First Time True Scare
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,332
Likes: 3,873
From: Upstate New York
I remember one time a dog ran out into the road to chase me. He got close enough to get his nose clipped by the engine guard. That discouraged him quickly. He went from "growl, bark growl" to "yip yip yip" in an instant.
Engine guards-they're not just for tipovers anymore.
Engine guards-they're not just for tipovers anymore.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 903
From: South Florida (Ft Myers area)
They might bite you, that's why. Pretty sure that's what I said already.
I have accelerated some and stuck my foot out at them if they seem too close, dogs are a bit different when actively chasing than animals trying to cross the road and getting startled.
A few here slowed or stopped and got bitten.
I have accelerated some and stuck my foot out at them if they seem too close, dogs are a bit different when actively chasing than animals trying to cross the road and getting startled.
A few here slowed or stopped and got bitten.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 903
From: South Florida (Ft Myers area)
P.S. You have 2 choices, haul *** and avoid or stop and hope revving and yelling can hold them off or haul *** around them, past them, etc. using swerving skills or pure speed to avoid.
Doing the stop and hope is the same as hoping a cager will do the right thing, you are putting your fate out of your control.
In the end, as long as the decision keeps you upright or otherwise unscathed, then it was good enough, next time a rev bomb may not work.
Doing the stop and hope is the same as hoping a cager will do the right thing, you are putting your fate out of your control.
In the end, as long as the decision keeps you upright or otherwise unscathed, then it was good enough, next time a rev bomb may not work.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 1,320
From: Good roads, cold beer
I was riding a week back on a country road where ditches were all tall weeds, a dog popped out at the last moment to the left, no time to even react as it was right there. Usually one can see them running across a yard towards you which gives some reaction time.
Thankfully his approach angle was off and I got by him.
Thread Starter
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Advanced
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 55
Likes: 75
From: North Carolina
P.S. You have 2 choices, haul *** and avoid or stop and hope revving and yelling can hold them off or haul *** around them, past them, etc. using swerving skills or pure speed to avoid.
Doing the stop and hope is the same as hoping a cager will do the right thing, you are putting your fate out of your control.
In the end, as long as the decision keeps you upright or otherwise unscathed, then it was good enough, next time a rev bomb may not work.
Doing the stop and hope is the same as hoping a cager will do the right thing, you are putting your fate out of your control.
In the end, as long as the decision keeps you upright or otherwise unscathed, then it was good enough, next time a rev bomb may not work.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 3,608
Likes: 3,886
From: CO
You came out unscathed and didn't panic, uncg48, great job!
I just lay on my horn as I swerve and speed by them... that usually scares them enough. In emergency stops... clutch, brake, rear brake, maintain control... those are the important things. I also try and see what's behind me too... I don't like to become a hood ornament because bikes stop a hell of a lot faster than cages! You can worry about shifting gears after you stop or you clear whatever you had to stop for.
I try and ride on the far right of my lane when I see large trucks coming my way so I can see what's behind them... and what's behind them can see me, hopefully. This doesn't always work out... DAMHIKT.
I just lay on my horn as I swerve and speed by them... that usually scares them enough. In emergency stops... clutch, brake, rear brake, maintain control... those are the important things. I also try and see what's behind me too... I don't like to become a hood ornament because bikes stop a hell of a lot faster than cages! You can worry about shifting gears after you stop or you clear whatever you had to stop for.
I try and ride on the far right of my lane when I see large trucks coming my way so I can see what's behind them... and what's behind them can see me, hopefully. This doesn't always work out... DAMHIKT.
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 4,542
Likes: 5,870
From: Syracuse NY
slw210 - that first video that has the guy riding through a gauntlet of mutts....WOW!
And this thread is interesting in that up here in central New York we've been remarking for the past two years that we don't see many loose dogs anymore. In my city or on back roads.
As a matter of fact, I see way more whitetail deer within my city's limits than dogs.
We also don't see a lot of kids on bicycles anymore.
And this thread is interesting in that up here in central New York we've been remarking for the past two years that we don't see many loose dogs anymore. In my city or on back roads.
As a matter of fact, I see way more whitetail deer within my city's limits than dogs.
We also don't see a lot of kids on bicycles anymore.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 3,494
From: Wake Forest, NC
Im sure everyone on here has experienced this or worse, but wanted to share my first time going through something that indeed got me a little shakey (afterwards).
I was on a normal ride home for lunch from work (live about 4 miles from work). About a mile away from home I meet a truck coming towards me in his lane driving normally. Im going about 60 and just as Im about to meet the truck, I notice a large dog chasing the truck in the middle of his lane (the truck was blocking the view of the dog). The dog sees me and I immediately realize that he now has his eyes set on me.
Ive read countless hard stop instructions and admittedly dont practice them as much as I should. But somehow these instincts take over and simultaneously hit rear brake, grab front brake and down shift from 5th to 2nd in a matter of every bit of 3 seconds with some slight rear tire skid. I still only managed to get down to about 25mph and the dog was at that point heading right towards me, so my last thought was to clutch it and rev at full throttle and he then turned away.
I say this because Im still a new rider, only been riding since November, but I truly believe that through the things Ive read on this forum and instructional videos Ive watched - I knew how to 1) not panic, 2) make a hard attempt at a stop and 3) keep the bike in my lane and not evasively move off the road.
I look back and am thankful not only to have avoided a crash but really for the experience as a whole honestly.
I was on a normal ride home for lunch from work (live about 4 miles from work). About a mile away from home I meet a truck coming towards me in his lane driving normally. Im going about 60 and just as Im about to meet the truck, I notice a large dog chasing the truck in the middle of his lane (the truck was blocking the view of the dog). The dog sees me and I immediately realize that he now has his eyes set on me.
Ive read countless hard stop instructions and admittedly dont practice them as much as I should. But somehow these instincts take over and simultaneously hit rear brake, grab front brake and down shift from 5th to 2nd in a matter of every bit of 3 seconds with some slight rear tire skid. I still only managed to get down to about 25mph and the dog was at that point heading right towards me, so my last thought was to clutch it and rev at full throttle and he then turned away.
I say this because Im still a new rider, only been riding since November, but I truly believe that through the things Ive read on this forum and instructional videos Ive watched - I knew how to 1) not panic, 2) make a hard attempt at a stop and 3) keep the bike in my lane and not evasively move off the road.
I look back and am thankful not only to have avoided a crash but really for the experience as a whole honestly.
