Talk to me about white bikes in winter
Discussion
So, I've done a lot of looking around on various bike selling sites lately since mine is kaput after the accident. I'm pretty much looking at replacing it with a like for like 1200 Sportster and the vast majority are in standard black gloss. My previous one was in a limited edition 'black magic' colour which I love, as shown here: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kjNFEZ3hfqY/maxresdefault.j...
Unsurprisingly there aren't any available in that anda custom paint job is simply a cost I can't really justify to the Mrs; so I'm looking at a bunch in the standard Glossy Black, a few in Glossy Red (but each with some corrosion issues), and one in an Emerald Green which I really love but is way overpriced. However there is one listed at a great price, immaculate condition, reasonable mileage, and with almost all the modifications that I would want to do already done... however it is in white and I'm not sure how I feel about that.
It got me thinking, does a white bike really increase your visibility on the roads? Whats it like in winter with all the road grime? Does it look instantly naff with the tiniest bit of dirt? Any issues with fading or blemish in stupidly sunny summers? How best to keep it looking good? (I'm still torn on EVEN IF white bikes look good though!)
So anyone with experience of riding a white bike through winter, I'd really value your thoughts!
Unsurprisingly there aren't any available in that anda custom paint job is simply a cost I can't really justify to the Mrs; so I'm looking at a bunch in the standard Glossy Black, a few in Glossy Red (but each with some corrosion issues), and one in an Emerald Green which I really love but is way overpriced. However there is one listed at a great price, immaculate condition, reasonable mileage, and with almost all the modifications that I would want to do already done... however it is in white and I'm not sure how I feel about that.
It got me thinking, does a white bike really increase your visibility on the roads? Whats it like in winter with all the road grime? Does it look instantly naff with the tiniest bit of dirt? Any issues with fading or blemish in stupidly sunny summers? How best to keep it looking good? (I'm still torn on EVEN IF white bikes look good though!)
So anyone with experience of riding a white bike through winter, I'd really value your thoughts!
I have a white Street Triple, looks great when clean and it's easy to see when dirty...erm, so I clean it !!
Seriously, not a problem in winter, I do think it helps visibility at dusk particularly...however, even riding with part hi vis jacket and helmet with a dubious hi visibility colour ! !!! Headlights on as well,, the muppets still pull out on you !!!
Seriously, not a problem in winter, I do think it helps visibility at dusk particularly...however, even riding with part hi vis jacket and helmet with a dubious hi visibility colour ! !!! Headlights on as well,, the muppets still pull out on you !!!
for this thread.I've ridden a white bike through the last 9 winters. It makes little difference to visibility because from the front there isn't much paint visible, most of what a car waiting at a t-junction sees is helmet, rider's jacket, headlight and fork legs/wheel. The colour of the paint, if it's visible at all, is a small proportion of the total moving object. I guess if you're looking at a full sized tourer then the front-facing parts of the lower fairings might be visible, but such bikes are a small proportion of the total numbers of bikes on the road.
All bikes get dirty and end up a sort of beige/brown colour if you leave it long enough.
All bikes get dirty and end up a sort of beige/brown colour if you leave it long enough.
DirtyHarley said:
It got me thinking, does a white bike really increase your visibility on the roads? Whats it like in winter with all the road grime?
Well, it wouldn't increase your visibility in winter if it was snowing or foggy! Sorry, other than that I have nothing to offer and I've never owned a white bike either...
Love Sporties in black, but when I was in the Sickness, pretty much every other bike was the same colour with all the same modifications. Usually Denim Black with wrapped Short Shots, hacked back end, side plate, rock hard rear suspension and "flipped" mirrors... ooh to be different.
I'm not a fan of white bikes, but I wouldn't generally let colour put me off buying any vehicle I fancied - within reason, and particularly if it was a good example. There's always the possiblity of changing the colour at a later date, a straight black powder coat wouldn't cost a lot. Neither would the application of some graphics. I've only owned one (predominantly) white bike, a custom Z750, and I can't say it was treated any differently as far as cleaning in the winter was concerned. The only colour that doesn't show dirt is probably a nice grey with a speckled brown overlay... And as a poster above stated, colour will have little effect on visiblilty most of the time.
I'm not a fan of white bikes, but I wouldn't generally let colour put me off buying any vehicle I fancied - within reason, and particularly if it was a good example. There's always the possiblity of changing the colour at a later date, a straight black powder coat wouldn't cost a lot. Neither would the application of some graphics. I've only owned one (predominantly) white bike, a custom Z750, and I can't say it was treated any differently as far as cleaning in the winter was concerned. The only colour that doesn't show dirt is probably a nice grey with a speckled brown overlay... And as a poster above stated, colour will have little effect on visiblilty most of the time.
https://motorcyclebrave.com/safest-color-for-a-mot...
I read it a few months ago, I want to be visible, but I think I concluded the differences weren't that great.
I read it a few months ago, I want to be visible, but I think I concluded the differences weren't that great.
Colour is simply personal preference I'm not a fan of white but my Speed Triple R is white as it was the only R with ABS and PVN wheels I could find at the time
I'd have paid £500 more for black and intended to paint it but TBH I bought it to ride, not look at so I've decided to leave it white
Colour affects resale, I suspect a white Harley would be £500 - £1000 less than a black one
I'd have paid £500 more for black and intended to paint it but TBH I bought it to ride, not look at so I've decided to leave it white
Colour affects resale, I suspect a white Harley would be £500 - £1000 less than a black one
Cheers for the replies chaps!
I'm still torn, I want to avoid the bog standard black (gloss or matt) as gloss shows swirls very easily and the matt/denim black not only doesnt appeal to me but also is a bit too much of the 'samey-ness' that Spoodler mentions. Sadly too many do follow that denim black, short-shot, 4inch riser, flipped mirrors approach 'to be different' - I'm in no way trying to be a 'unique flower' through customisation - I've owned sporties for about 15 years now and have developed a taste for what I like comfort wise and what performance mods give a good balance for the type of riding I do so generally go for a similiar setup on all of them. Also - I only want something with mag/cast wheels, ABS, and a 4.5gal fuel tank which limits my pool a fair bit!
Whilst the white looks pretty decent against the chrome, I just can't see me riding it at the moment and I think until I see it in person I'll remain on the fence about it.
KTMsm - on the value front, you've pretty much hit it on the head - the white one I am looking at is currently about £500 lower than I would expect it to be - I'm speaking to a chum next week about how much a single colour respray would be which also gives me options.
I'm still torn, I want to avoid the bog standard black (gloss or matt) as gloss shows swirls very easily and the matt/denim black not only doesnt appeal to me but also is a bit too much of the 'samey-ness' that Spoodler mentions. Sadly too many do follow that denim black, short-shot, 4inch riser, flipped mirrors approach 'to be different' - I'm in no way trying to be a 'unique flower' through customisation - I've owned sporties for about 15 years now and have developed a taste for what I like comfort wise and what performance mods give a good balance for the type of riding I do so generally go for a similiar setup on all of them. Also - I only want something with mag/cast wheels, ABS, and a 4.5gal fuel tank which limits my pool a fair bit!
Whilst the white looks pretty decent against the chrome, I just can't see me riding it at the moment and I think until I see it in person I'll remain on the fence about it.
KTMsm - on the value front, you've pretty much hit it on the head - the white one I am looking at is currently about £500 lower than I would expect it to be - I'm speaking to a chum next week about how much a single colour respray would be which also gives me options.
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