Topic: Riding at night

[gregwaits]

After being back in the saddle again after so many years away from motorcycles I have come to certain conclusions about my preferences. I really love riding at night.

I mean, anytime is fun (except in a driving rainstorm or if it is 20 degrees), but there is something very calming about late night rides. I could see making a long road trip with the bulk of the driving done at night.

The traffic is lighter and recently at least, the night air here in north Texas is very nice. I live right by Lake Ray Hubbard, and driving over the bridge at night is very nice. Taking in the smell of the lake air somehow clears the mind.

Damn, bikes are great! 

[Bob Wessner]

but there is something very calming about late night rides.

Except deer.

[gregwaits]

but there is something very calming about late night rides.

Except deer.

Yeah, that could put a kink into an otherwise nice ride! Fortunately for me anyway, the only animals that might dare cross the road around here are raccoons. (Boy do I hate them)

[eldar]

riding at night is awesome. I know some people do not like the lack of light. My halogen seems to do pretty good though. Someday I may switch all my extra lights to led and change the head to a HID setup.
If I save enough wattage, I might add aux lights on the crash bars.

[gerhed]

I do like riding at night, but my night vision isn't what it used to be
-road seems narrower and dimmer.
Of course the 25 watt auto dome lite bulb in my headlamp isn't helping much!

[Johnie]

I hear you Bob...I do not ride hardly ever at night because of the deer in WI.  Heck, at least 2 guys in my area were killed this summer when they hit a deer on the highway.  So if I do ride at night it is in the city...so the drunks can hit me...

[Bob Wessner]

 So if I do ride at night it is in the city...so the drunks can hit me...

Well, likely there will be someone on their cell phone who would observe it and call it in.

[andy750]

When I lived in the UK I used to do the majority of my long distance riding at night. I had a CB750F2 and Id leave Oxford, Uk after work Friday evening after 5pm and head up the motorway (highway) for Glasgow (360 miles) arriving at 12am -1am. After a weekend with my then g/f, head back Sunday evening leaving as late as possible and riding back in the dark. Riding at 80mph on the highway at night for long periods of time is a surreal experience indeed.

When I was riding across the USA one year on the CB750K4, I was riding in Northern Iowa into Southern Minnesota at night and I saw the farmer on this combine harvester cutting corn by headlight. Now that was surreal to see. Apparently they work in 12 hour shifts cutting all the corn until its done. Tough job.

Try riding in the mountains at night...I did this in Mexico a few times.....interesting experiences....

cheers
Andy

[eldar]

Some times riding at night almost makes you feel like it is a different planet. Especially on those dead roads where you might see headlights once an hour. The air seems so much clearer and the smells come out more. The world is much quieter and there is less wind it seems at night. You get the drone of your engine, the stars in the sky and nothing to pull you from your thoughts and the ride.

[upperlake04]

 ..poetry Eldar .. pure poetry 

[scondon]

I do like riding at night, but my night vision isn't what it used to be
-road seems narrower and dimmer.
Of course the 25 watt auto dome lite bulb in my headlamp isn't helping much!

 My night vision isn't all that great either and the single light doesn't illuminate very far ahead. Also, when navigating tight turns it points at the side of the road rather than where you're going. This is actually kind of pleasant when meandering along 40mph back roads, but is scary as #$%*e when doing 70mph on a unlit highway.

   Recently rode most of the night to Vegas and was doing the "herky jerky" for some good stretches over the mountains

[333]

What I like about it happens in the first 2 or so hours of night time.  In most places, the temps are okay.  But then you find a deep hollow where the temp drops a good 10-15 degrees.  You enjoy it coming down the hill, and the bike enjoys it going up the other side, in that there is a noticeable difference in the power.

And then...  Here in Washington D.C., the weather guys used to give the temps of "inside the Beltway" and outside.  I had no idea that a highway would hold in the heat, but it does.  Rt.66(not the famous one) traverses this road, and where it crosses the Beltway, the temp can drop 10 degrees.  And you can feel it.

[gregwaits]

..poetry Eldar .. pure poetry 

Agreed....that was very well stated!

[DRam]

I've always liked driving and riding at night.  One of the best was up the Idaho side of Lolo Pass (the term for that road is right on the tip of my tongue, but wont' come - ooh, ooh it did:  The Lochsaw - I think) was the best drive I've ever had.  It was late March, the road was mostly clear of ice, and I hit the Idaho side about 10 PM.  One car went by me the entire drive from there to Lolo, MT.  Even driving a puny Civic, that was a fun drive, made even more fun by it beeing a night drive..  So help me, I'm going to ride that road soon, day or night.  Gotta say though, these 64 year old eyes don't pick up the deer quite as fast as they once did.

[Shenanigans]

There is nothing like riding though the desert at night on either a full moon or a new moon. I'm glad deer or even most animals are not a problem here as with how much night riding I do one of them would have certainly got me by now.

I know rain is extremely dangerous but I enjoy riding in it a lot, I don't know why but it is just such an awesome feeling. Maybe because it never rains here so its more of a happening than a common inconvenience.

[tramp]

riding at night is the best
it's like riding where all your consentration is wrapped up in a small area
no outside distractions
your world is all that the headlighs can see

[BobbyR]

riding at night is the best
it's like riding where all your consentration is wrapped up in a small area
no outside distractions
your world is all that the headlighs can see

+2

[kirkn]

Hmm..  must just be ME then. 

I don't particularly like riding at night at all.  I actually don't enjoy my world being shrunk to what only the headlight sees.  I like my peripheral vision working to catch all the critters on the side of the road.  I like the scenery.  Not that I'm twisting my head around to gawp, but just to be aware that it's there and appreciating it being there.  Kinda like the music being on in the shop in the background while working on bikes.  I don't LIKE my world being shrunk, any more than I would like riding in the daytime with some kind of horse blinders on.  That outside world is there, whether you're distracted by it or not.

I like being able to see, in my peripheral, the bike itself.  Sunlight on chrome, my distorted helmet reflection in the front blinkers, that sort of thing.

Also, in the rural countryside where I live, there are lots of deer, but even more CRITTERS - racoons, possums, turtles, armadillos.  At least 2 or 3 times a week in the morning on my commute, there's a new critter roadkill.  I just don't need it to have been ME on my bike that ran him down...

That being said, I CAN appreciate the points you've made - the moon, the stars on moonless nights, the smells and the distinct temperature changes.

Ride on!

Kirk

[74cb750]

I rid at 3am to work everyday. There is still quite a bit of traffic and deer, unfortunately.

 At least the lady whom used to pass me on curves/blind hills etc has been caught (several times) and thrown in jail a few weeks back for driving a Chevy Cavalier at 96mph in a 50mph zone. License revoked for 7 years.

So, I can honestly say, Sometimes I like driving at night, but I always watch my mirrors.
peace,
michel

[Rocking-M]

Night riding is the best, the wife and I use to do it back home with
no lights on those bright moonlit nights. Bugs are a bit thicker at night.
In those days the deer population was low, now, there are deer everywhere.

[boatsdickson]

Some times riding at night almost makes you feel like it is a different planet. Especially on those dead roads where you might see headlights once an hour. The air seems so much clearer and the smells come out more. The world is much quieter and there is less wind it seems at night. You get the drone of your engine, the stars in the sky and nothing to pull you from your thoughts and the ride.

+1

Ive always enjoyed nite rides. Less traffic, but more drunks. The assumption by the law that if your out at that hour you might be up to no good can be a hassel but if your not doin wrong, besides an occassional ton up, your ok. The lack of headlight vision can be helped with a new set of halogens, and the concern of a breakdown and safety out there alone is rectified with a powerful sidearm.

Just like wearing a helmet, nite ridin is at each riders preference and confort level. Sh1t happens at nite too, just like when the suns out.......

[BobbyR]

Night riding is the best, the wife and I use to do it back home with
no lights on those bright moonlit nights. Bugs are a bit thicker at night.
In those days the deer population was low, now, there are deer everywhere.

I took a twilight ride to blow some of this heat off me last night. In a  2 mile stretch of road I had two deer run across the road and another standing in the middle of the road. I blew the horn at the sucker and it just stood there. I went home and enjoyed the AC. They are becoming vermin in these parts.