Dear bike riders

[glhs837]

Damn, Pete. That is reason #267,082 that I do not have the stones to ride on the street.




A tiny deer blasted out of the brush in front of me on a trail in New Mexico and it was kinda close. Gone in about the time it took me to realize there was nothing I could do about it but pin it and hope that kept me up. However, there was no trucks or cars or...asphalt. Worst case, I mighta landed in a cactus.

Funny how at crunch time, it all goes so fast, and so slow at the same time. You take what ever instinctive action your preparation and training (if you had none, too late now) can do, and ride it out, correcting as you go, seeming to have a million years to ponder how many ways it could go wrong, and the bloody consequences of each one, while at the same time events rush so fast, its all your adrenaline pumped body can do to keep up physically with whats going on.

 

[Bann]

Glad you're ok!

 

[Vince]

It was already dead.

I was in the middle lane trying to get right. A box truck was on my right and slowly creeping ahead of me. I backed off and let him move up so I could slide right to get behind him. I checked my mirror and a car was coming up despite my turn signal and me crowding the line. I decided to get behind the truck as soon as I cleared to secure my spot before the car got there and blocked me out. As I slid over behind the truck, I was too close to it (my fault) but I was planning on securing my spot them backing off to open safe following distance. I did the lane swap when out from under the truck what did suddenly appear? A small deceased white tail deer.

With Pete driving, so lively and quick,
He knew in a moment that he was going to be sick.
More rapid than beagles his muscles they flexed,
And he whistled, and sh##ted, and called out some cuss words.
"Now Dammit! now, crappit! now, effit and sh#ttin!......

I always liked the Night Before Bambi.

 

[aps45819]

Worst case, I mighta landed in a cactus.

And how is that preferable to sliding on asphalt in an armored jacket?

 

[Larry Gude]

And how is that preferable to sliding on asphalt in an armored jacket?

Well, it's not like I am without defenses...

 

[desertrat]

Yea a car would have braked which gives you a little warning, the box truck just straddled it giving me no warning at all. Whamo there it was

Dang!

 

[Larry Gude]

Funny how at crunch time, it all goes so fast, and so slow at the same time. You take what ever instinctive action your preparation and training (if you had none, too late now) can do, and ride it out, correcting as you go, seeming to have a million years to ponder how many ways it could go wrong, and the bloody consequences of each one, while at the same time events rush so fast, its all your adrenaline pumped body can do to keep up physically with whats going on.

Yup. The biggest thing I have had to train myself to do is gas it when in trouble as opposed to my natural instinctive desire to get things stopped in an emergency. When I learned why and how a motorcycle, especially a dirt bike functions, from an engineering and physics standpoint, it just clicked in my head; you NEED that push from the rear to stabilize and/or correct.

Now, if I can just master the good 'ol whiskey throttle...

Are street bikes essentially the same, more often than not, power is needed to save it? I would imagine in Pete's scenario, had he hit it and gassed it, that may have been the ticket? If I understand him correctly, only his experience and skill allowed him to miss it AND avoid a nasty tank slapping, rear end swapping spiraling demise.

 

[glhs837]

Hmmm, I would say mostly with street bikes, its not so much extra power thats the saving grace, its just sticking with the bike and not bailing out. The bikers equivalent of a car driver just locking up the brakes and setting a course, then riding it in. Road bikers do that or jump off or lay it down, when if they had kept working the problem, they could at worst, mitigate the crash, at best, ride away unharmed.

Clamping down on the panic demon in your chest and thinking, thats the key. He will reach up and seize your brain, if you let him. Then you lose.


Hmm, I will say that more power is quite often overlooked as a way to not get in trouble in the first place. Being willing get on it to stay out of the bad place, staying out of that kill box location where you run out of places to go, thats a thing folks are sometimes unwilling to do.

 

[itsbob]

Yup. The biggest thing I have had to train myself to do is gas it when in trouble as opposed to my natural instinctive desire to get things stopped in an emergency. When I learned why and how a motorcycle, especially a dirt bike functions, from an engineering and physics standpoint, it just clicked in my head; you NEED that push from the rear to stabilize and/or correct.

Now, if I can just master the good 'ol whiskey throttle...

Are street bikes essentially the same, more often than not, power is needed to save it? I would imagine in Pete's scenario, had he hit it and gassed it, that may have been the ticket? If I understand him correctly, only his experience and skill allowed him to miss it AND avoid a nasty tank slapping, rear end swapping spiraling demise.

There's a debate among riders of what to do in that situation of imminent impact with a deer (alive or dead)

SHould you brake hard, and hope for the best?? Brake hard until just before impact than hit the throttle? Of get on the throttle and try to drive through it, using kinetic energy to keep you upright?

I personally think driving through it is the answer. If you hit while braking hard you lose your weight and speed advantage and are going to eat some asphalt, that and a good chance of being out of control prior to even hitting it.

Personally I NEVER want to find out, but if it's me (me and bike > 700 lbs) against a 120 lb deer, I think I'm going to try to cut it in half and hope for the best.

Being that the deer was laying in the road, that changes perspective, but I think hitting the carcass with locked brakes you're going over the handle bars.. at speed, you're going to get some air, but you MAY just stay upright (Depending on the amount of bloating)

I think the WORST scenario is when the deer darts from the woods and impacts the bike and rider in the side, taking the rider totally by surprise. I think you're chances of staying upright at that point are pretty slim.

 

[dn0121]

glad you're good pete

 

[Wenchy]

Good on Pete for admitting it was his fault.

Please be safe out there. The other drivers can't see you and most are too busy gabbing on their cell phones to care.

Safe riding!

 

[dn0121]

Good on Pete for admitting it was his fault.

Please be safe out there. The other drivers can't see you and most are too busy gabbing on their cell phones to care.

Safe riding!

if they cant see me in what I wear they shouldnt be on the road at all.

 

[GWguy]

There's a debate among riders of what to do in that situation of imminent impact with a deer (alive or dead)

SHould you brake hard, and hope for the best?? Brake hard until just before impact than hit the throttle? Of get on the throttle and try to drive through it, using kinetic energy to keep you upright?

I personally think driving through it is the answer. If you hit while braking hard you lose your weight and speed advantage and are going to eat some asphalt, that and a good chance of being out of control prior to even hitting it.

Personally I NEVER want to find out, but if it's me (me and bike > 700 lbs) against a 120 lb deer, I think I'm going to try to cut it in half and hope for the best.

Being that the deer was laying in the road, that changes perspective, but I think hitting the carcass with locked brakes you're going over the handle bars.. at speed, you're going to get some air, but you MAY just stay upright (Depending on the amount of bloating)

I think the WORST scenario is when the deer darts from the woods and impacts the bike and rider in the side, taking the rider totally by surprise. I think you're chances of staying upright at that point are pretty slim.

I'd probably treat it the way I treat a pothole in a car. Brake hard up to the object, then coast. If you continue braking, you'll get a very rough ride as the wheel stops and slams into the other side of the hole. If you gas it, you might adding unnecessary forward velocity and momentum.

In the case of a deer in the road, a sudden accel just before impact might raise the front wheel a bit and make it easier to clear the hurdle. It's the rear wheel launching you in the air that will be the problem.

 

[itsbob]

if they cant see me in what I wear they shouldnt be on the road at all.

And the MotoLights ROCK!!

But still ride like you're invisible..

 

[Wenchy]

if they cant see me in what I wear they shouldnt be on the road at all.

I agree, but that isn't going to save your butt.

 

[dn0121]

I agree, but that isn't going to save your butt.

Oh I agree, I just thought it was funny cuz the first day I wore my nuke suit I almost was hit.

 

[Pete]

Good on Pete for admitting it was his fault.

I am conditioned to automatically assume guilt

 

[Pete]

Damn, Pete. That is reason #267,082 that I do not have the stones to ride on the street.




A tiny deer blasted out of the brush in front of me on a trail in New Mexico and it was kinda close. Gone in about the time it took me to realize there was nothing I could do about it but pin it and hope that kept me up. However, there was no trucks or cars or...asphalt. Worst case, I mighta landed in a cactus.

And thanks for the Public Service announcement..

I imagine a lot of riders get excited about the opportunity to ride again, and forget all the lessons learned..

Glad you're ok.. be a shame to rash you and the bike up.

There's a debate among riders of what to do in that situation of imminent impact with a deer (alive or dead)

SHould you brake hard, and hope for the best?? Brake hard until just before impact than hit the throttle? Of get on the throttle and try to drive through it, using kinetic energy to keep you upright?

I personally think driving through it is the answer. If you hit while braking hard you lose your weight and speed advantage and are going to eat some asphalt, that and a good chance of being out of control prior to even hitting it.

Personally I NEVER want to find out, but if it's me (me and bike > 700 lbs) against a 120 lb deer, I think I'm going to try to cut it in half and hope for the best.

Being that the deer was laying in the road, that changes perspective, but I think hitting the carcass with locked brakes you're going over the handle bars.. at speed, you're going to get some air, but you MAY just stay upright (Depending on the amount of bloating)

I think the WORST scenario is when the deer darts from the woods and impacts the bike and rider in the side, taking the rider totally by surprise. I think you're chances of staying upright at that point are pretty slim.

Funny, when it was happening I was "just doing" without much thought. I did a swerve mindfull of traffic to my left, straightened up when I calculated there was no more swerve time because I wanted to be straight and not in a lean. I do remember going for front brake and deciding against it because the last thing I wanted with a front tire obstruction was being front tire heavy then I cranked it to lift the front wheel. By then it was over. :shrug:

 

[itsbob]

Funny, when it was happening I was "just doing" without much thought. I did a swerve mindfull of traffic to my left, straightened up when I calculated there was no more swerve time because I wanted to be straight and not in a lean. I do remember going for front brake and deciding against it because the last thing I wanted with a front tire obstruction was being front tire heavy then I cranked it to lift the front wheel. By then it was over. :shrug:

Good job on your part all around!!

 

[Pete]

Good job on your part all around!!

Thanks, I hope I don't have to test myself anymore.