Night Riding

Airplane pilots have a checklist of things they do before they even start the engine. When we ride our bikes for pleasure or as a commute, there is no reason that we should’t take our own safety precautions seriously. As responsible bike owners we should do and have certain things with our bikes before we take off on a run.

Cleaning your bike and checking the tire pressure is a good start, but we all need to do a little more. Start your bike before you throw your leg over the saddle. Walk around to check that all lights are on and working. Try the turn signals. Hit the brakes and look for a reflection or change in lighting. Some people use the garage door. I use the reflection in my car. Working brake lights on a bike are essential. Better to know the condition of your lights before you leave the house.

The biggest problem we all have with night driving is to not over drive our headlights. That means our stopping distance is cut to where we can see. Debris in the road and roaming animals gives us a much shorter time to react. Low placed highway lights help, but slowing down and being extra alert will keep us ready for the unexpected.

Not only are we trying to see ahead, but we also want to be seen. Accessory lights or reflectors not only add aesthetics to our bike’s beauty, but it also lights up our bike’s sides. Not many lights are normally found on the sides. These extra lights or reflectors help the cagers see us on the streets.

Can you imagine riding down a dark road and suddenly all your lights go out? You are plunged into darkness. You can’t see anything and cars can’t see you. Looks like you blew a fuse. Spare fuses? Flashlight? Roadside assistance reflective triangles or flares? All these items should be on your bike and easily accessible. After you find your flashlight, hopefully you have spare fuses. Your owner’s manual, or service manual if you have one, has a list of the fuses that fit your bike. Stored fuses don’t go bad with age, so tuck some away in your manufacturer’s supplied tool kit. Inexpensive push-on lights can be bought at Home Depot or Target and can be adhered to your trunk or bags. Small fire extinguishers that are marked not only electrical, but also liquid (gasoline fire) should be somewhere you can grab fast. Hopefully you have reflectors, or something reflective on your helmet and you. Reflective tape can be found almost anywhere. It’s cheap, comes in a variety of colors, and is a smart move toward safety.

Yellow night visors, goggles, or glasses are available for night driving. They brighten the roadways but cut down on the glare of on-coming headlights. You can find these at motorcycle dealers, catalogs, or in prescription form from discount eyeglass places.

All these reminders are simple and inexpensive, and they could save your life:

Check your lights before leaving home

Never over-drive your headlights

Side reflectors and lighting

Things to have on your bike

Flashlight

Extra fuses

Roadside assistance triangles or flares

Fire extinguisher – electrical and liquid

Reflective clothing and helmet

Yellow night goggles

My dad use to say, “You never know you need it until it isn’t there.” Take a few minutes to make sure you have what you need - before you need it.

Ride safe – Care Bear