Tips for Riding a Motorcycle at Night

A nighttime motorcycle ride is a fun adventure, but it also comes with unique safety risks. Reduced visibility, nocturnal animals darting into the road, and an increase in drunk and drowsy drives are just some of the additional threats nighttime motorcycle rides face. Use the following tips to a safe and successful night ride.

For more safety tips or to shop motorcycles for sale, visit Big St. Charles Motorsports. Our dealership is located in St. Charles, Missouri, and we also serve those in St. Louis and St. Peters.

Improve Your Motorcycle's Lights

Riding at night means reduced visibility. Once the sun goes down, there is a drastic reduction in lighting. The default lights on a motorcycle can help compensate a bit, but they only do so much.

That's where upgraded lighting can come in handy! Swap out the default halogen lights with brighter (and more affordable in the long term) LED lights. It will help you more easily spot obstacles and give you more time to adjust accordingly to avoid an accident.

Beyond making the switch to LED lights, another helpful strategy is to add lights where there were previously none. This can make you more visible to others on the road, which also helps reduce the chance of an accident.

Finally, consider a brake light flasher. This flashes multiple times before transitioning into a steady beam of light. This unique lighting design helps capture the attention of motorists and helps ensure your reduction in speed is seen by those behind you.

Make Yourself Easy To Spot

During a night time motorcycle ride, you may be surrounded by other motorists who are driving drowsy or otherwise distracted. They can be less likely to notice you, which makes them more likely to cause an accident.

To help combat this, it's important to ensure you are easily seen. High-visibility clothing is a great start. Wear neon or fluorescent colored clothing instead of an all-black outfit. You can even add a safety vest over the clothing, like the ones that construction workers wear when they work on the side of the road.

Change Your Riding Style

It's always wise to ride defensively, but especially when riding a motorcycle at night:

• Leave more space between yourself and other motorists. If they suddenly slam on their brakes, you will have more time to react and avoid an accident. 
• Continually scan for obstacles and hazards.
• Leave more room for yourself when changing lanes.

Looking to shop motorcycles for sale? Our expert staff can help you find the best models for your lifestyle, including night rides. Contact us or stop by our dealership in St. Charles, Missouri. We also proudly serve those in St. Peters and St. Louis, Missouri.