|  | Topic : Thunderbird versus Blackbird: Thunderbird wins! |  |
| | | Psychopasta | | Set |  |  | | Reg. Date | : | 27/05/2010 | | Posts | : | 44 | | Location | : | Seattle, WA, United States |
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| | Posted : 12 Apr 2017 - 03:29 Post title : Thunderbird versus Blackbird: Thunderbird wins! | | | The Blackbird in question is not Honda's excellent CBR1100XX, but the common or garden Blackbird, turdus merula.
So I was riding one of Eastern Washington's splendid back roads in warm sunshine, and spotted a flock of birds further up the road. One looked like he was coming straight at me. It turned out, he WAS coming straight at me! I was on my 2010 TBird, with the large windscreen fitted, and I was doing at least 40 mph. Poor old Turdus was flying at probably 15-20 mph straight at me. He flew straight at my windshield and hit it with (of course) no perceptible change to the Thunderbird's forward momentum. That's more than can be said for his forward momentum, which went through a, shall we say, discontinous change.
Now let's call the combined speed 60 miles per hour. That's 88 feet/second. Let's say Brer Turdus was six inches long beak to arse. It would have taken about 5.6 milliseconds for his arse doing -20 mph to connect with his head doing +40 mph. It's safe to say he wouldn't have felt a thing.
I stopped to examine him. He'd come to rest between the windshield and one of the front fork legs. He looked in remarkably good shape. He did feel quite squishy, but I don't know how squishy a living blackbird is. I left him by the side of the road, where some coyote or similar could enjoy a well-tenderised bird for dinner.
- Pasta
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| | | davetac1 | | Thunderbird | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,379 | | Location | : | Haverhill, Ma., United States |
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| | Posted : 12 Apr 2017 - 04:14 Post title : Re: Thunderbird versus Blackbird: Thunderbird wins! (Re: Psychopasta) | | | That's just another reason why Animal Alerts,AKA "DEER ALERTS" help prevent things like that from happening.Not too long ago,I was approached head on by a fast moving,and pretty good sized bald eagle,which came out of no where and straight at my windscreen.Needless to say, I did NOT wanna come in contact with it for two reasons.Number one,they're protected by law,but number two,and more importantly,that bird would have knocked me off my bike due to it's size and weight! I mean these ALERTS are NOT fool proof,but I'll take any advantage I can get when mounted on two wheels. Just a little food for thought. 
| | Post edited by davetac1 on 12 Apr 2017 - 04:23 |
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| | | aussietbird | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 11/09/2012 | | Posts | : | 263 | | Location | : | WODONGA, VIC, Australia |
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| | Posted : 12 Apr 2017 - 09:22 Post title : Re: Thunderbird versus Blackbird: Thunderbird wins! (Re: davetac1) | | | Gotta admit, Dave we are on the very same page with animal alerts.
Many moons ago I rounded a bend, yes running late for work, at top note and ran into a flock of Purple Swamphens Porphyrio porphyrio Rallidae (That would have been titled, Rubber ducky versus Swamphens) I didn't come off, I don't know how, however I smashed 4 fingers on the front brake side of the bars, copped a bloody sore neck and arm for a month of sundays, trashed me helmet and me leather jacket. Impact speed no idea, but I was up around the 2 buck mark, in the new money.
Plenty of near misses with Owls, (think them buggers wait for motorcycles at night to see if they can make the rider pooh their pants). 
Our wedge tail eagles tend to like tagging along for the ride. I've encountered several over the years, that just tag along like your personal wingman. The minister of war, didn't believe that a wedgie would do that, until she witnessed for herself on the second last FNQ trip.
But the ones that scare the absolute bejesus out of me is them flightless emus. Had a couple of close calls in S.A. in the flinders Ranges.
| The more I understand the human race, the more I love my bike.
| | Post edited by aussietbird on 12 Apr 2017 - 09:29 |
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| | | danr620 | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 28/06/2016 | | Posts | : | 92 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 12 Apr 2017 - 11:56 Post title : Re: Thunderbird versus Blackbird: Thunderbird wins! (Re: aussietbird) | | | Dave said it,
Trailblazer deer alert brand, In SE kansas the deer population is nuts. I harvest a couple a year, but there are still plenty. We use them on our vehicles and they help quite abit. A lot of people won't even ride in the fall with the rut going on. So use every advantage you can.
ride safe
Dan
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| | | K9Tex | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 21/03/2016 | | Posts | : | 134 | | Location | : | Connecticut, United States |
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| | Posted : 25 Apr 2017 - 16:44 Post title : Re: Thunderbird versus Blackbird: Thunderbird wins! (Re: davetac1) | | | Dave what alerts do you use?
Thanks,
Scott
| Scott
2012 Thunderbird ABS,
Red Marble Haze
Mustang Tour Seat, Clearview Windshield, Jack-B-Quick elbows. K&N Air Filter, Custom Dynamics LED Rear Turn/Brake/Running lights. Superbright LED front turn signals,SUNPIE LED Headlight.
Previous Bikes:1989 Kawasaki Ninja, 1991 Harley Sportster Sport, 1997 Harley softail, 1993 Yamaha FJ.
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| | | davetac1 | | Thunderbird | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,379 | | Location | : | Haverhill, Ma., United States |
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| | Posted : 27 Apr 2017 - 02:38 Post title : Re: Thunderbird versus Blackbird: Thunderbird wins! (Re: K9Tex) | | | I bought em on line.They are referred to as "Animal Warning Devices",aka "Deer Alerts", and are marketed thru a company called "Bell Automotive Products Inc.". They sell for around 8-10 bucks a set.I've been using em for over 30 years now and they've worked every time,atleast for me.They used to be a lot cheaper until it was discovered that they actually did work,then the bastards jacked the price up  , plus, a lot of people will just laugh at ya when you mention that you are using Deer Alerts cause they do NOT believe in em. [each to their own] And ya need to be traveling at least 30 mph in order for them to send out any signal.The faster you're traveling,then naturally,the stronger the signal.
They are not very big and attach via double sided tape,the same tape you can buy in any dept or hardware store.I also use that same tape to hold stick on wheel weights in place when balancing motorcycle,car and or light truck tires equipped with aluminum wheels. The package comes with instructions as to possible mounting points on your vehicle [minimum of 12 inches apart] and they are left and right,as explained per the instructions.But like anything else,they are NOT bullet proof, but have worked stopping every animal I have encountered while traveling with both,my two and four wheelers.And even if they are NOT bullet Proof,I'll take any and every advantage I can get,ESPECIALLY when on two wheels. I also mounted a set of these ALERTS on the wife's and daughter's vehicles and they both have mentioned how animals encountered in their travels,have got out of the way or stopped before crossing or jumping in front of em.
Anyways,I'm a believer and recommend em to everyone I know.But again,they are NOT bullet proof,but worth the few bucks when traveling,especially at night. Dave!!!
| | Post edited by davetac1 on 27 Apr 2017 - 02:49 |
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