When driving at night, in the fog, rain, or snow, it’s important to stay visible. Because a motorcycle takes up less space than a car, other drivers may find it difficult to see you. You can prevent accidents by increasing the visibility of your motorcycle so that automobiles and trucks are aware to keep their distance. Make yourself recognizable on and off the road by using these suggestions.
Wear Visible Clothing Riding Equipment
On your bike, you have a lot of discretion over what you wear. The conventional black leather riding jacket is a favorite among most people, but wearing dark hues won’t make you stand out on the road. Wear a brightly colored vest, jacket, pair of leggings, or helmet to draw attention to yourself at night because reflective, neon colors tend to stand out the most. You can also add bright, reflective tape on your current clothes and jacket to help them reflect more light if you don’t feel like changing your entire wardrobe. Drivers have plenty of time to move out of the path since the tape effectively captures light from moving vehicles.
Change Your Bike’s Appearance
If you haven’t purchased a motorcycle yet, choose for one with vivid colors to improve visibility. Furthermore, exposed metal might aid in light reflection on the road. Finding a motorcycle with a vibrant color, though, might be challenging. Many versions come in basic hues that don’t precisely illuminate the road. If you want to improve your chances of being seen on the road, you can always apply a fresh coat of paint on your current bike. Reflective tape can be applied to the sides and back of your motorcycle for a quick fix.
Online shoppers can purchase reflective tape and apply it themselves. It’s possible that the tape will occasionally come off, so be ready to replace it as necessary. Visit your neighborhood mechanic for further suggestions, and discuss ways to improve visibility with them.
Your Headlight Upgrade
You don’t have to be content with the motorcycle’s stock headlight. In order to improve their visibility on and off the road, many riders may install LED lights or a headlight modulator. While modulators employ pulsating lights to attract other drivers’ attention, LED or xenon lights will boost the quantity of light that is coming from your motorcycle.
However, some states forbid these add-ons because they can impair other drivers’ visibility. Almost every state has headlight-related laws on the books. Most of the time, you may need to turn down your headlights when approaching a car to avoid unintentionally blinding the other driver. To learn what is permitted on the road, check your state’s headlight regulations.
Avert dark areas
Not every road is made equally. Many lack lights to illuminate the route. When you’ve finished all the adjustments to your bike, it might be time to drive more slowly. Ride carefully when there is poor visibility, especially on back roads, in places with dense vegetation, and in off-road situations where it’s just you and the outdoors. Try to schedule your journey to avoid these regions, or even better, ride when it’s still light outside.
Maintain Contact
If you’re concerned about remaining safe in the dark, you should prepare a backup strategy in case things go south. Use a motorcycle Bluetooth headset to stay connected while riding. With the headset, you can make and take calls while you’re riding, allowing you to swiftly contact roadside help or your loved ones to let them know where you are and your estimated arrival time.
Use speakers in your motorbike helmet that provide crystal-clear audio so you can hear everything the person is saying even while you’re moving quickly. Look for noise-cancelling features that can assist block out the excessive noise since some motorcycles can be really loud.
With your helmet on, you should be able to make and receive calls. For a comfortable, secure ride, the audio system needs to fit inside your helmet. Use a Bluetooth motorbike helmet if your helmet is incompatible with this technology.
Conclusion
On the trip, having someone else in your ear will provide you some much-needed tranquility. You can always make a call for assistance while keeping both hands on the handlebars. Consider these suggestions as you get ready to ride in low light.
