A Guide To Motorcycle Night Riding

Not every motorcycle ride will take place on a sunny afternoon. Some adventures start once the sun goes down. Night riding offers a unique experience, but it does come with certain safety risks. It's important to understand the hazards of motorcycle night riding and to take the proper precautions, which we cover in the following guide.

For more advice or to shop motorcycles for sale, contact Arizona Honda. Our dealership is based in Snowflake, Arizona, and we also serve those in Show Low and Holbrook.

Boost Your Motorcycle's Lighting System

Night riding brings with it reduced visibility, which is why lighting upgrades are key.

Get LED Lights

Most motorcycles come with standard halogen lights. These are more affordable to the manufacturer, which helps keep the model's asking price lower. But these bulbs are not the best for night riding. That's where LED lights enter the picture.

LED lights are able to emit a much brighter beam, helping you to more easily spot obstacles at night. They also last longer, burn less energy, and will cost you less money in replacement bulbs.

Get A Brake Light Flasher

With this upgrade, the brake light will flash multiple times before becoming a steady light. This helps other motorists, who might not be as focused as they should be, notice you.

Add More Lights

Extra lights means extra visibility. You can add single bulbs or strips of bulbs to your motorcycle. It's an easy way to make night riding safer while also boosting your motorcycle's style!

Make Yourself Noticeable

The dark colors found on motorcycle gear look great - but they also are harder to notice at night. Add some high-visibility clothing into your mix. Choose brightly colored pieces of riding gear, such as neon or fluorescent shades. You can also throw on a safety vest, such as the ones worn by construction workers to be seen at night.

You can even add reflectiveness to your motorcycle gear, which will help you be more visible to other motorists. Retro-reflective tape can be added to places such as your helmet, saddlebags, and the lip of your motorcycle wheel rims.

Proper Night Riding Techniques

Once you've ensured that you can see and be seen at night, you are ready to hit the open road. As you cruise around, however, it's easy to get temporarily blinded by car headlight beams. How do you avoid this? Look at the far right line at the edge of the road of your lane.

It's also important to adopt defensive driving strategies. Leave plenty of space between yourself and other motorists, who might be driving drowsy, driving while intoxicated, or otherwise a threat on the road. Give yourself more time to brake or change lanes, which will help counteract the reduced visibility. Stay on alert for hazards, such as nocturnal animals darting into the road. All of this defensive driving will promote a safe, and fun, night riding experience.

Want more motorcycle night riding advice? Want to shop motorcycles for sale? The experts at Arizona Honda are here to help. Reach out or stop by our dealership in Snowflake, Arizona. We also serve those in Show Low and Holbrook, Arizona