I don't wear a vest personally; but I think its a decision everyone has to make for themselves. Ever since Viet Nam, I've been a believer in "when its your time its your time".

 

I use the HD vest, but so far only to ride to work. I plan on having it with me next summer when I go on my next multistate cruise for riding in the rain.

 

My vest is highly visible trust me... it's more like a target for LEO

 

I know of two "box" ambulances and a handful of LEO cars that have been hit locally while running full lights. If drivers don't see that how can I expect a vest to help. I don't worry so much about them seeing me, I make sure I see them. And I forgot the occasional train!

 

Couple of bad points about the Harley High Vis vest: the pass holder on the left side of the chest is only held on with velcro and is very easy to accidently brush off (I even had a small chain through it and pinned to the jacket and lost it with my security pass); once you have lost the pass the prickly velcro bit is left and can then start catching on your clothing, very annoying.

Good points are it does make you a lot more visible, particularily from behind. The OL was following me on the highway, not close sort of both heading to the same place, she said that even from a mile or so back she would pick up sight of me easily through traffic.

Do I wear it all the time no. Only when commuting or riding at night/low light conditions. If I am just out riding in good weather I leave it off.

 

I believe this also.

 

I do have one but seldom wear it as I bought it for night use and don't ride much if at all during night. Besides, my new Heritage has a total of six lights from the front. If they can't see that, well, they are going to hit me anyways.

 

We also have the HD vests -

Good points-
Incredibly visible in daytime, glows like a neon at night,
ID badge holder stays on well, but looks like crap - I know it's a mil-spec thing, but it still looks like crap for us civilians.
Very sturdy and well built - odd for HD products, so its worth mentioning.

Bad points --
NOT ventilated well, so in hot weather it really SUX
Highly visible -- so you look like a safety conscious motorcycle enthusiast instead of a poser biker...(real bikers are, of course, exempt from the sarcasm contained this statement)

My wife won't ride without hers, I put mine on if the weather sux or I think that the extra viz might be a bonus.

.

 

I wear hi vis jackets when I go on long tours. Just part of the stuff needed for touring. I don't like the traffic type vest so I get the jackets that are sold in bicycle stores or magazines.

One the trip to Key West this year only three cages tried to run me over.

 

I wear a high vis vest every day when I'm at work, (work for PaDOT). Work on the roads w/ 3'x3' floresent orange signs letting people know were there, and they still try to run over us. Two fatalities this year due to careless drivers.
To answer your question no not to ride, there either going to see you or not!