Tips for riding at night

[Roadstergal]

Make sure your headlights are adjusted properly.

Wear a clear visor.

 

[GPzPop]

remember to keep a "high visual horizon" ... nothing to do with 420, just to look "up-track" as far as you can

 

[stevidx]

I had a dirty visor, 3:15am CA 1 just north of Montara, on coming car w/ highbeams I'm blinded decided to wait it out... I'm like why would this guy leave his Hbeams on, how rude is that! As he passes I can again see the road and there's two deer in my lane 20 or so ft in front of me I'm somewhere between 45-50mph no time to break just a quick slalom move between 'em. I was like ohhhh thats why he left Hbeams on. Can you imagine from his POV he sees motorcyclist riding straight at two deer no break lights just a quick swerve...

I now flip my visor up for approaching cars on two lane highways

 

[OldBlade]

Thank you for the post Tharkun.

I see it often because I usually get called to clean up the mess. Picking up debris at night sucks because I need about a mile or two to safely stop traffic depending on how busy it is, but I can't see the debris until I'm basically on top of it. I usually use cars with flat tires as a marker for where it should be, about 1/4 to 1/2 mile prior

And thank you for doing this for everyone's safety :thumbup I have seen this operation go down quite a few times, and I am always impressed by how smoothly and expertly it is executed.

 

[Rob]

Tailgate aggressively.
The closer you are to the car in front of you, the more you can utilize his superior headlights.

I really can't think of a situation where "tailgate" and "aggressively" go together resulting in a good thing... unless you're an asshole. Then, by all means, tailgate aggressively... at night... on your motorcycle. :wtf

 

[BayAreaRick]

I'm glad I have my Hyperlites and I throw on a HI-Viz Yellow Vest at night. Yes, seeing is important, but being seen is as much so.

 

[Roadstergal]

Oh, yeah - be especially careful of all of the dips in cars driving with their lights off. Silver and grey are popular colors for cars, and those can blend in surprisingly well with the color of asphalt at night.

 

[danix]

Thanks for this post!

 

[ilikefood]

A couple things I posted earlier in the other thread:

1. Make sure your lights actually work. I've seen a few bikes recently with a tail light that wasn't working.

2. Adjust your headlight. It's easy, free, and it hugely improves your ability to see and be seen. I thought my ST4's headlights were useless, but then I checked them - they were adjusted way, way too low.

3. Don't outpace your headlights on fast dark roads. You have to be able to stop within the distance your headlights illuminate. Your life depends on it.

4. Be extra careful at intersections, especially where cars are waiting to turn left. Or anywhere where cars might be pulling out of driveways, parking lots, gas stations, etc. A single motorcycle headlight makes it difficult for drivers to judge the distance and speed of the motorcycle.

5. Just be aware of what's around you, and what's coming up behind you. For the same reasons as above, drivers have trouble judging distance and speed of a motorcycle from behind, so be aware so you don't get rear-ended.

6. Make sure your visor is super clean, so you don't get weird blinding reflections from car lights.

7. Make yourself and your bike visible. Anything bright and reflective helps a lot.

Hope that helps.

 

[Marcoose]

Tailgate aggressively.
The closer you are to the car in front of you, the more you can utilize his superior headlights.

Don't know about that, Jeff.

Early bird here has commuted 880 a handful of times in the last few weeks. The biggest problem is the oncoming traffic's lights while riding the #1. The solution has been to ride at a safe distance behind small cars going at reasonable and steady speeds on the #2 or #3.

Nice thread, Tharkūùúüûun.

 

[Cycle61]

Tharkūùúüûun.

:laughing:laughing

Good thread, and mostly good advice in here. :thumbup

 

[Bravnik]

Get a VFR - Excellent Lights

But yeah, I agree with all said about riding at night. The biggest is to not out ride your lights.

 

[SalCal]

Remember if you engine break a ton, your tail lights do not warn those behind you that you are slowing! Add a tige of hand break, especially if it is foggy.
I bought some wide white semi-rigid reflective tape that I am going to rivet to my leather side bags. I also bought some flexible reflective tape/ribbon, to sew to some of my gear.

 

[MikeyRocks]

You can also cover your bike in reflective tape to make your bike more visible. :laughing

(not my bike)

 

[SalCal]

This stuff to put on my saddle bags. Kinda purty, no?

 

[sanjuro]

A couple things I posted earlier in the other thread:

1. Make sure your lights actually work. I've seen a few bikes recently with a tail light that wasn't working.

2. Adjust your headlight. It's easy, free, and it hugely improves your ability to see and be seen. I thought my ST4's headlights were useless, but then I checked them - they were adjusted way, way too low.

3. Don't outpace your headlights on fast dark roads. You have to be able to stop within the distance your headlights illuminate. Your life depends on it.

4. Be extra careful at intersections, especially where cars are waiting to turn left. Or anywhere where cars might be pulling out of driveways, parking lots, gas stations, etc. A single motorcycle headlight makes it difficult for drivers to judge the distance and speed of the motorcycle.

5. Just be aware of what's around you, and what's coming up behind you. For the same reasons as above, drivers have trouble judging distance and speed of a motorcycle from behind, so be aware so you don't get rear-ended.

6. Make sure your visor is super clean, so you don't get weird blinding reflections from car lights.

7. Make yourself and your bike visible. Anything bright and reflective helps a lot.

Hope that helps.

I think all the tips are top notch, and about intersections, some drivers not only have a problem judging distance and speed, but won't even see you.

I try to have a plan, from emergency braking to riding into oncoming lanes if they are clear, in case a car does pull in front of me.

Usually just slowing down does the trick, but I will check behind me for tailgaters and at least tap my rear brake so my brake lights come on.

I also flash the high beams to increase my visibility.

 

[ilikefood]

I also flash the high beams to increase my visibility.

Careful - flashing headlights can sometimes be interpreted as "you go first". Cars sometimes do that at stop signs at intersections - flash to let the other guy go first. I think that started with truck drivers, who flash lights to let another trucker know that he has space to pull in front of their truck. Moving laterally in your lane is a safer way to improve your chances of getting seen.

 

[Pking]

Good stuff:thumbup
I would also go as far to say that many cagers don't see well at night and are just winging it...meaning that they are seeing but not totally comprehending instantly and accurately in certain situations, i.e. the infamous left turn scenario. It's evident when you see a person looking right dead at you but still turns in front of you. Ugh!

 

[SLu]

Follow the tire of the car in front. This is the best solution I have to minimize the chance of hitting discarded truck tire treads and other hard to see debris on the road at night. It's a numbers game and you're eventually going to get bitten.

 

[Cincinnatus]

"Start" - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Character Map - send a shortcut to your desktop. :teeth