Riding at Night

Your motorcycle adventure doesn’t have to end when the sun goes down. In fact, riding at night can be one of the most thrilling experiences you’ll have on your bike. You’ll be soaking up the city lights and enjoying the cool evening breeze. However, riding at night does present some potential hazards that you’ll want to prepare for. Fortunately, Toad Suck Harley-Davidson is here with the tips you need in orde to remain safe. Keep reading to learn more. If you’re still in the market for the perfect motorcycle, visit our dealership in Conway, AR. 

Potential Hazards

A major part of staying safe on your motorcycle involves being fully aware of the hazards you may encounter. This enables you to be fully alert and ready to respond if something comes up. First and foremost, it’s important to be aware that nighttime sees an increase in drunk drivers. The number gets even higher during weekends and holidays. If you happen to notice strange driving behaviors, like weaving from side to side, you may be in close proximity to a drunk driver. Use caution and get as far away from them as you can.

Secondly, nighttime also sees an increase in animals on the road. Many prey animals come out at night to avoid their predators during the day. Deer are a prime example of this. They might successfully escape the wolf, but this could land them in your path. Be alert for possible animals on the road. Avoid riding in areas where they’re more likely to be seen, like on rural roads.

You’ll also want to keep in mind that riding your motorcycle at night can compromise your ability to spot obstacles. No matter what time you ride, there will always be certain obstacles to face. While these may not increase at night, your ability to spot them will decrease. Therefore, it would be wise to ride defensively to compensate for this.

Upgrade Your Lights

The more difficult it is to see, the harder it is to avoid issues. Your ability to see is a critical component of motorcycle riding, which begins with proper lighting. Unfortunately, many bikes are only built with standard halogen lights because they’re cheaper for the manufacturer. If that’s your motorcycle, you’ll want to swap them out for LED lights. These are brighter, which is essential for night riding. They last longer, consume less energy, and are more affordable in the grand scheme of things.

Another upgrade to consider is a brake light flasher. This light flashes multiple times prior to emitting a steady light, as opposed to the solid beam of a traditional brake light. This helps get the attention of other motorists on the road to make them more aware of your presence.

You can also go the route of adding more lights to your motorcycle. The more bulbs you have on your bike, the more light you’ll have on your path. This means you’ll see better and be seen better. Another option is to add single bulbs or strips of bulbs, depending on your budget and style preferences.

Improve Your Visibility

It’s not enough that you’ll be able to see the obstacles around you on the road. You also need to be seen by other drivers. The first step to improving your visibility is to invest in the right clothing. High-visibility clothing is a great choice. Start with choosing brightly colored pieces of clothing, like fluorescent or neon shades. Stay away from the typical all-black ensembles that motorcycle riders tend to rock during the daytime hours. Another option is to add a safety vest to your outfit, similar to the kind that construction workers might wear to increase their visibility at night while they work.

You can go a step further and make your gear reflective. As you shop for gear and apparel, try to buy ones that come with retro-reflective panels built in. When another motorist’s lights hit the panel, it will glow brightly and be hard to miss. If you’ve already invested in gear, you can add retro-reflective tape to grab the attention of other motorists. Apply this to the edges of your bike, your helmet, saddlebags and the lip of your wheel rims.

You’re officially ready for motorcycle riding at night. If you still need a bike, stop by Toad Suck Harley-Davidson to check out our inventory. We’re located in Conway, AR, and proudly serve those in Searcy and Hot Springs.