Jackets Any regrets about hi-viz yellow jackets?

Joined
Oct 11, 2009
Messages
22
Location
demarest, nj
Bike
2007 ST1300
I just ordered to new Olymipia Airglide 3 jackets for our super-slab duty. My wife is getting the Ladies pewter/black, and as mush as I'd love to style it up and get a matching one, somehow I felt inclined to get the neon yellow for safety reasons when riding at night. I wear a black leather jacket on my Ducati, but don't ride that too much at night. With my wife onboard with my on the ST, I figure to go for safety over vanity. Today I was told the neon is out of stock until the end of the month. So I'm wondering if this is s sign to get something different. Does anyone have any regrets about getting a hi-vis jacket (whether it was an Olympia or not...)?

Steve
 
None whatsoever... you will 'think' they get dirty... you look at the jacket and it will get a black spots on them... but, they just don't look that hi-viz look to them... very eye-catching.

I have an olympia air glide 2 and tourmaster transition 2 and will probably never have a non-viz jacket again.
 
I have a number of jackets and always grab the Hi-Vis. I have looked at a few new ones and I am not even considering one that is not Hi-Vis. They do show the dirt faster but I still prefer it.
 
Yes, they start to look dirty pretty quickly, but that just shows you actually ride.

There's one thing that's occasionally bothersome about my Olympia Airglide...when the sun is at the right angle, I get glare off the screen of my zumo. No such problem with my FirstGear cold weather jacket which has bright yellow stripes but still has lots of black.

On a big bike your head is still more visible from a distance than your body so I'd recommend a bright helmet as much as a bright jacket. Both are better still.
 
As was said earlier, they do get dirty fast and also the yellow shades seem to fade quickly.
The HiVis helmet does stand out more at a distance as Bones said.
Good excuse to get a new jacket though, especially when trying to convince your wife :D
 
For years I loved my Hi-vis jacket, untill the dutch police decided to change their riding gear from white to Hi-vis. Since then I had a few cop wannabee comments, so when it was time for a new jacket I got a blue one with a hi viz orange helmet to top it off :-D

So if the cops around your place don't wear the Hiviz, go for it!
 
Last edited:
You have won at least half the battle if THEY can see you. I have seen statistices that prove that 99.9357% of all cagers will do their best not to kill you if they see you first. I feel naked without my hi-vis jacket (Transition 2) on while riding.
It does show dirt easily but I just remove the armour and throw it in the washer on the genital cycle for cleaning. YMMV :D
 
Hi-Vis = Higher Survival Chances

I wish my Joe Rocket Phoenix was Hi-Vis like my AST jacket. I'm more relaxed on rides with Hi-Vis wear on.
 
No regrets, I won't go back to non hi-viz.
I would rather be seen more and be less fashionable than the other way around.

Oh, and I really like my white helmet too. When riding sweep in group rides, I find that of all colors the white helmets stand out most.

I bought my hi-viz yellow Olympia AST in October 2007, just before going to pick up my new-to-me ST1100 from the other coast.
Even after washing the jacket is quite a bit dirtier now, especially the front of the sleeves. But those are my "Yeah, I ride" patches. :p: The jacket is still very yellow and very visible, enough to sometimes invoke remarks like "oh, I thought you were a fireman" when I walk into a store.
 
Yes, they start to look dirty pretty quickly, but that just shows you actually ride.

There's one thing that's occasionally bothersome about my Olympia Airglide...when the sun is at the right angle, I get glare off the screen of my zumo. No such problem with my FirstGear cold weather jacket which has bright yellow stripes but still has lots of black.

On a big bike your head is still more visible from a distance than your body so I'd recommend a bright helmet as much as a bright jacket. Both are better still.

Same here,only down side is the reflection off the cluster. 1+ on all the other stuff Bones said.:biker:
 
I have the winter hi-viz and went to get the summer one yesterday to replace my RED Joe Rocket, darn, the shop was closed. I will pick it up on Wed. when I'm back over there.
 
My winter jacket is hi viz and I am thinking about changing out my summer jacket to a hi viz also. I feel more comfortable wearing the brighter color.
 
I'll never wear anything but Hi-Viz... when my Hi-Viz Stich was recalled, the color they offered as a replacement wasn't even close to Hi-Viz... no thanks. I've been wearing my Hi-Viz Motoport for years now, and added the Hi-Viz Oly AST to replace the Stich :)
 
Back
Top Bottom