Do you ride at night? is it safe?

[kirill_igum]

Recently I had a conversation with a rider, he told me that he prefers not to ride at night. Personally, I don't mind when it's dark: there are less cars.

if you choose 2 or 3, I'd like to see your comments on why do you think it's uncomfortable or unsafe.

EDIT: "no" means that you PLAN your ride to be done by night time or use a different transportation if it's dark.

[SHIVA]

you can't call yourself a rider if you don't ride at night.

[Mirage_ZA]

you can't call yourself a rider if you don't ride at night.

And if you ride at night you call yourself Night Rider !

[allikanbe]

you can't call yourself a rider if you don't ride at night.

Sure you can.

I ride at night when I have to. I prefer to see what is up ahead. Two weeks ago my friend and I both missed half of a deer in the middle of the road. We didn't see it until we were on top of it. During daylight, it would have been easy to spot. There seem to be more drunk drivers at night too - go figure. That tiny brake light on most of our bikes just isn't enough especially when a lot of us wear black leather.

[SHIVA]

I ride at night when I have to.

but you do ride at night. so my comment wasn't directed toward you.

[jerseyrider]

I don't go out riding at night unless I have to or if I'm already out. In addition to not being able to see as well as you can during the day there is a lot of wildlife. There are a lot of deer and they like to come out at dusk and graze along the side of the road. Therefore, riding at night is about as safe as you make it.

[ssduc]

you can't call yourself a rider if you don't ride at night.

I think the intent of the original post was not to determine if people pull off to the side of the road 10 miles from home if the sun goes down. Rather, the question is if you schedule your rides to avoid night riding if at all possible.

[Bernardo]

Normally I ride at night when I come back to my house, this night 200Km. (always late! ), If the helmet visor and lights are in good conditions I have no problem, logically I slow down the throttle....

But the statistics tells is more risky than ride at natural daylight , I think depending on the place, here we have dogs, foxes, savage rabbits, stupids riders...

[SHIVA]

Rather, the question is if you schedule your rides to avoid night riding if at all possible.

I agree SS, it's a bit vague. but since it's already an active poll we'll let it unfold.

Who wouldn't finish their ride, just because the sun goes down, sort of like a reverse vampire. and I don't know of any rider who never touches the bike at night. actually night riding, and going to biker meets and bike nights is one of the coolest aspects of riding.

[Yellowjacket]

I ride at night when I have to. I did notice that in my forties, my night vision has decreased somewhat. My ability to see contrast just beyond the low beam is not what it used to be. A friend of mine in his late forties told me he had a similar experience. We adjust our riding speed accordingly. I used high beam and driving lights (angled out and up somewhat)to enhance my vision whenever I can.

[Xtremo]

I do not mind riding at night.

Usually i take a summer trip of 7-15 days on the bike as part of my vacations, most of these days we end up riding at night after stoping to visit cities on our route, it's actually planned.

On a weekend ride, i rather ride in the morning, but if the weather is nice, we can not come back for lunch, spend the evening riding and find out that it's getting dark and we're still 200km from home, so it is night ride again, and most of the times it is nice and relaxing after a whole day with the tap fully open, riding legal speed with the cold night air...high moon...the sound of the admision getting through the open visor...

Manuel.

[Cambridge K]

I'm with YellowJacket, Yet it depends where you live - City riding to Country riding - City riding you got drunks,pot holes, puplic transit rails / gap between rail & pavement,j walkers, more lights to see & be seen. Country riding you got animals,only got your headlight to see everything, more shadows, stuff in the roads. If I got a long day ride ahead - I start my ride early - 4 or 5 AM .

[Gwoolie]

So what happens when it gets dark? Do we get off and stop until its light again? Nope!

We fit bigger bulbs and ride home.

Some-times my work finishes at 02:00, so I ride home then too.

Many deer, fox and animals on the roads here at night, but no more than at 5am when I go out for the day.

[YMFB]

I live in the countryside and I havent liked riding at night ever since I ran over a badger about ten years ago. Luckily we didnt come off, but we were very lucky.

My concerns don't stop me and I have driven many miles at night.

Improving or increasing the lighting does not help as animals generally run out at you, not a 100 metres/yards in front.

And to answer the last point, I dont consider it to be unsafe to ride at night, but it is with increased risk.

All being well I will be off to Poole Quay tomorrow and will be riding home in the dark, however, I will ride a diffrent route home.

[Gwoolie]

YMFB

Ride safe, im working in Poole Tue night!!!!

I got sharp scissors!!!

[YMFB]

Didnt make it to Poole tonight, problems at school for youngest child kept me away

[badger]

Normally I ride at night when I come back to my house, this night 200Km. (always late! ), If the helmet visor and lights are in good conditions I have no problem, logically I slow down the throttle....

But the statistics tells is more risky than ride at natural daylight , I think depending on the place, here we have dogs, foxes, savage rabbits, stupids riders...

Is that where Monty Python got their bunny from? ;D



I like night riding, especially on a road you know. No cars, and a nice sweeping sensation through the twisties. If an unknown road I sometimes ride with the beam on full regardless - does not seem to annoy the cage drivers too much, if at all.

[cryptmod]

Night rides doesn't bother me, I am more afraid of rush of high wind when doing high speed during the day.

[Bernardo]

savage rabbits, stupids riders...

, not at all, those are english rabbits, here are more friendly.... . Savage rabbits = Liebres in spanish...

[klink1313]

Living out in the sticks I try to schedule my riding by day, can see better and less wildlife in the way. Last year when riding home from work I just missed hitting a Kangaroo......that would have hurt. Last week I forgot daylight saving had ended so when i left work it was just getting dark...had to ride home with the smoked visor....not too bad but I wouldn't want to make a habit of it

[Tr0jan]

Maybe for the rest of the world its safe to ride out at night. In ZA its fairly safe, when sticking to city limits. On trips out to the rural areas ive come across many a buck that wants to have a look at your headlights. Then we also have the factor of almost zero policing and unroadworthy cars without lights or reflectors roam the dark roads...

But the above mentioned is always kept in mind, and my speed adjusted accordingly.

Oh yes, and the fifty million pot holes we have, sheez, few close encounters there


Why I currently dont ride at night, unless I have to do so explicitly:

I had an accident about a year ago where another bike shot through the cars, me not seeing him as he blended in between their lights. He T-Boned me on the left just between the engine and front forks. If he were to have hit me 10-15cm to the right, my leg would have been amputated on the spot. Not to mention that his bike would have struck me full on then, and me having even a worse fate. The impact from such an accident is unimaginable. I survived this with a few cuts and bruises. My guardian angels worked overtime

So, now I dont ride at night if its not absolutely necessary. Live to ride another day. I have a wife and kid, so lets keep the risk manageable.


Greetz,

former rider, now motorcyclist.

[Bernardo]

Hi TrOjan

I had an accident about a year ago

Sorry about that...

So, now I dont ride at night if its not absolutely necessary.

If you burn with milk, run away when you see a cow

[Tr0jan]

Hi TrOjan

I had an accident about a year ago

Sorry about that...

So, now I dont ride at night if its not absolutely necessary.

If you burn with milk, run away when you see a cow

I can see you look at it in an udder way

[Yellowjacket]

DDM sells a HID replacement bulb. My low beam has farther reach and better spread now.

[jp-]

I love riding at night, but like some of the others my night vision is not that good.

Couple that with the fact there is a great deal of trash and obstacles on our roads here, it really isn't a great idea to ride at night unless you ride only with the high beams on. Because I hate being blinded myself, I rarely ride with the high beams always on.

Night riding also necessitates a slower road speed. During the daylight I can spot a tire in the road with plenty of room to avoid it while traveling at 120mph. At night, I have to go 70mph, to make sure that I see it in time to avoid it.