Bird Strike

[Vader]

Having been away for a long weekend, I was itching to get back on the Spyder. Decided on a nice two hour cruise. I was about half a mile from my home, 60 mph, when I saw the bird. No time to try and avoid it. I believe it actually flared up to try and avoid me. I took the full impact to my left pectoral. I practice ATGATT, and was wearing a mesh armored jacket. Auto pilot took over, got off the throttle, directional, braking, downshift,hazards, shut down. I dismounted and was met by the gentleman who was operating the vehicle behind me. He rides as well and witnessed the strike. He asked if I needed medical, which puzzled me, until he mentioned it was a pretty big bird. I assured him I was gine. But decided to walk a bit just to make sure. The bird was deceased. I belive it was a Northern Flicker. They stand about 11-14" and have a wingspan of 17-21", not hugh but no chickadee. But a pretty pointed beak.
Thanks to the jacket, I am fine.

 

[Pirate looks at --]

RIP Bird

So glad you were not in shorts and a T-shirt!:clap:

 

[Saluda]

Glad you're OK.

 

[Bob Denman]

Glad that you were able to survive the kamikaze attack! :shocked:

 

[WEB-WVR]

Glad you are OK. On a trip back from Reno (on my 2 wheeler) I had a BIG Vulture attacking my helmet, struck it twice.....must have looked like an egg from above ?!? :yikes:

 

[Bob Denman]

Don't vultures tend to eat dead stuff?
You weren't dead at the time; were you? :shocked:

:joke:

 

[ARtraveler]

Scary things that you don't expect to happen on a simple thing like a ride.

Glad you got through it with no major problems. One never knows when the safety gear will be required. :yes:

 

[Bob Denman]

I've been hit twice by birds. :shocked:
It never worked out well for the bird!

 

[Vader]

Thanks all for the kind words and chuckles!

 

[Bob Denman]

Just remember: What would have happened, if COWS could fly??? :yikes:

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Birds and I do not get along. They are always trying to get me when I ride. I can be anywhere in a line of bikes and they will swoop at me. I would definitely have required new undies if I had hit that bird.

Glad you are okay.

 

[Bob Denman]

Sorry...

You've left me no option...

 

[Chupaca]

Yikes..!!

glad your okay...:thumbup: little over and could have knocked the wind outta you....I have been swooped at many times but we were both in control which is good cause theseare hawks...says a lot about wearing the right gear...:thumbup:

 

[grumpybob]

Glad to hear you are ok.

 

[blacklightning]

Glad that you are ok. My question is, "do they taste like chicken"?:joke:

 

[ursamajor35126]

My son and I were on a ride, He on his sport bike me on my spyder, He was going 85 when he hit a hummingbird with his helmet just above the facemask..... WOW.... almost knocked him off the bike.... we stopped immediately.... what a bloody mess...... thankfully I had my can of Honda polish and rags in the top box so it cleaned up easily....... Little bird + high speed = big problem.:shocked::lecturef_smilie:

 

[PrairieSpyder]

At the dealership here in Great Falls as I was walking around with the service guy I noticed a dead bird stuck in the diagonal bars just inside the front tire. He said he sees that all the time. I don't know how a bird would be there unless he was just really slow on take-off.

 

[Pampurrs]

This is one of the main reasons I wear a helmet. I have been struck in the head (helmet) by birds twice in 37 years of riding. I can't even give an estimate on the amount of bird **** I have washed off my helmets over the years. I'd hate to think of the damage my head may have taken without a helmet. :yikes:

I'm glad you're ok. This is one of the perils of riding; flying creatures and flying objects.

Pam

 

[WEB-WVR]

Don't vultures tend to eat dead stuff?
You weren't dead at the time; were you? :shocked:

:joke:

It was a solid BLACK helmet....maybe it looked rotted. :dontknow:

 

[Bob Denman]

I'm glad to hear that it was only your helmet that was dead...
Give it a bath and a spit-shine! :thumbup: