Tips on Riding your Motorcycle in the Dark

Riding a motorcycle can be fun, but visibility is one big prerequisite to be out on the open road on two wheels. Therefore, when you are riding in the dark, there have to be multiple things you have to be aware of, to not only continue to have fun, but also be safe on the road. In this article, we will explore some of the basics that you should always remember while riding in dark conditions.

Drop Your Speed

You cannot see as far as you can during the day, so there is no reason to ride at the same speeds. If you cannot see what is approaching, you will react to it much later than you would when it is light outside, and that’s the biggest incentive to drop your speed. There could be road works, a patch of oil, or even a turn in the road! A general rule of thumb is that you drop your speed by at least 20 percent on the highways and up to 30 percent in the city. This is just a general rule, and ultimately, your speed should be down enough, that you can completely come to a halt in whatever clear patch of road is visible to you.

Reflective surfaces
These can go a long way in saving your life. Motorcycles get reflective surfaces on them by standard and many pieces of riding gear are offered with it as well. Reflective surfaces help others around you see you, as the light reflects back towards them, and catches their eye. You can increase the number of reflective surfaces by getting a backpack or riding gear that is more visible in the night. Essentially, if people can see you better, they will be able to avoid you better.
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Keep your lights and helmet clean
You need to be wary of this if you ride for long distances after the sun goes down. Your helmet and headlight can get plastered with bugs during the ride. This reduced your ability to see, and your headlight’s ability to illuminate the area in front of you. If you have been riding for close to an hour, it’s recommended that you give both, your helmet visor and your headlight, a wipe. You should also keep your headlight in pristine condition if you often ride at night, double-checking it at the time of routine maintenance, as it can often be your only source of illumination on the road. A pro-tip, do not use a tinted visor at night as it might look good, but it severely reduces your visibility. If you have no other option, lift your visor up while you are riding for better visibility.

Stay out of blind spots
Blind spots are a menace during the day, so it doesn’t need to be said that they can be doubly dangerous at night. You will have to voluntarily stay out of the blind spots of bigger vehicles to stay safe while riding at night.

Ride on known routes
Ultimately, if you know your route, you can plan around the obstacles on it – day or night. This means that a pothole or speed breaker will not catch you unaware. Often, this can be the difference between being safe and unsafe on the road. Known routes also mean that you will be aware of the kind of traffic that is present on those particular routes, and you can be better prepared for it.

Tips on Riding your Motorcycle in the Dark

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