How Big a Varmint ....
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 57
From: PA
So, you saw him 50 yards (150 feet) in front of you on a ramp and you didn't have time to slow down or to maneuver enough to miss him?? You must have been flying like a bat outta hell.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 21,732
Likes: 17,569
From: Driftless Area
My experience so far:
-Several woodchucks, they are prone to changing direction suddenly, but slow. They have a tendency to gut themselves all over your foot and down the side of your bike.
-O'possum, thump, thump.
-Raccoon, loose skin, kinda slippery.
-Prairie Dog, hardly could tell I got him, but my wife riding her bike behind me says I did.
-Birds, like getting punched.
-Deer, OW.....followed by a string of cuss words, some of which were invented on the spot.
-And one sheet of 4X8 plywood, flying lazily through the air after lifting off the back of a flatbed truck. Cut it right in half (Note: Electra-Glides make lousy saws). Driver of the truck was hurting more than me when I caught up to him.
-Several woodchucks, they are prone to changing direction suddenly, but slow. They have a tendency to gut themselves all over your foot and down the side of your bike.
-O'possum, thump, thump.
-Raccoon, loose skin, kinda slippery.
-Prairie Dog, hardly could tell I got him, but my wife riding her bike behind me says I did.
-Birds, like getting punched.
-Deer, OW.....followed by a string of cuss words, some of which were invented on the spot.
-And one sheet of 4X8 plywood, flying lazily through the air after lifting off the back of a flatbed truck. Cut it right in half (Note: Electra-Glides make lousy saws). Driver of the truck was hurting more than me when I caught up to him.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 5,105
Likes: 16
From: Blaine, WA
There are some animals which slowing or stopping might be a bad idea - bears definitely fall into this category. Last summer I came around a corner and sitting right there out in the open by the side of the road was a sizable mountain lion - I could have stopped but not really the best idea IMO. It wasn't moving so I decided to gun it and pass in the opposite lane, just about that time it decided to run to the other side of the road - right where I was going. I tapped the brakes and swerved a bit, missed the body but I felt the front tire hit its tail, looked back in the mirror and the cat was gone, probably in the woods licking its tail.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 406
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh
Deer ----- thems personal now. Lost a friend and had another crippled by those damn long-legged speed-beef. These days I get every tag I can and donate the meat to a food bank.
Now to your question. I near-crashed once on something that "ran" in front of me; turned out to be medium sized box turtle say 4 inches "front to back" on the shell. He/she caught me in a turn well leaned over and at speed on an XL. Didn't go down but it sure as hell solved any constipation problems I had.
On the other extreme I hit a huge-assed groundhog (say 20 pounds) with a FLH but I saw him and managed to get dead straight. Lifted me off my seat and did some fender damage but I didn't stop the ride any earlier than planned. Did have to put up with my riding buddy singing "Great, green gobs of greasy, grimy, gopher guts," around me for the next month though.
Now to your question. I near-crashed once on something that "ran" in front of me; turned out to be medium sized box turtle say 4 inches "front to back" on the shell. He/she caught me in a turn well leaned over and at speed on an XL. Didn't go down but it sure as hell solved any constipation problems I had.
On the other extreme I hit a huge-assed groundhog (say 20 pounds) with a FLH but I saw him and managed to get dead straight. Lifted me off my seat and did some fender damage but I didn't stop the ride any earlier than planned. Did have to put up with my riding buddy singing "Great, green gobs of greasy, grimy, gopher guts," around me for the next month though.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,020
Likes: 69
From: Twin Cities, MN
I hit half a deer once. A semi must have split one in half. Riding at night too fast and it was too late to avoid it once I saw it. I hit the back half at 85 mph! (coming east from Sturgis on I-90) Bump, bump right over/through it. Didn't go down but freaked me out. Got off at the next exit at Mitchel for the night. In the morning I looked at the bike and it was covered in fur, guts and blood. Really surprised the cops were not waiting for me. Smelt like meat on the grill all the rest of the way home. Word of advice, don't out drive your headlights!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 57
From: PA
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 390
Likes: 1
From: Dark Side of the Moon
Deer ----- thems personal now. Lost a friend and had another crippled by those damn long-legged speed-beef. These days I get every tag I can and donate the meat to a food bank.
Now to your question. I near-crashed once on something that "ran" in front of me; turned out to be medium sized box turtle say 4 inches "front to back" on the shell. He/she caught me in a turn well leaned over and at speed on an XL. Didn't go down but it sure as hell solved any constipation problems I had.
On the other extreme I hit a huge-assed groundhog (say 20 pounds) with a FLH but I saw him and managed to get dead straight. Lifted me off my seat and did some fender damage but I didn't stop the ride any earlier than planned. Did have to put up with my riding buddy singing "Great, green gobs of greasy, grimy, gopher guts," around me for the next month though.
Now to your question. I near-crashed once on something that "ran" in front of me; turned out to be medium sized box turtle say 4 inches "front to back" on the shell. He/she caught me in a turn well leaned over and at speed on an XL. Didn't go down but it sure as hell solved any constipation problems I had.
On the other extreme I hit a huge-assed groundhog (say 20 pounds) with a FLH but I saw him and managed to get dead straight. Lifted me off my seat and did some fender damage but I didn't stop the ride any earlier than planned. Did have to put up with my riding buddy singing "Great, green gobs of greasy, grimy, gopher guts," around me for the next month though.
I have hit a deer (cosmetic damage only to the bike, none to me), a Jack Rabbit (fur everywhere), a skunk (that was just nasty!) and 2 blackbirds off the shin. ( those hurt like a BITCH!). Guess all that makes me an ACE!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,476
Likes: 5
From: Republic of Texas
Raccoon is the biggest critter I have hit with no real damage to a bike. I hit a middle size dog when I was a teenager and went down. Everyone I know that has hit something bigger then a big raccoon has sustained some kind of damage but not always dropped the bike.