[RiderinIL]

I hadn't been out on the bike for a week, so I went for an hour ride this morning. As I straightened up out of a curve, a grey squirrel darted out in front of me. I didn't try to play the zig-zag dance with him and continued straight ahead. He zigged right, then zagged left into my front tire and i continued on.

I've been quizzing my -soon to be driving- daughter on what to do in different situations. In a car I believe its best to go straight instead of trying to swerve to miss the critter. This got me to thinking... I dont have alot of street bike experience.

Does the same hold true on a bike?
Is it best to get on the brakes and minimize the impact vs trying to out manuver an animal?
Would the front tire have washed out of I'd still been on the curve?

 

[Arn Butt Bill]

If you made it home in one piece, you did it right. Don't overthink it; trust your reflexes and insticts.


Requiem to a Road Kill
By Arn Butt Bill

Pre-flight checks performed, tank full, caffeine and granola consumed, I emerge into the inky-black murkiness which is the Florida back-country.
I admire the way the four eyes of the Goldwing scorch through the vagueness of the pre-dawn shadow world. The stark contrast between what’s seen and unseen remind the pilot to use caution; but there is that slightly reckless and wanton feeling of absolute freedom that begs to be released --- to run full-goose, wide open into enveloping shroud of darkness. Green/black/blue images seem to rush by on both sides as if they, not I, are the ones moving.
There are no cars on U.S. 27 at oh-dark-thirty. Barely glimpsed by peripheral vision, I imagine that there are sets of eyes looking out at me from the ominous backdrop; this is the Wild Land, populated by primitive things that crawl, hop, and slither. I am here by their permission and I relish the opportunity to escape from the constraining boundaries of Humanity.
I set the auto-pilot to warp 8 or so, tune in an Alan Jackson hit, and relax into the cocoon created by Diamond and Cee Bailey. I seem to float in a private universe which is intensely HERE AND NOW. I am immersed in the Zen experience where Man and Machine are One; the very definition of the age-old expression, “If I had to explain it, you wouldn’t understand.”
Then, very suddenly, the mysterious eyes are there, to the side of me, in front of me, under me. Then, they are gone forever.
One must consider that the lesser species of our planet are ill-equipped to contend with a massive beast such as the Goldwing; Mother Evolution has not allowed them to catch up yet. In this classic display of survival of the fittest, my noble steed has emerged victorious; one of God’s creatures lay dead, simultaneously filling and creating a void in the great circle of life.
“Ashes to ashes; dust to dust.”
What inspired or provoked young Peter Rabbit to dash out into the unknown? What could possibly motivate the fluffy quadruped to take that leap? Was he hungry? Was a predator chasing him? In my imagination I see the older rabbits chiding the young rodent: “Go ahead and run, Peter; are you a Jack-Rabbit or a Bunny?” Then in some rite of passage, Peter takes his chance but fails.
Alas, Peter is a Cottontail no more. My Kury peg and Gore-Tex boot hardly bore witness to the event. I alone must tell this tail.

 

[Palpatine]

When I teach I always maintain that there are two type of animals - squishable and non-squishable. It is never worth your life to try to swerve and end up paying for it. Even deer size animals often only create severe damage, but if you must always swerve to the right - you may have missed that oncoming car or truck in your myoptic reaction.

 

[Roadking522]

If you made it home in one piece, you did it right. Don't overthink it; trust your reflexes and insticts.


Requiem to a Road Kill
By Arn Butt Bill

Pre-flight checks performed, tank full, caffeine and granola consumed, I emerge into the inky-black murkiness which is the Florida back-country.
I admire the way the four eyes of the Goldwing scorch through the vagueness of the pre-dawn shadow world. The stark contrast between what’s seen and unseen remind the pilot to use caution; but there is that slightly reckless and wanton feeling of absolute freedom that begs to be released --- to run full-goose, wide open into enveloping shroud of darkness. Green/black/blue images seem to rush by on both sides as if they, not I, are the ones moving.
There are no cars on U.S. 27 at oh-dark-thirty. Barely glimpsed by peripheral vision, I imagine that there are sets of eyes looking out at me from the ominous backdrop; this is the Wild Land, populated by primitive things that crawl, hop, and slither. I am here by their permission and I relish the opportunity to escape from the constraining boundaries of Humanity.
I set the auto-pilot to warp 8 or so, tune in an Alan Jackson hit, and relax into the cocoon created by Diamond and Cee Bailey. I seem to float in a private universe which is intensely HERE AND NOW. I am immersed in the Zen experience where Man and Machine are One; the very definition of the age-old expression, “If I had to explain it, you wouldn’t understand.”
Then, very suddenly, the mysterious eyes are there, to the side of me, in front of me, under me. Then, they are gone forever.
One must consider that the lesser species of our planet are ill-equipped to contend with a massive beast such as the Goldwing; Mother Evolution has not allowed them to catch up yet. In this classic display of survival of the fittest, my noble steed has emerged victorious; one of God’s creatures lay dead, simultaneously filling and creating a void in the great circle of life.
“Ashes to ashes; dust to dust.”
What inspired or provoked young Peter Rabbit to dash out into the unknown? What could possibly motivate the fluffy quadruped to take that leap? Was he hungry? Was a predator chasing him? In my imagination I see the older rabbits chiding the young rodent: “Go ahead and run, Peter; are you a Jack-Rabbit or a Bunny?” Then in some rite of passage, Peter takes his chance but fails.
Alas, Peter is a Cottontail no more. My Kury peg and Gore-Tex boot hardly bore witness to the event. I alone must tell this tail.

Profound

 

[tjshelton]

Like Arn Butt Bill said, don't over analyze. That being said...

Like any road hazard, you want to try to hit it when you are straight up and easy (not hitting the brakes or the gas). If you see the critter, and have enough time to think things through, try to slow down and be going in a straight path. This isn't always doable, but don't focus on the critter, keep looking where you want to go, minimize changes to your bikes speed and direction of travel, and worry about the poor little fluffy's soul later. Really small animals, like mice, are not much of a problem. Small animals in the gopher to jack-rabbit size can create enough of a slick to cause you to loose traction and they can get stuck in your fenders. Medium and larger sized critters (coyotes to deer to elephants) can be a problem, so (if you can't avoid it) aim for the soft part and try to minimize the damage to yourself (your bike is probably going to be totalled).

I've also noticed that predators (wolves, bears, coyotes) seem to be smart enough to get out of your way. Prey (deer, rabbits) seem to do the dumbest things.

 

[pronomian]

Squirrels are the epitome of indecisiveness.

Mike

 

[zaT111]

Well said everyone :!:

 

[RiderinIL]

...and they can get stuck in your fenders.

:shock: Yikes, I hadn't thought about that happening.

Thanks for the responses.

 

[ElBando]

I usually lower my head and go right underneath elephants.

 

[KamiSue]

I've heard via anecdotal evidence that if you get an elephant caught in your front fender it can induce a wobble :roll:

 

[thekid]

Two plans:

- if the animal is small enough to fit on a dinner plate, brake hard, release just before impact, stay straight
- if a large animal, maximum braking, try to steer around it, and as mentioned, usually you want to go right. A great place for ABS, maximum braking and you will be able to steer without fear of locking up.

 

[Tom Finch]

A bunch of good answers.

If you are in a turn and don't have ABS, be prepared to release the brakes momentarily in case your front wheel stops turning and starts skidding on a small animal. It won't likely last long anyway, but could last long enough to cause you to low side.

Same is true if you hit a license plate of For-Sale sign in a turn with your brakes on in a non ABS bike.

The wheel can stop turning instantly and slide along on the sheet of what ever it is until you release the brake. One of the very good reasons to have ABS.

 

[Arn Butt Bill]

Squirrels are the epitome of indecisiveness.

Mike

I was going to agree but changed my mind; now I'm not sure...

 

[J-mac]

Squirrels: Gods little speed bumps.


J-mac's rules for mammals or reptiles in the road:

If it's big enough for two meals or less.........hit it. If it's more than two meals, avoid it :wink:

 

[Sassy]

Well... the other day I nailed a squirrel, frog, and a snake.... ahh well... I didn't mean to.....

Melissa

 

[J-mac]

Well... the other day I nailed a squirrel, frog, and a snake.... ahh well... I didn't mean to.....

Melissa

was that in one shot, or did you have to back up :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Jims Silver]

Been donwn south latey, turtles and armadilos.
Bump Bump

 

[Sassy]

J-mack..... All on the way to Dawg's for new tires.... I just couldn't win that day...

Melissa

PS David teases me now everytime he see's a squirrel....

 

[ElBando]

We all know that where your eyes look that's where the bike goes, right. Saw a dead raccoon the other day, looked right at it, ran right over it. Hope I don't see an open manhole .

 

[RiderinIL]

Well... the other day I nailed a squirrel, frog, and a snake.... ahh well... I didn't mean to.....

Melissa

was that in one shot, or did you have to back up :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: