First Night Ride!

**kilgh** · 18th May 2011, 22:13

Day off, no rain, 30 mins before my curfew....let's do it!

New experiences:

First time in 5th gear.
First time over 50kph. (I'm such a law abiding geek)
First "this is so cool" chuckle.
First time around my street's insane little roundabout from the hill side angle.
First experience of cold hands even with gloves on.

Some traffic out, but even with the L-plate noone hassled me. Was going to take on the big roundabout in the area but decided I still suck enough at riding not to try it for the first time at night. Especially as there were quite a few cars behind me. Chickened out!

Anyway, did some of the twisty back streets instead. Amazing the amount of people walking around on a cold week night at 9.45pm.

Have decided three things.

Still need practice at stopping smoothly.
Still need practice at going around corners from a standstill.
My bike's headlight is very weak. (Actually put my hand in front just to see if it was on at one point!) Could hardly see the people out walking their dogs where with the car they are completely illuminated. Disconcerting.

So that's tonight's little adventure.

**puddy** · 18th May 2011, 22:21

Cool!

Practice (makes perfect), take care, ENJOY!

**FJRider** · 18th May 2011, 22:30

Get the dark sorted ... and day rides are a piece of piss ....

**kilgh** · 18th May 2011, 22:36

As I'm a shift worker at least a half of my driving is done late at night, so I'm comfortable with night driving. Just the roads hazards are different on a bike. If it wasn't for this darn curfew I'd be out there every night between 2-4 am. Love to practice the mechanical skills without worrying about the traffic!

**DrunkenMistake** · 18th May 2011, 23:38

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps/ms?ie=...44a80178a&z=14
Try that road at night time haha, not a single light. Its pretty weird feeling riding at night, not alot of traffic etc, I like going to work at 6am, ill pass one car, and that'll be it. But its a road prone to slips and gravel been washed onto the road, makes it fun

Would recommend changing your headlight bulb/s and making giving the reflector plate a bit of a scrub and polish, all else fails Halo's or Xenon bulbs

**unstuck** · 19th May 2011, 06:27

Just take it easy and practice as much as you can.Agree with getting your lights seen to

good luck out there.

**Chancebmx25** · 19th May 2011, 09:54

well done good on yah. i say ride at night more less people on the rides depending on how late u ride, and just take it easy. ull love it more onces u get it sussed.

**kilgh** · 19th May 2011, 13:06

[QUOTE

Would recommend changing your headlight bulb/s and making giving the reflector plate a bit of a scrub and polish, all else fails Halo's or Xenon bulbs[/QUOTE]

Yeah, it's a brand new bike, doesn't get much more polished!

Better bulbs then.

**nathanwhite** · 20th May 2011, 21:42

Yea most of my riding is at night because I have my course all day...

If you wanna try something fun, try a open road in the dark......
I go along Henderson Valley rd at 70k's... thats pretty hairy in the dark.

**DrunkenMistake** · 20th May 2011, 22:05

Originally Posted by nathanwhite

Yea most of my riding is at night because I have my course all day...

If you wanna try something fun, try a open road in the dark......
I go along Henderson Valley rd at 70k's... thats pretty hairy in the dark.

The road I linked to has no lighting at all, and its all twists, sign posted 70

**kilgh** · 20th May 2011, 23:24

Yeah, maybe when I get a little more...what's the word...ah, yes, crazy.

**DrunkenMistake** · 21st May 2011, 16:24

Originally Posted by kilgh

Yeah, maybe when I get a little more...what's the word...ah, yes, crazy.

Hahaha yah probably a wise statement, I think since I have owned my bike I have become a little more crazy each time I sit on it

**nathanwhite** · 21st May 2011, 17:26

its not too crazy.
Just do the road several times in the day so you know where everything is
then do it in the dark, well within your comfort zone/speed

then the next day just a little faster.

**kilgh** · 22nd May 2011, 01:22

I know all the roads I'm practising on very well. Was actually practising smooth throttle control and cornering, roundabouts, intersections etc. I'll save the speed thing for quiet open roads.