[scout]

Hit a vulture and a deer on loop today. Both felt like a pillow and I think I blinked and know I held throttle steady during both strikes. No dodging as they both just appeared. Vulture was in a group of three but I think one only was hit. Deer was in a group of whatever I noticed one on my right and she went the right way then another jumped out of the shadow and bike struck with left front hitting her in right shoulder. 'Her' cause I didn't notice antlers, all good. Bike never shuddered but I did hear a tiny crack in what I thought was plastic and confirmed once I got home to look. A bit of blood and feathers in areas in including on top of the tank. Forgot to look at the monkey suit but didn't feel anything. didn't notice any deer hair so maybe the deer survived. Throttle steady on both; no brakes no change of line as no time. Damage was tiny. Small crack on left side of the beak. Small crack on left collar plastic and the bottom to plastic collar bolts broke free I just zip tied them after drilling a couple holes. Looks stronger now. If dealer gets it again I'll just ordered new ones or just replace with the '11 plastic.

 

[turtle1000]

I just missed a huge raccoon. Middle of the day he comes strolling across the road. I tagged his tail tho haha lucky cuz they're a lot bigger than I thought I'd have jumped that fucker and launched it, woulda been shitty.. Of course GoPro wasn't on..... Buddy said he's probly rabid

 

[SkyDork]

If you ride enough it's bound to happen. Cracked plastic is nothing. Glad it wasn't worse.

 

[White Fang]

It is that time of year. I hit a crow last week, had to go back and put it out of its misery. Five horses loose on the road as well, tried to keep pace with me (on ADV bike this time). Had to whack it open and get past mare and colt. Horses are pretty fast and very very unpredictable.

 

[Doppler]

Glad you ok mate. Sounds like it could easily have been worse.

 

[clutchcrusader]

I hit a raccoon last summer on my triumph.i didn't even see it ,so I didn't react .I went right through its rib cage.bike hopped a little. I was going like 90mph.
Glad your ok and it wasnt worse.A deer could do some damage.ive hit like 3 in my life.All in a car though.

 

[andrewinbriz]

When I hit a kangaroo at about 80 klm/h, 6 foot tall, but probably only about 60 kg, I didn't come off but it died instantly. I pulled over, thought I was dead and didn't know it! Can't imagine hitting 2 on the same ride. Big danger in hitting animals as large as an adult deer (or cow). I know a guy who hit a cow (there was a group of cows on the road), and he said the only reason he survived was he stood up on the pegs, and when he hit the cow he somersaulted forward, over the group of cows. He said it was like the mother of all highsides! But no permanent damage.

 

[turtle1000]

I hit a raccoon last summer on my triumph.i didn't even see it ,so I didn't react .I went right through its rib cage.bike hopped a little. I was going like 90mph.
Glad your ok and it wasnt worse.A deer could do some damage.ive hit like 3 in my life.All in a car though.

I can't believe how big raccoons are

 

[obijack]

OP you are a lucky dog. I have seen 1 deer total a 3000 lb car.

 

[Turbodc2]

I've almost hit small animals on my bike, but the worse that happened to me was a squirrel that I saw in the middle of the road and thought to be dead, wasn't. I got about 10 ft away and it popped up, changed directions a couple of times and then jumped on my leg, turned around on my boot, and then jumped off. Scared the shit out of me, but it was like half a second and he was gone.

 

[mr_honez]

Glad it didn't have a worse ending other than cracked plastic and bunched up pants. I all my years never had an impact with an animal. Cars on the other hand well.. But not an animal. A few close calls though. Glad you are ok though Scout. :ayyy:

 

[scout]

Blacktail deer here are smaller but the older bucks are kinda big. Bike felt perfect on the loop today and no sign of the vulture or deer. I checked the monkey suit and gloves this morning and indeed had dried blood in some areas but not that much. Shadows are the problem this time of year as have to leave early (7am) to avoid high heat in interior (about 100f). If sun high enough I often see a sign of whatever and able to do the correct math for the miss.

 

[White Fang]

Blacktail deer here are smaller but the older bucks are kinda big. Bike felt perfect on the loop today and no sign of the vulture or deer. I checked the monkey suit and gloves this morning and indeed had dried blood in some areas but not that much. Shadows are the problem this time of year as have to leave early (7am) to avoid high heat in interior (about 100f). If sun high enough I often see a sign of whatever and able to do the correct math for the miss.

Very much so. I too leave quite early on my rides to beat the traffic and heat.

 

[scout]

Very much so. I too leave quite early on my rides to beat the traffic and heat.

opposite up here. When I leave just before 7 am, I'm in traffic thru Santa Cruz up 17 to San Jose then all the way to 237 to Fremont. I can't go Calaveras now as water dorks have it closed during the week so YET MORE traffic on 680 all the way to Livermore. That stretch is heavy traffic and very poor concrete so speed is slow making the bumps odd. Weekends are way better BUT then on way home 101 from San Jose to Prundedale is packed with cagers going toward Monterey. I'm used to cagers and they're in tune with bikes up here so np but, crap, freeways numb the mind. Time I get home I'm rested. Not joking. lol

 

[White Fang]

opposite up here. When I leave just before 7 am, I'm in traffic thru Santa Cruz up 17 to San Jose then all the way to 237 to Fremont. I can't go Calaveras now as water dorks have it closed during the week so YET MORE traffic on 680 all the way to Livermore. That stretch is heavy traffic and very poor concrete so speed is slow making the bumps odd. Weekends are way better BUT then on way home 101 from San Jose to Prundedale is packed with cagers going toward Monterey. I'm used to cagers and they're in tune with bikes up here so np but, crap, freeways numb the mind. Time I get home I'm rested. Not joking. lol

Yep they numb the mind and hands. I should have said weekends. Weekdays I usually wait until at least 9 a.m. when it is not so packed plus I am going against the normal commute flow.

 

[BOP Leader]

Riding through a critter vs. trying to swerve hit will yield a far better outcome. I've wasted several critters on motorcycles this way and you'd be surprised how stable the bike remains. If the impact is inevitable, throttle through the critter and keep the bike straight. I know a guy who rode through a deer this way and cut the beast in half at the shoulder and managed to keep it upright.

 

[clutchcrusader]

He's right if I would of reacted to the raccoon I would of crashed. Instead I cut it in half.bike just jumped slightly.............and I went home and changed my underwear.

 

[katdewy]

glad you doing well now, it could've been worse

 

[White Fang]

Riding through a critter vs. trying to swerve hit will yield a far better outcome. I've wasted several critters on motorcycles this way and you'd be surprised how stable the bike remains. If the impact is inevitable, throttle through the critter and keep the bike straight. I know a guy who rode through a deer this way and cut the beast in half at the shoulder and managed to keep it upright.

Yep.

 

[Static IP]

Hit a vulture and a deer on loop today. Both felt like a pillow and I think I blinked and know I held throttle steady during both strikes. No dodging as they both just appeared. Vulture was in a group of three but I think one only was hit. .

Vulture?
Where on earth do you live?
Aren't Vultures like only in Movies or somewhere in the Middle East or something like that?