" Riding At Night "

[Jimi X]

OK,...Maybe it's because I'm getting,...Ummmm, more experienced, but I really don't like riding when it is dark anymore. I have a Sylvania Hi output lamp on my Bonnie, but it is still not enough. What I find happens is that potholes, cracks and manhole covers sort of sneak up on me while riding at night. Especially when there is other traffic around.

It is not so bad while there is little or no traffic or when I am on a highway outside the city. It is when there are cars around me and I can't see the surface conditions far enough in advance to avoid them.

Anyone in my group of more experienced riders feeling the same way? Anyone have a tip or solution to this other than following further behind a cager. In Calgary if you leave a proper gap between yourself and the vehicle in front of you, some a$$hole just cuts in front of you and you brake and move further behind this vehicle.

Maybe it is just this fuking city.

[davidc]

Yup, night riding causes me more worry than it used to. I have this summer ridden at night more than usual. I don't go as fast, use roads I know as much as possible, and make a conscious effort to relax on the grips. A bad bump seems worse when you've got a rigid grip going on.
Critters are what concerns me most. All the deer I DID NOT see in the Adirondack Mountains is because they're all in New Jersey!

[canuck]

Gent's,

I also agree tha riding at night is cause to be a little edgy or at extreme high alert.
One thing I will say is that now I wear glasses I find I have better view at night, ( not saying any of you may need glases ) and feel more comfortable and secure in my night rides. I still have my spidey senses on super high alert and drive somewhat slower and even more defensive at night.
But it is also nice to ride out under the stars on warm summer evening.

[teebee]

Not really a big issue up here North. Let me explain: Our riding season is not the longest. The best part of it is (naturally) in the middle of Summer, when days are long, and nights are short and not very dark. During the early and late days of the riding season, it's cold anyway. So riding during the dark hours isn't really that interesting anyway.

My first season I really though that I should install more riding lights. Nah, don't need them. Besides, cagers don't see us anyway.