Hey guys n gals! On the 7th of this month, a mate and I embarked upon a day trip to Whitfield and back. I had a funny feeling about the ride, but who can say no, especially on a nice day! 10km out of Whitfield, we came out of a corner (me in front), and, according to my mate (I have no recollection of it), a kangaroo hopped straight out in front of me, I got 2metres of braking in before impact (100km/h), supermanned over the handlebars and proceeded to tumble/slide for 72 metres. Result was a night in hospital, a broken collarbone, and one written off cbr 954. I thought about putting this up and obviously went ahead with it. I'm notputting it up to try and gain sympathy or anything... I just want to warn people! It was 11.50am, on a sunny day, you n ever know, I guess! I had full gear on. I had bought new leathers and boots the day before, in fact! You might just be going out for a Sunday cruise, but please people, anything can happen! If I had of been missing any bit of it hadn't of held up, I either wouldn't be here, or would be in a lot worse of a state than I am. Full comp just saved me a fortune! As it stands, I am a very lucky rider, there was no one coming the other way, and I slid down the road and not into anything. The fact it was not rider error in any way is kind of annoying, but I can't complain! I will attach some pics of both my gear, and the bike, as well as the culprit! Remember, you never know what is around the next corner! Stay safe on the road! Ash
Wow, that is some damage...glad you are in as good shape as you are! Looking at that picture of the helmet, I don't think that many would look at that and think "Wow, I really want that design on my head" and carry on riding without a helmet. Glad things turned out as they did and it just proves that full comp can be worth it! (I judder at the thought of repairing that bike out of pocket). Ride safe and heal well, Chris
True! I see more dumb and active roos during the day than at night! Hit two with the car during the day at, oh, roughly 11am. Nearly hit one near Broadford about the same time of day too. Glad it worked out "OK" in the end for you.
Wow, glad you are OK, that looked bad judging from the damage to bike and gear. I'm guessing the paramedics cut your helmet and clothes off? And the second ambulance is for the 'roo? Looks like it's still kicking in that photo... We have white-tailed deer around here that do fun stuff like that. I cannot figure the damned things out - their behavior seems totally random to me sometimes. Rather than stand on a hillside and watch you go by, they'll run down the hill and jump right in front of you! They are known by a lot of derogatory names such as flying forest rats and ditch donkeys. I have placed my name on a pre-order list for auto-firing phasers to take out the deer and hope some brilliant person can design and build some sooner than later. I want to immolate the ferking things from a safe distance so all I have to do is ride through a cloud of scorched ditch donkey dust. I'm 100% with you on the need, EVERY time you ride, for proper gear. I feel naked without it. I get a little tired of paying insurance on everything I own sometimes, but all it takes is one claim and you're glad you've got it. Was the bike totalled? Heal well, hope you get back on a bike soon! Doug
" I had a funny feeling about the ride..." The older I get, the more I try to listen to my gut. There have been a few times I was already suited up, helmet in hand when I decided to heed that inner voice; same with that last run down the ski slope. Heal up!
Roo steaks tonight? Looks delicious. Glad you are OK and that you made the right decision about gear. It obviously was the right choice.
Yowie! What's the "little" FF weigh? He looks alive in that pic but I'm assuming he's dead and not posing for a picture. Glad you survived.
Normally the Roo will bounce away... like ELK... really dense... i was getting a ride in 2001 out of Tibbiboura, NSW (up by The NW corner for non Aussies) ... my 1150gs had lost its clutch line in the middle of nowhere... well at night in a 10m flatbed semi truck we hit two at the same time.. the big one got it by the front bull bars... but the little one was too small to get caught by the bars... hit square on the tire... i had a bruise on my lap from the seat belt... since it was like hitting a bowling ball at speed... I also has a small one rub the front tire of the cycle at 45kph or so up in the Snow Mountians
They can get much bigger than that one. It is the small ones that dart out late and low that can put you down when they hit your front wheel. Ask me howI know? My ribs are busted and my bike is bent. Time for revenge. Roo steak is back on my menu. Cook it rare and it tastes good.
The Roos are so bad where I live in Central Victoria that I won't ride at night any more, I don't even like driving at night. Never hit one on a bike, but I've had a few close calls. Hit one in the car the other evening. Close to home, sun just gone down, I was only doing 80 k's (you can pick the locals, they're the ones travelling slowly after dark) because of the risk in the area. A big buck jumped out. I slammed on the brakes and probably hit him at about 30k's, he landed on the bonnet, bounced off the windscreen, picked himself up and took off. Went to a panel beaters yesterday to arrange for the repair work to be done (new bonnet), the guy said I was the seventh victim of a Roo strike he's seen that day! Be careful out there.