Problems cornering at night with cars coming towards me!

[BillyC]

I think all of the above are extremely valid points... here's my 2p worth:

• Slow down - can't stress this enough, don't ride faster than you can see, in any situation.
• Relax - if you're really stressed about your riding, it's not going to make it any easier!
• Clean your visor - any crap on it at night, makes seeing past oncoming cars very tedious.
• The SV headlights aren't that great... I believe they only come with 45w bulbs. The Philips 55w bulbs are highly recommended (ask Jonboy), and apparently make a massive difference.

[fizzwheel]

I have suffered from it to. I agree with Billyc thats all good and sound advice.

I've found another trick, not really recommended though but it has got me out of trouble a couple of times.

Its to follow at a safe distance a car, that way you can use the car headlights to see whats coming up ahead of you as well as relying on the headlights of your own bike.

If I'm alone, I won't ride fast at night, I tend to back off the gas a bit especially if I dont really know the road.

But even if I'm going slowly I find it hard to see where the road goes if cars are coming towards me (especially the numpties who have their full beams on!)

I actually really enjoy riding at night, especially on A roads. I do agree that the lights are crap on the SV so might try the 55w bulbs. What i try to do on bendy roads is spot headlights of on coming cars before you get to them. I find that as soon as you spot some headlight flare from an oncoming car ease off the gas and prepare, that way you will be going at the right speed for the situation before you are blinded by the lights. Also keep the kurb in mind and focus on the road ahead.

aint it strange how at night on the "good roads", you only ever get cars coming towards you upon entering "the best corner of the ride" ?

i have this problem too.

slow down doesnt really help me much either, as i "go blind" when im blinded by oncoming cars.

but i do find it helps to tilt my head to one side away from the car and fixate on something else instead.

like the kerb that runs paralell to the road and focus on keeping a correct distance from it.

As soon as you are aware of uncoming lights ascertain where the road bends and keep you eyes on that area of the road. As soon as you look towards the lights you have lost sight your bearings and then it becomes scary.
Just a thought, what are you like on right hand bends as the oncoming lights are shining right at you?
Just keep safe, it's bad enough without making it worse.

A couple of points...

1: How old is your visor? Any stone-chips or scratches are highlighted in the dark through the process of refraction of light. Just being clean is not enough. I'm not saying chuck it away, just keep it for daytime use.

2: As others suggest, slow down mate! Your eyes and brain take longer to adjust to low light situations, especially as dipped lights means your field of view is reduced too. A little less throttle gives you a lot more thinking time.

If you were walking around at night would you dim your torch and run straight towards someone else shining their torch in your eyes not knowing where you're stepping?
No, didn't think so.....

I'am with bikeageboy on this one.

Avoid looking directly at the oncoming lights.
If you do look at them your pupil will close up to restrict the amount of light going in to your eye to try to avoid dazzel. Once you pass the lights it will take time for the pupils to open up again.

Try this
Go into a room with no windows, with the lights on you can see fine (well I hope so anyway - if not get a cage).
Turn the light off. You can see practiaclly nothing.
Over the next 5 to 10 minuets your vision will improve as your eyes adjust to the low light levels
Turn the light on for a minuet or so
Turn it off. Back to square one, you can see practically nothing.

This is the "night vision" effect.
When riding or driving at night try to protect your night vision.
Avoid looking at bright lights, like headlights and all those Gatso flashes in your mirrors.

I find the best way to do this when in danger of being dazzeled is to look at the kerb/ road edge as far ahead as you can and concentrate on staying parallel to it. Afterall there is no point looking straight ahead, because your being dazzeled, otherwise none of this applies and just look where you want to go.

Well it works for me.

surely an anti dazzle visor would sell really well ?

Originally Posted by bikageboy

surely an anti dazzle visor would sell really well ?

what about those night driving glasses the yellow things (sold in most petrol stops or motorway services)