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Active Member
Critter crossing
This is a question to the well seasoned rider. I'm still a newbe Spider rider and almost had a situation with a critter crossing the road. If there wasn't anyway to keep from running over a critter how would it be done? What I mean is try to strattle the front and back wheel or just nail it with the back wheel. Has anyone run a critter over with back wheel? What kind of weird thing does the bike do when this happens?
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Very Active Member
Well of few live critters (most are already road kill here) I've had to dodge thus far I've found the sweet spot for dodging potholes too,(if unavoidable close) is to put it right under the mirror & floorboards (or pegs), either side it will miss your tires. Otherwise if you center it you will get good kick in your rear when it hits there no loss of control just not too good if you have back issues of any sort
Fyi this is for the smaller critters: opossums, coons, squirrel & such, larger critters deer & such have been hit & there are threads about that
Last edited by Bfromla; 05-28-2017 at 03:17 AM.
Reason: Critter list
2013 STL SE5 BLACK CURRANT
SpyderPop's: LED bumpskid
SmoothSpyder: dualmode back rest
T r * * LED:foam grip covers, Tricrings, FenderZ,
brake light strips, wide vue mirrors
Rivico SOMA modulation brake leds
sawblade mowhalk fender accents
minispyder dash toy
Lid lox
KradelLock
Pakitrack
GENSSI ELITE LED H4 headlights
FLO (Frunk Lid Organizer)
BRP fog lights, trailer hitch
SENA 20S EVO
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Very Active Member
I was always taught not to swerve for critters (unless they are big and stationary:-)) because:
a. You don't know what way they'll dodge
b. It's better to hit something with the front wheel/s pointing down the road.
I've hit two possums on my Spyder and not had any ill effect. NZ Possums are about the size of a large tom cat, local nickname "Natures speedbumps" for obvious reasons.
First time was just within the front wheel so it was the back wheel that took it out, knew I'd gone over it but other than the bump barely a twinge from the Spyder. Second time was with the front wheel on a corner but braced so just a jolt though the bars as the wheel went over it. Certainly a lot easier than hitting one on a motorbike.
Pot holes I go for just inside the front wheel as that way they normally miss the back wheel as well, the back copes with them better and has less impact on your line.
For bigger things like sheep (which are not uncommon here:-)) I just brake, if I have the option aim for their arse on the basis that that's there they will not be when I get there.
Last edited by PistonBlown; 05-28-2017 at 03:52 AM.
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Active Member
If there's no way to safely avoid the smaller Critters I put them under the back tire just in case they splatter!
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Originally Posted by Bob Denman
...... I hit a mid-sized dog with my 2010 RT (Right-Front tire...)
It put that tire up in the air about a foot, and wasn't a pleasant ride!
I've often wondered what would happen if I hit a good sized critter, or even if a small one got snagged between a front tire and its fender, and I assumed it'd slam me to a stop and send me sailing into the windshield. So it's good to know that, at least in this particular case, your Spyder just climbed over the dog. I can imagine it wasn't pleasant! But I'm gonna ride a tad happier now knowing that I might not get launched.
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Very Active Member
I hit and killed a dog. There was no choice on how or where I hit it. It ran out in front of me the last second. Hit it just to the right of center the front trunk. It was a very solid bang when I hit it and not that big a bounce when the back tire went over. If I had of been on 2 wheel I would have went down for sure. Smashed the front trunk bucket and if it was not for the truck liner, all my stuff would have spilled all over the road.
2018 F3 LIMITED
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Last edited by Bob Denman; 05-28-2017 at 01:35 PM.
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Very Active Member
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D,
Did you have a Bumpskid up under the nose of your bike during the encounter with the dog?
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by Bob Denman
D,
Did you have a Bumpskid up under the nose of your bike during the encounter with the dog?
No bumpskid. I had that put on shortly thereafter, as well as KOTT grills. The bike was driveable, no leaks, alignment was performed later that year and was not to much off kilter. Mostly cosmetic damage, but one radiator was replaced. I consider myself very lucky.
Currently Owned: 2019 F3 Limited, 2020 F3 Limited: SOLD BOTH LIMITEDS in October of 2023.
Previously : 2008 GS-SM5 (silver), 2009 RS-SE5 (red), 2010 RT-S Premier Editon #474 (black) 2011 RT A&C SE5 (magnesium) 2014 RTS-SE6 (yellow)
MY FINAL TALLY: 7 Spyders, 15 years, 205,500 miles
IT HAS BEEN A LONG, WONDERFUL, AND FUN RIDE.
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critters
got a gopher the other day hardly felt it but he didn't survive felt bad but not want to wreck over a gopher
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Active Member
Originally Posted by Bob Denman
If the critter can be placed JUST inside one of your front tires: it might just slide right on by the rear tire with a complete miss!
(That's the 2nd best-case scenario...)
If it's small enough to not catch on the low-hanging bodywork up front, and you have no other choice: put it under the rear tire.
Hitting a larger "road target" with a front tire might upset your steering. I hit a mid-sized dog with my 2010 RT (Right-Front tire...)
It put that tire up in the air about a foot, and wasn't a pleasant ride!
The best case scenario? Be on the brakes, and don't have to hit them...
Thankfully in the short time I've owned my Spyder, the "critter problem" is one I haven't come across yet...... Lord help me I don't just shut my eyes, yell and hang on for dear life!!!
He's on his RT She's on her F3
And the Keys to a Happy Marriage: Separate
Bathrooms, Individual Remote TV Clickers, and
His and Her Spyders.
"If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die,
I want to go where they went." ~ ~ Will Rogers
"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."
~ ~ Winston Churchill in his tribute to the RAF.
"I'd like to know why well-educated idiots keep apologizing for lazy and complaining
people who think the world owes them a living." ~ ~ John Wayne
GOS 3799
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I was always told if you can eat the critter in one setting at the table then aim for it if you can't stop. The critter could easily move the same way you swerve and swerving can lead to disaster. $2K or $5K damage to your machine is much better than the damage that can be done to you. So far the horn and brakes has served me well but you never know what the next ryde will bring.
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Active Member
Critters
Thanks to everyone who posted it is great info and good stories that we all learn from. And the occasional joke that makes me smile.
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Originally Posted by billybovine
If I had of been on 2 wheel I would have went down for sure. Smashed the front trunk bucket and if it was not for the truck liner, all my stuff would have spilled all over the road.
Glad you were OK. You just presented a great argument for "liners" that I never considered. Even if one popped open everything would be in one container and protected a bit.
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