Swarm of Bees

[Fontanaman]

I ride with All the Gear All the Time. Call me weird or call me whatever you want to call me I don't care. Unbuttoned jacket at the collar no way.

Well it all paid off on Sunday when I drove through a swarm of bees. Never in my 40 years of cycling have I ran through a swarm of bees. It happened last Sunday.

Due to my AGAT tenancy this was a non-issue. I just see a swarm of bugs, slowly recognize they are bees as I hear the insects impacting my arms, helmet, windscreen and fairing.

It was 80 degrees plus day here in the slug state of Washington. Hopefully no lightly clad motorcycle riders encountered the swarm. With all the bikes out I doubt that happened. Ouch. There were many lightly clad cruiser riders out there on Sunday

 

[redtail]

Been there, and watched them bounce off the screen! Riders behind were not so lucky! I think of this every time I see a guy riding in shorts!!!

Between this and the occasional bolt kicked up off the road, I love my wind screen!

 

[gixxerjasen]

That sucks. In November 2011, I came out of work on Saturday (yea, I know, it sucked) in downtown Dallas and stopped at a light. All of a sudden I realized I'd stopped inside a swarm of angry bees. Light changed and I zipped up to the next red light and still in them. It was three or four blocks till I was out of them. I guess the road construction on the Woodall Rodgers Expressway must have opened something up because that's what I was riding right next to at the time.

I wasn't wearing riding pants but got through mostly unscathed. Well, got on the highway and shifted in my seat and evidently the hitchhiker between my tank and leg got angry and let me know he was there through my jeans. Ouch!!!

 

[wnyfjr]

Every time I hear or feel that big thunk on my helmet or chest or arm, I marvel that folks STILL figure they're better off looking good and being comfortable than being protected. I got stung once even with all the gear, right on my adam's apple. The bugger managed to find the tiniest un-protected piece if me and let me know he was pissed!. I know I'm mostly preaching to the choir here, but there is no reason not to ATGATT. I was passed yesterday evening by a couple on a sport bike at an 'elevated' rate of speed. Both had FF helmets, but they both had shorts and tank-tops on.A get-off would result in so much carnage, it boggles the mind. Even if the rider didn't care about his own skin, how could he not care about his girl's well-being? Again, I can't fathom it...

<rant off>

 

[gixxerjasen]

One of my first lessons in ATTGATT was in Florida. I was ripping along at about 80mph on my Katana 600 on a back road when I came through a swarm of dragonflies. I didn't even know they swarmed. I also didn't know they were that hard. Took one right on my gloved knuckle and man did that hurt. I realized how it might have felt without the glove. Same without helmet or jacket for the others I hit. No thanks.

Of course, then there's the 2x4 I took to the shoulder armor once.

 

[Bugnatr]

Back in the days I rode with an open face helmet on the dualsport a carpenter Bee hit my face at 55mph, marbles with wings. Ouch!

 

[mcatrophy]

Was once on a group ride, 4th from the back. Shortly after a stop, noticed that Last-But-One and Last weren't with us.

Zipped by the rest of the group to tell the leader, who pulled us into a lay-by.

After several minutes, the two appeared. Apparently Last had closed his visor as he set off only to find he'd trapped a bee in his helmet. (Last-But-One stopped because Last had.)

Took his time removing the helmet so as not to get stung. Don't blame him. And he didn't drop his bike. Just as well, those KT1600GLs can be nastily damaged if you drop them.

And, isn't the FJR good at "zipping by"?

 

[TomInPA]

In spite of full gear I got zapped by a hornet or something right under the chin where one got snared in the chinstrap of my full face helmet. Gear has mostly spared me from stings bites and stones, but sometimes they find a way to sneak in and live long enough to sting.

 

[gixxerjasen]

Was once on a group ride, 4th from the back. Shortly after a stop, noticed that Last-But-One and Last weren't with us.
Zipped by the rest of the group to tell the leader, who pulled us into a lay-by.

After several minutes, the two appeared. Apparently Last had closed his visor as he set off only to find he'd trapped a bee in his helmet. (Last-But-One stopped because Last had.)

Took his time removing the helmet so as not to get stung. Don't blame him. And he didn't drop his bike. Just as well, those KT1600GLs can be nastily damaged if you drop them.

Had that happen to me. Got on the highway only to see a bee crawling along the inside of the face shield. Dang near wrecked the bike trying to get stopped on the side of the highway. Then I took off my helmet and flung it into the field next to me. Waited a few minutes and then retrieved it and gave it a FULL inspection. NOT fun!

And, isn't the FJR good at "zipping by"?

A few weeks ago on our way to the monthly pie run, I pulled to the right lane and let the guys go by as I ran my GoPro to get video of all the riders in our group. As the last one went by I wicked it up and zipped back up to my spot around 2nd in the group. Later someone commented that those FJR's sure to get up and go!

 

[mcatrophy]

.... Later someone commented that those FJR's sure to get up and go!

I've had quite a few comments about the FJR's performance. I've also overheard comments about me and mine, something like (from someone who's met me for the first time):
"Coo, he can't half shift that bike of his", to which the reply (from someone who'd seen me before)

"Not bad for a 65-year-old" [this was 5 years ago]. Then

"Bl**dy h*ll, didn't realise he was that old".

I smiled quietly to myself .

Yup, the FJR is the bee's knees (to keep on topic).

 

[HotRodZilla]

I had a Harley riding friend get hit in the face by a bat. She absolutely refuses to wear a helmet, but still hangs out with us.

Anyway, at about 60mph I saw her almost come off the bike. Didn't know what she ran into until we saw the little bat still twitching on the side of the road. It broke her nose and she had to have surgery to correct it.

When it happened, I said, "That wouldn't have happened if you were wearing a helmet." I got a, "**** you AJ" in reply, but you know what...My face didn't hurt!

 

[Fontanaman]

I had a Harley riding friend get hit in the face by a bat. She absolutely refuses to wear a helmet, but still hangs out with us.
Anyway, at about 60mph I saw her almost come off the bike. Didn't know what she ran into until we saw the little bat still twitching on the side of the road. It broke her nose and she had to have surgery to correct it.

When it happened, I said, "That wouldn't have happened if you were wearing a helmet." I got a, "**** you AJ" in reply, but you know what...My face didn't hurt!

Hard to imagine after an incident like she still refuses to wear a helmet. Crazy eh? I had a bird hit me in the head once or twice now - both were glancing blows. Happy to wear my full face helmet.

You said you had a Harley riding friend. Friends like that are a hazard if you have to ride behind them. Wonder if she was with the loud pipes saves lives bunch? You'd a thought that damn bat could have heard her coming! Opps here I go hijacking my own thread.