What to Know About Nighttime Motorcycle Riding
Berts Mega Mall | Powersports Hub
Nighttime motorcycle riding is very different than riding during the day and there are different feelings about night time motorcycle riding that vary from rider to rider. Night riding can be more enjoyable when you’re looking for the night sky, city lights, and empty streets. It also lets you avoid the chaos that is daytime traffic, which is just plain stressful. Some riders don’t prefer night time rides because your visibility is reduced and you are left more vulnerable in some cases. There are pros and cons to everything, but we’ll give you’re the fact so you are aware and can have an enjoyable night item riding experience.
Visibility:
All street-legal motorcycles have headlights. Some motorcycles come with better lights than others. Depending on how well you think your headlights light up the road you can choose to upgrade to brighter bulbs to improve that visibility. Before heading out when planning for a ride where you know it will become dark, just make sure your lights are working and adjusted properly. Also try to keep your headlights clean to avoid any dust lays cutting down the brightness of your lights.
We also recommend you wear some type of reflective gear. You can find jackets or pants (sometimes helmets) with a reflective strip going across or down on them. This will increase your visibility on the road. Some riders have even lined their rims with reflective tape.
Right Visor:
Typically riders like to have a tinted visor for day riding because it blocks out the brightness of the sun. Tinted visors are great for the day time but once dark comes they reduce your perception in the dark. If you often ride in the dark or you are planning some rides that will require you to ride in the dark we highly recommend you carry a clear visor with you. There are also transitional visors you can purchase (varies from helmet to helmet). One more thing to think about is keeping your visor clear of smudges, dead bugs, and scratches. Wipes or microfiber cloths will help you keep it clean!
Weather:
Weather varies on where you are located but more than likely wherever you are the temperatures drop at night. Colder temperatures make it a little tougher to ride in because of the chilly winds and the cold can accelerate fatigue. You will have to be a little better suited with maybe an extra jacket or pants depending on how cold it is actually going to get. A colder night-time climate can also make your tires experience a loss of traction as the road becomes colder. And the final thing to keep in mind about the weather when riding at night is that sometimes you can experience night time fog. Fog dramatically cuts down on visibility and can make riding a motorcycle much more dangerous. Always try to know what weather is coming so that you are fully prepared.
Hazards:
Hazards will vary on the area you are riding in. Highways in the desert or forest might have you encounter some wildlife more than you would in the city. Animals come out in the night and can jump out when you least expect it. Do as much as possible, as safely as possible to avoid hitting anything so you don’t hurt yourself or anyone else on the road in danger.
You can become your own hazard if you start to become sleepy. As a motorcycle rider, you should always be ready to react and being sleepy delays your reaction time.
Lastly, potholes can be a really big concern at night. Be observant of the vehicles in front of you. If you see their lights or tires bouncing up and down, you can get a rough idea of where and when you should avoid the pothole.
Drivers:
You always have to watch out for drivers when you are on a motorcycle but watching out for drivers at night can sometimes be a whole different game. Some drivers have a hard time seeing at night due to their own vision issues and could easily miss seeing you when turning or switching lanes. Keep your distance and try to read the drivers ahead and behind you. Unfortunately, a sad reality is that you also have to watch out for drunk drivers (especially on weekends or closer to 2 am, when bars close). If you see a driver in the distance who is swerving or speeding stay away and contact the local authorities. Staying away will be the best option because they’re probably not paying attention to their surroundings.
Ready Let's Go!
Riding your motorcycle at night is very doable, you just have to take some more precautions than you might do during the day time. Nighttime riding will also just be based on how you feel when you try it. As we mentioned before, some rider does not prefer night time riding because their visibility is not as good as normal. But some riders prefer the emptier and quieter streets (depending on your location). We hope these tips and pointers help you on your night time riding journey. Happy and safe riding to all!
Related:
-The Ultimate Guide to a Long Distance Motorcycle Ride
-Should You Ride Your Motorcycle in the Rain?
-The Ultimate Guide to Riding a Motorcycle In Winter
💰
GET FINANCED!
VALUE YOUR TRADE IN
30 SECONDS!
☎️
CALL NOW:
626-974-6600
✉️
EMAIL US!
customerservice@bertsmegamall.com
📍
