Modern Vespa

One would think in this modern age of advanced technology that a helmet manufacturer would spray paint their product with a reflective paint. Seems like black is a favorite for the bikers who hate helmets anyway so why not be innovative. How about an OSHA green with OSHA Orange stripes in a reflective paint! That would get the attention of cagers.

Scorpion has a neon yellow helmet. I think it is the EXO 700 I also wish there were helmets with neon orange or green.

I've often thought the same thing. No one offers a reflective helmet as far as I know.

This site has a wide variety of reflective clothings. Its VERY BRIGHT at night.
http://www.night-gear.com/Hi_Vis_illumiNITE_Clothing.htm

While bicycling, I wear glo gloves ([url]www.glogloves.com[/url]). They can also stretch over armored gloves.

Miguel

Fulmer makes their M1 modular in a paint scheme called flamethrower. It pairs day-glow orange with highly reflective silver paints.

http://fulmerhelmets.com/Product/afm.html

here is a review of the fulmer
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcycle-helmet/fulmer-m1-modus/

I add reflective tape to my helmets... helps a fair amount.

Good Idea... I drove the cage home tonight and the guy on suicycle.

With the "Army" decorative jacket and black track pants, he became a very small tail light in the sea of tail lights. I got off the freeway next to him and didn't see him until I pulled up next to him at the light.

That is a very full-on review, thanks for posting.

Can any of you recomend a source for relfective tape or decals?

A good one: http://www.reflectivedecals.com/

I use a Halo reflective helmet band. It goes on (and stays on) without adhesives and is very bright. It works only on full-face helmets, though.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/halo-helmet/

http://www.mfiap.com/halo/

I've added reflective tape trim to my helmet and blended them into the design. I bought it at Cycle Gear. It's inconspicuous in the daytime but very noticeable at night.

Schuberth c3 and the Scorpion EX0 700 are not reflective but they do come in an eye burning neon yellow.



Scorpion is well priced but apparently fades.



Schuberth costs about £500 but is a very quiet flip up helmet and does not fade.

Lazer do an fluro orange which is also very visible.

I saw one of the neon yellow Schuberth's on the road the other week (in the daytime - so didn't know whether it was reflective).

It was VERY visible (and kinda cool, to my Toreador Pants, Hi-Viz loving eyes )

I have a shoei Multitec that I like tho it could use more ventilation but its fine since its a modular and you can turn it into a 3/4 face for slow speed/stops to stay cool. I've had it for about 2 1/2 years and haven't had any problems nor any fading (as mentioned above for the scorpion). I've also put a large reflecive triangle on the back of it for nighttime. Its VERY noticeable against my black perforated leather jacket for cool weather and a pretty good match for my yellow Tour Master fabric jacket.


The yellow does however clash with the Portifino Green but I choose to ignore that esthetic incongruity in favor of safety

I'm looking to purchase another Shoei (since the GTV can ride two up and my previous bike didn't do that well). On ebay, I find two prices and don't understand the pricing difference - one's about $360US, the others about $445US. Anyone have an explanation? Best,
Miguel

+1

It's actually a New York State law to have at least 1 piece of reflective tape on the back of your helmet. Most people put them where the DOT sticker is (especially if the helmet is European and doesn't have a DOT sticker )

I have a theory about reflective stuff... it's distracting.

I'm all up for a bit of dazzle bling on both my scooter, bicycle, clothing and all and wear it - but have you ever noticed your self looking at reflective items on your travels and not really paying attention to the brake light in front of you ...?

There is so much reflective stuff out there that sometimes I think it takes away the focus of the brake light or what the rider / driver is about to do.

Just my thoughts really....

I can see your point at some level but I would rather be obnoxiously visible than dead.

I drove the cage to a class last night. On my way home, I took the freeway. In the section nearest my home, it is posted at 65 MPH. My exit has two lanes on the freeway with one being an exit only and other is shared with the flowing traffic. These would be the 5th and 6th freeway lanes going this direction. After the exit, the two lanes split into four lanes, two each direction with no straight options. As I pulled up to the traffic light at the end of the off ramp, there were two other cages flowing with me, I noticed that there was a sports type motorcycle. The rider wore a black jacket with a large sewn "ARMY" patch and some black nylon trainer pants and tennis shoes. The had a fender eliminator on the back so the bike's rear profile is the tire, a license plate (angled to minimize its appearance) and the taillight. The round out his ensemble, he wore the "mandatory" black helmet.

I could not believe how difficult he was to see in the flow of red tail lights and jumble of traffic controls in this section. Basically, he was invisible except for his tail light.

This year I rode home in the dark, in thick fog, on motorway full of juggernauts. I had a rather pathetic sam browne reflective belt on. This road was not lit for most of the journey.

I was riding a black scooter in the dark and fog. It was nearly impossible to see more than fifteen feet in front of you as your helmet visor was soaked in the fog. Imagine riding and every 30 seconds your visor is beaded with fog that means you struggle to see. I struggled to see those without reflective gear, and I was looking for scooters. Most drivers were not.

One of the riders on the slog home had a perceptive point - he said that year round scootering is like skiing. You have to be ready for all conditions because things could change at a moment's notice (as they did when the fog arrived). He had full reflective gear and I could see him easily. He wore it when the conditions told him it was sensible to do so.

So I think if you ride seriously and year round it is a good idea to sling either a belt or reflective waistcoat under your seat. There may be a day when you are grateful for it.

No.
I don't ride around looking at my own clothes or jacket. On my bicycle, I am trying to be visible and not get hit by a car while I struggle up the hills around here. On a scooter, I am trying to be visible and not get hit as I motor up the hills around here.
What other reflective items are distracting to you? Street signs? Conspicuity tape on big trucks? Things you are supposed to see?

Reflector Tape

i have this helmet with a few strips of reflective tape (as well as my reflective MSF course sticker!). oh, and a day-glo jacket with reflective stripes.

i, too, would rather look like a goon than be dead with a driver saying "i just didn't see him..."

Toshi - have you noticed the scorpion fading at all? I want to get that helmet but have hesitated due to reports that the neon yellow fades fairly quickly.

I can chime in with some reflective/day-glo experience. About a six weeks ago I found an old orange/reflective ventilated vest and decided to try it out on my daily commute to Detroit. The difference in people seeing me seemed incredible, and especially my confidence with left-turners seeing me before I entered intersections increased. One week later, I decided to go "all in" and ordered a Fieldsheer "On-Base" vest (in yellow) from New Enough. It has exceeded my expectations and I'm rarely impinged upon by the often chaotic Detroit traffic these days. An apparent side benefit is that due to my high visibility, the neo-military look of the vest/I.D. holder, and my large steel toe boots, the panhandlers around here give me a very wide birth indeed

i remember that ride. scary as hell!

me too i was one of the muppets who hadn't bothered to bring a hi-viz vest, though i normally wear one for highway riding. i had a couple of tiny reflective bits on my jacket but i'd have been very glad of more, particularly as i was in the 'tail gunner' position. the person i was following was wearing a parka, and blended into the fog and motorway chaos quite effectively. it was very hard work keeping him in sight. that was a tiring ride.

ahhh....

i feel all nostalgic for the fog now

Let's get one thing straight, I'm not against wearing anything that makes you be seen on the road ....

I do wear HiViz in low light or bad weather conditions, these include bright yello Pants and Jacket with Scotchlite reflective strips. I ride a green Vespa and clean the brake lights, head light regularly amongst checking over the scoot, pressures etc....

I carry a reflective vest, in case of "emergency".

I do not wear HiViz all of the time though.

Ok, let me elaborate a bit on my reply post about HiViz and it's possible distractions.

My Boss remarked to me the other day that he was driving on the freeway and saw me in the distance, he even saw me exit the freeway and take a bridge and thought to himself that I had made a good investment in clothing. He forgot to notice the car in front of him hit the brakes....

Have you ever ridden where there are road works? Have you ever seen where the traffic cones have been knocked out of place so in effect causing lanes to "magically" appear where they're not supposed to be and basically causing a bit of chaos?

Have you ever been distracted by a flashing light and for a split second not focused on what is in front of you?

Those are the types of things that can be distracting, don't ever think for a second that because you're wearing Toreador Pants that you're safe and can be seen by other drivers / road users.

You local vinyl sign shop should have some and should be willing to sell you some strips or scraps for not too much. Its pretty easy to put on and even just a few strips makes a big difference.

I didnt know it was law!?!? wow.
I do it anyway.
it puts something shiny up over the hood of the taxi that is creeping on me on the grand central at 75mph....

I also purchased a helmet through the vespa dealer that had a red light on the back which I turned on at night. Which was helpful!

I have a light on my helmet too. I don't know if it helps tremendously with visibility. It does increase the nerd factor. But that is fine by me. I've accepted the term.

Purchased from Scooterworks for $10.00.
http://www.scooterworks.com/Scooter_Helmet_Light_P7899.cfm

And a pic of mine

You could also get an HJC Windlight - you never have to buy batteries for them - but they only work when you are moving. You can get them for around $10 on ebay.