Birds!!!

[jrandom]

I took a glancing blow on the chest from something small and feathered while riding up SH1 just south of Huntly a few weeks back. Was only doing 70kph or so, so it was more of a slap than a punch. I imagine that the bird was only stunned.

(It could well have been a Norwegian Blue.)

In a more dramatic vein, though, following kiwifruit along a Closed Private Road (tm) in the back blocks of the southwest Waikato a while back (at a speed that would have been a little over twice the legal limit had the road not been closed and private) I observed a bird directly impact on his right knee. What an explosion! I rode through quite a large cloud of feathers and bird bits half a second later.

Thank goodness for CE armour and kneesliders (and closed private roads).

[Dodger]

I've had 2 sparrows bounce off the top of my helmet so far.

Also had a bee inside my helmet (that makes to pull over fast), and have clipped a cat with my front wheel after it decided to run out in front of me.

I've lost count of the number of stones I've taken to the shoulder/chest/arms/legs etc.

[Finn]

just noticed your tag is CEO of kiwibiker. so whats up with making physical threats on someone who's just joined the forums to meet some new biker mates? seems pretty goddamn unfair, really.

Made any friends yet?

[bucket boy]

[QUOTE=n0regret5;1467085]brothers mate got whomped by a pukeko a few years back out the back of rotorua on his NS250, smashed THROUGH his visor, nearly took out his eye (he was doing an estimated 140), dropped the bike and everything, ended up having major surgery and was stuck inside for 6 months or something..crazy birds! poor things. haha.
I no that feeling but some how didnt drop the bike

[gijoe1313]

I got coshed on the back of the ol'bone dome by a ninja assassin duck! Saw stars, managed to keep bike upright and pulled off to the side of the road ... all good till I put my foot down and onto gravel ... slid off, dropped the bike, did a roly-poly and ended up facing the bike flat on my face...

Dang ninja assassin ducks, didn't have the grace to hang around for me to collect for dinner! Only left with a few downy feathers on the back of the lid!

[EJK]

Got one with my shoulder on one of my first rides, didn't have a chance to identify the bird (well, ok, I don't know anything about birds).

Wasn't a Japanese MotoGP 250cc rider taken off by a bird (a seagull?) a few years back in Philip Island(?) and got injured?

Here is a good starting point if you want to see birds and MotoGP encounters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDIa-RymzeI

did the birdie found a new home?

[Hitcher]

Birds I have so far managed to pick up whilst motorcycling include a sparrow, a hawk and two quail.

A couple of years ago a rider on the Grand Challenge took out a duck. The front of his bike was littered with feathers, innards, broken eggs and two webbed feet. The duck didn't look too good either.

[Finn]

A couple of years ago a rider on the Grand Challenge took out a duck. The front of his bike was littered with feathers, innards, broken eggs and two webbed feet. The duck didn't look too good either.

I heard the duck offered to pay for the damages though. He said "Stick it on my bill"

That's not really funny.

[MIXONE]

just noticed your tag is CEO of kiwibiker. so whats up with making physical threats on someone who's just joined the forums to meet some new biker mates? seems pretty goddamn unfair, really.

Don't sweat it.He's got an Inferiority Complex because his arse is built too close to the ground.

[ManDownUnder]

Don't sweat it.He's got an Inferiority Complex because his arse is built too close to the ground.

Yeah but look out if he shits on you - it's not such a long shot so he's usually on target

[n0regret5]

Made any friends yet?

yeh! seems people like my wit, humour and suzuki..X-D

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Has anyone ever been hit by a bird!? I was just coming down the hill before coming into akaroa and out of the corner of my eye something gives me a hell of a fright.. it was a sparrow! i moved my head but it managed to hit the top of my helmet.. i felt sorry for the poor bugger getting headbutted at 100k.

Birds could pose quite a hazard? especially if it was a larger bird like a gull or magpie!

I was quite surprised as it was my first ride on the open road.

Going to the March Hare 07 I hit by magpie... lucky it didn't hit any fairing as it would have cracked it and caused damage, but it hit the engine, didn't kill it (we as far as I know) as it flow off to die else where.

However if it was any higher it would have hit me and hurt like buggery and or cause damage.

Another time years ago I was hit by a sparrow or something on the shoulder (at 100kph) and holy crap I had a bruise there for weeks..

[n0regret5]

Don't sweat it.He's got an Inferiority Complex because his arse is built too close to the ground.

yeh i had a check of the profile..was gonna ask if that was his profile pic for real but i guess thats answered now..sorry finn. didn't realise a harley was the only thing you could get your feet down on!

[Hitcher]

That's not really funny.

It quacked me up.

[banditrider]

Have hit quite a few over the years. Took one on the Helmet at 1*0km/h on one of the GC's and that snapped the old head back. Put a crick in my neck for a while too.

Got one on the 14 about a month or so back. It hit just above the LHS mirror and skidded it's way right across the screen to finally exit stage right. Blood, feathers etc everywhere.

They're a darn sight harder than bugs!