SuzukiSavage.com - Too much visibility?

serenity3743

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Too much visibility?
06/15/09 at 05:32:40

I was driving in my car yesterday on an all-day trip and encountered a guy on a Kawasaki sport bike. His bike was fluorescent lime green. And he had gone shopping and bought the matching full-face helmet and an even brighter lime green head-to-toe riding suit. We passed each other back and forth a few times. And it occurred to me as I watched him up ahead: If he applied his brake for a sudden stop, would I see his rear brake light in that vast expanse of fluorescent green in plenty of time to miss hitting him? My answer was: I don't think so.

So, my thought is, we should be reasonably visible with some contrasting colors and then be sure that we watch out for our own space and that of everyone else around us. But you really can go too far with trying to be "visible."

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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28644 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: Too much visibility? Reply #1 - 06/15/09 at 06:14:32 I don't know if I buy the theory, but I sure don't want to walk around WallyMart in that kind of get-up... On the other hand,...I do think our eyes are cued to see what they expect to see, and jeans and a t-shirt are more identifiable to us as a person, than lime green spacesuits... Maybe you do have something.....
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SavageDanny Full Member Offline I ate what? Posts: 206 Kansas City, Missouri Gender:	Re: Too much visibility? Reply #2 - 06/15/09 at 06:57:26 Saw one similar last year but all orange. Also a sport bike. What concerned me was that is was so distracting. Made it hard to keep my attention on anything else.
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PhilM Full Member Offline Posts: 127 England (Twyford) Gender:	Re: Too much visibility? Reply #3 - 06/15/09 at 07:25:43 I've noticed the same thing only last week. I was in the car a very fluorescent bike was in front, I didn't immediately notice the brake light come on among all the dazzle of the back end. I think good advice is if you are going for bright colors then use the brightest lights you can, to give you back the "contrast".
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Rocco Serious Thumper Offline addicted 2 riding TcB Posts: 1049 south florida Gender:	Re: Too much visibility? Reply #4 - 06/15/09 at 07:29:36 i see bright color sport bikes all the time, and they cut people off and do what they want. just cuz you're in highlighter yellow doesn't mean u don't have to watch out for everyone else!! my friend said the best way not to get hurt, is make sure you don't ! ! ! lol
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PTRider

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Re: Too much visibility?
Reply #5 - 06/15/09 at 09:03:38

No such thing as too much conspicuity (able to be seen by others), but there might be the wrong type. I dislike looking at a modulated headlight so I don't look at it long enough to be able to judge the distance and closing rate.

As said above, the very conspicuous bikes need very bright signal and stop lights so the rest of us can see those changes when the lights come on.

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Pabst 2006

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Re: Too much visibility?
Reply #6 - 06/15/09 at 18:31:36

Speaking of headlights, I was on a 450-mile round trip of the Adirondacks a week ago and encountered numerous swarms of sport bikes and cruisers traveling in groups. Many of the sport biker groups all had their high beams on, and judging from the intensity of the beams, weren't sporting stock headlights either.

It's no problem when one guy wants to be safe and flips his hi-beam on for the day, but when you get 19 of your buddies to join you..... wow. what a nuisance.

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Southpaw

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Re: Too much visibility?
Reply #7 - 06/15/09 at 22:41:08

I think any edge you can get in being noticed is a plus. My confort zone when I'm off the bike stays in pretty conventional gear but on the road, the cagers are too distracted these days. I still recall being stuck in stand still traffic on a two lane hwy with about 2-3 car lengths between me and the suv in front of me when the driver decided she couldn't wait any longer and tried to back over me turning around. SUV, tinted back glass, radio on and cell phone stuck to her ear, and when she realized her mistake rolled her power window down to "chastise" me that she "didn't see me for chissake". Horn, loud pipes, headlight (admittedly too low to be seen from the SUV's backglass) and at the time white helmet all for naught. In the end, position to be seen in the driver side mirror is all that saved me. You do what you can and drive like you're invisible!

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PhilM

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Re: Too much visibility?
Reply #8 - 06/16/09 at 02:55:43

Southpaw wrote on 06/15/09 at 22:41:08:

You do what you can and drive like you're invisible!

My bike instructor told me (35 years ago!) something like this..

"have faith in your ability, its ok to think you are the best rider in the world, as long as you assume everyone else is an abysmal driver, with the occasional homicidal maniac thrown in, and who for no apparent reason will sometimes stop suddenly right in front of you or even drive straight at you. Oncoming traffic may even veer across the road to try and hit you."

It stuck, and I still keep an eye out for the oncoming veerers Undecided

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serenity3743

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Re: Too much visibility?
Reply #9 - 06/16/09 at 05:14:35

Somebody said, "Remember: You're naked and invisibile." That's probably a good mindset to have.

My oldest and best friend Dan is always reminding me to be very careful if I must ride a motorcycle. He said another friend of his is a rider and believes that when coming to an intersection he should (and does) flash his headlight from dim to bright back and forth to increase his visibility. I told Dan I think I'll spend my time and attention on myself, my space, and the space of those around me, instead of flicking a switch up and down hoping I don't get creamed!

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2000 LS650P Suzuki windshield, luggage rack, saddle bag racks, k & n air filter, Dyna muffler,2/3 white spacer, do-it-myself seat. Love to ride!

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Sandy Koocanusa

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Re: Too much visibility?
Reply #10 - 06/16/09 at 06:20:50

I'm starting to believe audibility is as or more important than visibility. People will look right through something they should see, but they can hear a loud noise no matter where they are looking. I NEVER have tailgaters since I switched my exhaust, either. That gives them plenty of time to see my lights before they are danger close.

On the other hand, weaving back and forth in your lane will draw attention pretty well. Who cares if they think you are an idiot, as long as they know you are there?

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Savage: (adj)1. Wild 2. Uncivilized : Primitive 3. Ferocious 4. Cruel or merciless : Brutal --- Webster's. (n.) 1. A motorcycle named for its seat.--- Sandy's unabridged

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Too much visibility? Reply #11 - 06/16/09 at 07:44:28 A louder exhaust adds another sense into the warning zone. The exhaust should be just louder enough to interupt the cell phone conversation of the cage next to you. How much room do you give a student driver? Ride like that and you'll have plenty of room. Ride like a chippy and get nothing.
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alcoa Full Member Offline never let the bastards wear you down Posts: 155	Re: Too much visibility? Reply #12 - 06/17/09 at 03:37:21 I do not think you can be too safe out there.
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drharveys - FSO Serious Thumper Offline Greetings from San Luis del Norte! Posts: 1776 St Louis MO Gender:	Re: Too much visibility? Reply #13 - 06/17/09 at 05:15:18 High-viz jacket or vest -- good! Cagers don't orient to bikes, but when they see a viz vest, they think "Highway worker -- I'm not supposed to hit those." Still, I'd never thought of the problem of seeing the tail lights with an all over day-glo suit and bike! I guess I'll be keeping my black riding pants after all.
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John_D FSO Serious Thumper Offline Ridin' and smilin' Posts: 1658 Vancouver, WA Gender:	Re: Too much visibility? Reply #14 - 06/17/09 at 05:47:20 Particularly for night riding, I always try to have a couple pieces of gear with reflective parts on them.
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