[BlackBeauty]

So - how many of you continue to commute when it gets dark early? I was partly surprised that most of the guys at the dealer STOP riding to work at this time of year. They are all experienced - so, is this a) they don't feel the urge to ride as often as possible, b) have enough experience to know it is not fun to commute in the dark or c) all of the above!!

I felt better when they all proclaimed their hatred for splitting lanes in the dark.

I still try and ride to work 3 times a week. I do what I can to minimise the risks when riding home in the dark - reflective gear, I turned the indicators into running lights etc.

Take care - BB

 

[ruscook]

BB I ride 7 days a week all year round. I never though of commuting in the dark as an issue. Our bright lights make us more visible, it's the animals on the open road that scare me more in the dark ;-)

Russ

 

[pushr0d]

With all the critters (primarily deer, raccoon and 'possums) roaming around, and all the old folks with no night vision, I'm reluctant to drive my truck in the dark, let alone ride the bike!

And that's in town! Out into the country? Fugeddaboutit!

 

[DrTriumph]

I drive my bike lots in the dark during the summer, at this time of year with the snow and gravel on the roads, I just put my sweet blue '05 away in the shed with a cover on her. That way in spring when I bring her back out she does not have extra road rash. If I had a regular garage there are days I would ride in the winter but few and far between.

Riding in the dark is fun to me.. just watch for the extra reflectors (animal eyes) and be ready to slow.

 

[Alsworld]

I ride back and forth to work daily. Sometimes it's dark going and coming, other times riding into a sunrise and later a sunset depending on my work hours.

I wear an ICON reflective vest (work on a Military installation), but have adjusted my headlights to fine tune the best "night vision" without blinding the cagers. I must admit that along my commute, deer are not an issue. Smaller nocturnal animals come out later at night.

I also like riding at night, but if out where the animals can get me on the bike, I ride very defensively and look for those glowing eyes like descibed above.

 

[rash_powder]

Around here, it is usually to bloody cold to ride this time of year. However, of late we have been having unusually warm Decembers, with the usual January and Februaray.

The biggest danger here to anyone (motorbike or otherwise) on the roads out of town are the deer. They seem to run toward the light then freeze and stare into it when they get there.

There are brave people here, though, who brave the snow, sand, and ice. A fellow in the Patriot Guard rode his Harley w/ sidecar from Detroit Lakes MN. I have also read about a fellow in Minneapolis who rides a Ural w/ sidecar ALL winter long.

Dark is not as dangerous as the things that come out in it.

 

[ruscook]

On 2006-12-13 15:19, ruscook wrote:
BB I ride 7 days a week all year round. I never though of commuting in the dark as an issue. Our bright lights make us more visible, it's the animals on the open road that scare me more in the dark ;-)

I should have mentioned for the last 11yrs I've gone 50kms east directly into the sun each morning and 50km west directly into the sun each evening. If it's dark I consider it a bonus hence, why I've never thought about it in a bad way. It's one of the problems living on the east coast of a continent/island that west coasters don't have

Russ

 

[Thefallenone]

For those of you who can and do BRAVO. I find it really hard to see on narrow roads and get blinded by the oncoming headlights and no I don't look at them lol.. The weather her in South West England has been rubbish and I haven't ridden my bike for weeks.

 

[NinjaRAT]

I'm currently not commuting on the bike, but only because I'm still new to this state (move to GA from MI about two months ago), and my new jobs main route to work is heavily travelled with a ton of construction. I don't feel comfortable sitting in creeping traffic with folks half asleep around me.

However, once the construction is finished, I plan on commuting via two wheels every chance I get. But that probably won't happen until around daylight savings switch.

Sucks too, because my primary cage is a Wrangler that just drinks gas.

 

[AaronB]

One of my trips is in the dark. Usually the morning. Easy ride, up the Potomic River into Washington DC. 10 mile trip door to door.

That's why I can't understand why people don't like the lights on the new Sprint. I had both bikes('01 and '05)and my commute became a new experiance in travel when the new bike was bought. It changed everything. I could actually see far in front of me.

I just don't get that one...... :???:

 

[Alsworld]

Triumphite,

I also like the lights, once I adjusted them a tad higher. I found on mine, it was very easy to over drive the lights looking forward at anything above 50 mph. Side to side mine were great. I adjusted the hi/low attitude and now it's much better. It took me a few tries on the road to get them just right. Maybe that is some of the issues people have? I don't scream around sharp turns at night, so I'm am overall pleased as well. Maybe if I were a peg dragger or more aggressive rider I could share the pain.

Suspension setting changes between our bikes may have had mine shooting low when new, so adjustment was easy. I wonder for those who complain about the side to side vision have adjusted theirs? The ST lights can be adjust vertically and horizontally.

Just some thoughts on why some people don't care for the lights.

 

[NikosR]

I commute on the bike maybe half days of the week these days, depending on what the weatherman predicts. I have to return home in the dark. It's a 40km trip, 30km on a lit highway, no problem, but the rest is in a very dark, narrow and twisty road going through fields.

I find I'm uncomfortable with the lights (though not worse than any other bike I've had). Low beam is OK, but the high beam thrown by the middle projector I find useless. I might need to adjust the right (pavement side) low beam to shoot somewhat higher to compensate, but then I'm afraid I'll annoy too many car drivers.

Main problem is when front suspension compresses when braking into bends. The ST's fork soft initial travel doesn't help much either.

BTW, I was impressed when I rode together with a buddy on a VFR the other day. Great lights this VFR. Only thing I'm envious of that bike.

[ This message was edited by: NikosR on 2006-12-15 01:05 ]

 

[dickturpin]

I ride most days of the week to work in the dark on my 02/03 ST. Saturday I trade the old girl in after 27500 miles of trouble free riding. The odd track day and RAT ride outs. Collect the 07 Sprint at the same time. If she's half the bike the old sprint was then its going to be a great experience light or dark. I have already offered the local bar maid the ride of her life :razz:

 

[MrMoped]

Nice one ruscook

It's one of the problems living on the east coast of a continent/island that west coasters don't have

The biggest problem we have on the west coast is which spot at the beach to sit on and have a glass of red while watching the Indian ocean gobble up the sun - real hardship material :-g

seriously though - too many mongrel kangaroos on the roads once you leave the relative haven of suburbia.

 

[Nelson955]

I've been using the bike to commute all year round for years. I worked a variety of shifts for a long time, so it wasn't unusual to find myself riding in the dark long after winter to start at 6am. Working nights in the winter would mean a ride in the dark both to and from work. Luckily we don't have to worry about animals in the UK as much as the riders in the US and Canada.

I now work a regular day, starting at 8am, finishing at 4pm. It's getting light as I ride, and starting to get dark as I ride home. And with the 21st December only a few days away, at least I know that situation will change soon

 

[DaveM]

I havent commuted for at least 16 years but I used to ride in the darl all the time, I ran over a big varpet snake once.

No big deal, I never heard of anyone not riding 'cos it was dark. :???:

Davem

 

[DaveM]

That was supposed to be Carpet snake (python).

However riding in rural areas at night in Australia definitely carries the risk of hitting a Roo which could really spoil your ride.

Davem

 

[11857]

I commute 80km return most days, all weather, all year, with only occasional need to use the 4 wheeler. And I enjoy everyday.

I love the winter fog, heavy frosts and heated hand grips. I love the pissing down rain, except for when it's rained for a few days consecutively and I can't get across the paddock on a road bike. The heat, well, it gets pretty bloody hot here in summer with regular 40+C and high humidity and that can get uncomfortable. Lots of bugs as well.

The must-do for my Sprint was to upgrade the lights for night-riding as the standard beam was woeful.

The main thing that riding in all conditions has taught me is to be smooth.

Rod

 

[Condolini]

I don't commute on the bike when the temps get below 50, at this time of year it would be dark both directions and black ice is bad enough in the cage! Gearing up to ride twice a day takes some of the fun out of it too.

Predictions are for mid-40s today, I riding to the dealer for the recall work, then taking the looooong way home. I probably won't get another chance to ride before New Years day.

 

[ruscook]

On 2006-12-15 06:41, TripleTreat wrote:

The must-do for my Sprint was to upgrade the lights for night-riding as the standard beam was woeful.

The main thing that riding in all conditions has taught me is to be smooth.

Rod what did you do to your lights?

Where do you commute? Not waterfall way every day

Russ