Night Riding

[Rogue Hawk]

I like to ride at night, so I upgraded the headlights to LED.

Oh, and what is in my head now. Too bad the Pontiac Firebird is gone

 

[RinconRyder]

Stop every hour for 5-10 minutes. Stay about 300 feet behind an 18 wheeler. Make sure your headlight and driving/fog lights aren't blinding him (18 wh). Let the 18 wh hit whatever wanders into the road before you do.

That is very bad advice, especially for a bike or trike rider. If that truck rolls over anything large (tire tread, fence post, ladder etc.) you will likely get it right in the teeth. Even smaller rocks can be a big problem if caught between the dual tires and thrown back at you.

Also, even at 300 feet back the size of the truck will take away a bunch of your forward vision so you are unlikely to see anything exciting happening in front of him (until he slams on his brakes that is - then it gets very exciting for you).

And some truckers have told me they really do not like be trailed by another vehicle for long periods of time. It makes them think perhaps some illegal activity might be planned.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

That is very bad advice, especially for a bike or trike rider. If that truck rolls over anything large (tire tread, fence post, ladder etc.) you will likely get it right in the teeth. Even smaller rocks can be a big problem if caught between the dual tires and thrown back at you.

Also, even at 300 feet back the size of the truck will take away a bunch of your forward vision so you are unlikely to see anything exciting happening in front of him (until he slams on his brakes that is - then it gets very exciting for you).

And some truckers have told me they really do not like be trailed by another vehicle for long periods of time. It makes them think perhaps some illegal activity might be planned.

:agree: There are three places you do not want to be on the highway on a motorcycle: behind a semi, alongside a semi, in front of a semi. When you come up behind a semi on a multi-lane road move over into the lane to the left of the truck and stay back at least a hundred feet until the lanes are clear ahead of the semi. Then kick it in the rear and get by the truck as fast as you can until you are well ahead of it. Then slow back down to driving speed. DO NOT lollygag alongside a semi. If a semi pulls up beside you traveling faster than you wish, slow down and drop back until he is well ahead of you.

Tailing a semi is dangerous. If it throws off a road gater and it hits you, you're probably a goner. Tread pieces are heavy. Trailer tires often are recapped multiple times. The poorest quality tires on a semi are on the trailer. Only the front tires of the tractor are required to be new when installed.

 

[Grandpa Pete]

relax

The LED headlights work great for night riding. I also have a set of 18 watt 6 bulb cree driving lights that I mounted on the black plastic air wing on the upper A arm. Just aim them correctly and nobody flashes me. I have 125-150 ft of additional light in front of me. I ride Hwy 12 from Milbank SD to Rockford, Mn often after 10pm. 2 lane road. Minimal traffic. Only destroyed 2 field mice and a raccoon. No damage. Just take your time, slow down if needed and relax. Tho, that's just me:thumbup:

 

[Easy Rider]

Another thing to consider. Truck traffic on I-80 and I-70 is heavy day and night. The fewer trucks you'll encounter during the night won't offset, IMO, the added hazard of passing them, or vice versa, in the dark. And it gets damn dark in the plains states and the West.

This.

I don't think that "Interstate highway" and "pleasant ride" belong in the same sentence.
And for me, night time would be MUCH more stressful.

Do a test and see.

 

[joekeys]

I like riding at night, my suggestion if you have not already done it get LED Head and foglights. A world of difference nice to see the whole picture and what might be lurking on the edge of road (deer) with the stock lights I felt I was struggling to see.

What is the best choice for LED bulbs. Brightest and farthest seeing??

 

[UtahPete]

A couple of tips:

• Make sure your visor is in very good condition, any scratches can cause 'starring' of lights.
• If you have pin-lock in your visor some people say they also cause starring of lights. My experience is the effect is minor and more than offset by not having your visor mist up - which is more likely to happen at night with the colder air temps.
• Its colder than the day Sounds obvious but sometimes with the wind chill it's surprisingly cold even in summer.
• Here there are only a few 24 hour garages so you have to plan where you stop carefully. Not sure if that's a problem in the states.

Very good advice. I would add that, since many of us in the SouthWest US use tinted visors to help block the glare of the desert sun during the day, be prepared to switch out to a clear one if you got caught out on the open road at night or other low-light conditions. I recently did a 2,000 mile trip where I got caught out on the road at night and discovered that just flipping up my visor as I had planned isn't the best option to be stuck with, particularly if it is cold and wet.....

 

[trikermutha]

I ride nightly home from work. My Spyder has the LED fender lights,side bag lights,High mount trunk light,rear fender light along with the LED flag.

Also using LED headlights and Clearwater driving lights.

If you cannot see me at night then you have your eyes closed.

The lights are bright too. I have had some drivers pull over too :roflblack:

They are not sure what is coming at them at night. :roflblack:

 

[GOZFST]

I enjoy riding at night, especially if I'm alone. I've hit birds (pheasants mostly), tire gators, deer and a cow with the bike, all except the cow was during the day. Good lighting is essential. I like the fact that there is nothing to distract your attention to the road and it's so surreal, just opening up in front of you and disappearing so quickly behind you you can't see it in the mirrors.

 

[PistonBlown]

I like the fact that there is nothing to distract your attention to the road and it's so surreal, just opening up in front of you and disappearing so quickly behind you you can't see it in the mirrors.

I couldn't describe it but you've got it sussed. You, road, bike and nothing else.

 

[WilderThomas]

Night Time Driving or Riding

Depends upon your riding experience, eyesight and route. Interstates are definitely safer at night than rural two lanes or any highway with intersections. Interstates are fenced so less chance of critters wandering into traffic. Requires a level of attention managing other traffic and crap in the road (potholes, tar snakes and frost heaves).

Nighttime usually brings on a decreased level of attention due to lack of sleep (you and other drivers) and lack of things to look at to relieve boredom. More drunks on the road especially following bar closing time. Rain, fog, or high winds at night can be decidedly more dangerous than during daytime and I would not travel at night with the possibility of ice or snow. Most of the other traffic on Interstates at night will be trucks (buffeting, water splash etc.) and rest areas will fill up with idling trucks reducing your options to pull off and rest your eyes or catch a nap.

I've been across the country multiple times on I-80, I-70, I-10 and I-5 from Seattle to Phoenix. I've driven both cars and bikes non-stop from Phoenix to NYC, Richmond to Chicago, Phoenix to Orange, TX (and then to middle FL the next day) and from NYC to Northern CA. I have spent as much as 18 consecutive hours on a bike (middle NE to Phoenix) but am too old to do that again. The eyes are still good but they won't stay open as long as years ago and I find nighttime boring and too dangerous for me to drive long distances at night. Plus, you miss seeing the countryside in large part.

Just my two cents.

As far as night time riding or driving is concerned, for those of you who may have done so, I believe the best time to ride through Kansas on
I-70, is at night. Of course that might be said for, and about any long stretch of featureless highway, through any state or province.

 

[Tyris]

Heading through Western Iowa and all of Nebraska to get to Wyoming, there's an open stretch of somewhat nothingness. Having lived in Iowa all my life I know what a corn field looks like.

 

[ThreeWheels]

Long Thread, I Just Skimmed It.

Have spent 95% during the day? Anybody enjoy night riding? Any tips. Want to make a 100o mile trip next summer and interstate 80 seems the best route but thinking driving at night for part of it when traffic isn't so heavy might not be a bad idea. Thoughts?

This is an excellent forum, I'm sure you're getting lots of good advice. I'm confidant everyone has made their points.
In the unlikely event that someone missed something, let me give you my advice.

• First and foremost, dress the part. It get's cold at night. Riding while cold is miserable and takes away your attention to the road. Consider a jacket that has reflective material built in. You can also get reflective tape and mount it to your helmet and jacket.
• Replace the stock "meep meep" horn with a WOLO Bad Boy or Stebel Nautilus. You want to be certain that, in the event they don't see you, they can surely hear you.
• Make sure your vision is clear and unobstructed. Clean any eyeglasses, clean your helmet face shield and wind shield. Headlights in the dark really daze and make stars through any scratches or dirt.
• Also clean your head lights as well. You don't want to occlude any of the light you send out either.
• Consider LED headlights and fog lights. The daylight, 6400 K or higher is, in my opinion best. The whiter light appears brighter and objects lit by the whiter light also appear brighter.
• Consider adding more light to your bike to make it easier for others to see you. The Custom Dynamics High Mount Brake Light HMT is an excellent addition for visibility. You should also consider replacing the side reflectors with LEDs. Custom Dynamics or TricLED have options.
• Deer whistles seem like a load of crap. I wouldn't waste any money on them.

These bikes have pretty good headlights on them and the interstates are generally well lit. Riding at night is more about being seen than seeing. Nevertheless, ride assuming that they don't see you.

The opposite is true on back roads at night. On back roads, make certain you don't overdrive your headlights and you can easily stop within the distance you can see ahead of you.

Lastly, if you're tired, STOP AND REST.

This may be a recap of points others have mentioned. I apologize in advance if I'm being repetitive.

As always, my free advice comes with a double your money back guarantee.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Heading through Western Iowa and all of Nebraska to get to Wyoming, there's an open stretch of somewhat nothingness. Having lived in Iowa all my life I know what a corn field looks like.

136 and 6 through Nebraska looks like it would be as scenic a ride as you can find there!