Nearly creamed a little guy... - Honda Shadow Forums : Shadow Motorcycle Forum

HoosierDave · 10-22-2012, 08:07 PM

I nearly ran over a little dog in my neighborhood this afternoon. I was setting out on a beautiful fall afternoon ride and was coming around a curve a few blocks from home. I heard the barking and saw him charging out of a yard up ahead of me on the left. I remembered from my MSF course that I was supposed to slow down, and then speed up as the dog got closer, because as my instructor put it, "Dogs are lousy at calculating vectors". Probably would have worked out fine, but Lady Blue wasn't quite warmed up yet, so when I twisted the throttle to speed up, she coughed and sputtered a bit.
I don't know what made me think of this, butI quickly got my left foot off the peg and kind of trailed it in the air behind me. I think this gave my assailant a new target to aim for, because when the bike finally 'got with the program', he was aimed too far back to get under the bike. Good thing, too; because I'm pretty good at calculating vectors, and it looked like he would have gone under the bike right behind the front tire.
I don't think this is an MSF approved strategy, but if you ever find yourself in a similar situation, you might give it a try.
Or just wait for your bike to warm up fully before taking off.

HoosierDave

vito · 10-22-2012, 09:09 PM

Did you talk to the owner? Might save the dog in the long run.

NYCRider · 10-22-2012, 09:16 PM

The MSF advise work but in the situation you explained, if you have aftermarket exhaust just open the throttle fully to scare the assailant away, hopefully.

kokopellioh · 10-22-2012, 10:10 PM

The MSF never mentions cats, likely because they just fly across the road and out of the way. However we do have chickens wandering the street early in the morning.

(Yes, just north of downtown Phoenix ...)

MikeAstringer · 10-23-2012, 06:59 AM

As a dog owner and a dog lover I never understand why people let their dogs run free in the first place. There are many more dangers out there for that little dog than your bike doing down the street. If you have a dog fence in your yard!

There are a lot of dogs in my neighborhood but only once have I ever seen a dog running free. He had gotten out of his fence and his owner was frantic trying to find him.

Dom.Five · 10-23-2012, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoosierDave

I was supposed to slow down, and then speed up as the dog got closer, because as my instructor put it, "Dogs are lousy at calculating vectors".

HoosierDave

That's not true in all cases ! Many Dogs, Do Calculate Vectors well ...

Ever see one playing Frisbee with his owner? Well, that dog IS calculating vectors !

I have had hunting dogs, that would grab a bird that I shot, Before it hit the ground. That dog was also calculating vectors, and doing it quite well.

So don't depend on that bit of information saving your Butt ..

Ride Safe

Dom

cvaria · 10-23-2012, 10:06 AM

my msf instructor said there are "squishables" and "unsquishables." I now measure squish-ability.... I will squish a squishable. there are a number of events that lead to that squishable's squishing (lack of leash, fence blah blah). Most of those events were not in my realm of control but, the life or squish of someones loose pet does not take priority over my life or accident so... splat.

I'll live to feel bad about it.

but a squishing could end like this:

Dog vs Motorcycle rider caught on cam helmet accident crash - YouTube

Susan07 · 10-23-2012, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvaria

my msf instructor said there are "squishables" and "unsquishables." I now measure squish-ability.... I will squish a squishable. there are a number of events that lead to that squishable's squishing (lack of leash, fence blah blah). Most of those events were not in my realm of control but, the life or squish of someones loose pet does not take priority over my life or accident so... splat.

I'll live to feel bad about it.

but a squishing could end like this:

Dog vs Motorcycle rider caught on cam helmet accident crash - YouTube

Yeah...^ this. Anything mid size dog and down is doable. Just stay straight. I've hit everything from dogs to coons. I always feel so bad about hitting an animal(even a possum)but...my life and well being, as well as the bike, are my main priorities.

John Hopkins · 10-23-2012, 01:17 PM

Oh bad luck..my Malasian friend tells me he has lots of recipes for dog..

John.

GrumpyOldMan · 10-23-2012, 01:20 PM

Y'all forgot to mention kamikaze squirrels!
Lil bastiches are quick AND stupid, so watch out!

10-22-2012, 08:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
HoosierDave Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 36	Nearly creamed a little guy... I nearly ran over a little dog in my neighborhood this afternoon. I was setting out on a beautiful fall afternoon ride and was coming around a curve a few blocks from home. I heard the barking and saw him charging out of a yard up ahead of me on the left. I remembered from my MSF course that I was supposed to slow down, and then speed up as the dog got closer, because as my instructor put it, "Dogs are lousy at calculating vectors". Probably would have worked out fine, but Lady Blue wasn't quite warmed up yet, so when I twisted the throttle to speed up, she coughed and sputtered a bit. I don't know what made me think of this, butI quickly got my left foot off the peg and kind of trailed it in the air behind me. I think this gave my assailant a new target to aim for, because when the bike finally 'got with the program', he was aimed too far back to get under the bike. Good thing, too; because I'm pretty good at calculating vectors, and it looked like he would have gone under the bike right behind the front tire. I don't think this is an MSF approved strategy, but if you ever find yourself in a similar situation, you might give it a try. Or just wait for your bike to warm up fully before taking off. HoosierDave

10-22-2012, 09:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
vito Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Phoenixville, PA Posts: 6,316	Did you talk to the owner? Might save the dog in the long run. __________________ When all think alike......no one thinks very much.

10-22-2012, 09:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
NYCRider Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 260	The MSF advise work but in the situation you explained, if you have aftermarket exhaust just open the throttle fully to scare the assailant away, hopefully. __________________ NYCRider

10-22-2012, 10:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
kokopellioh Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 401	The MSF never mentions cats, likely because they just fly across the road and out of the way. However we do have chickens wandering the street early in the morning. (Yes, just north of downtown Phoenix ...) __________________ Kokopelli 2008 Roketa MC-74-150K (Sold 2012) 2007 Shadow Aero Kuryakyn ISO-Grips, Stiletto End Caps, Dually ISO-Pegs, Master Cylinder Cover Show Chrome Accessories Air Filter Cover Ride Bells thanks to my Better Half

10-23-2012, 06:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
MikeAstringer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Philadelphia area Posts: 1,111	As a dog owner and a dog lover I never understand why people let their dogs run free in the first place. There are many more dangers out there for that little dog than your bike doing down the street. If you have a dog fence in your yard! There are a lot of dogs in my neighborhood but only once have I ever seen a dog running free. He had gotten out of his fence and his owner was frantic trying to find him. __________________ Mike Astringer Harley Davidson Road King Custom Ride Bell by Gimpdiggity mike@mikeastringer.com www.facebook.com/mikeastringer Former Bikes: Harley Davidson 1200 Sportster Custom (Now my son's bike) Honda VT1100 Honda VLX 600 Kawasaki KZ 750 Honda CM 400 Honda CBR 600 Honda VFR 750 Honda Twinstar 250 (First Bike)

10-23-2012, 01:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
John Hopkins Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Tredegar,South Wales, near England, not far from Scotland. Posts: 3,409	Oh bad luck..my Malasian friend tells me he has lots of recipes for dog.. John. __________________ Beauty is only skin deep but ugly goes right to the bone.

10-23-2012, 01:20 PM	#10 (permalink)
GrumpyOldMan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Sack-a-Tomatoes, CA, US Posts: 706	Y'all forgot to mention kamikaze squirrels! Lil bastiches are quick AND stupid, so watch out! __________________ Black Beast = '71 CB750 Lazarus = '86 VT1100C rescued from a salvage yard.

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