Night time riding? What is the really hazard? | Page 2 | GTAMotorcycle.com

Night time riding? What is the really hazard?

While on the topic of being seen at night, as I've offered a few times here before...I still have quite a quantity of 3M reflective material up for grabs (free) for any GTAM'ers who would like it. This is the same stuff they use on the overhead signs on the 401, roadside signs, etc etc - the ones you can see a kilometer or more away.

It's very heavy and thick material but you can't get anything any more reflective out there.

I'm between Oshawa and Bowmanville. For anyone who doesn't regularly get out this way I'd be willing to cut up your choices of colours (Say about 1sq foot worth?) into strips small enough to fit into a regular lettermail envelope and ship it to you as long as you're willing to throw me a few scheckles (PayPal preferred) for the postage and my time. ;)

reflective.jpg
 
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Rain. Rain is gonna make all the mentioned problems even worse, plus the bonus of reduced traction and braking. If you feel the bike squirm a bit, hear popping noises and are near wetlands, don't look down. They're frogs.
hahahahaha! I know this is a forum, not my personal cell phone conversation, but I found this is somehow funny to me. May not be that funny when one has to clean that frog mess from the bike.
 
lack of visibility for me on unfamiliar roads is my biggest concern
calls for caution in corners as it's sometimes difficult to discern the radius
sucks when they tighten up and you're hot, causes something else to tighten up
 
While on the topic of being seen at night, as I've offered a few times here before...I still have quite a quantity of 3M reflective material up for grabs (free) for any GTAM'ers who would like it. This is the same stuff they use on the overhead signs on the 401, roadside signs, etc etc - the ones you can see a kilometer or more away.

It's very heavy and thick material but you can't get anything any more reflective out there.

I'm between Oshawa and Bowmanville. For anyone who doesn't regularly get out this way I'd be willing to cut up your choices of colours (Say about 1sq foot worth?) into strips small enough to fit into a regular lettermail envelope and ship it to you as long as you're willing to throw me a few scheckles (PayPal preferred) for the postage and my time. ;)

reflective.jpg
You're a good man, PP. Prepare for a PM onslaught.

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Besides the critters etc, including the human kind. I would say the road conditions. Hard to tell what the surface is like unless you are familiar with the road you are on.

Otherwise riding at night does have it's own sense pleasure.
 
You're a good man, PP. Prepare for a PM onslaught.

via Tapatalk
@Jayell I still have some stuff that I picked up from PP when I was out that way last year. You are more than welcome to swing by my place and get some if you want bigger pieces.

Sent from my purple G4 using Tapatalk
 
Besides the critters etc, including the human kind. I would say the road conditions. Hard to tell what the surface is like unless you are familiar with the road you are on.

Otherwise riding at night does have it's own sense pleasure.

Cruising around on the remains of the day is certainly enjoyable. Work has kept me from day-tripping this summer and commuting is a bit stale now, so I was forced to discover the charms of dusk. An old practice route makes for a perfect jaunt. Surprisingly, the sky is still free of condom-inimums there, allowing for more pensive sunsets than expected. Still a bit of a risk, but since the area is both firmly urban, familiar and free from wildlife bigger than a goose, the risk is more calculated.
 
Hi all. Again I am a beginner. I just did a 1300km trip from whiteface mountain. Today I left from Utica to Toronto at around 4:30 am. I was a bit scared at first since all the back road doesn't have any light but got used to it quickly. for a 2 hours trip from Utica to Cape Vincent I was mostly calmed since I was basically the only guy on the road. Whole time there was only one pickup passed me and I followed him for a while. I saw two deers crossing street but they were about 100 meters away and they run away in a second. All the on coming traffic I could see their head light from a great distance. I know people are reluctant to do night riding but I found it was not that bad. I guess the real hazard would be the wild animals? I admit if any deer came from the side I would not have responded. However, what a lovely experience to watch sunrise while you are riding! Part of me would really like to do it again. So fellows, please share your thoughts about night time riding, let me know something I overlooked! Thanks in advance!
I do a lot of night riding, there are a few things to consider.

Wildlife - particularly this time of year. In the fall you're going to see raccoons and porcupines get attracted to roads because they stay warm as the nights cool. They are very hard to see at night and when you hit one it's quite a thump. I hit a porcupine a few years ago when riding a cruiser, it ripped up my fork seals. A few near misses with deer and a bear.

Road Hazards - I hit a paving grind at night on a little Ninja, it cracked my rim. It's very hard to see potholes, debris, and construction work at night.

Drunks.

Increase your visibility with reflective tape. Be extra careful when approaching blind or obscured intersections, add some low focused driving lamps to increase road visibility.

I will agree there is nothing more beautiful than watching the sun rise or set when on the open road.
 
+1 to the suggestions so far. :glasses2:

I rode a lot from when the sun went down throughout the night and I have to say that being more familiar with the roads you are riding on goes a long way, from knowing where the road turns, to blind corners, to being able to predict traffic and animal movement...

Not knowing the road you are driving on can be a hazard on its own because you could find yourself spending too much of your attention on the road surface rather then what is ahead of you.

If you are comfortable with using your high beams (making sure to turn them on and off when needed) will also provide you with more visibility should you not be wanting to change your lights or add additional lighting however, it is possible that you could blind an animal with your high beams so be mindful of that as-well.

I've had some animals attempt to run across only to be scared by the loud screaming of my RPM's (stock exhaust), so you may want to (at the expense of fuel) try to stick to lower gears so that you're as loud as can be which can also help with other drivers on the road since they will 100% hear you coming considering how quiet after dark hours get and how silent the night can be.
 
Hi all. Again I am a beginner. I just did a 1300km trip from whiteface mountain. Today I left from Utica to Toronto at around 4:30 am. I was a bit scared at first since all the back road doesn't have any light but got used to it quickly. for a 2 hours trip from Utica to Cape Vincent I was mostly calmed since I was basically the only guy on the road. Whole time there was only one pickup passed me and I followed him for a while. I saw two deers crossing street but they were about 100 meters away and they run away in a second. All the on coming traffic I could see their head light from a great distance. I know people are reluctant to do night riding but I found it was not that bad. I guess the real hazard would be the wild animals? I admit if any deer came from the side I would not have responded. However, what a lovely experience to watch sunrise while you are riding! Part of me would really like to do it again. So fellows, please share your thoughts about night time riding, let me know something I overlooked! Thanks in advance!

Most riders are concerned about being seen at night. Well, I've added more visibility to myself for night riding as well. I find it more fun to ride at night due to reduced traffic and cooler air temperatures.

However, if I were to lead a group ride, I would definitely take a group out while the sun is out; as you can see the road better and you can see much further ahead. Night riding is more of a solo activity for myself but I've done it in small groups before.

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Needs a one piece Tron outfit ;)
Night riding is dangerous, should be avoided wherever possible, but if you should survive please post again.
 
Needs a one piece Tron outfit ;)
Night riding is dangerous, should be avoided wherever possible, but if you should survive please post again.

I'm looking to get a suit done sometime in the future and wearing it for night riding lol. My friend is already rocking one with blue EL wires. I'll most likely be wearing the red/orange EL's.
 
For me, the thinking goes like this:

On a long road trip, there is no reason to be riding at night. I have a limited amount of distance I'm going to ride in a day before I want to rest. I can *easily* get that in while the sun is up, then have a dinner and relax somewhere to further enhance my enjoyment of the trip. I don't want to have to deal with a deer or stupid **** on a dark road. Plus when you get up early you get a chance at the waffle maker at the continental breakfast before someone else ****s it up with oatmeal or whatever

When I'm just bopping around town living my normal life, sure I'll ride at night. Of course I don't have a black bike, helmet or jacket either though
 
Good points in general but there ARE reasons to blitz the night when faced with a long leg through built up areas that you cannot avoid...riding after dark can give you a big jump for the next day and avoid traffic. We did it a few times in the cage.

I've done it a few times on the motorcycle. For instance doing a long leg from West Virginia I don't mind arriving at the border at dark and doing Peace Bridge to home in Mississauga after dark and after traffic is no problem.

Avoiding a known storm front is another reason to push late.

Shane does it out of habit ;)

I agree knowing the roads are important.
 
Lots of good comments, but some advice given I don't agree with 100%.

From an animal on the road perspective night time riding is way more dangerous than daylight hours. Total crap shoot on a deer popping out in front of you or a large raccoon tearing across the road. If you're OK with this increased risk then go ahead and hope for the best. On tour we're on the road about an hour after sunrise and end around 5 or 6. Nice long day and really no need to be out when dark.

I don't brake or swerve for small animals, too dangerous and the few I've run over never upset the bike. Large raccoon on 28S near Apsley 2 weeks ago I did move to the right track as there was lots of room, he was going right to left and it was a muscle memory type of repositioning in the lane, no big deal. You certainly do not want to be braking or in some type of swerve maneuver as you run over a small animal as this could cause you to lose control.

While each situation with a deer is unique if you're going to hit him you should be straight up in emergency/panic braking mode thankful you opted for a bike with ABS. On a ride in PA in June 3rd member of group never arrived at next turning point. After waiting 5 minutes we returned to find him standing at the side of the road inspecting his ABS equipped ST1300 for damage. Deer had pooped out of the bushes right in front of him and rider slammed on his brakes, centered punched the deer and came to a stop without dumping it. Deer got up after a few minutes and ran away, bike damage was minimal, rider was a combination of skillful and very lucky.
 
To make my flat black bike more visible at night, I added an RGB LED underglow kit.
 
To make my flat black bike more visible at night, I added an RGB LED underglow kit.
Is that legal? I know certain colored lights like those used by emergency vehicles or cops are not allowed, but are other colors ok?
 
I go to PA and Lake George at least a couple times a year and no matter how well I try I always seem to be riding at night getting back to camp at least once.

I've been thinking about adding some aux lighting. Any recommendations?
 
Is that legal? I know certain colored lights like those used by emergency vehicles or cops are not allowed, but are other colors ok?
I've never been hassled, but I don't use the flash options. Flashing green is vfd, I stay on solid green.
 
Is that legal? I know certain colored lights like those used by emergency vehicles or cops are not allowed, but are other colors ok?

Red and blue are definitely are no no's if they are forward facing. Other directions I believe is a little grey area.
 

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