Safety Tips for Riding a Motorcycle at Night

Riding a motorcycle at night can be fun since there is usually less traffic on the road. Many riders enjoy riding at high speed on empty roads. However, riding a motorcycle in the dark also poses several risks to your safety due to the low visibility. You may not be able to see every obstacle, and you will be less visible to other vehicles. Therefore, you must be very careful while riding a motorcycle at night. Read this article to learn safety tips for riding a motorcycle at night.

Most riders feel more confident on empty roads due to the lack of traffic, causing them to ride faster. Unfortunately, this increases the risks of hitting obstacles and critters crossing the roads. Collisions with critters can be life-threatening if you hit them at high speed. Riding slowly slightly below the speed limit could give you more time to spot incoming danger and apply the brakes.

If you regularly ride your motorcycle at night, turn on the headlight to ensure better visibility. Most motorcycles are fitted with yellow halogen bulbs that dim over time and consume more battery power. Therefore, it is best to install LED lights to ensure less power consumption and better visibility. White LED lights also look more attractive. A bright LED light helps you see better at night and makes you more visible to other drivers.

It is recommended to wear bright-colored riding gear since bright colors better catch and reflect light from other vehicles and street lamps in the evening. You could also wear a reflective vest to increase visibility in the dark.

You can apply reflective tape on your motorcycle, riding gear, and helmet to improve visibility. Reflective tape stays dull during the day. If you install black reflective tape on a black motorcycle, it will be almost invisible during the day. However, it lights up when exposed to light at night. You can also show some creativity with the reflective tape and use it to make designs on your motorcycle, jacket, and helmet.

Most riders love tinted or black visors on their helmets. These colorful visors are good for riding during the daytime. However, you would not be able to see through them in the dark. Make sure to carry a white visor in your saddlebags if you are going for a long ride. Also, make sure to use a clean visor without scratches to ensure you have a clear view. Scratches on a visor can cause the light passing through it to glare, causing you to squint. Make sure to clean the visor with a soft microfiber cloth.

Before you go for a motorcycle ride at night, inspect the tires and engine for any mechanical issues. Keep your motorcycle well-maintained if you regularly ride at night.

Though there are usually fewer riders on the road at night, there are still other people who share it with you. Many of them may be drunk or aggressive. Try to watch out for signs of drunk or aggressive driving. If a vehicle is unable to stick to a lane or is riding dangerously in a zig-zag manner, try to keep a safe distance from it and be ready to turn or brake if necessary.

You should share your live location with a friend or a family member to make sure they know where you are so that they can come to help you in case of an emergency.

The rider needs to be quite vigilant and alert at all times while riding the motorcycle at night. There are higher chances of encountering drunk and aggressive riders on the road at night. to avoid accidents, make sure to ride very carefully. You must install bright LED lights on your motorcycle, use a clean white visor, and wear bright-colored clothes and a reflective vest to improve your visibility and safety on the road at night.

You can also improve the touring capability of your motorcycle by installing a few aftermarket parts available at Viking Bags, including sissy bars, backrests, fairings, handlebars, and crash bars.