Wildgoose quote of the day. Jon Burdsall on riding at night:
As a young nearly immortal man I really enjoyed riding at night. After getting out of the service I moved down to Kansas and Missouri, and riding till sunup was a favorite pleasure. On the back roads with a full moon we often turned off our lights and rode by the light of the moon. the comments about losing night vision are real. I know I can’t see as sharply so I ride slower now at night, and don’t look forward to an all night ride like I used to.
Deer. For every one you see there are 4 or 5 you don’t see. My insurance man told me that most payoffs he sees are where deer run into the side of the vehicle. That’s been my personal experience in my truck and car. I’ve had several run into me that I didn’t see because I was watching the one in the headlights. So far (touch wood) the joy of taking down a buck while on a motorcycle has eluded me. I’m not disappointed. bird strikes are another thing altogether, as several have become crow feed after hitting me or the bike in daylight. That hurts, a lot. After nearly tagging a large cock pheasant in north dakota a couple of years ago it dawned on me that a 5 or 6 lb bird smacking me in the chest at 75mph would not be a good thing. Even if I was able to stay on the bike.
Bottom line, deer, elk, bear, all are hazards at night here in Montana. While I often find myself out in the toolies after dark, it just isn’t as enjoyable as it once was. Not fear, but realization that as I can’t sprint a 100 yard dash anymore, I do not see as well at night.
One other thing, folk in different part of the country, and different parts of the world, have varied riding conditions that may well change the rules for them, although I personally haven’t heard certain doom as a result of riding at night. (grin)
via Riding at night???.
Tiny Goose 