I went out Monday (26th October). Got home early and the sun was setting so before I could think of all the reasons not to go out I just did it.
Over the years I have enjoyed riding at night. In the summer when the warm weather makes it very comfortable the down side is the number of bugs that die on the your helmet (can I say that on this forum ?) or get stuck to your chest.
Get some heat into your tyres, pick a familiar route and go out for a few hours. After 7pm the roads generally become less congested as most people are home watching TV or polishing their mopeds.
Its just great when the weather is good to ride out at night but we will still have some opportunities in the next few months . At the moment wet or even dry leaves will be the issue, very slippery. Later there may be some frost to contend with - then you may need to fit some 'cowls' around the levers to keep the cold air away from your digits.
The 2 worst conditions for me remain coming up behind a salt gritting truck and in the summer riding around a corner to be confronted with one of those roads that have just be scattered coated with tar and stones as a quick fix resurfacing.
Night Rider
Night Riding
- Filth
- Posts: 33
- Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2020 7:56 am
- Location: Worcester M5 J7
- Alan H
- Posts: 12110
- Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2011 6:38 am
- Location: Wombwell, Republic of South Yorkshire
Re: Night Riding
Don't forget having good lights.
Just fitted a led headlamp to the kettle (+ 2 led riding lights on the radiator bar and a 'halo' in the headlamp for daytime running/car annoying), and a HID headlight on the 550J. That should annoy the purists!
See and definitely be seen.
Just fitted a led headlamp to the kettle (+ 2 led riding lights on the radiator bar and a 'halo' in the headlamp for daytime running/car annoying), and a HID headlight on the 550J. That should annoy the purists!
See and definitely be seen.
Proof that four strokes are over complicated
-
- Posts: 128
- Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2014 5:26 pm
- Location: under bridge J22 M60
Re: Night Riding
Whilst most people are watching TV or polishing mopeds, im having a drink reading posts on this magnificent forum.
Theres a few reasons to ride the night, first the sound is different you can hear the little ends rattlin and the wheel bearings wurwin as the wheels rattle round. (sounds a bit like benny hills ernie)
Also you feel the engine is more crisp , it doesnt do it on a four plodder only on a two stroke the night air is cooler and damper it makes the engine run miles better.
third the clock lights are really cool . I remember going out on my X7 in 1984 for the first time at night and the orange clock lights were the biz.
Fourth is that yer misses used to be pleased when you get home alive , thats sadly not true now as im actually worth more dead than alive and im sure shes puttin summot in my bottle.
Apart from the fourth one I think Filths artical is great.
lets have more positives than negatives.
Theres a few reasons to ride the night, first the sound is different you can hear the little ends rattlin and the wheel bearings wurwin as the wheels rattle round. (sounds a bit like benny hills ernie)
Also you feel the engine is more crisp , it doesnt do it on a four plodder only on a two stroke the night air is cooler and damper it makes the engine run miles better.
third the clock lights are really cool . I remember going out on my X7 in 1984 for the first time at night and the orange clock lights were the biz.
Fourth is that yer misses used to be pleased when you get home alive , thats sadly not true now as im actually worth more dead than alive and im sure shes puttin summot in my bottle.
Apart from the fourth one I think Filths artical is great.
lets have more positives than negatives.
everyones a winner
- Alan H
- Posts: 12110
- Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2011 6:38 am
- Location: Wombwell, Republic of South Yorkshire
Re: Night Riding
Many more positives than negatives with Suzukis. Trouble is though, they don't always play nice.....
Proof that four strokes are over complicated