Is a black motorcycle more difficult to see ?

[shaman]

I'm thinking about trading in my 05 chopper blue super glide for an 07 E-glide standard. Only three colors available, don't like the blue or red... black is looking better all the time. Less expensive too ! I like to ride evenings and I'll admit to beign a little paranoid about being visible, so... I've got the panacia flashing rear lights, supplimental led's all around, fog lamps out front, flourescent tape here and there etc. Now I start thinking... black paint at night will it put me at higher risk... is there any evidence for that or am I just being anal ?

[CASHMONEY]

Just load it with chrome.. seriously we have always owned black and dont think it make much a difference

[THEBEAR]

It would seem to me it dosent matter. Most cagers dont seem to see any bike, regardless of color. I mean, how do you NOT see 700 lbs of rolling chrome with a spot light on the front?! Yet they will swerve into your lane to avoid a squirrel that they are almost always able to spot!

[310Pilot]

I, too, am extremely "visibility conscious," and have been observing other bikes on the road with an eye toward their conspicuity for a long time. Although not a true scientifically conducted research project, my observations have been that, except for bright white and bright yellow, the color of a bike's tins don't seem to make much difference in visibility (in other words, blue, red, black, green, etc. all seem to have about the same degree of conspicuity to other riders and/or drivers on the road). I believe this is due, in part, to the placement of the colors (fenders, tank, bags, fairing) and the typical viewing angle toward the bike from other drivers, which is usually a profile from front, rear or quartering angles. We are much more conscious of our bike's colors, but normally consider them from a 90* angle (side view - note about 98% of the sig pics on various scooter forums). Also, at night, or in low light situations (twilight), the bike's color seems to make no difference at all. It seems that the major elements contributing to our visibility are: 1) lighting, the more the merrier, and, 2) the rider's choice of apparel (the profile views show a much greater visual mass for the rider than the bike, plus, the rider is higher and nearer to eye level for cagers). On both of my bikes (an E-Glide Standard and a modified Honda ACE), I always run with the front spotlights on, and have added additional running/brake lights on the rear of the bike (the lowest conspicuity area for a bike, especially at night). I have also observed that our fashionable black attire renders us nearly invisible (during the day, doesn't make a lot of difference at night). Although I wear a leather jacket when it's cold, I have gone to a bright red (with reflective areas) mesh jacket during the day (unless really cold) and during summer nights, makes a big difference. Also, a white or bright yellow helmet makes a big difference in visibility - I have noted that they seem to jump out from the background, while dark colors (especially black) blend into the background. Some reflective tape judiciously applied to the rear and sides of a helmet help a lot at night.

BTW, both my scoots are black. I like other colors, but many bikes seem to look best in black, especially E-Glides.

Ride Safe

[FlaFatBoy]

Good post 310. I have a Yellow Pearl bike and a black. I definitely know I am seen better with the yellow. When out in the cage I am always looking at bikers to see what stands out vs what doesn't. That being said I have headlight and brake light modulators on both bikes,halogen headlight bulbs,LED rear signals and brake with brake module so far. Will be implementing front LED turns and extra lighting in the front soon. I just got a white helmet and I always wear either an orange or yellow long sleeve shirt when I ride. I'm hoping these things help keep me riding for a long time.


Ride Safe
Randy

[Road Glider]

In my opinion, on a dresser the white and the bright yellow are more visible. On anything other than a dresser it doesn't matter since there is so little surface area visible from the front anyway. Anything we can do to increase visibility helps but in reality we all know people that thought they made eye contact with the cager and they pulled out right in front of them anyway. Defensive riding is really the only way protect ourselves.

[Ahar]

many years ago I read a study I think was from NHTSA that stated that red vehicles are harder for the human eye to see. a study of collisions where the excuse of they didn't see the vehicle they hit, the majority of hit vehicles were red.
another vote for black.

[Harleypingman]

Bike color is probably not a significant factor on bikes without a fairing (as others have said) since the profile of the painted surface is so minimal--looking head on to a motorcycle what do we see of the painted surfaces(?)-- very little of the front fender.

I have an '04 police model Electra Glide in birch white. I added the fog lamp kit Harley sells that mount to the engine guards and have 55W halogen bulbs in each (the same wattage as the headlamp). I ride with the fog lamps and passing lamps on at all times. In 30K+ miles I have had lots of cages, in daylight, start to pull out in front of me (rolling only a foot or less) in Metro Atlanta and stop and I attribute this to the lights on the bike and the white fairing.

The bike came with a white strobe light installed in the headlamp and I made it operational by adding a power supply to make it work. It gets used when the traffic is particularly heavy with turning vehicles or merging traffic.

If I didn't have the strobe light in the headlamp, I would buy the newer OEM headlamp or one of those offered in the HD catalog and wire in a modulator.

Military folks say one of the most sensitive things detected by our vision is movement--that's apparently the key to modulators--creating the appearance of movement.

A lot of Street Glide owners prefer the sleek look but add the passing lamps for the light, but also to be noticed by cagers.

Just my $.02.

[v2711]

Originally Posted by Road Glider

Defensive riding is really the only way protect ourselves.

While I now ride a bagger, my first love was a FLSTC...Heritage Classic in vintage black.

The best memories of that scoot were getting off work at 11:00pm and arriving home to find my wife in leather and waiting for us to go for a ride.

We used to stay out till 1 or 2 am just cruising the California 2 lanes and freeways. What NICE memories. Ofcourse now in Idaho, too many critters for "true" relaxing late-night enjoyment.

What I learned though is that the BEST accessory for night driving is clear, padded glasses. Forget the extra lights, the disco-this or that or the staying in "well lit area's."

Make sure that YOU can see what the hell is going on around you and as ALWAYS, watch out for the other guy (usually in a cage).

Just my few cents...

[engatwork]

I ride like I am invisible.

[jnvultraclassic]

Originally Posted by Ahar

many years ago I read a study I think was from NHTSA that stated that red vehicles are harder for the human eye to see. a study of collisions where the excuse of they didn't see the vehicle they hit, the majority of hit vehicles were red.

I disagree. My 2002 Ultra Firefighters Special is bright red and people DO see it. If not, I remind them with the air horns.

I'm just sayin....

[JamieWG]

Originally Posted by Ahar

many years ago I read a study I think was from NHTSA that stated that red vehicles are harder for the human eye to see. a study of collisions where the excuse of they didn't see the vehicle they hit, the majority of hit vehicles were red.
another vote for black.

I agree. I read that same study. The insurance industry even confirmed it with other studies of collision probabilities.

[8-Ball]

Black bikes are much easier to see because they are so much slower...

[JamieWG]

Black bikes are only slow while waiting on you to catch up.

[nessus]

only at night