First after-dark ride

[bull]

Tonight i thought its a beautiful night for a ride and as i had missed the evening chance due to other commitments i jumped at an opportunity to ride. As a green noob(only ride number 5) i decided that i would get my brother in a cage to lead the way for some of it then swapped around every now and then so i could follow his lights. Ride consisted of some back streets - some street lights working in the more affluent areas and a 80km/h stretch too.

Wow what an amazing experience it was, petty much felt like i was snorkelling under water - the only vision was out the visor and straight ahead where my lights shone.
Found it a bit unusual cornering due to limited exit view so cornering was a little rough, also had read about counter steering from Twist of the wrist so tried some of that, what a difference it made to the cornering, went from my usual head search for the exit to the bike and i leaning over slowly to the quick and responsive bike dipping in and going around the corner. I liked it and cant wait to try it on some tighter turns with a little more speed in daylight.

Also Ended up going through a round about that was all shingle(under construction), was a bit nerve wracking as i knew that too much throttle or weight shift could mean the bike digging in at the front and dropping, just cruised around it at low speed with very slow gentle steering.

Tried stopping my bike on a hill facing down and parking it using the side stand! quickly learnt that this was against the physics of the side stand and the bike lurched forward nearly resulting in a drop, quickly onto the front brake and all was averted. Ended up moving bike back onto a flat part of the driveway to park it. Lesson learned!

Very glad i went out for a ride in the dark, definitely highlighted the fact that you need to be alot more aware at night to ride safely.

Bull.

[beyond]

Night riding is cool. The only part I hate is scraping off the goo from your helmet, leathers and bike after a large segment of the insect population has had a closer look at you.

[Disco Dan]

BUGS. yep, def the mark of a night ride!!!

on longer rides... i actually have to stop and clean my visor so i can see!!

Take it REALLY EASY in the dark, especially around cages!! better to overtake and sit on your own patch of road than follow a cage... but others will debate that!

Good luck, and try not to outride your headlight... will only end in tears for a neewb.

[Goblin]

Hey bull
Good on you for getting out there at night. My favourite time to ride is those long hot summer nights when its too hot to sleep.... in the wee hours when there's no other traffic about. When my daughter was a baby, the only time I got to ride was at night so I have fond memories of nights of freedom on the road. On really dark nights you do have to take extra care not to out-ride your headlight but when the moon is full it is a magic experience!

When riding through roadworks, or shingle as you did, too much throttle will only make the rear spin....maybe fishtail a bit. The front wont dive and drop unless you grab a fist-full of brakes. I find keeping the throttle ever so slightly open keeps my bike stable on gravel or roadworks. Good to keep everything smooth as you did.

Also if you do have to park on an incline, put your bike in gear and it wont be able to roll foward off the stand.

[Unforgiven]

Good luck, and try not to outride your headlight... will only end in tears for a neewb.

That can end in tears for even the best of riders.

Ever tried to dodge a possum, mid corner, while out riding your headlights?

Not Pretty!

[diggydog]

sounds like you had a lot of fun, but never unestamate those bends as they can catch you out very quickly. it's even better out on the open road late at night,good on ay mate.

[McJim]

Well done mate...now you'll have your first night ride out in the countryside to look forward to before long.

My first one of them was a memorable occasion. Went on the South Auckland Thursday night Goat Track GP before daylight savings..not for the faint hearted but a useful experience. Remember to always trust your gut - if it gets too scary, back off the throttle until you're more experienced.

[xwhatsit]

What the hell do you guys mean, `don't outride your headlight'? You do know it's pretty hard to go faster than the speed of light on a 250cc bike? An RD250LC would come closer, though.

[Goblin]

What the hell do you guys mean, `don't outride your headlight'? You do know it's pretty hard to go faster than the speed of light on a 250cc bike? An RD250LC would come closer, though.

What I mean is, on a dark night, you can only see the road where your headlight is shining, whether it is on low beam or high. Low beam you see directly in front of you, the road surface, and high beam you see a bit further afield but its hard to read the surface condition. So you have to be prepared and be going the apropriate speed to be able to respond to hazards like large rodents and mamals, gravel, potholes, corrugations and bathtubs. You dont have to be going warp speeds to be caught out by these things.

[Ixion]

Simply, ride at such a speed that you can safely stop within the distance illuminated by your headlamp beam. In the darkness beyond the pool of light from your headlamp, dragons and grues do lurk.

[pixc]

In the darkness beyond the pool of light from your headlamp, dragons and grues do lurk.

I hate the dark...i still sleep with the light on!

[Ixion]

The light attracts them. They flock toward it , knowing that within the light is prey. They prowl at the edges of the light, waiting, waiting, waiting for the day the light fails and goes out. Then, they swoop.

[pixc]

Yea well..it wouldnt surprise me!

sounds like that film...on a planet, batty things come out at night. Vin Deisel. Riddick something or rather.

[McJim]

The light attracts them. They flock toward it , knowing that within the light is prey. They prowl at the edges of the light, waiting, waiting, waiting for the day the light fails and goes out. Then, they swoop.

Coming from Glasgow I put it on full beam all the time - attracts the demons in so I can eat them!

[Viddy]

Pixc: Pitch Black was the movie you were thinking of

Since it was a lovely night I went for a blat at about 8:40pm in Hamilton. Got pretty bored, so filled up bike and headed out to the north east into the long moon kissed roads. Is it one of those experices thats going to stick with me for me for a while? Hell yes.

It occured to me as I was roaring though the countryside atop Mr Angry, that owning and riding a bike is a little like being able to have wanton gratuatious sex with a supermodel of ones choice, without any regrets or any repercussions from ones significant other...

But I digress, Cresent moon, no clouds, highbeam, and erm, yeah, doing the ah, 70kph mandated by my learner licence *cough*yeahright*cough* = Fucking brilliant. Haven't lived otherwise.