[Scootereno]

While trailering the scoot driving down through corn country at dusk on Hwy 57 I think I saw the most Horrifying thing ever. We were on our way back from a family reunion/fishing/riding trip in Minnesota. We were surrounded by corn fields as far as you could see in nowhere Illinois. A group of 11 bikers came riding past and while I was checking out their rides a covey of quail flew across the and right into the group of bikes. 6 of the eleven went down and I was amazed that all them them weren't taken out by the barrage. Needles to say we stopped and helped get the riders and their bikes off the highway and attend to the injured. Fortunately none were seriously injured but banged up pretty good and 3 of the bikes were trash.
Now most of the bikers we saw were NOT wearing helmets in Illinois but all of these had on all the gear! Thank God! All 6 of the riders and the 2 pillions that went down hit their helmets on the pavement. I never even thought that a flock/covey of birds/quail would in effect be little missiles with such devastating results. It cost us about an hour or so on our journey but was glad to help out and even more glad it wasn't more tragic.
I also was reminded how the rural Minnesota roads are pretty pitiful and full of sand/gravel, cracks and potholes while riding the northern part of the state....but it is beautiful scenery and the fishing still Rocks!

 

[swshana]

I live in Maryland. This summer, we had two serious motorcycle accidents involving buzzards. One driver was killed, the other was badly injured. Ironically, the two accidents happened in two different locations on successive days. It appears the birds where either coming to, or leaving road kill when they flew into the the motorcycles' path.

 

[curly]

Wow, glad it wasn't worse. Good of you to stop and lend a hand.

On my way home from work a few years ago a buzzard swooped down out of a tree and just about took me off my bike. It was scary. Only thing I could think afterward was that he was trying to make his own road kill.

 

[v8eyedoc]

S T U F F........happens...!!! Be like the Boy Scouts - always be prepared!!


Someone should have been riding SHOTGUN!!!!! literally...............

 

[Quantum Mechanic]

Wearing a helmet with proper eye protection is one of the best preparations and makes a fall and injury less likely in the first place. Often bikers go down due to being hit in the face by debri, a bird or large insect. It hurts or worse!

 

[Fatjock]

Wow!
I've never been hit by birds over the years, but had a few close calls.

I'd never thought of a group being taken out by them before..............

 

[mikeyMarine]

shall we start a new thread of natures enemies of scooters/bikes? i nominate the cellphone face grabbing vampire walletsucker, er no thats a demon, not natural,

 

[etcallhome]

Glad it wasn't worst and thanks for stopping to help !
Several yrs ago husband and wife were out for a ride, on their Harley. There sons following behind on their bikes and they seen a deer running down through the woods ,then takes a leap .
Deer's head hits their mothers jaw ,knocks her partly off the Harley .Dad knows something is taking place but not sure what because he feels something between him and his wife . He is trying to slow the bike down without crashing plus wanting to see if his wife is OK .Sons call 911 , mom ends up with a broken jaw ,lost several if not all her teeth. Bike had a few scratches but nothing serious and dad ended up with a few bruises. Both were wearing helmets just not a full helmet.
Another friend riding on the Bay Bridge . A car beside him ,with a load of young women , offers him a orange. They are holding the orange he is ready to grab orange but the girl lets go before he grabs it hits him on the chest . Took his breath away and he all but crashed before getting the Harley over to edge of the road. He had a very large bruise mark on his chest 2 weeks later .
Never know ,,always be prepared !

 

[paulcbrowne]

I was once hit in my face shield by a dove. I kept upright but had a very sore neck and a headache. I've also had several hard things hit my helmet including a curb in an accident. I may crack my face shield if it's hot, but never ride with it open.

 

[farqhuarforever]

Another friend riding on the Bay Bridge . A car beside him ,with a load of young women , offers him a orange. They are holding the orange he is ready to grab orange but the girl lets go before he grabs it hits him on the chest . Took his breath away and he all but crashed before getting the Harley over to edge of the road. He had a very large bruise mark on his chest 2 weeks later .
Never know ,,always be prepared !

That doesn't make sense. The orange wouldn't hit/hurt the rider unless there was a significant speed differential between the vehicles or the orange was being thrown to the rider, but you say the orange was being passed to him from a vehicle beside him?

 

[MacDoc]

OP - wow - something to see for sure but good on you for lending a hand and no one seriously hurt.

I live in Maryland. This summer, we had two serious motorcycle accidents involving buzzards. One driver was killed, the other was badly injured. Ironically, the two accidents happened in two different locations on successive days. It appears the birds where either coming to, or leaving road kill when they flew into the the motorcycles' path.

I came within inches....buzzards on road kill were late lifting off - I ducked and buddy said they just cleared me. Maybe not the best idea to play chicken with them on a kill. Hefty hunk of bird to hit.

 

[etcallhome]

He said they were doing the speed limit and the orange was about 12-18" away from him when she let go. Both of them were going the speed limit, meaning it was traveling about 50-60 mph when it hit his chest.

 

[Scootereno]

Wait.
Isn't orange Harley's color of choice?

 

[farqhuarforever]

He said they were doing the speed limit and the orange was about 12-18" away from him when she let go. Both of them were going the speed limit, meaning it was traveling about 50-60 mph when it hit his chest.

.... but the orange was travelling 50-60 mph AWAY from him, whilst he was travelling at the same speed TOWARDS it, therefore the speed differential was approx zero (in actuality it is the amount of speed the orange has decelerated by in 12-18", i.e. very little and highly unlikely enough to cause a significant bruise).

Sounds to me like something has gone missing in the retelling of this story.

 

[WELDER DON]

Man,I watch birds like crazy! In texas , a bird of almost any size or type will dive for a grasshopper or some other bug & smash against a car windshield. If it was you or your scooter wind shield it might kill the snot out of you or maybe worse. In 1975 ,about 10 miles from where I live now, I was on my Suzuki 380 Gt about 11 p.m. & saw the bug come at me . My speed was about 85 & I had driven from Wichitah Kansas (can't spell anymore) & my windshield was a nass of smashed bugs so bad I had to look over the windshield & my face shield was up for the same reason ! Some monster of a bug hit between my eyes & it felt like a 1 inch ball bearing! I grabbed the brakes & this 25 year old SSGT sat down on the side of the ride & boo-hooed like a 10 year old! We have deer,wild hogs thick where I live! I've hit 5 deer in my pickup or car & my wife hit 2. I totaled a Malibu about 1/2 mile from my house. Buzzards scare tht he-- out of me.! there may be a dozen at a road kill and you never know till it's too late! The last one always lifts up like a Huey & sort of hovers in your lane while your going crazy shifting down & braking& screaming like a madman at him! The Don

 

[JohnK]

On a recent road trip one of our local riders had a bird fly across the road at an angle and got around the windscreen. It knocked him for a loop but he managed to keep the bike up right. Just another reason to wear goggles or shatter proof sunglasses if you wear an open faced helmet. Losing an eye and wrecking the bike is not an option.

 

[fernando]

i remember one time i was attacked by an eagle when i was riding my bicycle solo in the mountains, after i crashed the eagle continued to hover over me for long time and I had to start throwing some stones at it to make it go away. it was pretty bad.

 

[etcallhome]

.... but the orange was travelling 50-60 mph AWAY from him, whilst he was travelling at the same speed TOWARDS it, therefore the speed differential was approx zero (in actuality it is the amount of speed the orange has decelerated by in 12-18", i.e. very little and highly unlikely enough to cause a significant bruise).

Sounds to me like something has gone missing in the retelling of this story.

They were all going the same direction.

 

[dpilot]

When you say "bikers", do you mean bicycles or motorcycles?
Around here a "biker" is on a bicycle.
JimV

 

[JohnK]

Biker is a generic term used for anything with two wheels,powered or not.
On most motorcycle forums it means a motorcycle rider and bicycle is normally spelled out if the poster means otherwise.