Jon B

I am all in favor of coyote shooting - they're hard on deer, fawns, turkey, and out-compete foxes (I like foxes). A few years ago I was in climber, hunting... I hear a deer. Readied... and out came a doe, moving at nervous walk, stopping... I didn't shoot, as it was rut, and I wanted something bigger. A minute later from same direction I hear crunch crunch crunch... oh boy, I'm thinking here come the big guy - raised rifle, and out comes a coyote, low-crawling... he was stalking the doe. Being a gentleman, I let her walk, and shot the coyote.

(shrug) Bilt is perfectly acceptable helmet, did the job of protected my head/face as designed. The damage to the helmet is due hard impact to road, and RF1200 wouldn't have done substantially better, and it, too, would be due for replacement. I'm walking and glad for it. When I bought the Bilt, I was in the market for a new helmet.. seeing best of about $500~ or so.... after a long day of riding stopped at Cycle Gear with a friend to visit. I thought I'd get a new visor, but instead found that el cheapo Bilt on sale and bought it. Felt great, quieter than old helmet. Two weeks later, hit deer. I think I'll buy another one, along with a new jacket.

All that damage was fm initial impact/slide, in one second, before bouncing and then rolling for what seemed like a very long time. It happened so fast... there is no making an 'effort' to lift face off ground. Most injuries related to the rolling and bouncing after impact/slide.

no doubt mine would be totalled fm insurance perspective (no full coverage, I'd have paid for the bike by now in premiums). After fixing shifter I rode it the other day, without crunched fairing and headlight assy. Doesn't feel quite right, things seem loose. I've ridden an XSR900, that triple is a delight.

I hit a deer on the FZ1 a few weeks ago. Cut the deer in two, and I hit ground pretty hard and slid and then rolled a good ways. Had gear on, except for Levis and Coretech lightweight gloves... hands are sore, broke a finger and a toe/foot, and bike is bring dinged up. Wish I'd worn the armored gloves that were in my tankbag. Now deciding on whether to fix that 2003 FZ1 (been a great bike for ten years) of replace with a DL1000 or FJ-09/Tracer. We'll see...