How do you feel about Riding at Night?

[RedShift]

Just curious as to how this group feels about riding after the sun goes down (or before it comes up)?

I personally enjoy it.    It's typically easier to see traffic (so long as they drive with lights on), it's cooler (a plus in summer) and I tend to focus more on the road (since my light illuminates where I'm going).

The negatives are there as well, such as less attentive drivers, less time to react to something in your path (like dead squirrels or other roadkill), and it's cooler (a minus in spring & fall).

So, sound off.  What's ya feel about riding at night -- like it -- indifferent -- or rather avoid it?  Why?  :dunno:

[raylarrabee]

the biggest problem I have with night riding is the constant, massive bug bombardment.  After a few miles, I have to pull over and use a window wip to clean the bug juice off my visor.

[callmelenny]

Fear the deer too much around here. The stock GS light also sucks IMHO

[roguegeek]

After I got comfortable with it, I had no problems. Sometimes it's fun. I like going up to the mountains and just laying on my GS looking up at the star and pondering life's many questions like "How is Jeff Foxworthy still able to find work?"

[ditchdoc1017]

I have a friend in ICU right now been there a week hit a deer at night on a V Star.

[jomei]

I feel like I am riding in the day time? Only with less ambient light?  

[sys49152]

I found it a bit difficult with the GS stock lights.  I don't find they do a very good job, and I was often flipping between my low/high beam to see better.  However, if there's enough overhead light (highway driving mostly), it's a ton better than dealing with rush hour regular riding.

[oppy00]

I hate riding at night.  Very scary, especially with the numerous large animals here in GA (dogs, deer, and cars).   The GS headlight does suck.  The rest is long, so here's you warning.

My worst wreck, and only wreck that wasn't my fault, happened at night.  I was following a friend to her house, I was riding a safely as possible, and this big dog that was walking on the side of the road decided, after looking right AT me, that it was safe to cross the road.  To my best recollection the dog actually hit me, not the other way around.  This isn't the scary part yet.  Needless to say I went down.  I don't remember what happened after I hit the dog, (it happened really fast) but where my memory picks up I was sliding on my belly into the other lane, with my bike sliding past me.  Something (guardian angel, sixth sense, or whatever) told me I had to get up and move quick, so I got to my feet got my bike up and out of the road as quickly as possible.  Ready for the scary part?  Now let me explain this is a residential area, speed limit was 35 or 45, which I was NOT exceding.  Here's the scary part.  The instant I got my bike upright a camaro comes around the bend, at 80+ mph    :x    hits the dog, which at that point was still alive, and blows through where I was just laying on the ground.  Seriously, 30 more secs, and I wouldn't be writing this post.   :guns:  :guns:  :guns:  To the jerk-off in the camaro.  Fortunately for me I was wearing gear, I had a little road rash on my love handle, jacked-up my right shoulder and one of my ankles (both ankles have been blown out playing sports prior), so basically I can't throw a 90mph fastball anymore, but I couldn't do that before, so I'm really no worse for the wear.  It was kinda hard getting back on the horse after that though.  The hardest part I think was just seeing the damage to my bike, and building the motivation to fix it.  I'm glad I fixed it, and I ride as much as possible now, I just try to avoid night-time riding and dogs.

Strangely, on the rare occation I am up before dawn, I love to ride.  Especially when I get to see the sun rise.  For me that's as close to heaven as I get here on earth.  A nice country road, a beautiful sunrise, me, and my bike.    God knew what he was doing when he made motorcycles.

[Alphamazing]

My worst wreck, and only wreck that wasn't my fault, happened at night.  I was following a friend to her house, I was riding a safely as possible, and this big dog that was walking on the side of the road decided, after looking right AT me, that it was safe to cross the road.  To my best recollection the dog actually hit me, not the other way around.  

That dog sounds like a cager...


Personally, I don't like riding at night. It isn't bad, per se, but I prefer daytime. It's just nicer to be able to see more, evaluate hazzards with more time, and it's less stressful. Just me, maybe?

[indestructibleman]

lane splitting on the freeway at night sucks.

aside from that, i find riding at night to be preferable to walking home.

[Trwhouse]

Hi there,
I like night riding because of the cool air and the relaxed pace, but I have improved my GS500's headlight by replacing it with a 7" Hella halogen auto lamp that fits inside the stock headlight rim. It is much brighter and has a superior beam pattern. The HIGH beam is amazing.
Also I modified the front turn signals on my GS500 to also include always-on running lamps, which makes my bike stand out better at night for oncoming traffic. Anything to make myself more visible at night to other motorists is a key addition.
Yes, there are still deer and other hazards, but life doesn't end at night and some of us do have to ride at night. At least try to do it with brighter lights and lots of common sense and caution.
Good luck,
Todd

[davipu]

riding out in the desert at night is the best when it's just you your bike and the stars.

[Roadstergal]

so long as they drive with lights on

The Hip Thing these days seems to be to drive around with only your running lights, fog lights, or city lights on at night; headlights off.  Dumb effers.

[Phaedrus]

I avoid riding at night at all costs. If I really need to, I will, but I am always worried about deer. I am in a pretty rural area, lots of deer. I've hit a few with my car - all at night on the back country roads - and I don't want to do the same with a bike, so I make reasonable effort not to get into a close encounter with the deer.

Sucks too, because I actually LOVE riding at night. If it weren't for the abundance of deer!  

[leo]

I don't like it, but I'll deal if I have to. I going to have drive 90 miles later this week during the night and I'm not too thrilled. At least for the first half of it since it's more deserted and really dark. Cagers go flying down that road. Once I get back to civilization and more cars and lights I'll feel more comfortable.

[un1261]

I enjoy it, I work nights so I have to ride at night. It has become my favorite time to ride. My crew is always telling me to watch out for deer. I think it it's the pole cats and opussum that worry me. Waiting to see how it is in the winter,ICE

At the right time of the year I get to watch some amazing sunrises and sun sets everyday.

[un1261]

Oops...I forgot to mention how I like to ride in the fog, very peaceful.

[stefman722]

I prefer night riding 10 times better then day. This time of the year in Winnipeg though, as soon as the sun goes down, it gets really cold. But in the summer its like like +30 celcius at night. So this time of the year i have to ride during the day. But overall for me i love night riding. its the best.

[97gs500e]

I typically prefer night riding too(even if it is getting colder out)... less cars and more sport bikes out in my area.  I live in populated suburban area south of KC so theres no deer down here

[Jazzzzz]

I don't particularly care much for night riding, combination of poor lighting on the GS (a Silverstar bulb in the headlight helped, but I'm going to add some driving lights soon) and the halos around light sources at night caused by my contacts - if there's any fog or haze at all, it's like driving through someone's really cheesy Photoshop full of lens flares.  I also pass at least 5 deer every night on the way home, and I'm just waiting until one jumps out in front of or into me.