Night riding

[homer]

How do you get on riding at night
some like it some dont
i absloutly love riding in the city at night , used to do it often
Theres something about the just before dark time of day , park up the bikes and go get a bite to eat .
Then cruise to where ever stop a while , By later on that night the traffic gets less and it almost like your the only one out .
You get the warmth from the engine and the warmth from the concrete and road which seems to keep you warm , even on a colder night .
Once you get to the ride home you seem kinda sleepy feeling , but yet your still so wide awake .

so how do you find it .

[TOTO]

I love riding at night. I love leaving the bike and turning just before I hide before the corner and see people staring at my bike. Also being the only one on the road with a police car approaching in the oposite lane and me being on my restricted, out on the road at 3 in the morning gets adrenaline going.

I also have a favourite spot with a view of the harbour bridge at night, and sometimes just get there and stare at it. So peaceful, so relaxing.
Love riding at night in the city.

[DingoZ]

I like it. Get to ride home after work when no other bugger is on the road. Is very peaceful....

[Hitcher]

I love riding at night.

Your world and senses are more tightly confined and concentrated.
It's just you and the road.
The road illuminated in the sharp beam of your headlight.
You carve your bubble of reality into the darkness that closes around you like a lover's embrace.
The cooler air somehow seems to make your bike run sweeter.
The groove is what it's all about.
Being in the night-time groove is exhilarating.
Anything is possible and timeless.

I love riding at night.

[karla]

How do you get on riding at night
some like it some dont .

Just got back from a ride out to Akaroa, it was awesome. Riding in the dark / cold is far more difficult for me, and I go much slower - looking down at the road makes it more difficult to take the corners smoothly at speed, and it's hard to look too far ahead 'cos can see stuff all. But it certainly wakes you up and made me feel ALIVE - cold and exhilarated. I can handle going slower when there are so many more considerations - vision, fumbling with lights, hedgehogs on the road, oncoming traffic blinding you :shit:.

Flashing blue and red lights are far more exciting at night as well - lol. Got a warning to slow down, this time. :woohoo:

But I'm now left pondering - how anyone rides without headlights on is past me!

[YellowDog]

Yup, night riding is great. Far more focussed for cornering due to their being less visual distractions. You are easier seen and can see others without problems.

[homer]

Just got back from a ride out to Akaroa, it was awesome. Riding in the dark / cold is far more difficult for me, and I go much slower - looking down at the road makes it more difficult to take the corners smoothly at speed, and it's hard to look too far ahead 'cos can see stuff all. But it certainly wakes you up and made me feel ALIVE - cold and exhilarated. I can handle going slower when there are so many more considerations - vision, fumbling with lights, hedgehogs on the road, oncoming traffic blinding you :shit:.

Flashing blue and red lights are far more exciting at night as well - lol. Got a warning to slow down, this time. :woohoo:

But I'm now left pondering - how anyone rides without headlights on is past me!

Glad the plod didnt get ya .
theres just something about riding the city at night i find .
open road i love as well , but the city, late does it for me at night

[homer]

I love riding at night.

Your world and senses are more tightly confined and concentrated.
It's just you and the road.
The road illuminated in the sharp beam of your headlight.
You carve your bubble of reality into the darkness that closes around you like a lover's embrace.
The cooler air somehow seems to make your bike run sweeter.
The groove is what it's all about.
Being in the night-time groove is exhilarating.
Anything is possible and timeless.

I love riding at night.

I know precisely what you saying

[MaxB]

Some of the best rides of my life have been at night. ArfArf. Light traffic, few cops, no distractions, what's not to like?

The only thing I dread is being out around 10 or whenever the pubs chuck out. Talk about running the gauntlet. I try and be somewhere else then.

[T.W.R]

Years ago when I lived in ChCh and was flatting in the central city, late night & the early hours of the morning were great times for pottling around the suburbs.

On many occasion have done circuits around the Summit road late at night, used to be great especially when there was an electrical storm up in the alps :cool: some of the views were spectacular.

Have done numerous long distance trips at night and it's just a totally different feel, almost euphoric in a way

[musicman]

When I first started riding I mostly rode around the suburbs at night, around 11pm. It was pretty good because of the lack of traffic, I could familiarise myself with riding and not have to worry too much about crazy cages.

[Forest]

I love to go riding on country roads early in the morning when the sky is still pitch black, then watch the sky slowly lighten from the east.

It is both eery and wonderful. Kind of like watching the earth slowly coming to life.

[homer]

I love to go riding on country roads early in the morning when the sky is still pitch black, then watch the sky slowly lighten from the east.

It is both eery and wonderful. Kind of like watching the earth slowly coming to life.

very great time for being out , have done a lot of riding early morning

[glice]

its like a whole other world, its awsome. I rode back from taupo in the dark on sunday and that was cool, I know what you mean about your bubble.
riding in town is cool to.

[JMemonic]

Basicly what Hitcher said, riding at dawn is fantastic especially when you get the mist sitting in the hollows and it swirls around as you race through, kinda surreal.

Of course this is ruined but idiots with head lights on full, and those dam roadworks trucks with the strobes (but that is another thread (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=71188))

[fireball]

i like to ride at night with a full moon on roads i know
not at high speed or anything just a quiet lone ride

but the best time is either dusk or dawn very refreshing

[Swoop]

Some of the best rides of my life have been at night. few cops...
Apart from that beam of blinding light from above... and the sound of helicopter blades thrashing the air!:chase::buggerd:
:lol:

[sunhuntin]

love night riding in town... when we did stock take the other week, we finished at about 9.30. with my missus being a worry wart, i went straight home after, but i was way too hopped up, could have gone anywhere and everywhere, i felt so alive.

i do need to get used to open roads at night, but that will come [oneday, maybe...]

[discotex]

Love riding in the city at night. Especially in winter when it's crisp out.

Not so keen on the open road at night when your lights don't bend around the corners but slowing down a bit seems to help.

[discotex]

Apart from that beam of blinding light from above... and the sound of helicopter blades thrashing the air!:chase::buggerd:
:lol:

It's not at night but you'll appreciate this ;)

http://www.livevideo.com/video/Gixxer750/2A3E95156C1D4A77B971734A24500290/tutorial-my-attempt-at-explai.aspx

[Maha]

I love it, when its just the two of us coming home from wherever. Get home, get off the bike, take the helmet off and say '' fuck I enjoyed that'' The smells are different, mainly when you get out of the city limits, the city just stinks (Auckland im talking about) If its a nice clear crispy cool night then yeah, bring it on.

[homer]

I love it, when its just the two of us coming home from wherever. Get home, get off the bike, take the helmet off and say '' fuck I enjoyed that'' The smells are different, mainly when you get out of the city limits, the city just stinks (Auckland im talking about) If its a nice clear crispy cool night then yeah, bring it on.

Yes a cool night and out of the city is cool
its so different to the day light .
A full moon mentioned , thats cool as well

[gijoe1313]

I love riding and seeing the sun go down, then keep riding until the sun comes up again ... magic that is! And the changes in the environment! Fog comes and goes, you can see the build up of clouds reflected in the moonlight, the glitter of silent marsupial assassins in the trees and sides of the road, the fur flash of those that rush across your path ...

The entrancing fusion of you and your machine, riding those lonely roads and feeling it as you get your groove on ...

Riding from Dawn to Dusk to Dawn is hecka awesome as well!

[PrincessBandit]

I love riding and seeing the sun go down, then keep riding until the sun comes up again ... magic that is! And the changes in the environment! Fog comes and goes, you can see the build up of clouds reflected in the moonlight, the glitter of silent marsupial assassins in the trees and sides of the road, the fur flash of those that rush across your path ...

The entrancing fusion of you and your machine, riding those lonely roads and feeling it as you get your groove on ...

Riding from Dawn to Dusk to Dawn is hecka awesome as well!

You are really on a poetic journey today aren't you? I've never ridden from me to dusk and back to me again :laugh:
I love to ride at night; like others the warmth from the engine is a bonus, and country riding at night is exhilarating. Haven't hit any unwary little creatures on the road thankfully. The first few times I found it quite unnerving seeing the shadows created by streetlights etc., but now it's part of the whole experience.

[Bullitt]

I was just about to start a thread like this.

Tonite I went to the former TCWNR tonite even though it finished last week. Turns out noone else turned up. Not only that but I got there about 25 mins early so I sat watching the traffic. With probably one car going past every 5 seconds for 25 minutes I saw two bikes...on a normal wed Id see 20+ not including KB people.

Tonite was dead calm and as warm as a winter night would ever be. So where were all the bikes? Despite the comments in this thread it would appear a large proportion of bikers cant handle it.

I like riding in the dark, I prefer riding during the day but if thats not convenient it dont bother me to ride whenever.

[homer]

I was just about to start a thread like this.

Tonite I went to the former TCWNR tonite even though it finished last week. Turns out noone else turned up. Not only that but I got there about 25 mins early so I sat watching the traffic. With probably one car going past every 5 seconds for 25 minutes I saw two bikes...on a normal wed Id see 20+ not including KB people.

Tonite was dead calm and as warm as a winter night would ever be. So where were all the bikes? Despite the comments in this thread it would appear a large proportion of bikers cant handle it.

I like riding in the dark, I prefer riding during the day but if thats not convenient it dont bother me to ride whenever.

oops sorry , lol beet you to it .
sounds like you know it , that little extra something when your riding at the end of the day .
yeah i know should have been out riding tonight , thought that my self .

[homer]

incase any ones wondering , if its a rabbit or cat dont try to miss it just hit them straight on if you try to avoid them you know what will happen, that way you wont come off the bike .
if its a sheep there quite soft , but try stop .
if its a possum just dont hit it , there like a rock .

[madbikeboy]

I love riding at night.

Your world and senses are more tightly confined and concentrated.
It's just you and the road.
The road illuminated in the sharp beam of your headlight.
You carve your bubble of reality into the darkness that closes around you like a lover's embrace.
The cooler air somehow seems to make your bike run sweeter.
The groove is what it's all about.
Being in the night-time groove is exhilarating.
Anything is possible and timeless.

I love riding at night.

I didn't have anything to add, I just like what Hitcher wrote because it sums it up for me too. Oh, and with less markers for speed, the ride becomes thrilling. Downside is that it's much harder to spot the 5.0, the fuzz, the man, the pigs, the coppers...

[madbikeboy]

I love riding and seeing the sun go down, then keep riding until the sun comes up again ... magic that is! And the changes in the environment! Fog comes and goes, you can see the build up of clouds reflected in the moonlight, the glitter of silent marsupial assassins in the trees and sides of the road, the fur flash of those that rush across your path ...

The entrancing fusion of you and your machine, riding those lonely roads and feeling it as you get your groove on ...

Riding from Dawn to Dusk to Dawn is hecka awesome as well!

News from KB, Hitcher and GIJOE face of in a literary battle of epic proportions...

I love the sensation of the straights feeling like a curve, chin on tank, air rushing over me, bike screaming a combustable cacophany - howling airbox and roaring pipe. Aiming for the tail lights in front, hoping it's not a cop, and hoping there's no bend between.

[sunhuntin]

most magic ride i can recall was when i first got into riding... was riding the foxton strait. dunno what time it was, musta been about 6.30am. i basically rode with my head turned left, watching the sun hit the hills over palmy way. beautiful. unfortunately, im mostly working when the sun goes down [hell, right now im going home in pitch black, which is easier than sunstrike] but i do sometimes watch the sunset from the forecourt.

[PrincessBandit]

News from KB, Hitcher and GIJOE face of in a literary battle of epic proportions...

I love the sensation of the straights feeling like a curve, chin on tank, air rushing over me, bike screaming a combustable cacophany - howling airbox and roaring pipe. Aiming for the tail lights in front, hoping it's not a cop, and hoping there's no bend between.

Impressive. Will ask gijoe1313 whether it rates an Achieved, Achieved with Merit or Achieved with Excellence. Don't think he'll be toooooo biased do you? :lol:

[DarkLord]

I went out the other night with the flatties and another mate from the North Shore out to Piha Beach. Looks like it would usually have been a nice ride but I didn't really enjoy it that much as I've never ridden on that road before and because the roads were thin it could be a bit blinding when cages came towards me on the other side of the road, which could have caused an accident.

However we often go riding late at night in the city, which is quite fun. I just don't really enjoy it when there is no streetlights.

[Hitcher]

Riding from Dawn to Dusk to Dawn is hecka awesome as well!

Hmmm. Salma Hayek...

[TygerTung]

Never been real chuffed about riding on the open road at night, it's good around town though, but at night on the open road with 6 volt electrics your foward vision isn't the greatest, in fact you might be better off to turn off the lights and just use the moon and stars?

Now that I have a bigger bike it isn't so bad, except it has become worse lately as the stator burnt out and the battery flattens very quickly if you turn the lights on!

[homer]

a flat bat wont help at night
you need all the light you can get , especially out on the back roads where theres no light or road markings

[homer]

had hreat wee ride back home on sat night . got completely dark about 50 km from home , which was fine
bit hard to see where all the road works were and no time between cars to get the high beam going .
still a great day and night ride .

[mazz1972]

I pretty much learned to ride on winter nights around Wellington with a group of friends. I was always nervous about it because I wear glasses and have always found I'm not good at judging distances when driving at night and wasn't much better on the bike. I seemed to get over that after a while, or perhaps it's just that I know more of the roads in the city better.

We don't find the time for our night rides often these days but did on Friday night. Rode into Welly and the four of us ticki-toured around the city, it's fun once the city gets revving. Stopped at a set of traffic lights and a nice young fella in the next vehicle asked if we were riding rental bikes, hmmm maybe it was the fluoro vests we were wearing. Nice hot cuppa tea at our mates place and then it was home again by 1am. It was a gorgeous night, no wind, bit cold on the way home but it was worth it.

Bike & me ticked over 10,000kms on the way home :2thumbsup

[Forest]

I just remembered a funny story from years ago

I'd been riding all day and had to cross through the Karangahake Gorge just as the sun was setting. The gorge was getting pretty dark so I put my lights on. After a while I realised that I couldn't see that much so I figured that my front bulb must have been failing. I put the lights onto high-beam which made things a little better, but it still wasn't that great.

As I drove through the gorge, oncoming cars would flash me occasionally. But what could I do? My lights were failing!

When I got to the end of gorge things were getting really dire - so I pulled to the side of the road to assess the situation. Which is when I suddenly realised something ... I still had my sun-glasses on. :whistle:

[homer]

I pretty much learned to ride on winter nights around Wellington with a group of friends. I was always nervous about it because I wear glasses and have always found I'm not good at judging distances when driving at night and wasn't much better on the bike. I seemed to get over that after a while, or perhaps it's just that I know more of the roads in the city better.

We don't find the time for our night rides often these days but did on Friday night. Rode into Welly and the four of us ticki-toured around the city, it's fun once the city gets revving. Stopped at a set of traffic lights and a nice young fella in the next vehicle asked if we were riding rental bikes, hmmm maybe it was the fluoro vests we were wearing. Nice hot cuppa tea at our mates place and then it was home again by 1am. It was a gorgeous night, no wind, bit cold on the way home but it was worth it.

Bike & me ticked over 10,000kms on the way home :2thumbsup

Thats sounds really cool
Its a lot better as the city gets going and by the nights end its just crusy as it dies down a bit

[homer]

I just remembered a funny story from years ago

I'd been riding all day and had to cross through the Karangahake Gorge just as the sun was setting. The gorge was getting pretty dark so I put my lights on. After a while I realised that I couldn't see that much so I figured that my front bulb must have been failing. I put the lights onto high-beam which made things a little better, but it still wasn't that great.

As I drove through the gorge, oncoming cars would flash me occasionally. But what could I do? My lights were failing!

When I got to the end of gorge things were getting really dire - so I pulled to the side of the road to assess the situation. Which is when I suddenly realised something ... I still had my sun-glasses on. :whistle:

lmao
yeah ive actually done that before to
then realised oh shit sunnys

[Taz]

I love riding at night. I loved the Grand Challenge. Riding from 3pm till 9:30 am the next day was a buzz. Doing it again this year too.

[homer]

from 3 till 9 30 the next day
mmmm maybe not for me 3 pm till about 1, 2 am is usually enough

[McJim]

I had just got my Ducati and went out for a ride at night with my mentor (where has M1CRO gone?) and everything was going great - got into my groove and 'Pop!' all the lights went out. Had to follow the mighty black 'busa home that night in the dark.

Riding at night is nice but riding at night in a rain storm sucks.

[H00dz]

Are YOU CRAZY !!!! :crazy:there are millions of possums up here in Norfland NOCTURNAL POSSUMS !!!! NO Street lights NO Houses just roads Full OF FUCKING POSSUMS......NIGHT RIDING YOU GOT TO BE JOKING!!! :gob:.....Did I mention the Potholes, dont even get me started on the potholes.....Potholes and possums makes me shiver :eek5: just thinking about it...sorry I got to go you gone and made me all upset....night riding:sweatdrop bloody city riders.......

[Taz]

I had just got my Ducati and went out for a ride at night with my mentor (where has M1CRO gone?) and everything was going great - got into my groove and 'Pop!' all the lights went out. Had to follow the mighty black 'busa home that night in the dark.

Riding at night is nice but riding at night in a rain storm sucks.

You've just gotta love Italian bikes. Never a dull moment :yes:

[homer]

I had just got my Ducati and went out for a ride at night with my mentor (where has M1CRO gone?) and everything was going great - got into my groove and 'Pop!' all the lights went out. Had to follow the mighty black 'busa home that night in the dark.

Riding at night is nice but riding at night in a rain storm sucks.

oh shit that wouldnt be plesent
hope its just a fuse

[Ixion]

It's Italian. It just need the rear brake applied while rolling backward and the horn blown exactly 3 time 2 seconds apart. On a waning moon.