How Big a Varmint ....
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,778
Likes: 69
From: Badlands of ND
Last summer I hit a pheasant. He flew right into front fender. I did not feel a thing, but the guy riding behind me said that it looked like the thing just exploded. Feathers went everywhere. No damage to the bike but I did heave some cleaning to do.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 3,046
Likes: 68
From: florida
South florida land crabs migrating all at once, Hundreds at a time the size of tree rats,they fold up and point their claws up for safety. Gopher turtles the size of small dogs suck, and take off like rockets when you hit one side. Buzzards will make you proud of your windshield. Friend hit cow last year. Cow horn caught handle bars and they went for a slow speed dance. evey body s--t.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 5,691
Likes: 1,651
From: Olean, NY
I know that hitting anything can end bad and isn't a funny situation but this thread made me almost **** my pants. I have yet to get any tire trophies on the bike yet but I have quite a few with my trucks. For a while I thought my grill said "Commit Suicide Here"
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,053
Likes: 5
From: Southern IL
biggest I have hit has only been a possum , but watched the wife run over a coon one night on the interstate...she picked her feet up off the pegs as she went over it...too funny....just looked like she hit a small speedbump
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 223
Likes: 8
From: SE Louisiana
Thanks for all the input! I am actually a little more optimistic about it now. After the Doby I just figured a big dog was an automatic disaster, and somebody down on the Mandeville fishing pier one night was telling me about losing it on an armadillo. Got me worried. Lots of them around.
I did hit my brakes very hard on the Doby, probably dove into him, I brake pretty hard on the front brake. Maybe that was my mistake. "Ride through it" sounds like good advice, but I'm not sure I can resist the instinct to brake hard.
Love to ride at night, but thats when 2 of my 3 accidents happened. Starting to have second thoughts. On the other hand, full moon dancing through tall cumulus clouds, smell of honeysuckle and jasmine - maybe its worth it. Might be as close to Heaven as I get.
I did hit my brakes very hard on the Doby, probably dove into him, I brake pretty hard on the front brake. Maybe that was my mistake. "Ride through it" sounds like good advice, but I'm not sure I can resist the instinct to brake hard.
Love to ride at night, but thats when 2 of my 3 accidents happened. Starting to have second thoughts. On the other hand, full moon dancing through tall cumulus clouds, smell of honeysuckle and jasmine - maybe its worth it. Might be as close to Heaven as I get.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,126
Likes: 51,455
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Armadillo is hitting a football with feet , you'll bounce .
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 11
From: Mass/NH
SCARY stuff!! Bears even...LOL...if you survive...Last summer in NH, late at night, 3 of us, awesome ride...then out of nowhere, no warning, a huge bull moose runs between me and my brother (2-3). My brother just missed him...said he had brown eyes...Could be bad...BUT, do you miss a PERFECT night like we had riding up or ride during the day? Personal choice...I would tend to GO! Especially a night like we had, perfect temp, weather, friends, roads,no traffic and it was going to rain the next day, original plan to go day. We almost hit a big bull at night again in Connecticut one time, my turn to almost kiss it!! Be vigilant/safe on the road, those critters are everywhere!!