bike colour

[DomP]

I know riding safe is the main thing for avoiding an accident but do you guys have an opinion on black bikes and black clothing being harder for other road users to see?

This is essentially do I buy a black bike question☺

[yokohama]

I don't think the bike colour makes too much difference to be honest. Most times a car driver will be looking at you front on so won't see the plastics.
Wear a white or hi viz helmet, keep your headlights on and buy a black bike!

Some interesting stuff here.
http://www.dyingtoride.org/stats.htm

[DomP]

That's what I was thinking, shame I like my black agv helmet though. Hi viz vest then!

[DomP]

Not sure I wanted to read all that Yokohama.��

[DJ123]

I know riding safe is the main thing for avoiding an accident but do you guys have an opinion on black bikes and black clothing being harder for other road users to see?

This is essentially do I buy a black bike question☺

If you ride at night, it'll make you a lot harder to be seen if you are all black. You can get black reflective tape/strips you could put on you/the bike.


Good road positioning, good planning ahead and being aware will keep you alive and seen by other motorists. Don't be afraid to use the horn either.

[Craig380]

My previous bike was a Suzi GT380 with J&R expansion chambers, so other road users could always hear me coming, irrespective of whatever I was wearing :D

My K6 has the twin headlights on all the time, I reckon if a driver can't see those, he isn't going to see me not matter what I'm wearing.

[DomP]

True, +1 for headlights 24/7 (on all vehicles)

[RPM]

Nightbreakers on all the time. Thumb covering horn button. Speed, positioning and observation appropriate for if/when the phone user decides to drive their vehicle at you. What isn't being looked at cannot be seen.

I'm slowly changing my SV Blue to satin black. Because I like black, and it's an old bike which I'd rather looked superficially ratty but was mechanically sound, and it may help keep prying eyes and unwelcome attention from the local thieves to the minimum. Don't care that it's common.

Colour and visibility does depend on background and surroundings though, a dark clothed rider will show up better against a daytime sky either clear or with white/light grey cloud, for example.

Bike Lawyer says Improved visibility so as to reduce the poor conspicuity of motorcyclists can be achieved by utilising day lights, by distinctive vehicle colouration and by wearing clothing that contains fluorescent and reflective material. This will increase the conspicuity of the rider and hence help to reduce the likelihood of an accident occurring in the first place.


However, do we get to see the statistics that say brightly coloured bikes are less likely to be involved in an 'accident'? Of course not. We see the stats that say the overwhelming majority of fatalities are caused by right of way incursions (motorcyclists being hit by cars pulling out at junctions and roundabouts) where the driver usually says in their defence "I didn't see them". It's then assumed that the negligence of a driver can be partially apportioned to the motorcyclist by suggesting they wear certain colours to make themselves 'more visible' to those who aren't looking at them in the first place.

Edit: TLDR sorry for coming over so pompous! Get the colour you really want and enjoy

[Fen Tiger]

Worth wearing reflective, either sam brown, bib or helmet stickers to ensure you can be seen if left lying in the road at night. I put reflective stickers on my hat to comply with the French requirement. Initially sceptical I now think they are a good idea and will stick them on whether travelling to France or not.

[L3nny]

I've had two black bikes and wear mostly black clothing and I've also had two white bikes.

People pull out in front of me all the time no matter which colour bike I'm on, I'm still alive though (even though some people get me confused with a rcently deceased rock star) so it can't be that dangerous.

[NTECUK]

When driver's are texting or doing their hair the colour of your bikes not going to make any difference to what they're up too...

[ZER0]

It makes no difference what so ever.

I read a report from a Police Biker a while ago; he was on his white Police bike with blue/yellow stickers and reflective strips, yellow high-vis jacket and white helmet and someone still pulled out on him. They actually said 'I didn't see you'!

Proves that no matter what colour your bike, leathers or helmet, if they're not looking for bikes they just won't see you.

Ride safe people. And have fun obviously ��

[DomP]

All valid points, I bought a black sv650s today anyway.

[ZER0]

Sweet. Enjoy it

[Adam Ef]

Not motorcycles, but bicycle incident.. I work in a bicycle shop and we had local Policeman come in to assess damage on his bike for insurance. He'd been side swiped when crossing a traffic light controlled crossroads, by a driver who'd run the red across him, hadn't seen the traffic lights or the Police cyclist... who happens to be a very big guy, covered head to toe in hi-viz. He hadn't seen him or the lights because he wasn't looking.

I had a Police van overtake me and pull in on me suddenly before getting past, forcing me into the curb. The reason... the Police van driver hadn't noticed a huge van parked on the other side of the road that he would have driven into the back of if he'd carried on overtaking. The back of the huge work van he hadn't seen was covered in hi viz luminous chevrons!?

If people don't look they won't see anything.

At night though.. reflective patches as mentioned before, which can be found in colours to match bikes are good. I know I appreciate being able to see them shining when I'm driving, especially on rainy nights with rain on the windows.

[Adam Ef]

All valid points, I bought a black sv650s today anyway.
I put a deposit down on one too : )