Triumphrat

jwolf

Noticed the other day that chipmunks were darting back and forth between the sides of the road. Suddenly wondered what if...
I guess it wouldn't be to bad if I was upright, but wondered how it would be leaned over in a turn.
Anyone have experience with this. It was not covered in the MSF course.

Derswede

No chipmunks yet but down here squirrels are common "road fodder." As for the effect on the bike, just don't try to miss them by swerving hard and going "crunch" yourself. Still a pity to have an animal lose its life in such a manner....I'm the type that stops and helps turtles across the road....

Think this is what they look like just before they go "crunch."

Makes me think of that squirrel in "Ice Age."

Of course, the horned rats are the "bigger" problems here in NC...(deer).

Derswede

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Catenaccio

Jackalopes in Nervady. Dang things are everywhere. Hit'em dead center w/ the bike upright. Stop at the next ditch to clean off the goo.

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HiDesert

We have Jackalope here in New Mexico too. Those horns can wreak havoc on tires and bodywork, too. Best to (counter)steer well clear. We also have prairie dogs.

The chipmunks and rabbits love to play frogger here. Hitting one a any significant lean would be very bad. I'd think the chances of staying upright would be remote.

Speaking of rodent, I found a dead young rabbit in my garage yesterday. Weird; all I can figure is it was sick, and wanted to die in the sight of red, Triumphant beauty.

You've got to be careful around rodents out here in the west. They are a known vector for bubonic plague; one or two people a year die from it out here in the western states.

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Tbirdnz

Well I've learned something, a chippie here is a carpenter or a fish n chip shop.

We don't have chipmunks but we do have possums, haven't rode over one on my bike but have 3 or 4 times in a car. Here they are vermin and the Ministry of Agriculture are trying to eliminate them.


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Ride on !

Speed3

I haven't run over a chippie, but did run over a 40 lb dog in '81 on my 750 Trident. Didn't go down either. Unfortunately the dog did.

kubbie

Watched a buddy hit a gater once. Somehow he kept it upright!

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LittleJoe

At full lean it could get bad, because the animal just becomes another slippery surface, and causes a lack of traction.

Like stated above, don't get yourself into an accident by trying to avoid something so small. Animals like that use a zig-zag pattern to throw off any would be predators when they're in the open (like crossing the road) so that's why they dart back and forth. So they're completely unpredictable, which makes trying to swerve around them kind of moot especially for their size.

Generally if the animal is smaller than the height of your front axle, you can cross is just like any other obstacle, which you probably did cover in your MSF class. Approach it as close to 90 degree angle as possible (ride in straight line, since the animal is too unpredictable, and you will more than likely miss it anyway) rise a bit off the seat, and give it some gas to lighten the front end and give your suspension as much travel as possible.

Bigger animals are different issue.

shoggot

MSF classes (at least in VA & MD) don't do practicals in going over obstacles (I understand they used to use a 2"x4")... And seriously, anything less than the height of your front axle? So, including tire, about 10-12" on average? I'd be dropping bricks rearward, if I had to cross something of that height. Hecks, a six inch curb would give me significant pause, even if I had a straight run up to it, tons of forewarning, and was standing on the pegs.

LittleJoe

Its a shame you guys on VA and MD don't cover the obstacles anymore, we still do in NC.

But yes, I am serious about the front axle. A curb is a solid object, so I wouldn't suggest trying that on a bike without significant ground clearance for the frame and pipes. This is why it works with softer objects on a street bike (i.e. smaller animals)
I used to play on curbs and all kind of other obstacles when I had my supermoto, it has the ground clearance to handle that, whereas the Bonnie does not.

However, the skill is the same. By rising off the seat, leaning slightly backwards and giving it gas at the same moment you are lightening the front of the bike and giving your suspension the travel to hopefully absorb it all. With the little bit of extended suspension travel and lighter load on the front, the front wheel, when it makes contact, will roll over the object. That's why it is important to hit it at as close to 90 degrees as possible. That's why I use the front axles a rough estimation. If the object is higher than the front axle, then the tire will not roll over it when contact is made.

If you haven't had the opportunity, I suggest you go ride off road to learn about using your suspension and tires so you won't "drop bricks" if you ever have to use this on the street.