Motorbike vs Football: Is It Possible?

[Schnellmann]

I’m not sure if this is the best place for this question but will go ahead anyway.

On another forum a user described something he claimed happened whilst riding his motorbike. He said that he was riding along a road and someone kicked a football into his path. The motorbike apparently went over the football (front wheel, then sumfollowed by rear wheel), he didn’t fall off and the ball wasn’t damaged.

I don’t have full details but from the description it was a big bike and there was a pillion (so total mass 400-500 kg). I assume it was a standard football with mass around 0.5 kg.

My first thought is that if someone kicked a football into my path it would just bounce off the front tyre.

I’ve not hit a ball although I have hit two pheasants - on different days - (best I can judge is that they exploded on impact as I couldn’t find any remains on the bike except some blood and a few feathers!)

Am I being too sceptical or is it possible to “run over” a football on a motorbike?

 

[berkeman]

What's a pillion? And which kind of football?

https://www.playsugarhouse.com/casino-blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/soccer-vs-football-002.jpg

 

[DaveC426913]

TIL:
pillion
- a seat for a passenger behind a motorcyclist.
- a cushion attached to the back of a saddle for an additional passenger.

 

[Schnellmann]

What's a pillion? And which kind of football?

View attachment 288180
https://www.playsugarhouse.com/casino-blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/soccer-vs-football-002.jpg

Pillion = passenger

Football on the left

 

[DaveC426913]

Pillion = passenger

Pillion = passenger seat.

 

[berkeman]

On another forum a user described something he claimed happened whilst riding his motorbike. He said that he was riding along a road and someone kicked a football into his path. The motorbike apparently went over the football (front wheel, then sumfollowed by rear wheel), he didn’t fall off and the ball wasn’t damaged.

It does sound pretty unlikely, unless the soccer ball was pretty deflated and soft. It would also be pretty hard to hit that round ball and not have it shoot out to the side before the back tire rode over it (especially on pavement).

My guess is that they were making it up or at least exaggerating.

 

[Schnellmann]

Pillion = passenger seat.

your dictionary may tell you a pillion is a passenger seat but bikers (at least in the UK) also refer it to the person sitting on the seat.