• Can't post after logging to the forum for the first time... Try Again - If you can't post in the forum, sign out of both the membership site and the forum and log in again. Make sure your COG membership is active and your browser allow cookies. If you still can't post, contact the COG IT guy at IT@Concours.org.
  • IF YOU GET 404 ERROR: This may be due to using a link in a post from prior to the web migration. Content was brought over from the old forum as is, but the links may be in error. If the link contains "cog-online.org" it is an old link and will not work.

That darned turkey

Bud

Bud

Member
Member
I was on my way to Walmart when a turkey decided to run out in the road and into the side of my 14. I wasn't in a situation to stand on the brakes or swerve as it was a relatively busy two lane state highway. The speed limit was 45. I was not speeding. All was fine except the bike. Markel is the insurance company. I've never had a motorcycle insurance claim personally. We'll see how this one goes. Here's the results.
PXL_20240413_171008861.jpgPXL_20240413_171006277.jpgPXL_20240413_223753632.jpgPXL_20240413_223812094.jpg
 
Wow. Almost hit a hen turkey in the mountains on my C-10 one day when she flew up from the left side of the road. She crossed so close to my windshield that I could see her chest feathers. I was slowing for a stop sign and was probably only doing 25 mph. Scared the crap out of me and my wife. Those birds are big. Glad you’re okay except for maybe your underwear.
 
Turkeys are large enough to cause some really serious damage and injuries. Glad you came through OK Paul! My claim with Dairyland a few years ago was very fair and easy.
 
Bud said:
I was on my way to Walmart when a turkey decided to run out in the road and into the side of my 14. I wasn't in a situation to stand on the brakes or swerve as it was a relatively busy two lane state highway. The speed limit was 45. I was not speeding. All was fine except the bike. Markel is the insurance company. I've never had a motorcycle insurance claim personally. We'll see how this one goes. Here's the results.
View attachment 38514View attachment 38515View attachment 38516View attachment 38517
Click to expand...
Your crash bars probably stopped more damage. Good job driving through the Turkey and not hyper-swerving or slamming the brakes or worse yet both.

As already mentioned the insurance will likely be very fair, accommodating.

Glad you’re ok and got that behind you.

Wayne
 
Thanks everyone. I'm a big believer in just hitting the object. I've seen too many videos online of riders and drivers that make things worse with their reactions. The bike didn't budge when hitting the turkey. I'm really glad it wasn't a deer! You don't see many in town, but it does happen. If that turkey was at head level, it may have gone bad quickly.
 
Good save while taking the hit. About 20 years ago while living in SW New Hampshire, I was rolling along on my ‘83 GS1100 ED on a 2 lane country road. Came upon a part of the road where it dipped and both sides were above my head. Came around a corner and started to accelerate, when from the left came a flock of about 5-6 turkeys running along and trying to leap over the road. Luckily a lot of ducking and swerving on my part got me thru unscathed.
But like you said, I stayed on the gas and got thru.
A memory I’ll never forget.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bud
Called markel this morning and opened a claim. Good experience so far. We'll see how it goes from here.
 
Glad to hear you were able to escape injury.
With all the human distractions we deal with on the road. I agree hit it & hold tight.
 
Riding home today, following a pick-up about 100 feet back, this guy slows a bit and almost nails a giant Tom turkey, I'm thinking quick, gonna be more than one, I slow down quick too, as I do, I see the other one take off running in front of me them when he realizes he won't make it, takes off. Doing my best Richard Petty and steering for the place he's at when I saw him, I'm headed right and he goes over me where my head was milli-seconds prior, I duck and his claws still scrape my helmet. He went between the windshield and my helmet.

BTW, this was about a half hour after I fixed a rear flat tire from a roofing nail I picked up at Lehman's Hardware, it's really changed, I couldn't find anything, they bus in the blue hairs now.

Lehman's - Products For Simple Living

Live simply with the Lehman's online store. We sell oil lamps, wood cook stoves & more. Non-electric tools & homesteading supplies since 1955.
www.lehmans.com
 
Wow Dave! Bet that got the heart pumping. That was too close. Glad you didn't get hit in the head by a turkey. That wouldn't have been good at all.
 
Bud said:
I reported the claim on Monday. I had a check in my hand by Saturday. Good experience with Markel insurance. Check was $2149.55. Life is good 😊
Click to expand...
From my experience, thankfully not many occurrences, when an insurance claim is needed (Fire; Theft; Unleashed dog ran in front of the truck at HWY speed; Tree went through side of them house; tennis ball-sized hail damage of car / windows etc) the insurance companies showed up with armored vehicles full of funding. Looking back now we’ve had our fair share of bad luck, more than I thought, but insurance companies have always stood tall for us without as much as a second guess of the claim.

Also recalling the frequency of need, every xx years - I am hoping we are not due, life has come to a steady pace would be nice to keep it that way for a bit… ;)

@Bud I am glad you were promptly and adequately taken care of.

Ride safe!

Wayne
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bud
I got to thinking today that I never looked at my helmet when I got home, I just looked. There's a scrape mark across the top! Nothin deep but definately there.
 
Strawboss said:
Riding home today, following a pick-up about 100 feet back, this guy slows a bit and almost nails a giant Tom turkey, I'm thinking quick, gonna be more than one, I slow down quick too, as I do, I see the other one take off running in front of me them when he realizes he won't make it, takes off. Doing my best Richard Petty and steering for the place he's at when I saw him, I'm headed right and he goes over me where my head was milli-seconds prior, I duck and his claws still scrape my helmet. He went between the windshield and my helmet.

BTW, this was about a half hour after I fixed a rear flat tire from a roofing nail I picked up at Lehman's Hardware, it's really changed, I couldn't find anything, they bus in the blue hairs now.

Lehman's - Products For Simple Living

Live simply with the Lehman's online store. We sell oil lamps, wood cook stoves & more. Non-electric tools & homesteading supplies since 1955.
www.lehmans.com
Click to expand...

Good day to buy a lottery ticket
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bud
🍺 I had a few of these and reflected on how unimportant the nonsense of the family politics that shook out Sunday during dinner at my in-laws and how the important things in life are really the stuff we should worry about. Or, just not worry and ride more......:)
 
This thread got me thinking of what I tell BRC students about animals as obstacles in the roadway.... if they are small enough to eat in one sitting, you can surmount it without reactive response.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top