Faster at night?!?

[Dischord]

Is it just me or does anybody else notice their bike goes faster at night? Maybe it's just me thinking it but I'm sure I notice the performance increase. could it be the cold air? no traffic?
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[mchaggis]

It could be the colder air being denser, or it could be that you can't see the ground further away, only that closer to you, so it fools you into thinking you're going faster than you are. I imagine the roads will seem narrower and it's certainly scarier riding unlit roads you don't know at night.
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[The#Doctor#]

No traffic therefore not as much to think about except to hit a ton before you start braking
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[JonB]

Perhaps it's just because your eyes aren't getting as much light as in the day, so when you see the catseyes they seem to go past faster?

Seems more plausible than "My bike has 100BHP at night and 50 in the day".
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[Mungel]

I find that I actually go slower at night, due to the reduced visual range.....

But if you've seen the pace I ride, you be forgiven if you thought I might actually be going backwards at night....
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Mungel
ZZR600 (dead) - ZX9R (sold) - FZ1S

[Dischord]

Yea, I was thinking along the lines of mind tricks etc either way it's much more fun than day riding IMO.
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[CoronaBoner]

Hee hee I have just got back from a mates house as I had alittle ride about on the way home, no cars about and had a great little blast!!!

Will go out at night more often me thinks!!
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2004 RSV Factory

Cluck cluck chicken

[PsychoHippy]

Bikes do go faster at night - everyone knows that engine pixies are nocturnal by nature, so they obviously work harder as they are more awake, thus making the bike go faster
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[Huambo81a]

Its not your imagination, it is the cold air which is denser, and therefore supplys more oxygen. I own a little Nova Turbo Diesel and it is noticeably quicker in winter than in the sweaty summer months whether the road is full of cars or not

[Visitor Q]

Jon B has a point, the eye has two types of light 'sensors'.

Rod's and cones.

Look em up. Its why red looks 'heavier'

Your periphery vision is actually better at focusing then your 'central' eye, or rather better at reacting to the light. There one would assume you are relying on your periphere too see forwards. This leads to a slight rushing affect, and therein lies pecieved speed.

Just like when you stand 60 meters away from a fast drive by by an R1 or such and it looks fast but you have enough 'time' to move your head and comprehend it better. Put some blinkers on and stand closer, drive it past at identical speed/rev/gear.

You think its come past you at warp speed... i know ive tried.

Changes in perspective affect our innate ability to judge speed/distance well. Shift in efficiency between rods and cones leads to change in perspective slightly.
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[Walloper]

See all of the above.
Pay attention to engine pixies though. Ask your local dealer if he has a 'pixie daytime kit'. That makes the little guys more comfortable during the day so you don't notice that nasty power drop off.
W
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[PsychoHippy]

[Walloper]

I'm relitivly new to BCF and I'm interested in maximising the performance of my motorcycle by fitting inexpensive 'mods' and 'trick' stuff.

Does anyone here know if 'engine pixies' can be tranfered to the new owner of the vehicle or does current legislation limit their use to original equipment manufacture's spec?
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[PsychoHippy]

[Walloper]

Thanks PsychoHippy. That's put my mind at ease and I'm sure helped clear away any doubts held by the others here.
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[Visitor Q]

[Walloper]

I thought a power band was something like U2, Stones or James Last and his orchestra.
So Ste will have a couple of old power bands lying around then?
Ta
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[freestyler_onli]

I couldn't be bothered to read all the thread but it seems faster at night because you can't see a suitable way-point in the distance to judge your speed so it seems you are going faster than you are.

[stinkwheel]

Two strokes will run noticeably better in slightly cool, damp conditions. I have noticed this, probably something to do with air density.

More likley because of pixies though. Perhaps they can crank the handle faster and for longer when it is cool before they get sweaty, tempremental, and start flicking bogies at your sparkplug electrodes.
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[CoronaBoner]

Please explain to me what an engine Pixie looks like? Do they have mission phases like the Underpants Gnomes of Southpark?

My bike has no powerbands nor a racing chain but I do hope it has something...
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2004 RSV Factory

Cluck cluck chicken

[Josh|RD125LC]

I also feel that I'm travelling faster at night as well. Most likely one of the explainations of the others. To do with your eye senstivity most likely. I like night riding, its cool. Although I don't think the cagers like me riding at night, because my headlight is facing up, not on the road, so when I have it on high beam it dazzles them and they beep at me lol.
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[dransy]

Your all mad

Its just the white lines in the road the run past you faster:lol:
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[chris___]

It does seem alot faster when riding at night. On wednesday I rode home from bradford (i live in nottingham) and 80 miles of the trip were on the M1. The road was dead and did about 110mph all the way home and it felt fooking quick I tell you!! Especially when I was nearly swerving into the lane next to me Oh well, there was no one there anyway!
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[mrchips]

My two strokes always went like rockets on a cool night. Remember the first time I took my MT50 out at night, felt like a 600 lol
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