Which headlight to use for better visibility? Like for my bike hornet 160 the headlight throw is too less that most of the time you ride seems like headlight is not working at night. Please suggest something
Thanks PD for an awesome video. I had a few questions 1) do you recommend the yellow shaded glasses 2) it may be illegal (not sure) but everyone on a touring bike have some kind of auxiliary lights, we did not speak about it 3) the ideal speed for traveling at night (I know lot would depend on the skill of the rider) but some safe riding speed
I use yellow glasses and I feel its useful since the glare from headlight is reduced. But look for good quality ones, the cheaper glasses actually make it worse. Riding at a lesser speed at night is my natural reaction. Some riders prefer to ride hard at night. Its the risk they are willing to take and their skills.
The ideal driving speed will change considering the factors including road condition,no. of lanes, divider,street lights etc. I would say if the road is drivable at 100kmph in the daylight then you can easily drive at 70-75 kmph at night.
i've used yellow shaded polarized glasses for years, recently in a lighter shade, it really helps. On fully dark backroads though, I still have to use clear glasses as even light yellow makes it too dark, great help though for ludicrously bright LED headlight pickup trucks and toyota corollas.
You are the most logical tip provider on the Internet. Even after riding and driving for 20 years now, I keep learning new things from your videos. Keep up the great work 👍
If you can avoid it, dont ride at night. Going on a tour ; just ride from 6 to 4 . Riding in the morning is also fun but getting a little bit more sleep goes a long way. Take short breaks (15 mins tea X 2/ 30 min food X 2 ) . Make the most out of the 10 hour rides. Dont enjoy in the middle of the rides. Get to the destination for the day and enjoy there. Thats my point.
A video or post about auxiliary lighting please! During my last road trip in the Himalayas, the roads were completely dark and the headlight on the CBR was far from adequate. The different types (spot/flood/combo), where to install, how/when to use. A video on this please.
Among all the notifications.. I clicked on this.. Because this is something life saving and important.. Others can wait.. But the matter comes to Schumi Podcast.. It becomes much more precious.
I had an unfortunate crash around 6 pm, 2 weeks ago for the first time after riding for 8 years, due to an opposite motorist using high LED beam at a curve while i was riding down a hill. 🤷🏻♂️ Even though I stared away from the high beam and slowed down, but the temporary blindness due to the sudden flash affected my foot landing judgement. With Zero street lamps, what I though was leveled road turned out to be a depression and i crashed , injuring my ribcage. Ive always use clear visors with anti fog insert. So, yes, I completely agree with what you have suggested, Shumi Sir 🙏🏾👍🏼 I've also ordered for a pair of yellow shade blue light filter glasses. Let's see how that works out 👍🏼
@@venukrithish007 thank you for asking.. I've ordered for a pair to be made last week through an Optician's workshop . I'll find out and post it here 🙏🏾
Amazing content as usual team PD. I have a request to kindly put up the simplified on podcast platforms so that they may be enjoyed without engaging more than one sense. Cheers
I do carry Colin, to clean Helmet visor,Mirror,Headlight + Extra Auxiliary light, whenever I Ride to Goa at night But the problem on Old Mum-Goa highway is the 10-12 headlights installed on intercity buses
That was a lovely video. Could you do one on riding in fog? I really struggle with it. Especially when people coming from the other side think using high beam is a good idea to deal with fog.
Shumi brother one thing to remember, if you start early as 4 am for the ride that time is more risky , because the truck driver usually get tired and ask the helper to drive ,else both are in sleepy eyes , or in a hurry to reach destination in time , so better to start a hour later ,
He means to start early. 4 am in summer is different than in winter so according to we we need to plan. But the point you made is absolutely correct. Ride safe brother
Hi Shumi brother, I just had a question, what if I am going on a road with no street lights and there are bit much cars coming from opposite lane (no barrier in between lanes) what should I choose, low beam or high beam, I currently use high beam becoz in low beam, Nothing is visible, and u said in the earlier video that high beam dazzles the eyes of upcoming traffic, so am i doing it correctly or is it wrong ?
Coming to Pune from Shirdi at night with heavy rain and very very bad roads was the nightmare for me. Due to emergency I had to ride my bike on that freaking risky night.
I am the most at peace, more comfortable and more focused on the road at night rather than the day. Primarily because there are no new drivers/riders on the road and 90% are all experienced folks. Secondly, I have a lot of thoughts clouding my mind in the day compared to the old days when life had less responsibilities and life was all about riding fun. So while I don’t dazzle others I ride as much as I can in the night. Just a did a Virar-Jawahar-Nashik-Saputara-Chikli-Virar ride in 10 hours. Covered 528 kms in peace and happiness. 😎✌🏽
1. What about helmet colours ? Going one for a lighter shades rather than a black one ? Will that increase the chance of visibility ? Stickers on helmets are not a good idea, though. 2. Having a contrast luggage covers ? I have bungee cords from Rynox. They have reflective portions on them. They too have a slight role of increasing our visibility.
Always ride at 70% of your day time cruising speed - (If your normal cruising speed is 100 kmph during day, reduce it to 70kmph in the night, no matter how confident you are, how empty roads are)
Simple tip- don't ride at night. Riding is supposed to be fun, not terrifying. If you're late, just stay over for the night and leave the next day. Plan so that you always have extra time and money for such incidents. This way it won't be a surprise.
My moto for night riding is, just avoid it... I am 55, ride a Tiger 800 with my wife as a constant pillion and its just not worth riding after 6.30 putting you and your wife in dangers way.....
I used to look at the fog lines till one night the fog line disappeared and I almost fell down a cliff, while driving a car. I don't ride in the dark, because one night an idiot was driving with only his pilot lights and I tried to overtake thinking that the car must be really far, I almost ended up colliding with him head on while being on my Navi. You can prepare for night riding with all the best equipment in the world but you're always on mercy of other idiots driving on the road.
What I feel the food wat ve eat at night it depends somehow I mean ve should avoid any sort of carbohydrate foods like rice which contains starch, secondly ve need to plan accordingly if ve plan to ride at night I mean for a trip at least more than 500 odd kms then ve should keep our body specially our eyes n mind sleep 💤 third ve should not involve any sort of road rage meanwhile rather concentrate on our riding fourth ve should not unnecessary throttle and get indulge any sort of racing rather concentrate on our speed limits fifth most importantly ve should think and n only think about ride at that stipulated time no other thing should hover in our mind or else ve can encounter with any sorts of severe crash......🏁
So many bikes and scooters are riding with a head light without a brake light, its very hard to notice them with a LED bright light is on your face. So many of them dont care for fixing a broken brake light. After we stop going to a dealership for the service, and go to a local mechanic we only do the necessay works, brake lights dont come in that category it seems.
Night riding is ok until you're in a complete dark road in heavy rain. May God bless you in that scenario. Been there a couple of times and let me assure you, it's scary.
This covers everything i’ve done in all my motorcycle touring life in India. Finally i’ve pretty much stopped riding at night coz believe it or not, riding at night here in the US is far more dangerous than it was in India because of higher speeds.
Hi shumi, good to see covering topics like this. Can a topic on car suspension be covered. Checking existing suspension, when to change any aftermarket options
The Red light white light rule If you seeing Red lights, it's normal and you are following someone and speed accordingly. If see White, it's warning as it's coming towards you. And relative speed is more. If you just learn to adjust accordingly it'll be really better and safer
I always try to go behind a big vehicle which has roughly same speed as mine keeping safe breaking distance behind so that i can avoid direct head lights on my face.
Amazing and informative as always! Thank you Shumi and PD. Video suggestion :: Overtaking on a bike. How and when to overtake and what things to keep in mind.
These videos are really interesting n informative. Thought that you will also include using auxiliary light as a necessary item, but you're more accurate in suggesting in starting early
Reduce the speed by about 10 to 15% of what you would ride if it was day in that stretch. If it rains, reduce by another 15%. Follow the car moving ahead of you. Pay attention to the tail light movement for any speed breaker or pothole. Following the car also saves you from the dazzling headlamps.
Following the car is the worst idea. You will miss most of the potholes which the car can avoid by keeping it between the wheels. If it's raining a sudden break means tail ending the car even though you keep safe distance.
Can you guys do a Simplified on Solo rides. I do travel solo a lot and on every ride I feel that I should improvise on things I do and the equipment that I carry.
You are amazing as usual!! The other point is upgrading the lights of the bike, I own a TRK and the headlights are just okayish. Would like to hear more on what's the optimum way to do so and not overdo things.
Thanks for the lovely tips. Loved your idea about starting out before sunrise ! Quick question ... what do you recommend from the perspective of safety from the perspective of being robbed or mugged by thugs at night? Or what has your experience been so far on that front ... is it not that much of a thing to be worried about in general?
Thank you for these videos, everytime I learn something new. 1. Could you please also make a video on how to deal with being stuck behind huge vehicles, especially dumpers that simply pour gravel and debris on the road. It is utmost urge to somehow from left or right to escape from being behind them. It is usually very risky. I generally wait for some slow section like bumper and accelerate with everything. 2. Also, how to cross roads with double sided traffic. I feel fascinated by people taking wild leaps of faith and just crossing when there is running traffic from both sides. I simply cannot bring myself to double the risk of me making a mistake or other guy making a mistake. I'd rather drive till some intersection before making a full fledged u-turn at slow speed with the whole world watching me.
Hey, it’s a great set of information shared. I do have a set of visors for my helmet a clear and a tinted one, but I don’t carry the spare one having thoughts of it getting scratched in the luggage. Please let us know, how do you manage to carry your dark visor in luggage without it getting scratched and damaged? Please reply, and love for PD army from Ranchi
I wear glasses and the glare usually comes from all the scratches, smudge marks & dust present in the lens. keep it crystal clear and you wouldnt even notice that you are wearing one. Also, get a glare free coating on your next pair of glasses.
@@vinaysindhe have the highest end variant of Lenskart lenses and I always keep it clear. I carry microfiber cloth always but still glares. Now a days due to more of whitelight (LED)
What should be the ideal speeds during nights? For instance, I can easily ride a 650 at 100-120 during the day on a good 4 lane highway, but I assume that would not be the case during night? How do we assess that?
Do keep it at 75-80 when there are trucks and cars in way front of you so that you can get much time to analyse on how much to brake and give throttle. Even if the highways are empty keep it max at 100 not more than that.
At night you can see up to less distance ahead than at daytime. If any emergency occurs, there will be a delay in reacting accordingly. So it's better to ride at less speed. But, there is no such thing as ideal speed. Whatever you are comfortable with at the daytime, reduce that by 20kmph at night. I'm sure you will not face any problem. I cruise at 90-105 at daytime but during dark it's 60-80 for me. Accordingly, you decide at what speed you are comfortable with.
One more night riding tip from another video of you from powerdrift.... Use the high beam on the highway when there is no oncoming traffic. I do a lot of night riding. I work in medical equipment services, so it never goes as planned. I choose two wheels as my preferred transport so I have to deal with night riding every now and then. And the biggest improvement I have achieved by using a clean and clear visor with pinlock insert.
He told everything that I were screaming inside me and after listening to this i have tears in my eye 😭....Thank you sumi and that's why I love simplified videos...
Adding auxiliary lights to the motorcycle has been the best thing that's happened to my preference of riding in the night. There's a lot less stupid drivers out in the night coz they're afraid and honestly that makes riding in the night a tad bit easier I feel.
What I do: 1. Start early, finish early. 2. If riding in night, LOWER your speed. 80-90 is the range I keep the speeds in, which is compensated by lack of traffic and could lead in similar average speeds if ridden at 110 during the day. It also enables you to have better control and effective emergency braking. 3. If riding at night, don't drive if sleepy. Plan ahead for this, if not, pull over at a fuel station and have a nap after ensuring safe surroundings. 4. In unknown and isolated areas, tag along with another vehicle(s), possibly ahead of them. 5. Research your route if riding for the first time in that area, specially if riding during night.
There is one problem if we drive left when others are using high beam especially in two way with no street lights and no divider. You will not be able to see pedestrians walking on the left side, can accidentally hit them. It happened to me thrice, one time I actually hit the pedestrian. Luckily I was going in 10-15 Kmph. To avoid it, I generally follow 1) Going at low speed, continuously using DIM DIP (Passing [low-high beam]). This way I can see a pedestrian walking on the left side and slow down myself, will be on the left side. 2) Going at avg-high speed, I will try to go near to right instead of left side. The same pointer what you pointed, I will watch the divider lane and will be within my limit along with continuous passing. This way I will avoid hitting of any pedestrians on the left side walking in the blind. This technique helped me a lot. Hope it might be useful for others.
Thank u 4 this video.Already use this trik for 'NOT LOOK AT OPPOSITE SIDE VEHICAL HEADLIGHT'. It helps me lot. Last 1 month I am using a light yellow color Power glass for night ride. It helps me against led head lights as well as normal headlights.
Shumi..say..I am on a scooty..which btw is my mode of transport at present..but never did any limitation limit an enthusiast right..??so like i have seen before, steep turns at relatively higher speeds(for a scooty) is almost a no no..I have found, at speeds and angle that a bike would still be going, a scooty might simply lose grip and skid..especially if somthing suddenly comes up..and then we have to evade it..the kind of cornering capability that a motorcycle has..maybe a scooty does'nt have. So i still manage something sudden when i ride single..but with a pillion(we both are on the heavier side)..now that even on the same speed, we have a higher momentum, and the suspension is on the softer side, it becomes much much more difficult if suddenly something comes up. So my question is..how do i train myself or what changes do i make so that in such situations, i can evade with the same agility and precision as i would when i ride single..??
Two things I guess can be added in this video: 1. Aux lights. 2. Reflective riding jacket (something like construction workers use or cyclists use). I've installed a Maddog aux light which has significantly improved the speeds I can do at night due to better visibility.
I avoid night rides.. morning 5:30 - evening 6:00 is my time. At times when forced to ride at night I keep it in low beam and modulate my speed to be comfortable with the limited illumination. Avoid looking at oncoming high beam by looking diametrically down either lace reflectors or lines. The illumination at this position is constant and doesn’t stress your iris much
I feel its impossible to ride in low beam, if you wanted to hit higher speeds like 60+kph, because if something will appear instantly at night only high beam can make you view it and react to it if you speedy above 60+kph depending on the brakes. Also, visor down makes you blind sometimes when vehicles are approaching to you at high beam. So, I use visor up on single lane roads.
Shumi, what about yellow sunglasses. Generally its noted(i have exp it myself as well) that wearing yellow sunglasses at night reduces the intensity of high beams on ones eyes & allows us to see the sides of vehicle approaching us, which helps us to judge better. But do u think, yellow glasses will work on the white led lights that are fitted in nowadays vehicles. Would appreciate ur views on this topic, thks
I guess you missed out on using yellow lights . Factory fitted LED lights are by default white ( blueish ) and not that great when it comes to road surface clarity ( contrast ) . With the slightest amount of water or dust you're left almost blind . Yellowish or warm lights ( even a small one) are much better in this regards and a must for night riding from my experience
Please do a video on use of Aux lights & turn indicators blinker at night, I thought you to bring that up in the conversation in this video. I know there is that legal/illegal aspect of it and there is also a way around it may be you can put some light on this topic ✌️
I flash the other guy with high beam as long as I can, then flip the middle finger at him,and then when he passes, I switch to low beam and continue. Because even though I come in peace generally, in that moment I become absolutely ready for an eye for an aye scenario. Ha ha.
What we really need is some kind of coating on the visor to dampen high beams. Something like the protective film we use on car windshields..it won't help 100% but even if 50% that gives a good edge.
There are equal number of idiots in night as in the day. So it's more dangerous to ride in night. No matter what, I'll never start my engine in night. Life is precious 😎 Period.
I sometimes switch on my hazards to let the other road users know/understand my area of coverage. I don't know if it is a good practice but I feel that on Indian roads and at night it is wise to be as cautious and as well equipped as possible.
I have a hazard flash module that I use only on highways in an appropriate mode without confusing the traffic with a left or right signal cause you are less likely to bump in something that's flashing right? also it adds more visibility in weather too
Please talk about proper dressing which would be comfortable under the riding gears.. for me it is quite uncomfortable to be on the normal clothing inside gears, after riding for some hours..
Any tips for riding in rainy nights cause whatever I used for illumination it just disappear due to combinations of black turmaic road & light rain . Don't tell me to stop ride at night 😂
Pedestrians crossing the road are a huge risk too in the night. They are barely visible, dart out in front of your motorcycle out of nowhere and misjudge the speed of modern motorcycles.
To me, first fundamental point at night should be, bring the average speed down by at least 20 kmph than in daylight. Makes things lot easier to deal with. Others are on point.
Any reason why your tips didn't include increasing the ability of your bike to light up the road ahead - either by way of upgrading the stock headlight or by adding on auxiliary lights?
Please enshrine us about the colour of the headlights to be used, white led or halogen to see poth holes better, which are a very common sight in single lanes. Also the ideal distance a headlamp shd illuminate to react in ideal human conditions.
Hi team PD, please make a video about things to consider before buying a second hand bike (no matter how big or small it is) and also once we get it what all servicing & paper work is needed to be done
I do flash a couple of times then start honking. Generally car owners get it but scooter and bike owners doesn't have a clue that they can switch to a lower beam.
