How to Stay Safe While Riding Your Motorcycle at Night
Hitting the road on your motorcycle at night can be even more fun as compared to day-time riding. In fact, in some places, it's the best time to avoid traffic and sweltering heat. However, when you ride at night, remember that you're at a greater risk of not being seen or colliding with obstacles. At Maxey’s Motorsports, we want all our customers to enjoy a safe motorcycle ride at night, which is why we have gathered our top tips to help you get started. If you want more advice or want to check out motorcycles for sale in Oklahoma City, OK, feel free to give us a call or visit our dealership.
Be Aware of Potential Hazards
A major component of remaining safe on the road is being aware of the unique hazards you might encounter, which will help you stay alert and ready to respond if anything comes up. At night, there tends to be an increase in the number of drunk drivers, which is even higher on weekends and holidays. If you notice odd driving behaviors, like weaving from side to side, you could be near a drunk driver. To be safe, stay as far away as possible from them.
Another thing you need to be aware of is that there tends to be an increase in animals on the road. Many prey animals, such as deer, tend to come out at night to avoid predators during the daytime. In an effort to escape a wolf, they could likely stumble into your path. Keep this mind and be alert about the possibility of animals on the road. Avoid driving in areas where they’re more likely to be seen, like rural roads.
It comes as no surprise that night-time riding accounts for around 25% of all motorcycle fatalities. After all, riding in the darkness affects your ability to easily spot obstacles. Regardless of what time of day you choose to ride your bike, there will always be obstacles to face. Whether it be potholes or loose gravel, it’s important to be prepared to handle them. While you may easily see something on the road, moving in your lane of travel can put you on a collision course with something you didn’t see hidden in the darkness, so try to ride defensively.
Adjust Your Bike's Lights
One of the most effective ways to stay safe on the road is to make sure that your headlights are working properly and correctly aimed. Thanks to the reduced visibility that night brings, we’d recommend installing some extra lights. The more lights you have, the easier it will be to see and be seen. Depending on your budget and style preferences, you can add single bulbs or strips of bulbs.
Most bikes use standard halogen lights as a default, but you'll get a much brighter beam from LED lights. Making the switch also gives you the benefits of lights that last longer, consume less energy, and save you money in the long run. You can also upgrade your motorcycle's brake lights. Usually, a default brake light will be a steady beam of light. A brake light flasher, in contrast, will flash several times before transitioning into a steady beam. This can help catch the attention of commuters around you, making them more aware that you are slowing down.
Make Sure You Are Easily Seen
As you cruise around town, you'll want to be highly visible to other motorists. After all, they might not be the most attentive as they drive, so you should try to do what you can to capture their attention to help prevent a collision.
A simple approach is to wear high-visibility clothing. Pick items that are brightly-colored, such as neon or fluorescent shades. Go for vibrant, eye-catching colors that will help you be noticed on the road. You can also put a safety vest over your typical riding clothes, such as the type that construction workers wear.
Another strategy is to make your motorcycle gear reflective. If you have yet to buy gear, you must focus on items that come with built-in retro-reflective panels. Anytime a motorist's lights hit that panel, it will glow brightly and make you visible. If you already own your gear, it's easy to add retro-reflective tape on your saddlebags, wheel rims, and the helmet.
Adjust Your Riding
Riding your motorcycle at night poses some unique challenges, such as facing glare from the bright light of car headlights. To avoid having your visibility compromised, you can shift your gaze. Look on the rightmost line that's situated at the edge of your lane. Try not to look down since it will make it more challenging to ride in a straight line.
You'll also want to ride defensively. Keep plenty of distance between yourself and other motorists who might brake suddenly. Leave more room to change lanes or brake. Continually look for obstacles to help reduce surprises. These defensive driving tactics can help you enjoy a safe night-time motorcycle ride.
We hope you found these tips helpful! If you have any questions or you want to explore motorcycles for sale, visit Maxey’s Motorsports in Oklahoma City, where we proudly serve all those in Edmond and Tulsa, OK. Our friendly staff will be happy to answer your queries and provide advice on which models best suit your budget and lifestyle, so stop by today!