Helmet color and visibility

[RVFRick]

What about chrome? I kept one of ~these as my first helmet for far too long because so many drivers would pull up and tell me they could see my helmet from a distance.

Chrome is inferior. Let me explain.

Today was a glorious day for riding and after 150 miles of twisties and PCH, I took a break at Skyline Trading Post around 4pm for bike and body fuel. If you've never been to STP you should. It's at a great springboard for tarmac shenanigans. Anyways, the storefront has a wooden counter overlooking the parking lot where you can stand, eat and get a prime view of the motorhead parading.

Just as I was about to indulge in the second half of my Ruben, a very tasty R nineT Racer with white torpedo fairing and BMW livery slithered into the parking lot. No big deal you say, well you weren't there. What caught everyone's attention AND stopped me mid-bite was the rider atop said bike. Conversations ceased and necks turned to watch. Flashbacks of a young Emma Peel came to mind (you younger kids think Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow). I kid you not, everybody was agog. She had an audience. Who was this classy rider in form-fitting black leathers and designer fanny bag? She scouted for the perfect spot to settle her steed - which bike is worthy of sharing space with? Tail lights blaze red, she's selected a home - next to a pristine, smurf blue, 1990 Honda CB-1. Mine. Damn, she really does have good taste.

All eyes watch as she releases the brake lever and expertly backs her steed into position on her tippy-toes. Knee-high black leather boots never looked better. Kickstand deftly deployed. Engine off. Bike parked. A ballet-like allongé she dismounts the Racer and removes her helmet freeing gleaming designer shorn locks like a dramatic slow-motion fashion commercial for Dior. No helmet hair here. At this point I must have grabbed my napkin to wipe my chin. Cue The Cars "Moving in Stereo" a la Phoebe Cates in Fast Times.

Why do I write about all this? Well you see the helmet was no ordinary helmet. It sparkled in the sun like a 10 thousand carat diamond. Swarovski gems were involved. She explained that she had carefully positioned and glued a bajillion individual crystals to the exterior of her helmet transforming the Shoei into a visibility beacon. Take that boring white, hi-viz yellow, chrome helmets or even a damn disco ball. Direct sunlight certainly played a key supporting role. Functional, eye-catching, and personalized. Well done. It was a helmet (and an arrival) to remember. When's the last time you could say that?

I had a momentary thought of bedazzling my lid but my masculine ego vetoed the idea. I told her I like my white Arai the way it is

 

[Pushrod]

45 years riding on the street. Visibility is a word often thrown about but the bottom line is that car drivers are not looking for motorcycles. They are barely looking for other cars. I not only assume the cars don't see me, I assume they are actively trying to kill me. That works better than anything you can do with your bike or gear.

For years I rode an appliance white R 100 RS with a white full coverage helmet and a black Hein Gerrick jacket. This made me look like a moto-cop from a distance. Very, very visible and other drivers became surprisingly courteous.

 

[puckles]

I think the difference between white and yellow may be semantics. I do however recall that "penske yellow" was developed as the most noticeable color in order to avoid accidents.

That said, be careful what you wish for. Target fixation can be as effective as object recognition.