Almost Hit A Deer

[mpapatonis]

I almost hit a big deer on Saturday. I was doing 70 down a highway and didn't see it until it was on the median at full gallop. My buddy, who was behind me. said it came down over a hill and leaped over the two oncoming lanes. It was coming right at me, so I hit my brakes and swerved right to avoid it, but it felt like a heat seeking missile. Luckily there was some grass to my right and no guard rail. As I went into the grass, it came across the front of the trike and missed me by about a foot if that. I was lucky again that the grass was level enough that it didn't dump me as I gained control and came to a stop.

Has anyone else had an experience like this or actually hit a deer? How stable is the Spyder if you hit a deer from the front or get hit from the side? I'm sure that speed comes into play, but I'm interested to know of other member's encounters.

 

[Bob Denman]

:shocked: Glad to hear that it was "Only", a close call! :thumbup:

 

[TuckMiddle]

Deer

I have not hit one with the Spyder or a bike, but I'm in North Georgia and the deer population is absurd. Where we live, it's 3500 acres and fenced in and you can't legally shoot them and "they ??" estimate 500+ in here. The recommended speed limit is 25 on our private roads, and darn seldom do I go over that. I hit a deer in my car, just outside our entrance, and it dented my hood like I had been going 100, I was way less than 35 when it hit, rolled over, went in the ditch and then got up and ran up the steep bank. Anything over 35, on county roads where we are, is not smart. 7 fatals in 10 years in a 2 mile stretch to GA 140, all due to excessive speed. Plus a young female was speeding around the final curve before the stop sign, couldn't stop, hit two cars waiting for the 40 or so motorcycles going by on 140. 2 biker fatalities and a bunch of injuries. "Be careful out there, deer are not the only problem!" We don't have a huge population of feral HOGS (4 legged ones) in north GA, but someone managed to find one on a local road - dark, big hog, small car - not good.
:cheers:
Tuck

 

[Chupaca]

Yeah..!!

had a ryder hit one dead on at 65 and posted the pic's of the roadster. He fared well the roadster kept him safe but in the end was totalled. Last I heard the insurance was not enough for a new one but he is looking for a replacement...:yikes:

 

[ARtraveler]

No deer here to speak of. I have played DodgeMoose a couple times. So far, Spyder 2, Moose None.

It is never good when you hit an animal--specially deer, moose, bear. They will always win.

I always drive with the possibility of an animal incursion ahead.

Glad to hear you survived the situation.

 

[Magdave]

No deer here to speak of. I have played DodgeMoose a couple times. So far, Spyder 2, Moose None.

It is never good when you hit an animal--specially deer, moose, bear. They will always win.

I always drive with the possibility of an animal incursion ahead.

Glad to hear you survived the situation.

You could probably drive under a moose :roflblack:

 

[ARtraveler]

You could probably drive under a moose :roflblack:

Depends on the size of the moose and some very precision driving. I am conservative, so think I will pass if the occasion presents itself. :roflblack:

 

[Magdave]

Depends on the size of the moose and some very precision driving. I am conservative, so think I will pass if the occasion presents itself. :roflblack:

But it would make for a great story :thumbup:I was hiking in Newfoundland and split some brush to an opening and there stood one that was 20ft tall:shocked:....at least it looked that big to me. I slowly put my self in reverse and ran:gaah::gaah:

 

[MikeT]

Last I heard the insurance was not enough for a new one...:yikes:

Insurance is NEVER enough. Even though the rider was not at fault, a claim is a claim in insurance eyes. Either you get cancelled, or your rates go up. Welcome to the insurance racket.
Mike

 

[ARtraveler]

But it would make for a great story :thumbup:I was hiking in Newfoundland and split some brush to an opening and there stood one that was 20ft tall:shocked:....at least it looked that big to me. I slowly put my self in reverse and ran:gaah::gaah:

Similar here. Spouse and I encountered a pair on a cross country ski trail (2002 or so). She got behind a big tree, I also backed off. They looked us over and moseyed (or should it be moooseyed) down the trail. :roflblack:

 

[bruiser]

Close but no. I did sleep in a Holiday Inn last night.








Really though, there was a member on here a few years ago who took a turkey in the face. She was ok, bruised and some scratches. Had a nice turkey for Thanksgiving. There have been more than a few members who have had an up close and personal encounter with nature.

 

[SpyFyg-2]

Been there done that...

Hit a deer last June with the Spyder(2012 RT Ltd) Doing 65 mph on the interstate, going under an over -pass, looked right to check for anyone coming down the on ramp. As I was looking left again, a deer was just coming upout of the Median. Just had time to square up the handle bars, hit the brakes and hold on for the ride. (Hubby was passenger, couldn't figure out what I was doing and then looked around me and saw the deer!) Hit the deer straight on, he went up and over us and landed in the ditch about 20 feet off the shoulder. Cracked the 'frunk ' cover in about 3 places, knocked the mirrors loose and scratched the spoiler with it's hooves. We were able to drive it home. We were very lucky!! If we had been on the motorcycle the outcome could have been way worse. The safety and engineering of the Spyder really made the difference plus the good Lord was watching out for us!! We had about $1600.00 damage and our insurance covered it. The most important thing I've been told is to not avoid hitting a deer.

 

[jwulf74]

SpyFyg-2...are you coming over for Hot Harley Nights?

 

[SpyFyg-2]

We had planned on it but my brother passed away on Saturday so I will be going to Idaho for the memorial service. Maybe next year.

 

[GloryRyders]

Over the years with the :spyder: I have had three close calls :gaah:. I finally added a set of deer whistles to the front of my RT ( I know, I know, many of you will say they don't work):lecturef_smilie:, but all I know is that I have not had a "close encounter" since I have put them on!:2thumbs: For the $7 - $8 bucks that they cost at WallyWorld, it is a cheap enought investment!:yes:

 

[den1953]

Near Miss

Good thing it was a near miss instead of a direct hit. Even a glancing blow with a deer can do damage to both machine & rider. Years ago a friend of mine hit a large dog glancing to the side on his Norton Commando. It broke off his footpeg and he broke his foot even with heavy riding boots on. In more recent years he once rode into a deer on a 1200 Bandit at nearly 100 mph scattering pieces of bike and deer for about 50 yards. He was found unconscious in the ditch by a passing mmotorist. That time he broke a leg. He just died of cancer about a year ago, the man lived & breathed motocycles.

 

[jwulf74]

We had planned on it but my brother passed away on Saturday so I will be going to Idaho for the memorial service. Maybe next year.

Sorry to hear about your brother. Safe travels.