It can be the time when you experience the most solitude and relaxation on your bike, but riding motorcycle at night can also be the most dangerous time. There are some riders who can’t wait for the sun to fall behind the horizon and then there are other riders who try to get off the roads as quickly as possible when nightfall comes around. Wherever you fall on that spectrum, the chances are pretty good that you will find yourself riding at night at some point. With that said, having the right preparation and following good night tips, you can not only get through riding at night safely, but it could turn out to be your new favorite time to ride.
Below are some tips for riding your motorcycle at night that can help you make the most out of it while being as safe as possible.
See Clearly
Obviously, your vision is limited in lowlight conditions, so it’s important that you maximize how clear your vision is. A good place to start is making sure that you have a clean helmet shield or goggles and are free of scratches. Any blemish on your shield or goggle lenses can produce light prisms when another light hits them in the dark. That usually happens at the worst time, when you’re encountering oncoming traffic. If you know that you might be riding at night, it’s a good idea to throw some lens cleaner and a lens cleaning cloth in your luggage. A quick wipe down at dusk can make a big difference. Leave the tinted shields and shades at home when you’re riding at night too. Photochromic lenses transition with the amount of available light letting you ride in all light conditions with one shield.
When the temps drop as the sun goes down, you are more likely to experience fogging on your helmet shield. There are a few things that you can do to counteract the fogging. First, if your helmet has the Pinlock® shield insert, the dual lens will help eliminate the fogging by creating a dual pane. You can also add an anti-fog coating to your shield or you can even add a breath guard to your helmet to help direct the air out the bottom and off of the shield. Having your helmet vents wide open and cracking your shield can get rid of the moist air too.
Of course, you can’t see at all if you don’t have good lighting on your bike. Many of the headlights on older bikes (and some new ones) just aren’t as good as they can be. By simply upgrading your headlight bulb to one with a higher output, you can not only increase the distance the light travels, but you can also get away from that yellow light that is so hard to see in.
Having your headlight(s) properly aimed is also really important. You could have the brightest headlight on the road, but it won’t do you any good if it is aimed either too high or too low. Check with your state regulations and aim your headlight to the maximum height for a good starting point.
Bright lights mean nothing if the lenses are covered in dirt and road grime. Give them a quick wipe down when it gets dark to get the most out of your motorcycle lights.
Driving lights and fog lights can add some extra light to your bike too. If you do add more lighting or upgrade the bulb, make sure that your electrical system can handle the extra draw. You might have to upgrade to a high output alternator to handle the extra load.
Be Seen Clearly
Alright, so now you can see down the road clearly. But can other motorists see you? Being hit by other motorists dramatically increases at night, and it’s bad enough in the daylight. Being highly visible on your bike has to do with more than just having your bike’s lights on. You have to make sure that you stand out from all of the other lights on the road.
Hi-Viz motorcycle gear is your best option at night. The bright colors and extra reflective material on your jacket, pants and helmet will catch the attention of motorists. When you are looking at motorcycle gear for night riding, it’s important to see where the reflective material is. You will want it to be where the headlights hit you to have the best opportunity of being seen. If you don’t want to invest in all new gear just for riding at night, a simple reflective safety vest can be thrown over your jacket when it gets dark. When you are not using it, the vest can be stored away in your luggage without taking up very much space.
You can make your bike more visible too. You may think that your headlight and taillight are enough to be visible. That may be true for oncoming and following traffic, but not so much for traffic on side streets and passing traffic. The side of your bike is usually a dark zone and even if the motorist sees you, it can be hard to judge the distance because there is no direct light coming from the side. You can go all out and add running lights everywhere, but some reflective tape and wheel strips that are strategically placed can improve the odds of you being seen from the side as well.
When you come up to a stop sign or stop light, you should flash your brake light well ahead of time to remind your followers that you are there. Also, try not to ride right behind the taillight of another vehicle because you could blend in with it on your bike. Try to offset yourself so your brake light stands out and remember to give yourself plenty of room.
Watch for Critters
Those pesky critters love to come out at night and meet you on the road. What makes it worse is that you usually don’t see them until you are right on top of them. Be alert and always scan all over the road for those mischievous creatures. Night time is not a good time to day dream on your bike because animals can pop out of nowhere. Deer whistles are said to scare the deer away and while some don’t believe they work, it’s one of those “better safe than sorry” type of things.
Drive Defensively and Cautiously
This almost goes without saying because you are probably riding this way during the day as well. With that said, it’s not a bad idea to be even more vigilant when it comes to other motorists. Assume that no one sees you on the road and give yourself plenty of distance between vehicles. Guarding your lane is even more important at night. By riding on the inner third of your lane, you are giving other motorists a better opportunity to see you. Plus, it gives you more reaction time to a critter bounding onto the road from the side.
Don’t Ride Exhausted or Intoxicated
Your reaction times need to be at their best when you ride at night. Everything happens much quicker in the dark and you need to be able to react safely in an instant. We all know our reaction times slow down considerably when we are tired or have had a few cocktails. If that’s the case, leave the bike on the kickstand and find another way to get where you need to be.
Prepare for Cooler Temps
It’s not rocket science. When the sun goes away, it gets cooler, but often times bikers get caught riding later into the night without the proper gear. If you know that there is even a possibility that you’ll be riding after sundown, pack a liner or some other warm riding gear to keep you warm and comfortable. When you get cold, it takes your mind off of riding and you are more likely to make mistakes.
Got any extra tips for riding at night? Let us know in the comments!
Now that you have night riding down, click here for some tips on how to ride motorcycle in the rain.
He continues to enjoy learning and sharing about powersports with others in his role as a Web Content Analyst and writer for Dennis Kirk, a role he's been in since 2015. You'll find articles written by Ryan that range from product overviews, how-tos, tech tips, lifestyle articles, and more.
When he's not writing about powersports, Ryan is often enjoying them himself. It doesn't matter if the machine has four wheels, two wheels, or a track, he finds enjoyment in it all.
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1 comment
I liked the comment on cleaning your headlights. Even an almost invisible layer of dust can cut light transmission up to 25%. I also liked the advise on using reflective tape on the side. I will definitely do that.