Do you ride at night? is it safe?

[kirill_igum]

Recently I had a conversation with a rider, he told me that he prefers not to ride at night. Personally, I don't mind when it's dark: there are less cars.

if you choose 2 or 3, I'd like to see your comments on why do you think it's uncomfortable or unsafe.

EDIT: "no" means that you PLAN your ride to be done by nighttime or use a different transportation if it's dark.

[G]

every sec you are over driving you line of sight for stoping distance

[tedski]

I will ride at night to run errands and what not.  I do not ride at night while out touring for a few reasons:
- limited sight distance
- more animals, can't see them either
- I'd rather be sleeping

[Mr.Black]

Yes/Sort of.

[ABorn13]

I'll ride at night and in fact sometimes find it safer.  

**I'm more comfortable with my own skills and I won't outrun my headlight beam.  

**Alternatively as we all know, those in cages are frequently oblivious to riders, so 1) just statistically, reduced traffic = reduced likelihood of the possibility of car v. bike; and 2) the visibility of my headlight at night appears to better than just a motorcycle during daylight.

But like several responders, just watch out for the hooved rats and other animals.

Alan

[Squareman357]

I will ride at night to run errands and what not.  I do not ride at night while out touring for a few reasons:
- limited sight distance
- more animals, can't see them either
- I'd rather be sleeping

Sorta what he said.  I ride at night locally, here in the city, hanging out with friends and going from bike spot to bike spot.  But I don't like to ride at night touring for the same reasons he said.  I feel uncomfortable and find myself thinking about animals all the time.  I have ridden into the night, but usually within an hour of sundown I find myself looking for a place to rest for the night.

[Frankienuckles]

I really don't care for the diminished vision. My lights are ok ,but I still can't see as far as in the daytime. Also more bugs and critters at night. The highway isn't bad too bad at night except the highway just kinda sucking overall (boring) day or night.

[Hotbrakes]

I enjoy every second on a 2 wheeled machine, but riding at night through the countryside is nerve racking.  I don't mind the interstate at night as the fences they put up seem to do a good job getting rid of critters and there are usually other vehicles around whose headlights (and brake lights)I can use to my advantage for things like debris and other objects that may cause an unintended and costly "stop".  Plus the cooler temps at night are great for pounding down hard miles in the summer.  But then there's the drunks and other freaks who only come out at night and take to the highways.  

So no good for backroads but perfectly comfortable on interstates.

[scramblerracer123]

Night riding is an acquired taste.  The more I ride at night the less it bothers me.  I struggle with rain at night as I get the bright spots messing with my eyes but I always carry a clear shield to help with that.  

[M.Brane]

 I generally try to avoid it, but will ride in the dark. The VFR's headlight is much, much better than my previous 2 bikes, but it's still a little uncomfortable at times. Just have to slow down accordingly.

 I agree about the critter issue. Don't wanna see those reflecting eyeballs in my line.

[Zerosum]

Sure, I ride at night all the time... in the CITY.  Out in the counties, no freakin way.  Chances of a run-in with Bambi are too great.

That said, if I HAVE to ride at night, I'm very glad to have for my V-Strom's oversized headlights.  Best stock mc headlight ever, IMO.

[sammyseaman]

Riding at night is kinda nice and peaceful. Less traffic and cooler in the summer but..... Riding at night in the rain (like mentioned above) is getting more stressful in my old age. My eyes aren't as good as they used to be. Also I'm very careful riding at dusk and dawn. I keep it slow and conservative due to all the feckin' tree rats we have around here.

[adlowe]

Love it, especially in the summer. Dusk and dawn are a LOT more dangerous -- critters are more active, distances are harder to judge, cagers w/o lights on are harder to spot, etc.

Of course, it dramatically reduces the pleasure of riding scenic roads.

[sammyseaman]

I used to absolutely love dirtbiking at night. Very wierd, hypnotic and trippy. Although it was easy to get lost when it was hard to see familiar landmarks.

[Strog]

I used to absolutely love dirtbiking at night. Very wierd, hypnotic and trippy. Although it was easy to get lost when it was hard to see familiar landmarks.

I used to ride my dirtbike with my cousin in our grandparent's pasture. We'd see something that we thought was "too tough" during the day. Then we'd always end up right back there as soon as the sun set and did it in the semi-dark/dark.    I LOVED jumping in the dark on familiar jumps. Everything would just drop away and the headlight was pointing off into the dark. You'd get that moment of weightlessness then brace for the landing. Fun times  

Riding on the street in the dark just isn't the same for me.  

[SLK50]

 Riding at night didn't bother me until a miscalculation found me on Skyline Drive after sunset.
Slaloming through the deer herds was rather unerving.

[nater]

Oh deer.

[sammyseaman]

Oh, I forgot to add that getting caught in the mountains at night on a 1050 Sprint ST sucks big time. Me and the wife (ex) got caught in the dark coming back from the Cherohala Skyway one night while on a trip down there. You wanna talk about slow going. Living in michigan I forget how bad the headlights are on this thing and how I have to get some aux lights.

[DNA]

I ride int he dark a lot - occasionally through the night.

Night + rain is extremly exhaustin, and I woudl prefer not to do it if i could.  Night or rain = fine.  Night + rain = not fine.

I have had some really close calls with deer at night - the risk is real.

[RRdvark]

I love riding at night in the city, in the country, or on the interstates.  Yes, the animal risk is higher and yes, the sight distance is shorter, but if I was worried about that kind of stuff I'd probably drive a car all the time anyway, right?