Riding Tips [Archive] - ForumsHQ
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 3:48 pm
RIDING AT NIGHT
The main thing to consider when riding at night - always travel at a speed which enables you to stop in the distance you can see to be clear. This is a basic rule of good motorcycling at any time of day but especially so at night. This means keeping the speed down so you can safely stop within the distance your headlight is illuminating the road.
If you find your speed creeping up just think about what might be on the road just ahead of your beam, debris, pot holes etc.
Riding at night does have some advantages however, when riding along twisty roads you usually see opposing vehicle headlights long before you see the vehicle. You must however resist the temptation to go for that "dodgy" overtake, just because you don't see headlights.
Remember to keep your headlight lens clean, it's suprising in winter how quickly they get dirty, restricting the beam. When passing opposing traffic resist the temptation to look at the other vehicles lights (Rabbit syndrome), just gaze down to the nearside of the road.
Sight deficiencies can be exaggerated at night so if you need correction either glasses or lenses, make sure you wear them. Travelling any distance at night can be more tiring than the same distance in daytime, fatigue is a main contributing cause to collisions and can be avoided by taking regular rests, having a good stretch, a cup of hot coffee or tea or even a short jog up the road to get the circulation going.
The main thing to consider when riding at night - always travel at a speed which enables you to stop in the distance you can see to be clear. This is a basic rule of good motorcycling at any time of day but especially so at night. This means keeping the speed down so you can safely stop within the distance your headlight is illuminating the road.
If you find your speed creeping up just think about what might be on the road just ahead of your beam, debris, pot holes etc.
Riding at night does have some advantages however, when riding along twisty roads you usually see opposing vehicle headlights long before you see the vehicle. You must however resist the temptation to go for that "dodgy" overtake, just because you don't see headlights.
Remember to keep your headlight lens clean, it's suprising in winter how quickly they get dirty, restricting the beam. When passing opposing traffic resist the temptation to look at the other vehicles lights (Rabbit syndrome), just gaze down to the nearside of the road.
Sight deficiencies can be exaggerated at night so if you need correction either glasses or lenses, make sure you wear them. Travelling any distance at night can be more tiring than the same distance in daytime, fatigue is a main contributing cause to collisions and can be avoided by taking regular rests, having a good stretch, a cup of hot coffee or tea or even a short jog up the road to get the circulation going.