Black or Grey Riding Gear?

RememberTheFallen · 11-13-2012, 07:02 PM

I know this is kinda a dumb question but I am looking at my first set of adventure gear and and all other things being equal I was wondering what color would be better? I am talking about adventure riding jackets and pants not enduro/MX jerseys or pants. Black seems to be the standard but I imagine it would be warm during the summer months. Grey seems cooler but easier to stain? Searching didn't reveal anything. Anyone have any more preferences or reasonings on choosing gear color?

RememberTheFallen · 11-13-2012, 07:09 PM

To be more specific I am looking at the Klim adventure gear and their light grey and black gear.

bigborefan · 11-13-2012, 07:29 PM

You live in GA, light gray IMO.

But you got that red clay?

findlj · 11-13-2012, 07:38 PM

I'm of the opinion that wearing brighter colors makes you much more visible on the road. By far the largest percentage of drivers you encounter are looking at you head on, so the color of your bike is almost irrelevant. However, the clothing (specifically jacket) you wear and your lights are what drivers around you see.

RememberTheFallen · 11-13-2012, 07:40 PM

Ya, that red clay is pretty famous for staining anything light colored. Most of the riding areas don't seem to have too much of it though. I was leaning towards grey until I bought some black pants on the flea market. Now, being the quite fashionable guy that I am (lol), I would like to match! Maybe I need to just get over that fact.

DevDel · 11-13-2012, 08:05 PM

I read an article years ago that tested temperatures of various colors of riding gear in the summer sun. Black jackets had an internal temp 10 degrees higher than white or yellow. I don't remember grey being in the test or not, but I'm confident a light grey or silver is going to be cooler to wear.

StuartV · 11-13-2012, 08:33 PM

Get Motoport Mesh Kevlar and even black will be fine.

Robert^ · 11-13-2012, 08:53 PM

The Klim looks like fantastic gear. I have been considering the same and will probably come down on the side of all black. Currently I have a Roadcrafter in black jacket w grey pants. Black is sharper looking. Black with a white helmet and upgraded lighting seem to have good visibility.

DaveStockwell · 11-13-2012, 08:56 PM

Klim is fantastic gear. Lighter colors are cooler in the sun. It will all be dirt colored after your first ride so don't spend much time worrying about color.

wingnut11 · 11-13-2012, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RememberTheFallen

Ya, that red clay is pretty famous for staining anything light colored. Most of the riding areas don't seem to have too much of it though. I was leaning towards grey until I bought some black pants on the flea market. Now, being the quite fashionable guy that I am (lol), I would like to match! Maybe I need to just get over that fact.

Just so you know black and grey do go together, it's not like you are talking about really mismatching. Like yellow and purple as an example. Currently my jacket and pants are both black, but I've decided my next coat will be grey. I think I'll stick with black pants though.

FlySniper · 11-14-2012, 09:32 AM

The advantage of black is it hides road grime really well. I have a yellow Tour Master jacket that has stains that just won't come out (Granted; it's several years and tens of thousands of miles old.). And the brighter the color, the worse it seems to fade.

I'm not a fashoinista by any stretch, but I think the brightly colored, matching pants and jackets look downright goofy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wingnut11

Just so you know black and grey do go together, it's not like you are talking about really mismatching. Like yellow and purple as an example. Currently my jacket and pants are both black, but I've decided my next coat will be grey. I think I'll stick with black pants though.

Yellow and purple don't go together?

I may be in trouble then as my DR650 has a purple frame with yellow trim and my Ninja is purple and I have a yellow jacket!

Shhh! Don't tell the gals from Vouge magazine, they might come after me!

mitch · 11-14-2012, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert^

The Klim looks like fantastic gear. I have been considering the same and will probably come down on the side of all black. Currently I have a Roadcrafter in black jacket w grey pants. Black is sharper looking. Black with a white helmet and upgraded lighting seem to have good visibility.

As long as you are not in a hurry, I 've been waiting for 15 months for them to supply a grey Adv Jacket

High Country Herb · 11-14-2012, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitch

As long as you are not in a hurry, I 've been waiting for 15 months for them to supply a grey Adv Jacket

Black it is!

Spud2836 · 11-15-2012, 02:00 AM

I got the grey latitude and am very happy. The gortex makes it very easy to just wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Xeraux · 11-16-2012, 03:56 AM

Sure. The black is hotter when you're sitting still in the sun, but when you're moving? There's virtually no difference because of evaporative cooling.

So, if you're not planning on sitting still in the sun with the gear, I wouldn't worry about the color and just get what you like and what's readily available.

11-13-2012, 07:02 PM	#1
RememberTheFallen ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2009 Location: North Georgia Oddometer: 202	Black or Grey Riding Gear? I know this is kinda a dumb question but I am looking at my first set of adventure gear and and all other things being equal I was wondering what color would be better? I am talking about adventure riding jackets and pants not enduro/MX jerseys or pants. Black seems to be the standard but I imagine it would be warm during the summer months. Grey seems cooler but easier to stain? Searching didn't reveal anything. Anyone have any more preferences or reasonings on choosing gear color?

11-13-2012, 07:29 PM	#3
bigborefan Making new friends Joined: Jul 2007 Location: USA - Midwest, Central Illinois Oddometer: 696	You live in GA, light gray IMO. But you got that red clay? __________________ 2010 KTM 530 XC-W / 2009 KTM 950SE I don't know everything, but what I don't know, I lie about

11-13-2012, 07:38 PM	#4
findlj How much fun is that Joined: Oct 2010 Location: Missouri Oddometer: 66	I'm of the opinion that wearing brighter colors makes you much more visible on the road. By far the largest percentage of drivers you encounter are looking at you head on, so the color of your bike is almost irrelevant. However, the clothing (specifically jacket) you wear and your lights are what drivers around you see. __________________ I did it. I'm glad I did it. I'm gonna do it again if I get the chance!

11-13-2012, 08:33 PM	#7
StuartV Motorcyclist Joined: Oct 2004 Location: Roseville, CA Oddometer: 571	Get Motoport Mesh Kevlar and even black will be fine. __________________ - Stu '09 R12GS, '05 GSX-R1000 (x3), '05 KTM 525EXC (plated) Iron Butt # 4999, WERA/CCS EX # 666 (currently, expired), AMA Life Member Racer, Drummer, Bassist, Software Engineer

11-13-2012, 08:56 PM	#9
DaveStockwell Rock Fodder Joined: Jul 2011 Location: Betwix the Cascades and Puget Sound Oddometer: 205	Klim is fantastic gear. Lighter colors are cooler in the sun. It will all be dirt colored after your first ride so don't spend much time worrying about color. __________________ "Yes. It looks insubordinate, but it isn't really." - T.E. Lawrence

11-13-2012, 07:09 PM	#2
RememberTheFallen ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2009 Location: North Georgia Oddometer: 202	To be more specific I am looking at the Klim adventure gear and their light grey and black gear.

11-13-2012, 07:40 PM	#5
RememberTheFallen ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2009 Location: North Georgia Oddometer: 202	Ya, that red clay is pretty famous for staining anything light colored. Most of the riding areas don't seem to have too much of it though. I was leaning towards grey until I bought some black pants on the flea market. Now, being the quite fashionable guy that I am (lol), I would like to match! Maybe I need to just get over that fact.

11-13-2012, 08:05 PM	#6
DevDel Studly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2003 Location: Central AZ Oddometer: 560	I read an article years ago that tested temperatures of various colors of riding gear in the summer sun. Black jackets had an internal temp 10 degrees higher than white or yellow. I don't remember grey being in the test or not, but I'm confident a light grey or silver is going to be cooler to wear.

11-13-2012, 08:53 PM	#8
Robert^ Adventurer Joined: May 2008 Location: Portland OR Oddometer: 70	The Klim looks like fantastic gear. I have been considering the same and will probably come down on the side of all black. Currently I have a Roadcrafter in black jacket w grey pants. Black is sharper looking. Black with a white helmet and upgraded lighting seem to have good visibility.

11-15-2012, 02:00 AM	#14
Spud2836 Adventurer Joined: Apr 2012 Location: Hobart Oddometer: 89	I got the grey latitude and am very happy. The gortex makes it very easy to just wipe clean with a damp cloth.

11-16-2012, 03:56 AM	#15
Xeraux Archvillain Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Oddometer: 30,416	Sure. The black is hotter when you're sitting still in the sun, but when you're moving? There's virtually no difference because of evaporative cooling. So, if you're not planning on sitting still in the sun with the gear, I wouldn't worry about the color and just get what you like and what's readily available. __________________ Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. If, after I depart this vale, you ever remember me and have thought to please my ghost, forgive some sinner and wink your eye at some homely girl.

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