Travelling at night - Dangers?

[FJRider]

I enjoy riding at night, but I think I'd be sticking to main highways that were well swept by traffic. Heated clothing makes it much safer - to dangerous being cold at night.

Steve

GOOD gear and a reliable motorcycle makes night riding safe as ... get one and see for yourself ...

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

I use to enjoy riding at night when I had a good headlight... but the Ducati ST4s headlight... welll lets put it this way there are more members on KB with more light shining out ot their rear than the headlight on the duc... :-/

basically... good headlights (high and low beam) can make a difference... ride to the conditions, your abilities and judgement of how far or how well you can see etc...

[Jantar]

I enjoy riding at night. It isn't any more dangerous than riding in the daytime as long as you travel at a speed that is within your good visible distance ahead. As NighthawkNZ said "good headlights (high and low beam) can make a difference". If your bike doesn't have a powerfull and wide beam then consider adding a pair of driving lights.

Incidentally Nighthawk, did that new bulb make any difference?

[Toaster]

Nothing wrong with being a Knight Rider with a decent bit of KITT.

[Berries]

...hmmmm, real clever, must duck in here know and again, see what kind of really intelligent survival skills I can glean from such people as you, like nothing daft...

Anyone who believed that shouldn't be in charge of their feet, let alone something with a motor. Can't believe you actually thought I was serious.

[FJRider]

I use to enjoy riding at night when I had a good headlight... but the Ducati ST4s headlight... welll lets put it this way there are more members on KB with more light shining out ot their rear than the headlight on the duc... :-/

Time you spoke with a good auto sparky ... find out the options you have to get more light ... you may be supprised how easy it is without too much effort/cost ...

[Kornholio]

Not more dangers ... just different dangers. And the cops you DO "find" are usually busy with more important issues than you ... usually ...

Yeah like speedsters that dangerous that warrants a u-turn to pursue on a blind crest...sorry 3-4 point turn....

[Kornholio]

I use to enjoy riding at night when I had a good headlight... but the Ducati ST4s headlight... welll lets put it this way there are more members on KB with more light shining out ot their rear than the headlight on the duc... :-/

basically... good headlights (high and low beam) can make a difference... ride to the conditions, your abilities and judgement of how far or how well you can see etc...

OMG, I can't believe you have found something worse light-wise than the VTR... they were/are shocking...

[crazyhorse]

Day riding can have just as many unexpected obstacles as night riding. And although this chap hit a cow at night, it may only be one statistic of how many for those who ride at night versus those who ride during the day.

I actually enjoy night riding, and riding in the rain - builds up your experience and I have done heaps of both.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Time you spoke with a good auto sparky ... find out the options you have to get more light ... you may be supprised how easy it is without too much effort/cost ...

its the lens and reflectors that are the problem, not the actual light... I have better bulbs etc, etc, etc... I can import a whole new aftermaket headlight unit for the ST4 series which is suppose to be better but $$$ 800 odd US...

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

I enjoy riding at night. It isn't any more dangerous than riding in the daytime as long as you travel at a speed that is within your good visible distance ahead. As NighthawkNZ said "good headlights (high and low beam) can make a difference". If your bike doesn't have a powerfull and wide beam then consider adding a pair of driving lights.

Incidentally Nighthawk, did that new bulb make any difference?

Yes makes a little difference... but will admit haven't done a lot of Night Riding since the SR Rally...

[CookMySock]

Day riding can have just as many unexpected obstacles as night riding.

This is true, but at night you can't really see small stuff on the road. If you clip something theres not really much you can do about it.

A modern compliant suspension will save you somewhat - potholes and other a-little-bigger nasties can mostly be just ridden over. Non-compliant suspension turns little bumps into badass ones.

Dark coloured animals on the road are a bad fright even in the car. I don't think I'd be able to relax while riding on back country roads after dark.

Steve

[Sentox]

Day riding can have just as many unexpected obstacles as night riding. And although this chap hit a cow at night, it may only be one statistic of how many for those who ride at night versus those who ride during the day.

It was rural Hawkes Bay that put me off. Sure, the unexpected can happen in the day, but at nighttime, the effect of your headlight coming along compels a lot of animals (mostly rabbits) to make a suicide run. In the car, that's great, gives you something to aim for. Not so much on the bike.

[dogsnbikes]

I enjoy night riding as the trumpy has awesome headlights,the weridest thing that I have encounted at night was a opussum latching onto my left leg for about a k,even duing the day I have encounted a stag on the road and been T-boned by a wood pigion,understand your surroundings and possible hazards,personally I think a country road at night is safer than during the day

[crazyhorse]

This is true, but at night you can't really see small stuff on the road. If you clip something theres not really much you can do about it.

A modern compliant suspension will save you somewhat - potholes and other a-little-bigger nasties can mostly be just ridden over. Non-compliant suspension turns little bumps into badass ones.

Dark coloured animals on the road are a bad fright even in the car. I don't think I'd be able to relax while riding on back country roads after dark.

Steve

One would think you would be riding to the conditions - which is sticking to the speed limit or less (depending on the road conditions). I have not had any visibility problems on country roads, in fact, I feel you can see more as you can have your headlights on full.

I've come around a corner in broad daylight and nearly rear ended a bunch of heiffer cows - and this was with plenty of daylight visible.