Raccon tail & why?
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Intermediate
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 35
Likes: 4
From: Battle Creek, Michigan
Raccon tail & why?
Hello all,
Does ANYONE know where the raccoon tail hanging from a sissy bar thing came from? My innate curiosity is killing me and I can't seem to find anything on it.
-Jack
Does ANYONE know where the raccoon tail hanging from a sissy bar thing came from? My innate curiosity is killing me and I can't seem to find anything on it.
-Jack
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Aug 9, 2019, 09:45 AM
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From: Syracuse,NY
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From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
Had my tonsils taken out in 1955 ... Stayed in the hospital several days due to complications ... Pneumonia ... Dad brought me a Coonskin hat and I wore it while watching Davy Crockett ( Fess Parker ) on television ... Simpler times :>)
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From: Driftless Area
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From: Idaho Panhandle
Couple of years ago I center punched a coyote. Blood and hair every where but only a small dent. I dragged the remains off the road and cut off the tail and tied it to my sissybar pack. Maybe I just wanted a reason for riders to ask me about the trip, even after thunderstorms had washed most of the blood and hair off. Did you check for raccoon guts on the front end?
But I knew it was silly, but if I had split a raccoon, I'd have put his tail on the pack as well for the rest of the day. Now if, by chance I had hit a cat or a dog, or a rabbit or a deer, I'd probably have forgone the tail deal. But the trauma of a good center punch and staying up had me looking for a small way to celebrate while still on the side of the road. 100 miles later, it had lost its value, even to me. But by then I was near home and the coyote tail lived in my garage for another 5 years or so. Made me smile when I noticed it. By the way, no one even asked me about the tail, and worse yet, no one started a thread until now so I could relive a small road adventure online. Thanks.
But I knew it was silly, but if I had split a raccoon, I'd have put his tail on the pack as well for the rest of the day. Now if, by chance I had hit a cat or a dog, or a rabbit or a deer, I'd probably have forgone the tail deal. But the trauma of a good center punch and staying up had me looking for a small way to celebrate while still on the side of the road. 100 miles later, it had lost its value, even to me. But by then I was near home and the coyote tail lived in my garage for another 5 years or so. Made me smile when I noticed it. By the way, no one even asked me about the tail, and worse yet, no one started a thread until now so I could relive a small road adventure online. Thanks.
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 53
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From: SoCal
Don't know... but have a story about the tail. My wife rides a Sportster. Mostly stock, but she added cosmetics to make it hers. This includes a "raccoon tail" hanging off the sissy bar. Anyway, she asked me to ride it to our indy mechanic for servicing recently. Had just traveled a few miles from home when a city motor patrol officer lit me up. I pulled into a parking lot, and he blocked me in from behind. I had no clue why he pulled me over, and so after I removed my helmet I asked "what's up officer?". He pointed to the tail and told me the tail was blocking the view of the license plate. I guess it does partially block the view when the bike is stopped. As he is checking my documents he asks me if this is my bike. I tell him... "dude, it has leather frills on the handle bars, a stuffed bear and a raccon tail. Does this look like a bike that I would ride"! LOL Then a patrol officer pulled in and asked his buddy if everything was OK. Motor officer only points and tells him... "raccoon tail", like there was a city ordinance they all knew about. Kind of funny actually. Anyway, officer did not ticket me, but had me remove the tail as he watched. Must have been a slow day for them?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: On a Lake, not far from the Gulf
Uncle Larry is on to something here. In the late 50's - early 60's lots of cars and bikes had racoon tails hanging off of them. Cars off the antenna. Daniel Boone was big on TV back then.