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Fourth jaunt, up to a raging 103 miles...going around the lake because it's a good road with little traffic. At 57mph downhill I saw the first deer and rolled off the throttle; the second one came up out of the ditch, had time to say #2 but no time to do it. Excellent brakes on these things. If it was more than 2" I'd be amazed...
:clap: Live to Ride, Ride to Live!! Glad you saw them and were able to react!!
Do those stick-on Deer Whistles actually work?
No----- no they don't.
:agree: Better to invest your money in some cow magnets.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lew L
Glad you made it but do know from experience these machines have great brakes. Sold a ton of those deer whistles and know they still do but never known them to do much....defensive driving and always alert works best...:thumbup:
It is the second deer that kills you! While you watch the first, the second runs out in front of you. Happened to me in Glacier National Park in July. Looking at the beautiful Buck crossing in front and past me at that point, and Boom another flashes in front of me. Missed it by an inch!
Coming from MN and WI, deer were always an issue when driving. They are also frequent here in Arkansas....but I have yet to encounter them on the road. Always try to be aware and expect the unexpected. :thumbup:
I grew up in Wisconsin, lots of deer. I was once told that more deer lived in Marathon County than people. I now live in NW Iowa and there are lots of them here also. They keep eating the Hostas planted right next to the house. Sometimes I roust one in our driveway. See them on a daily basis. Really have to stay alert, especially early and late in the day. I very seldom ride at night. When the corn is mature they can come out of the fields with very little chance of seeing them. Also once the harvest starts the combines keep them moving.
They do a good job of lightening your wallet is all.Quote:
Originally Posted by Revalden
I hit one with my 2012 RT Limited in Nov. 2016 in N.W. Virginia. I was doing about 50 MPH on a country road, and never even saw the Deer to try and dodge it, until I ran over it. I broke both of its back legs, but I hung on and never flipped the Spyder. In fact, it happened so fast, I never even hit the brakes! My Insurance Adjuster granted me $1300 for the damage, which was mostly cracked Frunk and Tupperware. I never fell off the Spyder, but took the ditch. If I had been on my Harley, the out come surely would have been much worse, as I would have went down. I see several Deer every day I go out, so I have to stay alert. Deer hits are my biggest fear of riding, or driving my car. Its really sad to see so many dead Deer laying on the sides of the roads, left for Vultures to eat. They pick the bones clean, and just leave the head and hide. I made several phone calls to 911 trying to get help for the dying Deer I hit, but no one would come. I don’t know what happened to it, as I went back with my Truck 2 hours later, and it was gone.
007James
Quote:
Originally Posted by SSBN617
Living in upper Wis. and 20mi from the nearest milk n bread I am familiar with the great stopping power of the brake's!
When you see one always be ready for the second, or third, or more, deer. Deer do not travel solitary.Quote:
Originally Posted by SSBN617
Deer are evil and have a plan to eliminate all vehicles, even at the risk of their own lives! They have formed a loose network of like minded deer all over most of the US to accomplish this goal! Because of that, we as drivers of vehicles, regardless of the number or configuration of wheels, must be hyper vigilant whenever we are operating said vehicles. That is the only way we have a chance to be victorious in overcoming this nefarious plot by these evil creatures. DO NOT be fooled or lulled into being complacent because they project an aura of cuteness or beauty! It is part of their ploy!
Seriously, where we live they have record setting deer and LOTS of them. With the exception of bucks, they are most often travelling together in a group that may consist of two to thirty or more. They are difficult to see at night if you don't see their eyes reflected in your headlights. As said previously, they may emerge from a field or ditch in a slow walk, or at a full run. They may be scared of humans but they fail to equate vehicles with danger and often do not run away from them.
One thing that is imperative is to slow down especially at night. Don't overdrive your headlights (good advice at anytime) and always be on the lookout!
Wildlife, and particularly deer, appearing out of seemingly nowhere, create one of motorcyclists greatest hazards when riding in rural areas, I think. The stability and braking capabilities of Spyders, combined with alert driving, do much to reduce the risk, but I still breathe easier when the field of vision isn't severely compromised by heavy growth at or near the side of the road.
Just one of the benefits of desert riding.
Yes, but you do have javalina!
Here in WI, they are always in groups or 2 or more... except during the rut, when bucks are moving and looking for girlfriends (and won't tolerate other bucks). In summer, the bucks tend to herd up in bachelor groups together and the does/fawns keep to themselves. When breeding season starts, that ends. The bucks rub the velvet off their antlers in late summer in preparation for fall fights. They become loners. The harvest and breeding puts them all on the move and accidents here go way up. Still, I've never seen so many deer sleeping on the side of the road as in springtime, when the does are having babies and kick the youngsters away ... and the wandering teenage-type deer don't have a clue about anything. Be safe. Deer jumping can be the blink of an eye or less. That's why I gear up to give myself a chance for a better outcome... just in case.
Here in the mountains of N.E. Arizona our problem is elk. They are probably at least twice the size of a white tail. In town, they wander the streets and neighborhoods munching on grass and gardens. They seem to show little concern for people or vehicles. There are two major interstate highways leading into and out of our town. Early mornings and evenings are when we see a lot of them along the highways, sometimes even wandering on to them.
Years ago I had them on my Goldwing. Heading out of Flagstaff in the early morning I spotted deer on the side of the road grazing. Thought to myself that this is a good test of my investment. Passed by them at highway speeds at about 50 yards. They didn't even look up or acknowledge my existence. I kept going and they continued on with their breakfast. A Lead Zeplin tune at decent volume from the fairing speakers probably does a better job..... JimQuote:
Originally Posted by Revalden
I don't believe that we have any real idea as to how their hearing works. I find it incredulous that an animal that responds instantaneously to a twig snap at 100 yards doesn't seem to notice a semi traveling at 105 feet per second. As far as those whistles, if they really had any effect it would be at a specific air velocity...and that would depend more on vehicle shape and mounting than on speed. Great idea for the 'inventor', though. Kinda like pet rocks. Love to see his research. :roflblack:Quote:
Originally Posted by canamjhb
Deer...Sore subject
Two years ago, returning from a northern Michigan trip and traveling on I-75 @73mph with my BMW R1200RT on cruise control.
2 deer suddenly exploded from the trees in the medium and onto the roadway. I hit the second one. The next thing I remember is sliding down the pavement
to a rolling stop. For some unexplained reason , not injured thanks in part to ATGATT .The bike and deer...not so much.
This all happened in an instant with no time to react because the cruise control never disengaged and the bike continued down the road for another 300 yards.
I guess if anything good came from this, at least it got me on a Spyder!
I personally have lost 3 acquaintances to deer. One was in a car. It came through the windshield.
In Wisconsin, another bad time is in spring when the deer flies come alive. Deer will come running out of cover without warning.
And NO-- they don't work.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lew L
I had a buddy who was killed by a deer that came through his windshield. Only thing was, he didn't hit the deer. It bounced off a car that was coming the other direction, then he hit it while it was still airborne, coming through his windshield.Quote:
Originally Posted by 12tree
I was going home from work at the end of second shift and saw three cars on the side of the road. All I could tell was there had been a wreck and that some of the people standing there had cell phones so I didn't stop. Found out the next day it was my buddy.
Glad you missed them. Here we have the usual whitetails and the dogs sized Sika. This time of the year the whitetails are coming out of every corn field every morning and evening. The Sika are more anti-social. I do not see them very often. However, just recently while riding through a local NWR, I smaller than usual Sika came to side of the road, I slowed, she jogged beside me for about a 1/4 mile. Quite a beautiful little deer. Their behavior is generally to go back into the woods unlike the whitetail that like to challenge motor vehicles.