Riding in the dark

[turningCircle]

I remember when I did my CBT about half of the road ride section was completed in the dark. (It was mid-winter and getting dark at about 6pm).

I'll be honest; I was shitting myself. Despite being fully "vizzed up" I felt pretty vulnerable.

I don't ride in the dark - was wondering whether or not any of you fellas do. Probably wins the 'Most Pointless Thread Award'

[Northern Monkey]

All of my bikes have headlights, which help me see the road when it's dark
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Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[recman]

I ride in the dark every day.
I will admit that I do take less 'risks' in the dark but other than that, its not a problem.

[dave666]

[Mudshark]

commuting year round, no option but to do it (mid winter it's dark here about 4:30pm) never had a problem
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R1250RS
XT660X

[Monkeypony]

Roads you know - no problem. All the corners are right where you left them.

It's roads you DON'T know that get a bit 'entertaining' when you've only got a bike headlight to inform you what's coming next. Caution is advised!
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Current bike - 2018 H2-SX, 2004 SV1000s, 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF, 2017 Sherco SERF 300, 2003 Suzuki DRZ400 (stolen - AY53 JUU)

[Taught2BCauti...]

Had a similar problem riding home after a late finish at work one night - everything was fine until I came to an unlit section of 'B' road, and I literally couldn't see the road ahead.

There was no legal alternative route, so I had to wait until a car passed me so that I could follow his tail lights, and when he got too far ahead, I had to pull over and wait for another car.

Very shortly afterwards, I replaced the puny BA20D bulbs for a Bi-Xenon HID kit, and everything is fine now.
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Honda Varadero XL125(V8)
www.TheFutureIsHere.eu

[TheArchitect]

you guys must live in the sticks. Where I live we have street lamps.
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GSXR 600 K6 - Stolen
GSXR 600 K6 - Stolen
MT09 - Almost stolen

[Northern Monkey]

[Mudshark]

Osram nightbreaker 55w
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R1250RS
XT660X

[TheArchitect]

Philips X-Treme 130
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GSXR 600 K6 - Stolen
GSXR 600 K6 - Stolen
MT09 - Almost stolen

[-LG-]

I prefer riding at night.

Even country lanes, love it. One of the things I miss about going to my exes are the fantastic roads there.
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Snow rider wrote: I'm far to annoying to be near for long periods of time

[J0Al1]

Hated riding in the dark when I first started out!

I put it down to lack of confidence (generally)
A Hornet that has terrible headlamp
Only riding in the dark during the winter (fogging up).

Now, I LOVE riding in the dark (on familiar roads). It's great on back lanes because you can cane it more knowing there isn't a car coming.

So, of course I now have a bike that has no lights at all

Useless fact: Men see better in the dark.

[dydey90]

My headlights blind me when they reflect off street signs, pretty sure when they put on the 47bhp restriction they just sent the other 35-40bhp into the alternator so now I feel like I have a floodlight strapped to the fairing.
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This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[Albigularis]

My CBT was also done in total darkness on bikes with practically no lights.

I like riding on roads I don't know in total darkness, really teaches you how to ride smoothly. The lights on the GS make this a moot point though, as the bulb I have in the main beam now is practically a small sun.
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Biking history so far-
Aprilia RS125 - Kawasaki ZXR400 - Triumph Street Triple R - Suzuki GSXR1000 L3 - BMW R1200GS - Kawasaki Z1000 - Kawasaki ZX10R C1H - Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring - Suzuki Hayabusa

[Ribenapigeon]

When I first started riding I only went out at night for a few weeks. It was good as the roads were quiet and I could practice junctions and roundabouts. Once I went out of town and through a forest on an old forestry track, it was spooky as anything but cool. What I don't like is fast A roads and Dual Carriageways in the dark when its raining. Scary as your slowed down by poor visability and have cars tearing up behind you.

[NJD]

A CBT at 6pm, did the examiner oversleep?

I've only had one experience of driving in the dark on a road that I wasn't familiar with, turns out my dipped headlight is so poor that I wasn't able to see a huge speed bump fair to say that I felt like I was doing the biking equivalent of the grand national, least my suspension works

The main problem I encounter when driving in the dark is a lack of concentration or being tired.

On the flip side riding home during the evening is often one of the better times to be commuting as you tend to get home quicker (less traffic).

Oh and don't fixate on cars coming in the opposite direction with headlights strong enough to blind you, I often quickly look away as they go past or tilt my head so their not eye line level.

[Triton Thrasher]

[talkToTheHat]

Pinlock for your visor, no fogging. Fog city adhesive insert if you don't have pinlock studs.

Bright colours are pointless at night, retroreflectives are more use off the bike than on the bike as you have lights.

Fit osram nightbreaker or phillips xp and check the dip angle of your headlights. My MOT tester is about the size and weight of danny pedrosa, and my bike comes back with the light set skywards if I forget to check the levels with my hulking form aboard before I leave. I have some chalk on the wall that I use to check the lights for deviation if I've luggaged up. If you can't see any road, it's probably headlamp aim.

Most of the first 2k I rode was at night, in winter, on a 125, in the rain. The destination was worth it

Twisties at night are an arse as it's hard to see into the corner. It the lights are on the bars it's worse as the light swings away as you tip in.

My pet hate are 4x4s with lights that get you right in the mirrors, ruining your night vision. Invariably operated by a helpful driver that will follow closely and turn all the lights on because they've worked out you can see fuck all.

I might fit some LED auxiliary lamps for deserted back roads, need to work out how to rig them so i can switch them off easily though. Thinking relay linked to main beam, or change wiring of RH switch from off/side/main to side/main/main+aux
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Bandit. does. everything.

[Northern Monkey]

[weasley]

[turningCircle]

[Lone-Wolf]

Wotcha.

Lights ?

I used to dream of having lights . . . .a poxy six volt dynamo that only gave out 55 Watts.
One thing I certainly don't miss from the "good old days". My British bikes are now all 12 volt and have good lights.
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Cheers.
^..^
L.W. - www.moonshiners.org.uk

[FlightRisk]

Do not like.

Town areas with street-lighting, yeah no problem, no difference but unlit country roads I don't enjoy. Even familiar ones, there's a deep new pothole opened up the other day that I'd probably have hit if it had been dark.

I don't know, when I was riding home in the dark evenings I was pretty newb though and the combination of oncoming headlights blinding me through a rain-soaked visor was really slowing me up and then I had cages tail-gating me 'cos I was going too slow.
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Honda CB500S

[The Shaggy D.A.]