Crikey, It's a bloody bear!

**ratast** · 29th November 2008, 19:06

Heading towards Kamloops in British Colombia got separated from others in group after stopping to put on something a little warmer. Going about 120,nice cruising speed for my RoadKing when a black bear shambled out of the undergrowth and wandered into the road. Car in opposing lane slowed down , seeing bear and approaching Harley and no doubt the driver figured out someone was going to get smacked hard.
I braked hard, I don't swerve for animals and besides with car in other lane couldn;t even if I wanted to. The twin discs up front did their job well, no slithering or tyre screaming as I slowed down to hit (surmised all this later having a shakily held coffee) the poor bear in the head with the crash bars.
This pushed bear round to face same direction bike was going in causing said bear to scrape down right side of bike, hitting Jan's leg before hitting rear crash bar and scraping down saddlebag.
Bike got a bit of a wobble sending us into path of the approaching car but managed to keep it up and get it over to the right side of the road. Turned round and wondering "What the hell do I do now, will I have to put the bear out of his misery if still alive,or do we want to go any where near it, didn't fancy getting to close to Bruin with a bloody sore head."
Bear had gone, I'm guessing crawled off road to die. Funny thing was the car in opposing lane never stopped, we could have been bear tucker for all they knew.
Had to remove crash bars,replace master oil clyinder, and get foot board and brake pedal bashed back into position where I could ride and carry on with trip.
Had quote to fix damage when I returned, lot more extensive than I thought, frame bent, need 2 new front discs, new bars, new tank,and engine mounts.
Another thing I will not do now, along with wearing open face helmets, fingerless gloves (a great name for them) is go on tour in States without crashbars.

**Lilly2w** · 29th November 2008, 20:42

Well done you! amazing that you lived to tell the tale, you should change your user name to goldie locks

**JimO** · 29th November 2008, 21:05

i have been to kamloops, never saw a bear, had a few burbon and "cakes" though

**MyGSXF:Me** · 29th November 2008, 21:11

bloody hell....

**ynot slow** · 29th November 2008, 22:32

Shit makes pukakos and possums seem irrelevant eh,mind you a pig does a bit of damage.

**Paul in NZ** · 29th November 2008, 22:35

I wonder if someplace a bear is wondering 'thank fuck I didn't have to finish off the fuckers - grandad NEVER lived it down....

Seriously though - good job! - glad ya made it...

**SARGE** · 29th November 2008, 22:37

nah man.. the bear probably limped off in the woods muttering

"bloody Harleys"

them bears are pretty staunch

**FJRider** · 29th November 2008, 22:43

If it got pushed away by a Harley... it was only a little one....

**FJRider** · 29th November 2008, 22:46

Originally Posted by ynot slow

Shit makes pukakos and possums seem irrelevant eh,mind you a pig does a bit of damage.

We have deer, horses, cattle and very big cats in the south island ... none of which I want to hit...

**Swoop** · 30th November 2008, 16:01

Was this on the recent ride with Mr & Mrs Hitcher?

**ratast** · 30th November 2008, 20:13

Going by the height of the gore trapped under my big buckles on saddlebags, a local said about a 2 year old.From our perpective it was bloody enormus.

**Lord Derosso** · 30th November 2008, 22:51

Originally Posted by ratast

Going by the height of the gore trapped under my big buckles on saddlebags, a local said about a 2 year old.From our perpective it was bloody enormus.

I am glad you posted your story after all but you should have put it in general raves too I reckon. I have hit quite a few thing things over the years but It was great meeting you on Saturday and viewing the story first hand too ! Ithought you orginally said 'deer' but 'bear'..... Blue me away !Cheers and best wishes to you and your misses next year- why dont you rent instead ??? Cheers - Ross

**Hitcher** · 1st December 2008, 07:42

Photos shall be posted. But not of the bear. God knows where that went.

This one is of Ratast's right rear pannier. http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/al...pictureid=9907. That's bear spread all over it.

I'll dig out some more that show the bent sissy bar and shattered brake reservoir.

**racerhead** · 1st December 2008, 09:40

Id be suprised if that bear actually died because they a very very tough. I spent a summer in whistler BC and have come pretty close to the brown bears even ran over a cub on my DH bike

Mother bear wasnt too happy so didnt hang about.

Have seen two bears been hit on the road by a car and a small truck. The front of the car was totaled but all the bear did was get back up and walk away into the trees with not even a look back and the one that was hit by the truck was killed but the truck was missing its entire front right wheel from the impact.