your machine. And so on.
Color to me is just a fashion, not a function, I guess.

I think that's probably right. It's important to remember to continue to assume you're invisible and hope; just hope, that the HiViz gear may help one person see you.

Was thinking on this today riding my little 80-mile catch-all loop, 60 miles freeway some urban and suburban, canyons and so on.

On the freeway the only bikes I noticed (coming my direction) as far as being conspicuous were the ones with bright headlights. Most have reasonably bright lights, but one guy had dual headlights and they were very bright. Then a police bike, not sure of the year and brand, had a single headlight, very bright.

Wearing Hi-Viz gear is certainly not going to lessen your conspicuity but whether it reduces your chances of being in an accident, my experience has been to the contrary. So I ride very defensively for the most part and just don't expect anyone to see me.

That's where I think all this Hi-Viz stuff can get some folks into trouble. They think they are lit up like the Fourth of July, or Christmas tree, and that everyone will see them. Nope, not the case. More likely it will attract someone who has a bad attitude and wants to mess with you because they don't like bikes, or they are jealous you are having more fun than they are, or whatever.

I still disagree that these colors don't stand out. True, they are more noticeable on a dull day, but they are noticeable anytime because there's little or nothing in nature that are these colors and we are not conditioned to seeing them.

As has been stated before with the fire engine example, a few drivers are just so zoned out or out of it that they will never see you, even if you were wearing a jacket with flashing lights.

But the color alone does not convey the trajectory of the object, what the object is, or even if it is a threat.

As I was saying, by all means, wear any type of gear, my cautionary statement is don't expect anyone is going to notice you in a way that will prevent an accident. Only riding skills can help us there, lane position, looking well ahead, anticipation of events, covering the brakes, being in the right gear, knowing your machine. And so on.
Color to me is just a fashion, not a function, I guess.

Really?

[noroomtomove]

Re Bad Accident

CB4ME
G'day and good to read that your home and out of hospital.
A road with mile stones it's not as daunting.
All the best.
Keeping it short.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Was thinking on this today riding my little 80-mile catch-all loop, 60 miles freeway some urban and suburban, canyons and so on.

On the freeway the only bikes I noticed (coming my direction) as far as being conspicuous were the ones with bright headlights. Most have reasonably bright lights, but one guy had dual headlights and they were very bright. Then a police bike, not sure of the year and brand, had a single headlight, very bright.

Wearing Hi-Viz gear is certainly not going to lessen your conspicuity but whether it reduces your chances of being in an accident, my experience has been to the contrary. So I ride very defensively for the most part and just don't expect anyone to see me.

That's where I think all this Hi-Viz stuff can get some folks into trouble. They think they are lit up like the Fourth of July, or Christmas tree, and that everyone will see them. Nope, not the case. More likely it will attract someone who has a bad attitude and wants to mess with you because they don't like bikes, or they are jealous you are having more fun than they are, or whatever.

I still disagree that these colors don't stand out. True, they are more noticeable on a dull day, but they are noticeable anytime because there's little or nothing in nature that are these colors and we are not conditioned to seeing them.

As has been stated before with the fire engine example, a few drivers are just so zoned out or out of it that they will never see you, even if you were wearing a jacket with flashing lights.

But the color alone does not convey the trajectory of the object, what the object is, or even if it is a threat.

As I was saying, by all means, wear any type of gear, my cautionary statement is don't expect anyone is going to notice you in a way that will prevent an accident. Only riding skills can help us there, lane position, looking well ahead, anticipation of events, covering the brakes, being in the right gear, knowing your machine. And so on.
Color to me is just a fashion, not a function, I guess.

I think that's probably right. It's important to remember to continue to assume you're invisible and hope; just hope, that the HiViz gear may help one person see you.

Was thinking on this today riding my little 80-mile catch-all loop, 60 miles freeway some urban and suburban, canyons and so on.

On the freeway the only bikes I noticed (coming my direction) as far as being conspicuous were the ones with bright headlights. Most have reasonably bright lights, but one guy had dual headlights and they were very bright. Then a police bike, not sure of the year and brand, had a single headlight, very bright.

Wearing Hi-Viz gear is certainly not going to lessen your conspicuity but whether it reduces your chances of being in an accident, my experience has been to the contrary. So I ride very defensively for the most part and just don't expect anyone to see me.

That's where I think all this Hi-Viz stuff can get some folks into trouble. They think they are lit up like the Fourth of July, or Christmas tree, and that everyone will see them. Nope, not the case. More likely it will attract someone who has a bad attitude and wants to mess with you because they don't like bikes, or they are jealous you are having more fun than they are, or whatever.

I still disagree that these colors don't stand out. True, they are more noticeable on a dull day, but they are noticeable anytime because there's little or nothing in nature that are these colors and we are not conditioned to seeing them.

As has been stated before with the fire engine example, a few drivers are just so zoned out or out of it that they will never see you, even if you were wearing a jacket with flashing lights.

But the color alone does not convey the trajectory of the object, what the object is, or even if it is a threat.

As I was saying, by all means, wear any type of gear, my cautionary statement is don't expect anyone is going to notice you in a way that will prevent an accident. Only riding skills can help us there, lane position, looking well ahead, anticipation of events, covering the brakes, being in the right gear, knowing your machine. And so on.
Color to me is just a fashion, not a function, I guess.

Really?

I think that's probably right. It's important to remember to continue to assume you're invisible and hope; just hope, that the HiViz gear may help one person see you.

Was thinking on this today riding my little 80-mile catch-all loop, 60 miles freeway some urban and suburban, canyons and so on.

On the freeway the only bikes I noticed (coming my direction) as far as being conspicuous were the ones with bright headlights. Most have reasonably bright lights, but one guy had dual headlights and they were very bright. Then a police bike, not sure of the year and brand, had a single headlight, very bright.

Wearing Hi-Viz gear is certainly not going to lessen your conspicuity but whether it reduces your chances of being in an accident, my experience has been to the contrary. So I ride very defensively for the most part and just don't expect anyone to see me.

That's where I think all this Hi-Viz stuff can get some folks into trouble. They think they are lit up like the Fourth of July, or Christmas tree, and that everyone will see them. Nope, not the case. More likely it will attract someone who has a bad attitude and wants to mess with you because they don't like bikes, or they are jealous you are having more fun than they are, or whatever.

I still disagree that these colors don't stand out. True, they are more noticeable on a dull day, but they are noticeable anytime because there's little or nothing in nature that are these colors and we are not conditioned to seeing them.

As has been stated before with the fire engine example, a few drivers are just so zoned out or out of it that they will never see you, even if you were wearing a jacket with flashing lights.

But the color alone does not convey the trajectory of the object, what the object is, or even if it is a threat.

As I was saying, by all means, wear any type of gear, my cautionary statement is don't expect anyone is going to notice you in a way that will prevent an accident. Only riding skills can help us there, lane position, looking well ahead, anticipation of events, covering the brakes, being in the right gear, knowing your machine. And so on.
Color to me is just a fashion, not a function, I guess.

Really? I am surrounded by nearly four million people in this city, and I promise you, once in a while, one or two of them are not friendly. Hard to believe, but true. Remember all the discussion about lane-splitting, and how crazy drivers are, and how they will squeeze you out or cut you off? Yeah, those guys and gals. It does happen.

[nhawk7504_imp]

In a mass of cars, HIGH VIZ definitely stands out more. One cannot assume to be seen, but certainly the odds are better. Harley guys with a black bike and black gear are almost invisible sometimes, especially to someone who has their destination on their mind and other distractions in their car. I had five people in the car one day and holy smoke it was hard to concentrate. Cover your brake when needed and when the light turns yellow, and no one us behind you, slam on the brakes once in a while. I've had my brakes on as hard as I can so I know what the tires will do. I went over the bars on my TU250. Chinese tires were just not up to the task. High side.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

In a mass of cars, HIGH VIZ definitely stands out more. One cannot assume to be seen, but certainly the odds are better. Harley guys with a black bike and black gear are almost invisible sometimes, especially to someone who has their destination on their mind and other distractions in their car. I had five people in the car one day and holy smoke it was hard to concentrate. Cover your brake when needed and when the light turns yellow, and no one us behind you, slam on the brakes once in a while. I've had my brakes on as hard as I can so I know what the tires will do. I went over the bars on my TU250. Chinese tires were just not up to the task. High side.

Sorry to hear of your accident; it's not the fault of the tires, one needs to learn the limits of the bike, regardless of what tires are fitted.

Also, never "slam on" the brakes and certainly not when coming to a stop at an intersection. Oil, grease, coolant are present. The place to practice is not in traffic.

[nhawk7504_imp]

Yeah I had not owned the bike very long. The car approaching me was plenty far away before I crossed the intersection, but she went through a yield sign without slowing a whisker. People line up in her lane every day to yield to my lane, five days a week, so a rider is used to seeing cars stopped (yielding), at a much closer distance. It was a holiday and her car was dark and had no headlights on.
I changed the tires after the crash. I could brake A LOT harder. Those tires were junk, by comparison, and I had the bike leaned over to make the left turn across traffic. I could not have looked at her longer because you turn left in a corner there. It's an odd left that crosses another lane. These days it would have a light by design. I just swapped to Michelin Pilot 2's on my CB500. Much better tires and they warn you what they are doing. As MotoGP riders say, some tires, like those Chinese ones, give no warning. 60,000 road miles. I've felt tires doing a lot of funny things. But every dog has his day. :-) - if not for light traffic on a holiday I would have been 5-10 mph slower too. - popped the shoulder back in and rode the rest of the way to work after I talked to the police and fire crew. Rode it to rehab too. - The kid that helped me up off the road said, "She didn't slow down at all." - checked for oil and coolant. None. It was the lean left that did it. I went back days later and stood there. You look right at the oncoming lane. Then cross left in a turn across that lane, with cars yielding. In your lane it's a corner, so you're not stopping. You back off a hair but on the 250 you have a steep hill coming so you're not going to slow to a crawl there. https://www.google.com/maps/search/powde...318996,18z - you're riding top to bottom and making a left. - and here are people yielding - https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4083751,...312!8i6656

In a mass of cars, HIGH VIZ definitely stands out more. One cannot assume to be seen, but certainly the odds are better. Harley guys with a black bike and black gear are almost invisible sometimes, especially to someone who has their destination on their mind and other distractions in their car. I had five people in the car one day and holy smoke it was hard to concentrate. Cover your brake when needed and when the light turns yellow, and no one us behind you, slam on the brakes once in a while. I've had my brakes on as hard as I can so I know what the tires will do. I went over the bars on my TU250. Chinese tires were just not up to the task. High side.

Sorry to hear of your accident; it's not the fault of the tires, one needs to learn the limits of the bike, regardless of what tires are fitted.

Also, never "slam on" the brakes and certainly not when coming to a stop at an intersection. Oil, grease, coolant are present. The place to practice is not in traffic.

Sorry to hear of your accident; it's not the fault of the tires, one needs to learn the limits of the bike, regardless of what tires are fitted.

Also, never "slam on" the brakes and certainly not when coming to a stop at an intersection. Oil, grease, coolant are present. The place to practice is not in traffic.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Right on, you are fast learner, good!

[ClassicVW_imp]

One of my pet peeves is that just about nobody pays the "YIELD" sign any mind.
I bet half don't even notice it, and the other half feel that it can't be that serious of an intersection since it's not a STOP sign...