Motorcycle Night Riding Tips for Beginners

Riding a motorcycle at night is fun, adventurous, and risky—all at the same time. Even the experienced riders will need to be extra cautious when cruising on their bikes after sunset, let alone the beginners. If you plan to embark on your debut night riding trip and are searching for ways to stay protected, we have you covered.

Timms Harley-Davidson® of Anderson is your local motorcycle dealer, and we want you to stay safe and secure on the road. Our experts have created this guide to discuss a few tips to help you ride your motorcycle safely at night. Read on to learn more, and for more safety advice, visit our dealership in Anderson, SC.

1. Make Yourself Noticeable

Before starting your motorcycle to undertake the trip you have been waiting for, check to see if you are appropriately dressed. Ideally, you will want to avoid wearing dark-colored clothes when riding your bike at night. Dark colors are often harder to notice in the dark and make you more vulnerable to being in an accident.

For extra safety, you will want to wear bright colors like neon or fluorescent colors. If you must wear dark colors, ensure that you throw on an orange-colored safety vest over them. You can also consider adding retro-reflective tape on your helmet and saddlebags to make yourself more visible at night.

2. Upgrade Your Motorcycle's Lighting System

Next, you will want to enhance your bike's lighting system by installing single bulbs or strips of bulbs to make it more visible. You can consider replacing your standard halogen lights with LED lights and get a brake light flasher. LED lights are brighter and last longer, and your brake light flasher will help draw the attention of distracted motorists around you.

3. Practice Proper Night Riding Techniques

We often recommend that our customers practice defensive riding strategies when riding their motorcycles at night.

As a responsible rider, you will want to maintain an appropriate following distance between yourself and the vehicle ahead of you and be careful of motorists trying to take advantage of the gap. You will also need more time to brake or change lanes and signal your maneuvers in advance. You must also remember to avoid interrupting the blind spot of other riders. Night riding also means encountering nocturnal animals that might suddenly dart in your path. Keep this in mind when riding your bike after dusk and slow down your speed around areas where they are frequently sighted.

4. Control of Your Speed

More importantly, you will want to control your speed when riding your motorcycle at night. Be aware of the speed limits and be extra cautious when changing lanes or approaching a bend.

We hope you find this guide helpful when riding your motorcycle at night. If you need more advice or want to upgrade your bike to the latest model before your next outing, visit Timms Harley-Davidson® of Anderson. We have an impressive collection of motorcycles for sale, and we can help you select a model that suits your budget and riding style. To peruse our latest inventory, swing by our dealership in Anderson, SC, today.