Dang Birds!

[Haystack_imp]

I'm glad to hear that you're OK and that the bike is undamaged!

Pheasants are the worst around here in the central plains. They have a habit of jumping out in front of your machine from the roadside at the last moment. Very difficult to react other than to duck-and-dodge while sitting.

I've hit several in the past ten years or so. Each time was with a bike with a windshield. The collision was so violent that I was sure that there was damage to the bike, but there must've been enough flexion in the fairing/windshield that it only left a mark on the bike and feathers floating over the carcass laying in the road.

I once hit a dove while wearing my helmet at highway speed on my BMW R80 sans windshield...you're correct, it feels like getting hit in the head with a baseball. I can't imagine that happening without wearing a helmet and no windscreen. That taught me to always wear a full-face helmet while riding a bike without a shield.