GOT MY FIRST BAD LICK ON MY Z A WHILE AGO. I WAS GOING ON THE MOUNTAIN TO CHECK ON CAMP FIRE FROM LAST NIGHT. I WAS RIDING UP THE ROAD GOING ABOUT 25 MPH AND A DOG CAME OUT FROM HIDING BEHIND A BUSH AND RAN RIGHT INTO MY FRONT WHEEL. I WENT OVER THE BARS AND THE Z KEPT ROLLING AND I COULDN GET UP IN TIME. IT RAN OFF A BANK INTO A CREEK. I WAS SICK. I DIDNT HURT ME TO BAD JUST SOME ROAD RASH. THE Z CAME THROUGH IT PRETTY GOOD. BENT TIE ROD, BENT RIM, SCRATCHED BUMPER, AND SMALL PLACE ON REAR FENDER. THE DAM DOG WAS OK!!!!!!!! MY ? IS ARE THE TIE RODS PRETTY WEAK ON THE Z'S ? I HAVE READ THEY WERE. IT DOESNT LOOK LIKE ANYTHING ELSE WAS BENT. I WAS JUST WONDERING HOW HARD OF LICK IT TOOK TO BEND THE STOCK RODS.

 

They are dog strike rated to 20 mph. If you hit a dog at any higher speed you will bend the tie rods. No rating on cats as they are not stupid enough to chase vehicles. Road kill has too many variables involved {type of animal, angle of attack,etc.} to have a bend factor rating. However, I have seen a 400ex hit and kill a squirrel at 50+ mph and no bent tie rod. So Hondas have a high squirrel/tie rod impact rating. Maybe someone at the KNOWSALOT facility has a copy of the full animal/tie rod impact rating report.

 

a lot of times in crashes ive seen the tie rod bends because thats the place that takes the force of the impact first. my dad crashed his 02 rap doing 40 or so after hitting a hidden log and all that happened to the quad was like you, little ding in the rim, bent plastic, bent tie rod sleeve, and bent handlebars. (it rolled). no big deal, just make sure the little plate at the end of the steering shaft isnt bent.

 

ps, it was a cheap fix, 9 bucks for the tie rod sleeve from my dealer, another 26 for the handlebars.

 

My question is, WHOS DOG IS IT? I would have tracked that sucker down. Called the owner and sent them the bill!! Or if that couldnt be accomplished run it over again. Sorry, I had to vent. I feel for you, I went end over end on my Raptor but I couldnt help it, the damn log jumped right in front of me before I could think about turning.

 

THATS TRUE BUT I SHOULDNT BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY ANYWAY. ITS WORTH A SHOT TO TELL THEM ABOUT IT AND SEE WHAT THEY WILL DO. THE PEOPLE ARE NEW HERE AND I HAVE NEVER MET THEM. I LIVE IN A RURAL COMMUNITY AND EVERONE RIDES THERE ATVS TO THERE LAND AND FARMS. I WAS GOING PRETTY SLOW AND RIDING ON THE EDGE OF THE ROAD WITH MY LIGHTS ON. I WONDER IF THEY ARE STILL LIABLE??

 

YEAH RIGHT....
then those people will probably turn around and sue you for a VET bill...

take your loses you shouldnt of been on the highway.

 

On the hiway, yep I would just leave it. you never know. Now if it were in the mountains on a trial, thats a different story.

 

Hey kev,,get a pro-design kill switch so the machine will stop next time you fall off..oh yea,,kill the caps dood [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

About 3 months ago, here in central NY, my friend was cruising down the road when his neighbors dog ran out in front of him. He dumped his scrambler and it landed on him in the ditch. He was in a coma ever since. It took the us an extra 3 hours to find him because the dumbass cops said they already checked the road and no sign of him. He came out of his coma about a month ago now. To this day, he's still in the hospital, although he's in physical therapy now and doing better. Long hard road ahead, but he's coming along ok.