Modern Vespa

Yesterday, I spent a bit of time riding some rural roads. I was visiting my little brother's place and my parents' as well as attending my 10 year High School reunion. (Showing my age, I know...)

Anyway, when I left their place to head back to my house, I decided to do a little riding on back country roads instead of hopping right on the Interstate. Now, I don't know what roads are like in other parts of the country (or the world, for that matter), but the roads I was riding were pretty much deserted. It's really easy to relax when you don't have traffic around you. That's a double-edged sword, though, because there are a lot of dangers to country riding that you don't have to deal with as much in the city. Some examples:

Wildlife (Deer, possum, skunks, etc.)
Blind corners with views blocked by corn fields
Random freight trains.

Yes, you did read the last one right. Just past one intersection that I went through, there's a set of train tracks. Now, I've driven this road literally hundreds of times, and I don't think I've ever seen a train at that intersection. And it's a really old-school crossing, without any cross bars or even flashing lights. But this time, about 100 feet before I hit the crossing, I catch a glimpse of a diesel locomotive out of the corner of my eye. By the time I realized how close it was to the crossing, how close I was, and our relative rates of speed, I'd already subconsciously gunned the engine. It was like one of those movie scenes where the guy jumps the motorcycle over the crossing just in front of the train. If I had to guess, I'd say I didn't have more than 20 feet of clearance. My heart was racing for a few minutes, but I made it through safely, and now I have a story to tell

I'm really glad the engine wasn't coming from the other direction, because I probably wouldn't have seen it over the corn field...

So, moral of the story: You need to stay vigilant at all times, even when out on a "relaxing" ride...

Mark

That's scary! So is the fact I'm coming up on my 30th H.S reunion in 2012!
Around where I live we have farm machinery to watch out for and pickers of fruit who come from all over and absolutely cannot drive.

Where I live, I have to drive on the country roads to get to a highway. A couple of weeks ago, I was blissfully riding down one of these roads, and as I turned a 90 degree corner, there were 3 deer in the road. A doe and 2 fawns. They stood there and looked at me like "what the hell is that thing?"
They were so pretty! After a few moments of me staring at them, and them staring at me, they moved off into the woods. It was a great experience!
Would have NOT been such a great experience If I had been "juicing" it around the corner and ran into them!
Keep your eyes peeled!

"So, moral of the story:"

Stay out of the corn; ride where the soy beans grow.

Hell I get that reaction from people nearly every time I pull into a gas station.

Something worthwhile remembering is we had a saying riding dirt; "don't jump it unless you've jumped it before". Meaning that unless you have navigated a particular piece of terrain before - take it easy the first time. Nothing to prove except that you made it home without incident. I spent 4 hours cruising the backroads Friday afternoon/evening - some of those farm roads will surprise you by being all wonky in a 15 mph turn - ruts, buckled tarmac, cambered wrong way... Nothing quite like coming into a sharp curve hot only to find it's A) sharper than it looked, B) rough as hell and the piece d'resistance; C) is cambered the wrong way. That ride will throw you in a heartbeat. So - slow down, take it cautiously and live another day. NEXT time you can take it like Le Mans.
It's also very helpful to remember the main causes of motorcycle accidents so you can see them coming. Curves are right up there at the top - not only can *you* misjudge and pick the wrong track - remember the *other* guy can do the same. In fact I had a Jeep on my side in one curve - had I been a whisker faster I would have been helpless - as it was I had wiggle room in my track to take it to the shoulder. Too bad it was so brief - I would have liked to had the opportunity to bestow a single finger salute - but I had my hands full.

Yep, I've had pretty much all of those experiences, too. You gotta love it when a combine pulls out RIGHT in front of you. Wait, no you don't...

And you always have to look out for the random gravel scattered on the road, too. It's not as big an issue on an MP3 as on a two-wheeler, but sometimes there's even enough to slide all three wheels. Be especially vigilant near corners and driveways. And mailboxes, where postal jeeps might have kicked some up...

It's good to listen to other people every now and then. I live in a rural area and do most of my riding on back roads, and I really don't think about it. I do worry about deer, because to me they are one of the few things that I can't do much to deal with. I keep my eyes open. What Jon said about even if you are in your lane . . . I was going up Nickajack up Lookout Mtn last Friday afternoon and I was safely on my side. Unfortunately, so was the schoolbus. Actually, the schoolbus was pretty much in both lanes. I think it is easier to 'get into a zone' on a rural curvy road. You know you have to watch everywhere all the time in the city, but you can get a little too zen on the backroads.

And that's without your scooter, right?

Now Larry, we will have to "Officially" start naming you.....Choo Choo Larry!

So, I don't know if this is the same elsewhere in the country, but it's really starting to get into deer season around here. Tonight on my way home from a friends house, I managed to startle 3 deer that were by the side of the road. Fortunately, they darted back into the field instead of across the road. But make sure to keep your eyes open, because the next time, you might not be so lucky...

I know in Minnesota and Wisconsin the deer problem can be very bad, not just during hunting season but also other times of the year. So regardless the time of year I am on the alert for wildlife.

Here in Southern California we don't see many deer on the roads, just a lot of dumbass. They are much more deadly.

Riding the back roads of any state is a reason in itself just to own an MP3 or any motorcycle for that reason. If you have been ridding for some time you instinctively have a respect for the unexpected, but no amount of caution and experience can make up for the occasional dumb ass that pulls in front us out of no where. After more than 30 years of ridding I still get the s@3%t scared out of me on a pretty regular basis. Even though my MP3 500 does not have ABS, good brakes and maneuverability were a couple of things I made sure it had before I bought it. Seeweed

Yes, deer can be a problem year-round here, too. But they seem to be more of a problem between harvest season and the beginning of Winter. (Except they seem to go on vacation during the couple weekends of open deer hunting...)

So, my point is, to those that have become a little lax in their habits, keep an extra vigilant eye out for deer.

the reason is there are no more corn fields to hide in.

I just got back from a 6 day MC trip in norCal. where I was in a lot of 'open range' country. Twice I had young deer eating right next to the road and even a big cow eating grass right next to the road. Luckily they all just kept eating and ignored me. In the past I've had many close encounters with animals(hitting 2 deer w/o stopping), but not like this trip.

The Stebel horn is my best mod when riding country roads. I see the pickup approaching from an intersecting road, moving slowly but not stopping -- will he? I hit the horn and he stops dead (I suppose thinking there is a big truck he hasn't seen. This gives me time to pass and I'm gone before he knows what is happening.

The scary part? We probably won't have my high school reunion this year. This would be our 60th. (I use the term "our" loosely because I'm not sure any of my other classmates are still alive. It was only a class of 46.)

Woof. I rode that in a cager after our little get-together, and know EXACTLY what you mean.

How well does that horn help you with the wildlife problems, though?

Related question: How well do those "deer whistles" that many people put on their car bumpers work? Would a set of those be worthwhile on a scooter?

Mark

Yes it can. No near misses, but a couple of reminders they were around. Took my father-in-law's Yamaha out to keep working on my shifting and wound up driving about 100 miles of northern Wisconsin rural roads. About 15-20 miles before quitting, saw three good-sized ones cross. Not real close, but enough to wake you up.

On the commute to work earlier in the year, had a little one strolling around close to the road, trying to decide whether to cross. A few growls from Betel were enough to convince the fawn that it was probably a bad idea.

Between Superior, WI and Poplar, WI there is a hill on the northern side of the road where there can easily be 20-30 deer minimum. It would be on Highway 2 after it splits from Highway 53 and west of Poplar. I have seen them numerous times when I have gone by there and a friend who goes by there frequently has also told me about the deer on numerous occasions.

They do come by for a visit where my in-law's place is near Merrill. Especially when my mother-in-law puts out a pile of cracked corn for the local turkey population. Not to shoot them for dinner, of course, because she likes 'em.

I have also spotted black bear up there as well, so we have all kinds.

I routinely use my horn to get buzzards to leave the road before I get close. If I see deer I slow down to a near stop to pass because they are unpredictable and usually more that you don't see. They are seldom alone.

As for the whistles I did an internet search last year. The consensus was they are worthless as deer have the same hearing range as humans and these whistles are at a pitch we can't hear. Even if they did work they would quickly swallow some bugs making them useless. Just try cleaning one out.

I have seen deer pay much sooner attention to me after installing Leo Vince. I think it is better for them to hear me coming than to approach quietly and surprise them.

I use deer whistles on my vehicle. I figure if they work they help warn the deer, if they don't I am out only a couple of "bucks." I am not saying they do or don't work, to me I think it can't hurt.

...as noted earlier..."They are seldom alone." Is 95% true in Ohio. One, then two, then who knows how many. Especially if the first one or two are doe's. The buck usually follows up.

20 ft between you and a freight train...thats bananas! what road is that?

the crazy thing in the illinois motocycle hand book the caution re: aniimals is if its small (dog?) keep going if its big (deer?)then stop. so I guess when the neighboorhood dog chases me keep going but for the neighborhood deer then yield the right of way? I had a dog chase me for over a block, he was behind and to my right so I just kept going. Then I had this crazy a** little dog run right in front of me and luckily I did not hit it but the dog owner and her 2 kids went wild saying the sound of the scooter upset the dog, I take a differnt street now.

you need to inform her of animal cruelty for letting her dog run loose and endangering its life and lives of others. A responsible pet owner would take the proper care and have the pet on a leash of a fenced in yard.

~.

It wasn't anywhere around our area. It was just outside of Geneseo, IL, near my parent's house. As far as I know, all the train crossings in our area have lights and/or crossbars.

And I thought these were the reason why we ride two wheelers! LOL

If you always remember that control is an illusion, and act accordingly, it will be as good as it can get!!!

Funny L2, funny.

Down under, deer are not the problem. Try dodging a big grey kangaroo. They jump at you and there are thousands of them, especially sunrise and sunset. Right now we are trying to dodge something far far bigger...the worst cyclone to hit North Queensland EVER. They say it is as big as Katrina.

What did you guys do to piss mother nature off this year?

To put it in perspective, here is a map of the USA with the Queensland storm superimposed and its hitting us at the worst in 7 hours time. Imagine the devastation if this hit your country

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/how-cyclone-yasi-compares-around-the-world/story-e6freoof-1225998806916

Us Aussies are caring & sharing. We would gladly arrange home delivery of this monster directly to you.

Will that be with or without a storm surge?
http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/viewer/index.shtmltype=sigWaveHgt&tz=AEDT&area=Au&model=CG

The purple bit in the middle is showing 10-15m of water inundating the coast. That's nearly a 5 storey high building.

Ouch! 'Down-under' takes on a new meaning for you guys in AU. How quickly can you come up with a Pontoon lash-up for your scoots! Might need an outrigger or two on the tight turns though.

Safety gear now includes a life jacket.

At least the 10,000 body bags that were flown into Cairns (pop 135,000) werent needed.