Pheasant on the noggin

[L3nny]

Went over to my mate's last night, got to a long straight and as I could see a long way pulled out early to overtake a car, not going that fast maybe 80ish.

As I start to overtake the car I saw it starting to brake, then I saw the fat useless creature emerg from in front of the car and attempt to take flight.

I duck but the thing takes a glancing blow just above the visor.

OMFG did it hurt, I was seeing stars and was convinced my helmet was going to be cracked so I pull over, nice lady in the car stops to see if I am okay.

Helmet looks fine but I am still a little dazed but it's probably more shock than the actual force of the impact.

Get back on the bike and carry on my way. Then 10 minutes later I start thinking, what if that was a few inches lower and went through my visor and I haven't really been able to think of anything else since. I haven't had an off since I started biking but things like this remind me it's only a matter of time before I do and no matter what you do there are thing out to get you beyond your control.

Still got a bit of a headache as well.

[mcgrimes]

is it worth contemplating? The more you think about it the more you will worry!

You should think along the lines of
'If only i took it back home for dinner;next time perhaps...'

Things like that are a seldom occurrence, but good save and glad to hear you're alright!

Is it wise to buy a new helmet?

[L3nny]

I know I shouldn't worry about it and an hour later was hooning about as usual, just makes you stop and think that's all, especailly when the pounding headache won't let you forget.

I was thinking about a new helmet. There is no visible damage to it but I know that the padding could be damaged underneath. I'll take the lining out and see if it's okay but it wasn't the best helmet anyway so might just get a new one.

The mate I was going to see is a hunter gatherer type so knows how to gut them, couldn't really be bothered to go back and find it. Plus the thought of riding with a twitching corpse stuffed down my jacket wasn't too appealing lol.

[Specialone]

Try not to over analyze things (wish i could heed my own advice) otherwise it dominates your focus.
I've had a few close calls with bird strikes but non contact so far, but many on here have and stayed on, so its not a certainty you'll bin it.

You will forget about it in a few days and get back to normal.



Phil

[mcgrimes]

Its a shame you dont have that knowledge really, could of fryed it there and then on your exhaust!

[Triv650]

I've seen footage of a biker take a pheasant right through the visor. Suffice to say he looked like the elephant man with all the swelling, face covered in blood and feathers, not a pretty sight. Eyelids swollen so he couldn't see, couldn't really talk. The guys took a pheasant right to the face on a straight and ended up in a ditch in the side of the road. He recovered though.

But you're okay so that's all that matters.

[L3nny]

The day I told my missus I was doing my bike test she had read this in the paper.

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news--general-news/biker-killed-by-flying-pheasant/5863.html

My main worry was that if I had of come off I would have had to live with "I told you so"

[Red Herring]

I wouldn't worry to much about it but reflecting on it and considering what you might do differently next time is healthy enough. Most crashes involving birds (the feathered variety) are caused by the rider over reacting and going off the road as a consequence (swerving to avoid rabbits and such like is also well up there) rather than you being knocked off by the animal itself, so it's probably better to just grin and bear it so to speak. Whilst your thinking it over consider what you might have done if the car driver had swerved instead of braking...?

[Specialone]

My wife wasnt keen when i passed my test but has come round now, she still thinks its dangerous but rides pillion a fair bit now.
If we ever bin the bike while she is on it i know she'll never get on again so im especially careful when she's on the back.

Hadnt seen that story before regarding that guy being killed by the pheasant, poor bloke :(

[Electro]

Glad u aint injured by the collision mate. Looks like i`ll have to strap a couple of machine guns on the side of the bike or get a rack on the back with a bbq :)

Plus its not every day u get to brag about nobbling a bird with ur helmet.

[L3nny]

I wouldn't worry to much about it but reflecting on it and considering what you might do differently next time is healthy enough. Most crashes involving birds (the feathered variety) are caused by the rider over reacting and going off the road as a consequence (swerving to avoid rabbits and such like is also well up there) rather than you being knocked off by the animal itself, so it's probably better to just grin and bear it so to speak. Whilst your thinking it over consider what you might have done if the car driver had swerved instead of braking...?


I think I pretty much reacted as well as I could, I tried to scrub of as much speed without hitting the brakes hard enough to cause the back to lift or the wheel to lock up and I ducked to it hit me on the top of the head rather than in the face. I didnt swerve as I knew that doing this when braking is asking for trouble.

If the car had swerved there wouldn't have been anything I could have done to avoid it. The only way I could make sure that never happens is to never overtake again, which isn't going to happen.

[mcgrimes]

My main worry was that if I had of come off I would have had to live with "I told you so"

I absolutely dread it when the superior other/commanding officer/creator of all evil has the expression of 'I told you so' on her face; i can count on it being followed by a sh*t storm!

[dizzyblonde]

So you hit a pheasant, happens a lot. You rode off. Thats it, no need to analyse it. Just laugh and be grateful it didn't knock you out, and injure you severely.

Don't worry folks I shan't be mentioning the 'DEE.....' ;-)

Oh BTW did you cause carnage?

[Red Herring]

If the car had swerved there wouldn't have been anything I could have done to avoid it. The only way I could make sure that never happens is to never overtake again, which isn't going to happen.

Sounds like you did everything about right so as I said, I wouldn't worry to much about it. With regard to overtaking it's just sometimes worth considering your closing speed. I't always a good move to get out onto the offside nice and early if the view allows it, but lots of riders then think it's OK to nail the overtake from back there, without considering how things might change in the few seconds it takes them to close on the subject. Just an observation, no criticism intended.

[L3nny]

Cheers Red, will bear that in mind next time

[maviczap]

At least you didn't ride into a field like a bloke at work did and he didn't even hit the damn bird

smashed his headlight & clocks in the process

[Milky Bar Kid]

I nearly got hit by a kamikaze duck last night, thankfully, it narrowly missed me! I was crapping it!

[beabert]

Pigeons seem to go for me, but i ride slow, and have been able to duck<(lol). I can safely say if i rode like a biker id of took 3 birds to the head by now.

[Seggons]

I nearly got hit by a kamikaze duck last night, thankfully, it narrowly missed me! I was crapping it!

Did it look like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWzROoxS2b4

:lol:

[sloppy joe]

Had a near miss with a sheep the other week, and know what you mean about over-analysing it after. Beat myself up for a few days as my first reaction (when banked over) was to touch front brake, quickly realised my folly, let off the brake and tightened the turn, but was kicking myself with 'what if it was wet?' for several days after.

However, I think I have learned from the experience, both on obs and reactions, so rather than dwelling on 'what if' I think I am better prepared for whatever comes next. You probably will have learned from your experience too. Ride safe. Go back for the pheasant next time. Well nice cooked slow with some red wine.

[L3nny]

Headache has gone away and I have checked my lid and there are no signs of damage, might get another one anyway as the one I have isn't great anyway.

When I told my mate he said if I was a real man i would have punched it out the way before it hit me.

No sympathy there then.

[Biker Biggles]

Had a near miss with a sheep the other week, and know what you mean about over-analysing it after. Beat myself up for a few days as my first reaction was to touch front, quickly realised my folly, let off and tightened, but 'it was wet?'.



Too much information methinks.:cool:

[Fizzy Fish]

When I told my mate he said if I was a real man i would have punched it out the way before it hit me.


:lol: :lol:

Having headbutted a pigeon while riding before, I feel your pain!

If it helps though, it's never happened again in another 10 yrs of riding. Consider yourself as having done your time on the flying fowl, and be glad that you got away pretty unscathed!

No point worrying too much about it - you could be in a car and have a deer/pedestrian/runaway truck come through the windscreen, but who worries about that all the time?

[Swin]

I've also headbutted a pigeon, and can only imagine how much more painful a pheasant would be.

Glad you are back in the saddle, as everyone says there's not much you can do about it but I should imagine the odds are very small that it'll happen to you again - which means it will happen regularly :D