Tips for Safely Riding a Motorcycle at Night

The sun doesn’t get to tell you when to stop chasing down the horizon! Riding your motorcycle at night is sometimes a necessity, but sometimes it’s just fun. We here at Riverside County Indian Motorcycle® know that you need the freedom to travel where and when you want, so we’ve put together some tips for safely riding at night. If you have any questions, or if you want to see the motorcycles we have for sale, contact us at our dealership in Corona, CA.

Nighttime Dangers

Being aware of the unique hazards of night riding can help you avoid them. One of the biggest threats is one you may be aware of already: the number of drunk drivers on the road is much higher after sundown, especially during a holiday or long weekend. Make sure to keep your distance from any erratic drivers on the road when at all possible.

You’ll also need to keep an eye out for nocturnal animals that may not know the rules of the road as well as you do. Prey animals like deer stick to nighttime roaming, which may help against wolves, but doesn’t do much for hundreds of pounds of combustion-driven metal. When in rural or wooded areas, stay cautious.

And finally, you’ll have a harder time seeing at night. Obstacles like potholes or loose gravel don’t have normal work hours, and they’re especially dangerous when you don’t see them coming. Make sure to drive as defensively and cautiously as possible.

Upgrade Your Lights

To help with your own vision, you might consider upgrading your headlights. Many motorcycles still use the standard halogen lights, since they’re cheaper for the manufacturer. We recommend swapping them out for LEDs, however, which are much brighter and actually better for your fuel efficiency. 

Upgrade Your Visibility

Another tactic is to make sure other people can see you as soon and as clearly as possible. A brake light flasher can help drivers behind you see you, since it flashes a handful of times before just staying on during a braking maneuver. 

High-visibility clothing can also help. As cool and classic as black leather is, it doesn’t do much to help you stand out in the dark. Brightly-colored or reflective clothing might feel less intimidating, but it’ll make it incredibly easy for people to see you. Even just throwing a construction-style safety vest on over your riding jacket can help immensely. 

We hope these tips help you stay safe on your next night ride! If you want to know more, or you just want to see our inventory of motorcycles for sale, contact us at Riverside County Indian Motorcycle® in Corona, CA. We proudly serve all those in Temecula and Huntington Beach.