A Guide To Safe Motorcycle Night Riding

Riding a motorcycle at night is a thrill, but it does come with some safety risks. While you can't eliminate every hazard, you can take proactive steps to make your ride safer. We've gathered up the following tips to a successful night ride below. If you want more advice or want to explore motorcycles for sale, visit St. Charles Harley-Davidson. Our dealership is located in St. Charles, Missouri, and we serve those in St. Peters and St. Louis as well.

Understand The Risks Of Night Riding

Riding your motorcycle at night does expose you to certain hazards. By staying aware of these risks, you can be better prepared to handle them should they come up.

First, there is an increase in drunk drivers—especially on weekends and holidays. Be on the lookout for warning signs, such as a motorist weaving from side to side. If you spot a potential drunk driver, distance yourself as far as possible from them.

Second, there is an increase in animals darting onto the road. Prey animals, such as deer, are active at night in hopes of avoiding predators during the day. They may come out of the forest and onto the road in the blink of an eye. If possible, stick to freeway driving where animal encounters are less likely. If your route takes you onto rural roads, be on guard for animals. 

Third, there is a decrease in visibility. When the sun goes down, it's harder to spot obstacles. Potholes, loose gravel, and other hazards are on the road all day long, but they are more hidden at night. Stay alert and ride defensively to compensate for your reduced visibility.

Improve Your Motorcycle's Lights

Many motorcycles are built with standard halogen lights. These lights are more affordable for the manufacturer and keep the motorcycle's cost lower to the consumer, but they do not emit a very strong beam. Those who ride at night often will benefit from upgrading to LED lights.

LED lights are significantly brighter, which is especially beneficial at night. They also use less energy and last longer, which ends up making these bulbs the more affordable option in the long run.

Another lighting upgrade option is a brake light flasher. Traditional brake lights emit a solid beam. With a brake light flasher, the light flashes multiple times and then emits a steady light. This helps capture the attention of other motorists and helps ensure they see you.

Another approach is to simply install more lights on your motorcycle. More bulbs means more lighting and improved visibility. Add single bulbs or strips of bulbs, whichever suits your budget and aesthetic preferences.

Make Yourself Extra Visible

Odds are, you won't be the only motorist on the open road. You need to be visible to other drivers, which can be difficult if you are wearing black leather clothing and riding a dark-colored motorcycle. 

There are plenty of ways to help yourself stand out on the road, including:

• mixing brightly colored clothing into your ensemble, such as neon or fluorescent colored clothing
• wearing a safety vest, such as the one used by construction workers. 
• investing in reflective gear. Get options that have retro-reflective panels built in, which glow when light hits the panels. 
• adding retro-reflective tape to your motorcycle, saddlebags, your helmet, and any other spots you want. 

Change Your Riding Accordingly

Riding your motorcycle at night is different than riding during the day, so you'll need a different riding approach. A few simple tweaks can help make night riding easier and safer.

For example, what happens when car headlights are shining in your face, making it much harder to see? Shift your gaze to the far right line at the edge of your lane. Resist the urge to look down, though, which will make riding in a straight line more challenging.

It's also important to adopt defensive driving habits. Remember that other motorists may be driving drowsy, driving drunk, or simply driving distracted. Leave plenty of space between your motorcycle and their car. If they suddenly slam on their brakes or change lanes, there will be enough time for you to react and avoid a collision.

We hope you found this guide to motorcycle night riding useful! For more safety tips or to shop motorcycles for sale, visit St. Charles Harley-Davidson. Our friendly staff is happy to give advice and help you find the best motorcycle for your lifestyle and budget, so stop by and visit our dealership today. We are based in St. Charles, Missouri, and proudly serve those in St. Louis and St. Peters.