What are your experiences with (running down) wildlife? - Ducati Monster Forums: Ducati Monster Motorcycle Forum

morningstar919 · 09-04-2011, 10:40 PM

I ran down my first animal on my mc today. It makes me wonder what other people's experiences are with wildlife and what avoidance plan/technique you use when approaching.

My experience (based on autos) has been to use extreme caution when approaching dogs, deer and other large animals. Dogs can attack and deer are completely unpredictable, etc. For smaller animals (squirrels, rabbits, birds), my experience has been that, provided the animal sees you, it will take evasive measures. Therefore, for smaller animals, I have generally maintained a policy of holding steady and letting the animal do what it will to avoid me. [In the past when I have taken evasive measures, I have found that my actions countered the animals evasive manouevers and in more than one instance it was my attempt to evade the animal that resulted in me running over it.] Back to the present. I was riding down a straightaway on a 2 lane road on my mc when a squirrel entered the roadway to cross well in front of me. It clearly saw me approach and changed directions to run parallel to the roadway, pretty much down the center. I held direction and speed expecting it to dart off in the opposite direction. The squirrel waited until I was near on top of it, and then proceeded to run directly under my bike. A quick bump and crunch and all was down. So much for evolutionary survival instincts. Maybe it was suicidal. Maybe I need to rethink my avoidance plan. But slowing and stopping for a squirrel just seems like such...such....such..overkill. Disclaimor: if it were a corner, I'd hold a different opinion.

There's a pretty outstanding write-up and video of a duc 1x98 which swallowed a turkey on one of the other boards but that appears more a matter of speed and reaction. I'm more interested in response to a recognized threat. Any experiences, thoughts?

caferacermike · 09-05-2011, 10:39 AM

I've been hit in the chest on the highway before by a flying pigeon. Knocked the wind right out of me for sure. I had to pull over to get rid of the deadish bird. It was all floppy and smooshed inside. Hurt like hell for awhile.

Thankfully I've never hit anything with the bike itself. I've been told that the proper procedure should be to maintain speed and throttle, hit the object in a direct line while moving your weight from the front wheel to the rear. The hope is that you will ride over the animal. If you hit the object while braking then you skid at impact and lose control. Either way it can certainly be a bad situation. A guy at work once swore he hit a deer on his bike at 45mph and came out ok. There was damage to the bike but it held stable at impact. I don't know about that one.

Elvenhome21 · 09-05-2011, 10:41 AM

I can't remember what kind of bike it was for sure but let's say a gixxer was doing about 80-90 mph in new mexico or texas where that's the speed of normal travel and a coyote ran out in the road and the guy didn't let off. He got lucky by going that fast cause it split the coyote in two. Destroyed the fork but was able to slow down after. Had he been going slower it probably would have caused him to dump the bike.

My thoughts are anything smaller then a dog hit without question. Dog or bigger try to slow asap and decided if hitting it is a softer impact or hitting the ditch/tree/car is better

ILMONSTRO · 09-05-2011, 03:01 PM

The rule of thumb I was taught in advanced training from an instructor was "as long as it is lower than you axle you can go over no problem, higher than the axle...." Good luck lol

philb · 09-06-2011, 01:48 PM

I've managed to run over possums, a raccoon, a cat, a couple of squirrels. I've also impacted a couple fo small birds, and a bat. Fortunately nothing very large so far.

The rule of thumb I've heard is that if you could fit it in your microwave, treat it like a road hazard -- straighten up as much as possible, do not brake or accelerate much, ride over it in as stable a position as possible. If it manages to dodge you, that's even better, but evaseive maneuvers are more dangerous to you than hitting it.

If it's bigger than that, the impact is more dangerous, and take evasive maneuvers as best you can.

PhilB

wmhayes · 09-06-2011, 08:38 PM

Don't try to avoid smaller animals, they will usually leave the scene the way they came in. If it's in the road facing left it most likely got onto the road from the right. When it sees you approaching it will most likely turn around and go back off the right side of the road. For bigger stuff like dogs, deer, etc, better hit the brakes, as impact could be lethal for both of you.

morningstar919 · 09-06-2011, 09:05 PM

I thought I was all set with the axle rule, but now the microwave treat rule? I'm just afraid I'll get caught up in some pythonesque indecision as to whether to go with a 30 second reheat or use the pizza setting. Joking aside, both memorable rules.

coworkers father hit a deer at a not too agressive speed. He was only wearing a half helmet. Messed up his face and suffered some minor brain damage, particularly impairing his social interaction. +1 on avoidance of the bigger stuff (implied commentary on helmet choice)

DisasterGirl · 09-16-2011, 11:42 AM

I've only had my Ducati for 3 weeks, and earlier this week took it on my first long (3 hr) ride. Was riding on a long fairly straight 2-lane road through the NJ Pine Barrens, driving about 60 mph, when a crow flew out of some trees on the right side of the road right in front of me. I watched it for a second, thinking it would continue its path and out of my way, when suddenly it stalled in the air right in front of me, at head height. I sort of just put my head down and it smacked right off my helmet. Saw feathers fly away in the peripheral vision... I'm guessing it didn't make it. Thankfully, my helmet, bike, and I were just fine. Can't say it's something I want to repeat. Or, God forbid--take a bird to the chest on the highway and get the wind knocked out of me!!

wmhayes · 09-16-2011, 01:48 PM

DisasterGirl; I'd change my screen name before more bad karma happens. A crow is one BIG bird. You are lucky it didn't take you off the bike. I've taken a really small bird to the helmet visor and that really threw my head back, not to mention all the dust from the feathers that blurred the visor. Maybe crows are like lightning: never hit twice in the same spot. For your sake I hope that's true.

DisasterGirl · 09-17-2011, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmhayes

DisasterGirl; I'd change my screen name before more bad karma happens. A crow is one BIG bird. You are lucky it didn't take you off the bike. I've taken a really small bird to the helmet visor and that really threw my head back, not to mention all the dust from the feathers that blurred the visor. Maybe crows are like lightning: never hit twice in the same spot. For your sake I hope that's true.

Good point...maybe I should change my screen name to Lucky or something like that...