Once upon a time, Dan Aykroyd said, “You do not need a therapist if you own a motorcycle, any kind of motorcycle!”
This saying is true for most of us. However, part of our mission to keep you safe out on the roads includes keeping you visible. This month, we’ve curated a shortlist of tips that will keep you safe out there.

Brighter is Better
One of the most obvious things that you may want to consider to be more noticeable to passing motorists is selecting a brightly coloured motorcycle. During the day, the human eye most easily picks up green, as well as yellow and blue – incidentally, the reason traffic lights incorporate green. Orange, also high-viz, spells caution, or ‘watch out, here I come’. As we all know, red is always a great option. A dark colour is more difficult to see at night, and you may do well to stick with something like yellow or white. At night, yellow and white become the most noticeable colours at a distance. If you have your heart set on a black motorcycle, why not add a flash of colour to the fairings or simply make sure that your clothing is impossible to miss!

High-Viz Gear and Garb
When it comes to what you wear while riding, black is definitely not the best choice motorcycle gear. Although classic black leather has been synonymous with bikers for centuries; you may well be invisible to motorists. Wearing all black can also cause issues while riding at night or during bad weather. Luckily, leather jackets do come in brighter colours such as cobalt blue, and textile motorcycle jackets offer more variety with colour options, including red or high-viz yellow and often boast bold reflective strips on the back or arms.

Another vital element of your riding gear is your helmet. Not only does your helmet play a critical role in protecting your grey matter, but it tends to be one of the first details that a passing driver notices. One suggestion would be to invest in a neon coloured helmet which is highly noticeable in any weather and at night. Not a fan of neon, why not consider white or even black with a splash of neon green, bright yellow or red. After all who can miss a vivid Valentino Rossi helmet design!

Avoid Blind Spots
While high-viz motorcycle gear is an ideal riding wardrobe, you should always make sure that other motorists can see you, especially in traffic. Don’t ride in a position where other drivers can’t see you without moving their heads and looking for you. Because drivers are often distracted by either their cell phone or dashboard gadgets these days, making eye contact is the best way to be sure that you are indeed seen!

Use Reflective Tape
We can’t all rush out and buy a new bike or helmet, but reflective tape is a great solution you can apply right away. Putting pieces on the front of your forks and any part of your motorcycle away from a light source, for example, the top of a tall windscreen or the edges of your panniers is a quick and effective solution. Reflective tape is an individual light source at night and will make your bike look much larger, it is also recommended you leave your hi beam light on during the day.

Use Your Horn
Give drivers a reminder of where you are, using your horn is an excellent way to wake up a distracted driver should you be stuck in their blind spot. Don’t worry about being offensive with generous use of your horn – this is about making sure that they notice you so that you can arrive at your destination safely. You could also install a set of aftermarket pipes to be sure that other road users know you’re there but do keep a sense of respect and try not to overdo it with the noise; your dealer will be able to advise you the best brand.

Ride in a Group
This tip is almost a no-brainer because as soon as motorists notice a few bikers in an area, they immediately become more attentive and all those headlights will be impossible to miss. Stay in the group and avoid exceeding speed limits to catch up if you get left behind.

Brake Lights
Many experienced riders know how to prepare for a stop by using down-shifting. The problem here is that the driver behind you won’t notice your brake light until they’re almost on top of you. So, keep in mind that most drivers are used to paying attention when they see brake lights and don’t hesitate to tap the brakes lightly and repeatedly to give the vehicles behind you a friendly warning.

As fellow motorcycle enthusiasts, we understand that you want a combination of gear that not only keeps you safe but is also comfortable stylish. Browse our bold range of visible biker jackets, and remember to always enjoy your biking ‘therapy’ with your safety in mind.

Stay safe out there!