Make Your Bike Stand Out | Improving Motorcycle Visibility
Here at Moto Z, we’re motorcycle enthusiasts just like you. We enjoy the fun stuff, like going fast and testing the limits of the new Zero S electric motorcycle, but we also have a healthy respect for motorcycle safety. With thousands of motorcycle accidents occurring each year, it’s important to take a step back and ask yourself if you are as safe as possible while on the road.
Are you aware that over 70 percent of motorcycle accidents each year involve a collision with another vehicle? Furthermore, almost 40 percent of those collisions are caused by low motorcycle visibility. The bottom line is motorcyclists are at a disadvantage when it comes to being noticed on the road. Driving a smaller vehicle makes it easier to blend in with the surroundings or to get stuck in a car’s blind spot. Additionally, the increased maneuverability and quicker acceleration and braking times can catch other drivers off guard if they aren’t familiar with motorcycles. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to ensure other drivers will notice you. Here are a few tips to consider that could help you avoid a costly accident and just might save your life.
Color/Design Scheme
When deciding what color or style bike to purchase, our preferences tend to take over. We’re often more focused on the aesthetics instead of safety. At the end of the day, the color and design of your bike will be the most contributing factor to your conspicuity while riding. The safest recommendations are bright colors and designs involving contrast because they’re harder to blend in with the surroundings. Even if you insist on having a darker color motorcycle, don’t worry; there are still several things you can do to make yourself more visible on the road.
Clothing and Helmets
If you watch someone riding a motorcycle, you might notice that the body of the rider is just as visible as the bike itself. Even if you’re riding a darker bike, you can still use your riding gear to attract attention. The easiest way to stand out is with a bright contrasting helmet because not only is it a large portion of your profile, but it sits higher up in the field of vision of other drivers. Incorporating color into your other gear as well, such as your jacket, gloves, and boots can go a long way toward keeping you safe. At the very least, you should consider wearing a reflective vest over your jacket at night and during other low visibility conditions.
Adding Additional Lights
Obviously riding at night is more dangerous because of the lack of available light. Adding additional lighting to the front and back of your bike will not only make it easier for you to see at night but will also give you more ways to grab attention and signal your intentions to other drivers. Quickly blinking your brake lights or flashing extra headlights will be easily noticed and can remind other cars that you’re still there.
Reflective Tape
Along the same line as additional lights, adding reflective tape will make you stand out and look cool at the same time. Placing tape around the border of your bike and on parts that stick out, like your rims and forks, will make it easy for other drivers to identify the entire shape of your bike. The great thing about reflective tape is that you can get it in just about any color. You can get reflective tape to match your paint job so that it will blend in during the day but keep you safe by night. Whether you’re cruising around on your old Harley, a sleek Zero S electric, or a stylish new Ducati motorcycle, your safety is what matters most.