Total Motorcycle Community Forums

For the last 3 months or so, when im driving my car, I pretend im on a bike and look for road hazards. (edge traps, sand/gravel etc...) I try to get my timing down for whatever speed im going.

Anyhow, when im driving around at night i find it hard/impossible to see very far ahead. (not so much other vehicles or how the road twists, but more like condition of the road and such)

My vision is nearly perfect.

And i have thought about the possibility that my windshield may attribute to this.(I tried putting my head out the window for a min but it burned my eyes too much at 60mph )

Are there any tricks i dont know about? or does the risk factor just increase at night.

Risk factor does increase at night. Motorcycle headlights seem to not have the light output that a car has. Slow down and don't drive beyond the limits of the your headlight. You can also use the headlights of cars around you to aid you.

sharpmagna wrote:Risk factor does increase at night. Motorcycle headlights seem to not have the light output that a car has. Slow down and don't drive beyond the limits of the your headlight. You can also use the headlights of cars around you to aid you.

Really? My 650R is annoyingly bright to be infront of for too long according to my frined.

And riding at night can be one of the best times for riding if it's a warm evening. The roads are empty, no one's tail gating, no preassure to go like a bat out of hell. Rather, common sense in more prevelent at night.

Depends on the bike - newer bikes have better headlights.

Riding at night isn't all that bad - just make sure you wear a clear visor (not a tinted one) and stick around the lit streets - don't venture out on the highway at night for the first while.

Ninja Geoff wrote:Really? My 650R is annoyingly bright to be infront of for too long according to my frined.

I had that from a friend, when we got home and looked at my Bike it turned out that the headlight was adjusted to high.

We had the Same thing on Si;s 'Blade when he gave me a lift because the back shock wasn't adjusted for the weight of two which was pushing the headlights up.

I don't think you can compare riding in the car to riding on the bike for visibility. Just being out in the open you have so much more visibility all around you. Unless you drive a truck/SUV you'll probably be up higher and you have no hood in front of you blocking the way. I was amazed the first time I rode at night, how much I could see that I never saw in my car, even my own shadow!

Also, if your windshield has been around for a few years its probably dinged up and catches the light the wrong way. Although, sometimes my visor does the same thing.

Like others have said, I find night riding a lot less stressful because there are less people on the road and people are in less of a rush.

night = home for me. I go on all the big roads and highways at night, so I dont have to be in a traffic jam or get tailgated.


Also, Im usually studying from 4 - 9 PM so really the only time I can ride is at nighttime, ( cant afford a one hour break in my study routines)

We've only ridden at night once or twice - it's absolutely gorgeous and peaceful out here. Though, not without its risks as mentioned above. Make yourself as visible as you can to others. And ride the speed appropriate for visibility, which is reduced at night. Get a good headlight bulb and make sure your headlight glass is clean and aimed properly.

And again.

Night riding is great.

Headlights on bikes vary considerably. My Hyosung has poor lights, my Triumph is better and my SV is brilliant. I know people who have upgraded the lighting on their bikes, but you have to be careful of your battery if you do this. There are also legal limits over here in the UK. (Not that you would think anyone pays any attention to that these days.)

Don't get lulled into a false sense of security riding around at night. There may be less vehicular traffic, but the critters come out to eat...