Experience hitting/avoiding animals?

I poked around a bit in other threads, but didn't see much on this topic. Anyone have any advise on stragegies to avoid being the casualty in a collition with an animal? I commute about 50 miles each day on roads that regularly have deer and racoons; but there are also bear and cougar in the area as well.

I have a friend who survived (and didn't even dump his bike) when he hit a small calf moose in Alaska. He apparently braked really hard until just before impact, and then let the bike just free-wheel as it rolled onto his fender and then down onto the road where he acually rolled over it. He was unable to ride for a few hours from being shaken-up, but that technique saved him.

Anyone else have any advise for techniques on how to best survive a collision with an animal?.......other than "don't hit them" :lol:

Brett

 

Brett, I used to ride my Goldwing all over the White Mtns and on longer road trips.
One of my main concerns after a friend hit an elk and ended up vegitated then much later he died, was to not end up that way too!

They sell these devices in some auto parts stores like Checker that I call deer screamers. (they are ultrasonic and I cant hear them)

I have noticed that when I passed grazing deer and elk that they almost always raised their heads and took notice, they dont do that with my XJ that doesnt have the deer screamers!?
Does that mean anything?? I dont know I cant hear them.

As for bear...... how pi$$ed is he?

Cougar are very elusive and avoid vehicles so that would be just plain old bad luck to hit a cat.

Racoon are just a pain in the butt!

Just be real careful and try the deer screamers.
and stay away from the bears!

Best of luck there

 

Iv'e Had my share too brett and i think iv'e learned "When they want you They get you" and "Timing seems fairly Critical" , some call it Fate ?.

 

If fate is involved........I might be screwed! I had given the deer whistles some thought but had no idea how well or if they worked. Seems like they at least get their attention.

Yeah, I'm not so much worried about the cats and bears, mostly those damn racoons, and the occasional deer. I guess maybe the best thing I can do is practice avoidance techniques as I'm riding and hope it sinks in enough that I might have a chance when fate kicks in!

I was going to try and get ahold of a copy of "Proficient Motorcyling" to maybe get some suggestions for practicing avoidance techniques. Any other recomendations?

 

Yes. Scan ahead further than normal. An animals eyes glow in the headlight beam. Be extra cautious in hazard potential areas. Slow down! If a large animal, (deer, etc) jumps in front of you, BRC and ERC teach the best thing to do is NOT swerve, but rather brake hard. You can cut your stopping distance in half by practicing extreme hard braking in a parking lot...trust me on this one. Keeping your fingers on both the clutch and brake levers gives you as much as a 3 second reaction advantage in problem areas. The biggest thing you can do to give yourself the edge, though, is to practice your hard braking, being aware of potential high-side complications and what your bike will REALLY do when you honk on the binders. Practicing on my own machine really opened my eyes. Be aware the the IL4 mtor will throw you a high-side much easier than a twin or single due to the pwer-pulse configuration and relative high compression of these little engines. The key here is to pull in the clutch and LEAVE IT IN until you've come to a COMPLETE stop. All this is outlined rather well in PROFICIENT MOTORCYCLING. A must-read IMHO. Hope this helped, and good luck!
BTW- if you've not taken the BRC/ERC, do it. You will learn more than you imagined possible.

 

It's not the big ones you need to worry about. The critters in the Rodent family are your worst enemy.

Several years ago, just after I finished the restore on my 900, I took-off for a little "Leaf Peeping" cruise.

With the power on, leaning-over good in a tight, right hand turn ... a squirrel decided to kill himself and me.

He died under my front wheel. I low-sided and started to slide and roll down the blacktop ... pretty much following the same path the bike took.

I could hear the bike scraping along the surface of the blacktop when the noise of my helmet bouncing and scraping was interrupted during the bouncing.

My helmet took the worst beating. The case guards and handlebar sliders saved my bike from getting wasted. The road rash on the right silencer "I can live with."

My helmet was such a mess; I took a picture of it and sent it to Shoei with my thanks for saving my life.

This time of year, in New England ... wet leaves, squirrels, chipmunks and turkey's are all waiting around the next corner to wreck your day!

 

I agree with Rick! Seems you only see one pocupine a year on the road but I sure dont want him in my path on a turn or a dip, those rabbits in Az are really bad too.
And that advise not to swerve is some of the best. That friend I was talking about earlier tried to lay his Harley on its side (for what ever reason) and the big cow elk he hit got its hoofs taken out causing the body of the whole animal to land on top of him..... no helmet..... :cry:

 

Kirk hit the nail on the head, take an MSF/BRC course. The riding obstical avoidance skills taught can save your life. Learn and practice them often. Got a very good point Rick, small ones seem to claim an inordinate number of bikes. No idea why save that their little hides are greasier and slide with little effort (morbid but think about it).

 

Thanks for the input guys. I will be ordering books in the next couple days, and will look into safety courses in my area. My wife is actually taking the basic course this weekend. Don't know why I've been delaying, as even the experienced riders I know say that they learned more than they expected from the course.

I think I will reserve a spot soon. Until then, maybe I can get some studded tires that will grip those greasy hides better!