We got the Neon Green Shirts that the construction people wear. They are comfortable and do not look all that bad. When the weather is overcast or the roads are very windy. We tend to put them on. We also have the vest, to wear over our jackets if it is cold outside. I guess that they may not look to cool. But so many times you hear someone say “But officer I did not see him” I just want to make sure that they do. In town we do not wear them. We had them when we were in Sturgis and people really liked them, In fact we saw a number of the neon green shirts with the imprinting” Do you see me now A$$hole”.

 

I thank that there is a time and place for everything. A time to wear the vest and a time you don't. At night, during rush hour traffic or anytime you feel it would be safe to wear one. I probable would not wear the vest if I was with a group of bikes riding around and having fun.

 

There was an elderly guy that rode a Honda Pacific Coast in our town. He always wore a bright orange helmet and vest. I have to say that was the first thing my eyes saw when he was around. I see the dealer has some new jackets that are bright orange that look pretty good. I've been considering one.

 

Yep...passed a li'l gal on my ride home from work yesterday...she was pokin along in the left lane, textin away...wouldn't have seen me if I had a flashin neon sign on top of my helmet.

 

That's the one I bought.

 

Beings as how you gents have a li'l aversion to wearing a vest, that makes you look like a 'traffic cone'. Maybe I could interest you in our 'new' helmet. THEN the vest will NOT make you look like a 'traffic cone'.









I have to come down on the side of the folks that say the prob is NOT "OUR" visibility, BUT in the lack of driver's ability to drive.

Ever see those GIANT dual tire skid marks? Some azz pulled out in front of a 40,000#+, chrome, painted, snortin', HOUSE on wheels, a 'semi'. IF they have no brains, no eyes and NO RESPECT for theyselves, to pull that off, I am hard pressed to believe that a 'colored vest' on an 800# scoot, is going to make a H*LL of a lot of diff. Will some notice?? Well of course, SOME will. BUT I believe those 'some', will see the scoot, to start with. The blind ones, will be blind, NO MATTER what we wear, OR the state does.
You jus' cannot fix TOOPID, or legislate respect.

They are jackazzes and idiots, and most will die that way. Sad, but true. I just hope they do not take any of us down with 'em.

 

I think it ranges from pointless to potentially dangerous. Reason being the idea behind the bright reflective clothing is to attempt to make yourself more visible to others on the premise that by seeing you, they are more apt to avoid plowing through you. You see now right there is where the theory breaks down . Relying on others to see you and therefor not violate your space, putting your safety in the hands of other drivers/motorists, is a really BAD idea. You have to ride as if all the m'fers out there are TRYING to hit you, and ride under THAT premise. Make yourself IMPOSSIBLE to hit. Don't rely on them to see you, just asking for trouble. My theory works. I got the years and the MILES to back it up.

 

I wear the vest, but I agree with you. Everyone on the road is trying to hit me and I am doing my best to avoid them.

Ride Safe!!

 

808Bob - Yeah, this department issued the jackets right out of the box and gave us insignia to sew on if we wanted. I had a seamstress use velcro for the patches, lets me meet uniform conventions while working and ride unidentified while off. I found it somewhat amusing that at Daytona, all the motor cops were wearing the same jacket.

Always assume the idiots on the road don't see you. They don't see me while driving a fire truck with flashing lights, two sirens, and an air horn. I know they don't see me on the bike.

 

I doubt that vest will do much good unless you're riding your motorcycle around the woods during deer season.

In fact I might lose control while laughing and accidentally run over you.