How Big a Varmint ....
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 223
Likes: 8
From: SE Louisiana
How Big a Varmint ....
.... can you Hit with a Harley and not sustain serious damage? It is obvious of course that a deer or a 70 lb Doberman Pincher on a dark night will fold the forks right up underneath you (how do I know?) but have any of you hit anything as big as, for instance, a 'possum or coon or armidillo? What was the damage?
Had a near miss last night on an armadillo. I mean, like i must have clipped his nose off. The aggravatin things have gotten so common down here you can hardly ride 10 miles without having to dodge one. They are dark grey on the dark grey pavement, their eyes dont shine in the light, and when they are startled by opposing traffic they can move surprisingly fast. I'm afraid it is just a matter of time before I connect with one. I dont expect it will be a very satisfying adventure.
Had a near miss last night on an armadillo. I mean, like i must have clipped his nose off. The aggravatin things have gotten so common down here you can hardly ride 10 miles without having to dodge one. They are dark grey on the dark grey pavement, their eyes dont shine in the light, and when they are startled by opposing traffic they can move surprisingly fast. I'm afraid it is just a matter of time before I connect with one. I dont expect it will be a very satisfying adventure.
Novice
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
I ran into a bear last fall on the ramp from US220 to I-68 West in Cumberland, MD. Obviously, since I'm still alive, I didn't hit much of him. He was running up out a gulley and across the road about 50 yards ahead of me. I slammed on both brakes, got sideways almost losing it, and decided that I'd rather take him broadside than go down and slide through him. It turned out that I almost missed him. His rear leg was stretched out behind him, so I ran over his foot with the front wheel and spanked him with my right highway peg.
I stopped and checked for damage and found none except for some hair in the highway peg. I thought that was it, but after that the front brakes pulsated, which turned out to be bent rotors.
This was on my 09 FLHT. I also ran over a woodchuck (both wheels) on the same bike. That was pretty tame, sort of like a soft speed bump.
I stopped and checked for damage and found none except for some hair in the highway peg. I thought that was it, but after that the front brakes pulsated, which turned out to be bent rotors.
This was on my 09 FLHT. I also ran over a woodchuck (both wheels) on the same bike. That was pretty tame, sort of like a soft speed bump.
I ran into a bear last fall on the ramp from US220 to I-68 West in Cumberland, MD. Obviously, since I'm still alive, I didn't hit much of him. He was running up out a gulley and across the road about 50 yards ahead of me. I slammed on both brakes, got sideways almost losing it, and decided that I'd rather take him broadside than go down and slide through him. It turned out that I almost missed him. His rear leg was stretched out behind him, so I ran over his foot with the front wheel and spanked him with my right highway peg.
I stopped and checked for damage and found none except for some hair in the highway peg. I thought that was it, but after that the front brakes pulsated, which turned out to be bent rotors.
This was on my 09 FLHT. I also ran over a woodchuck (both wheels) on the same bike. That was pretty tame, sort of like a soft speed bump.
I stopped and checked for damage and found none except for some hair in the highway peg. I thought that was it, but after that the front brakes pulsated, which turned out to be bent rotors.
This was on my 09 FLHT. I also ran over a woodchuck (both wheels) on the same bike. That was pretty tame, sort of like a soft speed bump.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 223
Likes: 8
From: SE Louisiana
Woodchuck is what, about 6 or 8 pounds? We dont have them down here for me to know enough about them to make a good comparison, but it gives me some hope that I could at least maintain control. The nine banded armadillos we are having trouble with are about 15 pounds, but they have that hard shell. Maybe it will just be like hitting a Hard speed bump.
I remember thinking an instant before I hit that Doberman "Is this going to be like hitting something soft or hard". Then I woke up in the hospital.
I remember thinking an instant before I hit that Doberman "Is this going to be like hitting something soft or hard". Then I woke up in the hospital.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
A lot depends on how it all happens.Straight line more than likely would be easier to try and lessen damage,in a turn whole nother story.In all my years have hit 2 dogs one in a turn sent me into the woods,the other rode over it.Hit a deer one morning as it slipped on the pavement trying to change direction,neither of us was hurt.
Trending Topics
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 911
Likes: 10
From: Wisconsin
I hit a dog last summer. I am guessing 30-40lbs, thought I was going to bite it but it was just a bump.
Back when I was still riding snowmobiles after a major snow storm I wen out on the roads (backroads) behind the road grader. It was like a newly groomed trail! Anywho, I am screaming up this side road as fast as that thing would go, I mean I have that throttle pinned to the handle bar, I hit a full grown sow hog in the middle of the road! Took her right between the skis! Killed her, bent the tunnel and snapped the motor right off its mounts. Brand new Polaris XLT with less than 1000miles
Back when I was still riding snowmobiles after a major snow storm I wen out on the roads (backroads) behind the road grader. It was like a newly groomed trail! Anywho, I am screaming up this side road as fast as that thing would go, I mean I have that throttle pinned to the handle bar, I hit a full grown sow hog in the middle of the road! Took her right between the skis! Killed her, bent the tunnel and snapped the motor right off its mounts. Brand new Polaris XLT with less than 1000miles
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
