Night Riding
 

Does it bother you to ride at night?
Do you do it often or try to avoid it?

I do it often, it does not really bother me, I much prefer riding in the day though. I might like night riding even more with some HIDs.

I have to because of my class schedule. One of the things that bothers me about it is how bright some people's headlights are. On a narrow 2 way street with no street lights its a little difficult to watch where the side of the road is sometimes with a few oncoming cars.

Other then that its kinda fun, and its not searing hot in all my gear like it is during the day. I did put a lot of reflective tape on my backpack before classes started this semester to try and be seen a bit more though.

Another question...do you find that as you have gotten older it is harder to see in the dark?

yes!

I love riding at night, with a couple of friends and a nice relaxing road that I know well. My night vision is getting steadily worse, so thats a drawback, but this time of year, while its still warm enough to be just right, is a great time for the night rides.

Me too, we had a nice spirited ride home one night during the summer, earlier it was all hot and muggy and on the ride home that night it felt GREAT!

I ride year round here in NC, so if I ride to work it will be dark before I get home.

I like it on roads I know, I could take it or leave it on roads I don't know.

down in florida i loved riding at night in the cities, but up here in the NY woods it sucks so i dont do it anymore my 1st week up here i almost hit 2 dear at once. as soon as i got the truck on the road i only ride during the day

I tend to avoid it lately... the deer are freakin' crazy(er) at night around here.

My headlight sucks big time, so unless the OM is leading with the ZX-10, I stay inside at night. I did work afternoons, but the roads are dead at that time, so whizzing down the interstate at 1am was OK.

I try to avoid riding at night because of all the deer around here but other than that it doesn't bother me. My night vision definitely is not what it used to be either but still not too bad yet.

Have not done it since...

http://www.twowheelfix.com/showthread.php?t=3633

I still never got that fixed. :whistle:

So yeah, I guess you could say I avoid it. :lol:

I avoid it if at all possible....between having bad vision and the extra hazards on the road (animals mainly) I just don't bother to ride at night. Anywhere I go is a morning hill country ride or the track anymore.

I tend to ride on the highway at night.

Right now the deer are in rut. They're only thinking about one thing and it's not vehicles michael jackson

Night riding now is "old man sunday drive" speed.

Jeff

I don't mind riding at night, I actually like it, less cars out and its cooler here. i don't ride the twisties though at night since I dont' want to hit a donkey or a burro, so its mostly commuting.

And yes my night vision is getting worse too. I can't see street signs until i coming right up on them. But I also have astigamatism. (sp?). It took me forever to find my friends house yesterday since I kept having to pull U turns.

I end up riding more aggressively at night. Otherwise love moonlit rides on nice summer night.

lately i've been taking off at night and riding by myself,pretty cool cept for the damn deer

i leave the house at 6-615a , so it's still dark

ah my eyesite is about the same in the dark as i get older.

i just put a HID setup on the bike.

It isn't bad. I do it from time to time.

Thinking about HID's though.

During the summer I do it, but now it is getting too cold.

32F and sunny is alot different from 32F at night.

I don't mind night riding now that I have a bike with good headlights. The rebel Sucked! I hated being out after dark cause I had to have drewpy behind me or I couldn't see.


But don't mind it now I've done it a few times since that's pretty much the only time I can ride anymore.

I do it sometimes, but gotta be careful of deer and pigs. Generally do it alone.

pigs? as in the animal or the kind with lights on the roof...?

:?:

Just back in, thirdgenlxi and got caught in the dark and RAIN coming back from our ride today...

That sucks and would be terrible for me. I have trouble seeing in the dark or the rain, putting the two together wouldn't be good. I would be SLLLLLOOOOWWWW but would take my time and get to where I needed....just would need a massage afterward from being tensed up.

Well and we ended being longer than I anticipated so I had my tinted visor on as well

That is my problem too. I leave my tinted visor on all the time since I avoid night time riding so when I do get caught it makes it worse... although this Suomy visor isn't as dark as the one on my HJC.

I try to avoid. I always have the dark shield on too. But the HID does make it easier.

I hear ya thr. I'm curious how this fall will be with my ultra. Worse case scenario I can always put on the tall windshield to get a few more rides in the cold.

Otherwise my night vision is fine, the headlight and 2 spot lights on the front of the hd make life nice (day or night).

Hell the other night marko and I rode home in the dark with rain and it was fine. No worries!

Keep f'in tt chicken!

Add fog to the mix and it gets really fun. :eek:

I used to ride quite often at night when I was single...out with the guys...etc.

I don't tend to ride much at night these days. It doesn't really "bother" me but I'd prefer to ride during the day.

We have alot of deer in my area plus the fact that more drunks seem to be cruising around at night are just reasons to cage it myself when going out at night.

This and the fact that my wife rides and I'd rather her not be out on the bike at night as well.

I prefer not to, but if I plan to - I change to my clear shield.

I dropped my bike when I was riding at night with a tinted shield and couldn't see well. I was mad at myself for a while for that one. :td:

Dang...SO dissapointed in this thread.....I came in thinking it'd be a tribute to the "Hoff"

http://www.cyclingmaven.com/wp-conte...htrider460.jpg

It's about damn time! I was waiting for someone to bring up Night Rider. Thanks for not letting me down Troy.

jacko :dthumb:

Forget David Hasselhoff, can anyone post a pic or have a clue of who is the original night rider?

Couple of hints for better night riding. I have very bad standard vision, 20/450, and astigmatism (egg-shaped or irregular shaped eye) also. Here is what has helped me.

A. Go get your vision checked. There are two issues with night vision, one being "starring"; an indication of astigmatism. The other is poor rod and cone production (dim night vision). Astigmatism can be corrected with the proper lenses, and the new plastics and compund lenses are startlingly clear; dim night vision can usually be alleviated with supplements high in Vitamin K and a few others.

B. Use no tint at all on your visor. I have switched to the HJC Sy-MaxII http://www.hjchelmets.com/ with the integral tinted retractable shield; it stays clean,. is there when I need it, and goes away with a touch when I don't. A number of manufacturers make helmets with them.

C. I keep plastic cleaner and a soft cloth in my kit bag...dirty shields lose much light transmission. I also keep Aquapel or RainX for Plastic (don't use the formula for glass, as it will cloud your shield) because it keeps the shield cleaner and the drops are smaller and they stream right off in everything but the heaviest downpour.

D. I have a two strips width of black electricians tape across the top of my shield; they serve two purposes:
When driving into the sun in the morning or dusk, by dipping my chin I can block out the direct sunlight and still see traffic.

After dark if I am driving into some dork's brights, the same applys; tilt my head down and to the side as the idiot passes and I get to keep a modicum of my night vision. Costs about a penny and it works.

When riding at night, don't smoke; nicotine destroys the rods and cones needed for night vision.

Happy riding.

Thanks for the suggestions.
I have had my vision checked in the recent past and it is 20/20.
If I know I'm going to be out in the dark, then I would change my shield to the clear.

http://www.motifake.com/image/demoti...1250958413.jpg

http://www.herburban.com/wp-content/.../hoff-soap.jpg

I have no choice. When I leave for work at 6:30am it's dark and when I come home from school it's 8:30pm so it's dark. I came home from school at 6:30pm once which was daytime and it kind of freaked me out.

I do prefer daytime riding only because I don't think about deer then despite they jump out in front of you whenever.

Deer aside I love night time riding and have always preferred it since I started riding.

I ride in the dark 90% of the time. I don't really want to, but that's the only time I can ride. It doesn't really bother me. The very first time I rode was at 5:00 am.

I love riding at night but I do hate the bugs.

I rode to work today in the dark! I don't mind if it is short distances like that. Plus in the morning, the sun is coming up so it isn't completely dark.

[youtube]F9eYyDaQwQY[/youtube]

greatest movie of all time :rockwoot:

Bingo!!!!!!!! Just showing my age a little...

nah no problem man. that movie is great memories. hell if i hadnt been such a fan of it i never would have had the opportunity to drive this LT in the air wing's imported falcon back in 02. a damned near religious experience i tell you! wish i could afford to bring one over :dribble:

How the hell did I miss this post....

Did you have the answer?

I might have, had I saw your post.

:bs2::bsflag:

I try to do all my highway riding at night... i hate traffic. Only downside is that it can be hard to find food.

What do you think wikipedia is for?

you to cheat apparently

You never said that we couldn't, therefore it wouldn't be. :nee: