Who likes to ride at night? - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

rgoers · 03-18-2004, 11:34 AM

I've read lots of posts, and most folks go on about riding "all day", but few ever mention night riding. I happen to really like riding at night. There are advantages; you know when other sleds are around, there's usually less wind, trails are less crowded, and there's something thrilling about it that I can't explain.

Any others out there like night riding?

polarisman_04 · 03-18-2004, 12:29 PM

Night time is the time to ride. I dont ride so fast at night but I like it alot better then riding during the day. You can see other sledders better and its just cooler and trails are more fun to ride. The only disadvantage I can think of of riding at night, and yes it has happened is breaking down. Whether it be a spark plug, running out of gas or maybe tearing out a part. If you dont have a flashlight and a cell phone, or if your riding alone.. your screwed.

PolarisINDY500 · 03-18-2004, 12:52 PM

i prefer to ride at night....but dont get me wrong, daytime riding is fun as well

the way i ride, i like to see whats ahead of me. and at night you can do that b/c the lights shine thru the trees. plus you can see the whoops and bumps better than durring the day. b/c durring the day sometimes everything looks the same.

but there are the disadvantages like polarisman04 said. theres the break downs and not having other riders around, where as durring the day usually thats not the case.

however, the night gets really cold sometimes. and thats one thing that can get to me. but ive learned to dress warmer for what riding ill be doing. plus i plan on investing in a new helmet, the one w/ either the electronic defroster, or the one that looks like the air plain pilot helmet.

michael9688 · 03-18-2004, 01:17 PM

i ride at night during the week. sometimes from 6 till 12:00. then all the mobils shut down

its def. a thrill

rgoers · 03-18-2004, 01:27 PM

Good points... Colder? Yes. But more fun.

Breakdowns would be bad. I don't think I consider riding any distance at night without a companion on another sled.

I've got to admit that day riding was a plus last weekend. First time out after replacing the track on my 440 Panther. My son was riding it (he lets me ride the ZL550, isn't that nice of him?) and he kept complaining the track was hitting the tunnels protector strips. So, we stopped and tightened the track... went a little farther, and stopped again to tighten the track. We did that three times. Daylight was nice to have in that case!!!

Then again, I wouldn't have taken it out at night - riding it for the first time after such a learge repair. New tracks stretch...

I do keep extra plugs, belts, some tools, work gloves, tow strap, gas siphon, LED flashlight (they'll burn forever on a set of batteries!) GPS, and a cell phone... just in case.

michael9688 · 03-18-2004, 01:44 PM

i usualy have 3 more sleds and stay near main roads

G-ForceJunkie · 03-18-2004, 04:45 PM

I ride at night fairly often - but I enjoy daytime riding much more - no worries about getting stranded, and you can see a lot better = more agressive riding

michael9688 · 03-18-2004, 04:56 PM

i disagree. at night you can see the headlights way before you could see the sled in daylight

catwoman600 · 03-18-2004, 05:28 PM

Love to ride at night.Can see other sledders better.It seems more peaceful at night.Deep woods have such a neat look at night.Prefer it over daytime(except when it is snowing really hard)

chase9119 · 03-18-2004, 08:54 PM

Depends on the area. I try to get off the trail by 4pm. Not because the dark scares me, because happy hour starts at 4pm. I've seen some scary crap when dusk comes, and even if you can see headlights in the dark, doesn't mean they (the other sled) doesn't see 2 of you and aim for the middle.
I've seen people slam drinks, burp & put the helmet on backwards, laugh it off and go fire up the sled... Only thing you can do about it, is grab some buddies and tackle the drunk ass to the ground and take his/her keys & beat him/her to a non-walking criple.... But there are always the people who stand back and say, "OMG he's wasted" and they let the F-er leave.... Thats the guy thats gonna kill me/you.
Out in the boondocks, I'll night ride, it is quite the rush. But if there is less then 10 miles of trails from town to town, I wont do it, for fear of the indestructable drunk guy/girl running me down.

michael9688 · 03-18-2004, 11:47 PM

im a live for the moment type of guy. Maybe its because im young. i blieve when the man upstairs calls ur number you are done. weather it be on a sled in a vehicle or just slipping on some ice. You are gonna go. so have fun doing it

**smallengineguy** · 03-19-2004, 04:44 AM

I like to ride at night also, but try to stay local. There's a lot of trails within 5 mi. of my home, so if I break down, it's not far to walk back if I have to, then go get the sled when it's light out. But it is fun to ride the woods at night, a whole new style of riding!

polarisman_04 · 03-19-2004, 09:37 AM

I have even goone long trips at night, 150-200 miles. Its more peaceful and better riding. I usually meet the groomers on the trails and I think it is much better visability becuase during the day sometimes its hard to see becuase everything looks the same. At night the snow stands out becuase its dark and the snow is bright white so its more clearer when there is a bump, etc. I put a high halogen light on my sled which makes a blue effect for the light and has more intensity and produces more light to have a higher distance or visability at night. It was a excellent investment.

rgoers · 03-19-2004, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by polarisman_04
... I put a high halogen light on my sled which makes a blue effect for the light and has more intensity and produces more light to have a higher distance or visability at night. It was a excellent investment.

Polarisman - did you up the wattage when you did the lamp replacement?

I have 2 lamps sitting in the closet - still trying to decide whether or not to use them. I bought up a few watts from stock, and others have said they "think" it might cause problems with my electrical system. So, I've waited to put them in. Stock was 55/65 watts, my new lamps are 85/100 watts. Real experience would help me decide...

polarisman_04 · 03-19-2004, 12:41 PM

Yes I up'd the wattage, it was a stock wattage of 55/65 and I actually moved up to a 85/100, the same thing you are doing. What sled are you putting it on? I have had no trouble with the electrical system and it has been on there for two years. I don't forsee you having any trouble. It was a easy installation and I didnt see any maximum outage for the electrical system in my handbook. I know there is only a certain output but I do not run much off my electrical system rather then a non-stock headlight. I do not have electric start, or electric visor. Good Luck, let us know how it turns out.

rgoers · 03-19-2004, 12:50 PM

It's a 440 Panther - w/ electric start. Has standard on/off hand & thumb warmers, but nothing else that uses the electrical system. I was thinking of going to an LED tail light to take some load off the system.

The lights on this sled have never been very bright at night. They're adjusted okay, just don't put out much light... at least not like my ZL550! :-)

I think I'll give the new lamp a try this weekend.

Thanks!

Cazwell · 03-19-2004, 11:39 PM

I'm not a big fan of riding at night, here there really isn't much of a trail, there is one but its pathetic and quite a ways from my house. There are so many fences and rocks and other obstructions here i almost never ride at night, and i agree with g force, you can ride more aggressive in the daylight and take pictures.

skidoo_magoo · 03-20-2004, 12:47 PM

i like night rides better too. the only bad thing is it's colder at night. the one time my club went to quebec it got down to
-60 at night. at least you could see if there was another sled on the otherside of a turn (though you rarely meet sleds in trails up there).

G-ForceJunkie · 03-20-2004, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by michael9688
i disagree. at night you can see the headlights way before you could see the sled in daylight

what about trees? ice huts? open water?

michael9688 · 03-20-2004, 09:13 PM

welp if ya can see trees thats a problem. open water shines like a mother and ice hust shouldnt be on trails