Deer, moose, bears, and other critters

[dickster]

I ride daily in a part of the country where there are alot of critters sharing the roads. This year so far I have had to brake hard and/or use evasive manouvers for 1 X cow moose with calf, 4 X deer, 2 X black bear, and 2 X belgian draft horse (same stupid owner). Less significantly I have encountered 4 X ruffed grouse, ~10 squirrels, and 5 robins.

Yesterday enroute home I came around a tight corner and met yet another deer. The buck seemed equally startledbut decided that going back from whence it came was not an option. I didn't have time to stop and could not risk moving into the opposing lane. I braked hard and held the bike straight, gripped the handlebars firmly, and weighted the footpegs. Contact was imminent:hr:. At the last 0.25 second I closed my eyes (forgot that I didn't have an airbag?). I did make contact, but have to assume that I just clipped its back leg (because my eyes were closed!).

All was good. I'm not too sure closing my eyes was a good idea even if it was only for 0.5 sec, but I don't know if I can train that one out of me. It was good that I firmed up and put my weight down, because it kept my front wheel going straight.

I like to try and mentally prepare for these inevitabilities. I often use the 'what if?' scenario in the hope that it will help me in the event that the 'what if?' becomes reality.

I would like to hear how other riders have dealt with imminent collisions. We can assume that you have proper protective gear, are alert, and have average or better riding skills (After yesterday my armour is looking pretty sweet:tup:).

I have discovered so far that:

1)If you see a critter, assume that there are more, and assume they are going to run in front of you:f:.

2) With grouse and squirrels, etc. if you head straight for them, you will most likely miss them. This assumes that the critter is stationary on the trail / road. They will break left or right usually. If they don't, at least you are prepared for the impact.

3) The sound of rubber screeching seems to get them moving.

I look forward to your comments.

Cheers:hb:

Dick

[farmerger]

I second the idea of looking for more than one. Got suckered in last week by the decoy deer to my right. Slowed down, and kept my eye on the deer, cause he was quite close to the road. Should've looked to my left for his buddy running to join him. Stayed upright but now am looking for some new plastic and a headlight for the "Slayer."

[dickster]

Sorry to hear about your bike farmerger :(. Happy to hear you survived unscathed:).I am curious as to what you did to keep the bike up? What did you do when you knew the collision was imminent?

I have often thought in some circumstances(highway speed and moose) one might be better off dropping the bike and using it as a protective shield.

Hasanyone installed deer whistles on their bikes? with any noticable return on investment?

Has anyone hit a bear? Do you carry pepper spray? If so where do you mount it so it won't blow up in your face?

:hb:

Dick

[farmerger]

I think, but couldn't swear by it, that I let go ofthe brakes, kept the front wheel straight, and gave it some throttle. I know, sounds cruel, but the bike is more stable with the wheels spinning. It worked, but could just have been stupid luck too. It was a fairly small doe, probably not more than 150 lb., versus me on the Slayer at around 750 lb, no contest for the deer.

I don't think deer whistles do much. It might make the hesitant deer stay in the woods, but if he has already decided to run across the road, and is too afraid to look for what's coming, he's going to run into you deer whistle or not. My wife hit a deer in her car, even knocked one of the deer whistles off the front bumper ironically, for what that's worth.

Know a guy that hit a bear on his Harley. He went down and skidded down the highway for quite a ways. Bruised and sore, and a little road rash where it actually wore through his leathers, but otherwise OK. Don't know what happened to the bear.

Hitting a moose or a horse would probably be the worst, short of hitting something with four wheels and made of steel. Those buggers are so tall, that your bike will likely just graze its belly, while you get the full impact into the animal, which outweighs you, without your motorcycle, by at least 4 to 1. Going down may be an option, but to be honest with you, lots of people claim they put their bike down on purpose, when in truth all they did was lock up the tires and fell over before they hit whatever they were braking for. I doubt too many people will have the where with all in that kind of situation to purposefully exit the bike.

Cheers.:cool:

[VIMike]

Speaking of moose I heard an outrageous story today from a client in to have a head light replaced from a deer encounter. As the story goes a Beemer sports bike rider was steaming down the hwy at an estimated 130k and t-bones a moose in the stomach. Well the bike went right through the moose and took out the stomach, and when he came to rest a distance later he only had broken cheek bones and no missing teeth. Bike was worse off than he was but not destroyed, and as for the moose well it went to the great pasture in the sky. Lucky lucky rider, but sometimes we catch a break and other times...........

Play safe boys and girls, and we will many more years to have fun.

VIMike

VIMike wrote:
Speaking of moose I heard an outrageous story today from a client in to have a head light replaced from a deer encounter. As the story goes a Beemer sports bike rider was steaming down the hwy at an estimated 130k and t-bones a moose in the stomach. Well the bike went right through the moose and took out the stomach, and when he came to rest a distance later he only had broken cheek bones and no missing teeth. Bike was worse off than he was but not destroyed, and as for the moose well it went to the great pasture in the sky. Lucky lucky rider, but sometimes we catch a break and other times...........

Play safe boys and girls, and we will many more years to have fun.

VIMike



Sounds to me like an urban myth.

I can recall when I was very young, a friend's father with a 63 Ford Galaxy hitting a moose. Cars back then were ALL steel. Wrote off the car and the driver was in the hospital for 2 weeks.

A moose is a helluva lot bigger than a deer. And don't piss them off. A pissed off moose makes a bear look like a house cat.

Too answer your original ?, luckily the only time I've hit a bear is while driving a car. Bears take a lickin and keep on tickin, especially with all the plastic on today's cars.

$5000 worth of damage and the bear scooted away.

A friend hit a deer some years ago, near Hope, very early in the morning on his BMW boxer. He literally had to crawl to the nearest house because his ankle was broken, to get help.

He told me that there was so much blood that he didn't know which was his and which was the deer. He instructed the Instructors at the BC Safety Council motorcycle riding school.

You can't predict a deer's movements. Other animals, especially cows, will be predicatble but not deer or horses.

I hit a deer with my left elbow 2 years ago while on my Guzzi. I thought she'd move at the last minute so I kept my line, but the stupid SOB just stood there. Haven't had that happen before. Friends behind me thought I was a gon'r. Luckily I have armor in the elbows of my street jacket:clap:

[Starbucks]

dickster wrote:
I ride daily in a part of the country where there are alot of critters sharing the roads. This year so far I have had to brake hard and/or use evasive manouvers for 1 X cow moose with calf, 4 X deer, 2 X black bear, and 2 X belgian draft horse (same stupid owner). Less significantly I have encountered 4 X ruffed grouse, ~10 squirrels, and 5 robins.


:shoot:DINNER!

[dickster]

I agree that deer are unpredictable. When I see a deer I immediately try to stop before I get to it, even if it is off in the ditch. On the highway you have to hit the shoulder because the cars behind you don't perceive the same risk and may not even slow down.

I agree that cows are generally predictable, but not until they are a bit older and develop that vacant look. Calfs will bounce around and bolt onto the road just like a deer.

Working in the forest industry up here for 12+ years I learnt most of these lessons from the relative safety of a 4X4 pickup. I agree with the moose comment too. One squared off on my pickup once and it was incredably intimidating, it turned into Mr. Hyde right before my eyes.

Dogs are pretty predictable, they want to chase you:f:. I discovered a few years back (from the comfort of my pickup) that if there is a dog that regularly waits in prey on your commute, by aiming your vehicle at the dog (usually on the shoulder) it quickly realizes that there has been a role reversal. It doesn't take many times before the dog will run for the ditch when it hears the familiar sound your engine.

This can (and has) been taken to the extreme. If a dog chases me on my commute I will go so far as to whip the bike around and pursue the dog. Basically never let the f'ers get away with it unanswered. You may well be doing the next bike a big favour too.

I will take home and consume any critters I kill (except dogs ). I haven't had to eat a robin or a squirrel yet.

Cheers:hb:

[Yak_KLR650]

I hit a German Shepherd X dog that had been chasing Mustexcc every morning earlier this year, and apparently that was enough to teach it some manners and has given up chasing M/Cs. I hit it on the shoulder with the front wheel (glancing blow) at 60 kph, spun it around and got my boot toe into its ribs. :f:

I didn't close my eyes, just dropped a gear and twisted the throttle. I wasn't going let that mutt take me down!

[Starbucks]

dickster wrote:

I will take home and consume any critters I kill (except dogs ). I haven't had to eat a robin or a squirrel yet.

Cheers:hb:



Should you come across dog or squirrel, and don't want them, give me a ring. Squirrel is quite good, cooked on a spit and mixed with beans. If it's a domestic dog, I don't want it, but if you hit a feral dog, my Korean nieghbor has been looking to make us some dog soup for some time. I'll take that too. Can't be bothered with the robins.

[dickster]

I wonder if this guy closed his eyes?

http://www.break.com/index/biker_hits_deer.html

[Starbucks]

Nope, he had his eyes wide open and aimed for it to get it on camera!

After all, it was a mock deer that he built and set up with his friend. The deer was still. The bike plowed through and smashed the deer to small spinning peices with no blood. The bike wasn't upset or knocked off course. It was a carboard / styrofoam hoax. Think of the pysics. Totally fake.

[dickster]

I have to disagree with you on this one Starbucks, but we can still be friends:hb:.

I had to watch it several times because initially I wasn't convinced (it is pretty poor quality video). I think if you look at it again you will see that the spinning pieces are 1 X deer (bottom spinning piece) and many pieces of motorcycle. The deeris in one piece, and thus no blood.

The deer being still isn't all that unusual, as they will often freeze up. It looks pretty realistic when it gets hit and spins onto the shoulder.

As far as the physics of it (i.e. the bike keeping a pretty good line) I am surprized, but not enough to call it fake.

Have another look. We may have to agree to disagree:tup:.

[Yak_KLR650]

Dick, did you get your clutch problem sorted out?

[dickster]

Yak_KLR650 wrote:
Dick, did you get your clutch problem sorted out?

The replacement cable came in today, and I should have it in my hands tonight. I hope that is all it needs, as I'm supposed to be going for a ride this weekend.

I'm just a little concerned that the 'pivot' rises when I push it forward. I just can't see why it wouldn't do the same when the cable pulls it forward.

Perhaps the physics of itare just beyond my comprehensive and analytical abilities. I sure hope so.

Any advice:ted: for a guy who has never replaced a clutch cable?

Cheers:hb:

[Yak_KLR650]

Follow the procedure in the Clymer (if you have one). If not, remove the clutch lever from the perch, then that end of the cable. The first time I did it, I threaded the new cable alongside the old one before I removed the old one so I got the right routing. It is easier to get the clutch housing end out if you flip the pivot toward the back of the engine. Centre the threads in the holder, then adjust the free play at the handle. If you can't get the free play correct, try adjusting the threaded end one way or the other.

I tried to move my pivot by hand the other day and there is no way it is moving without the cable and the lever pulling on it.

Good luck.

[dickster]

Gracias senor:tup:. I do have a manual but thought I'd throw that question out there just in casethe manual was lacking in some important aspect. I don't think I have the Clymer. The one I have requires the user to make lots of assumptions. Perhaps they feelI'm not challenged enough already;).

[Island Hopper]

After I whacked a deer on my KLR I've installed whistles to my KTM {I'm on my 4th set as I keep knocking them off trailriding}, and they seem to be somewhat effective. I do notice, after installing the whistles, that the deer are already moving toward their exit when I ride up on them VS before whistles they would stand there and then bolt at the last minute {usually when you are right beside them}. For the few dollars they cost I figure the whistles are a worthwhile investment .

[Starbucks]

I had to look close, real close, but it may be a deer. I am surprised it didn't bump the rider...