Before we jump into the risks and hazards of night-riding, let\u2019s examine why riding a motorcycle at night is so darn appealing in the first place. Here are the top reasons that many riders prefer to hit the road at night: <\/p>\n Perhaps the #1 appeal of night-riding is the lack of congestion. The roads are empty and spacious, giving you the freedom to really take your bike on a ride. No sitting in rush hour traffic, just the open road. This is also ideal if you want to ride with friends<\/a>, with fewer worries of being separated on a night ride. <\/p>\n Although it\u2019s dark, night-riding still offers its share of appealing sights and sounds. In the city, you\u2019ll see whizzing streetlights and neon-drenched locales. In the country, you\u2019ll be riding under the stars, and there\u2019s nothing to distract you from the open road.<\/p>\n If you live in a hot and humid climate, night-riding might be the only way to ride your motorcycle<\/a> comfortably. For some riders, it\u2019s simply too uncomfortable putting thick clothing and a heavy helmet<\/a> on a sweltering day. For this reason, many riders take to the streets at night. Plus, they also benefit from everything mentioned above.<\/p>\n Now that we\u2019ve examined why night-riding is so appealing, let\u2019s balance it out a bit. Night-riding also presents its share of hazards and risks. As a motorcycle rider, you need to be aware of these risks if you hope to avert them. Here are the top things to keep in mind: <\/p>\n Generally speaking, you\u2019ll encounter worse drivers at night than you would during the day. Nighttime is the most common time to experience intoxicated drivers, who may swerve and stop unexpectedly. It\u2019s also when you\u2019ll encounter the most tired drivers, whose reaction time may be diminished. You need to be aware of these factors and give other drivers more space than you think they need. <\/p>\n Many animals are nocturnal, meaning they are more active during the night and prone to darting across the road without warning. You need to be aware of your local wildlife and how they might behave at night. Deers, moose, and raccoons all present their own dangers when jumping in front of a motorcycle, and you need to be prepared to react. <\/p>\n While potholes are an issue at any time, they are difficult to spot during the night. You need to take extra caution and ensure your headlights<\/a> provide you with an ample view of the road in front of you. If you can\u2019t track the road, then potholes may hit you by surprise. <\/p>\n This is obvious but no less worth mentioning. Visibility is very poor at night because it is dark out, which can be further compounded by fog, rain, or a lack of streetlights\/city lights. With less visibility, you may have more trouble spotting any of the hazards mentioned above, but you might also have trouble seeing sharp turns, quick stops, other drivers, and more. <\/p>\n Now that we\u2019ve examined the major hazards of riding at night, let\u2019s look at how you can prepare for, detect, and react to these hazards. Follow these tips to ride at night safely: <\/p>\n First thing\u2019s first, we do not recommend night-riding to inexperienced riders. Night-riding presents the rider with dangers that might be above their ability to react safely. Before you take to the streets at night, we strongly recommend that you are a comfortable and experienced rider during the day. While most areas don\u2019t have specific laws which make this a requirement, it is almost always considered good practice. Night riding won\u2019t be enjoyable if you find yourself completely overwhelmed. <\/p>\n Defensive night-driving is safe night-driving. Defensive driving is all about taking a proactive approach to any hazards you may encounter, ensuring that you\u2019ll have enough time to react. The best way to do this is to drive slowly and cautiously and give yourself extra space between other vehicles. Because it is more difficult to detect threats at night, both of these practices give you extra time to react to any hazards that may present themselves unexpectedly. <\/p>\n Never ride faster than the space you can see in front of you, meaning that all visible roads (illuminated by your headlamps) should be within stopping distance. This behavior ensures that everything you can see you can react to, and there are no invisible threats. <\/p>\n Visibility is crucial for safe night-riding. But visibility means more than your own ability to see the road. It also refers to other drivers\u2019 ability to see you. As a night rider, you want to do everything you can to make you and your bike visible, which often means going above and beyond your bike\u2019s headlamps. <\/p>\n You can outfit your bike with wheel lights, underglow lights, brake light flashers, and much more. You\u2019ll also want to purchase motorcycle clothing that has built-in reflective properties so that other cars\u2019 headlights illuminate your presence. We even recommend you go one step further and purchase reflective tape\/decals<\/a> to outline your saddlebags, helmet, and other areas that protrude from your bike. <\/p>\n Of course, once you ensure you are visible, you also need to make sure you can see! As mentioned above, you never want to \u201coverride\u201d your headlamps, which means that you should never have a stopping distance that is greater than the distance you can see in front of you. You need to be able to react quickly to everything you can see. <\/p>\n Also, use your high beams whenever possible. High beams allow you a much greater field of view. It increases your view of not only the road in front of you but the area surrounding the road (you can spot any animals that may dart out). Whenever you aren\u2019t obstructing the view of any drivers\/pedestrians, it makes sense to use your high beams in rural areas. <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/speedymoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/ride-motorcycle-around-night-city.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/span><\/p>\nWhy Ride a Motorcycle at Night?<\/h2>\n
Empty Roads <\/h3>\n
Night Skies and Neon Lights<\/h3>\n
Temperature<\/h3>\n
What Are Some Hidden Dangers of Night Riding?<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/speedymoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rider-with-black-cuscom-motorcycle-road.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/span><\/p>\nIntoxicated\/Sleepy Drivers<\/h3>\n
Animals<\/h3>\n
Potholes<\/h3>\n
Visibility<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/speedymoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/blurred-traffic-light-trails-road-night.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/span><\/p>\nGuide to Riding a Motorcycle at Night<\/h2>\n
Be Experienced<\/h3>\n
Drive and Ride Defensively<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/speedymoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/shadow-biker-girl.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/span><\/p>\nVisibility to Others<\/h3>\n
Ensure You Can See<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/speedymoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/pexels-photo-2317408.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/speedymoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/man-protective-jacket-sitting-grass.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/span><\/p>\n