Hitting a Deer at Highway Speed!
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Belgium
Last year I was driving to my parents house in the ardennen (a forest area in Belgium) at about midnight. I know the roads and forests like my back pocket from when I was a child and know the heavy populated deer turf. I took a right turn of the main road and was doing about 50 when I saw to flickers of light in the dark.
I hit the brakes right away and when I stood still I saw it was a big male with full antlers and everything, standing in the middle of the road, about 15 feet away, watching me with a look that said: "do you really have to make all this noise at this hour?!"
We looked at each other for what felt like hours and then he just walked away and I continued on with my route.
I loved the experience but can't help but wonder what would have happened if I didn't see his eyes in time, or if I drove faster and couldn't stop...
I hit the brakes right away and when I stood still I saw it was a big male with full antlers and everything, standing in the middle of the road, about 15 feet away, watching me with a look that said: "do you really have to make all this noise at this hour?!"
We looked at each other for what felt like hours and then he just walked away and I continued on with my route.
I loved the experience but can't help but wonder what would have happened if I didn't see his eyes in time, or if I drove faster and couldn't stop...
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
From: west coast. Canada
it's those close calls that remind us that we are at risk and should be aware of our surroundings at all times. i rode for a long time without care before my accident. now i think about it every time i am on the bike. when it gets close to dusk or at early morn i am constantly scanning the sides of the road and ride a little bit slower in wooded areas.
you just never know when one of those bastards will run out.
i think i need to take up hunting....
you just never know when one of those bastards will run out.
i think i need to take up hunting....
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,919
Likes: 23
From: Seattle, WA
I was TAD to Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA for the last 6 months of 2011 and staying at the Crossroads Inn on base ... I had been warned that the speed limits were strictly enforced, so was always riding slow ... but, in the morning or evening if I was coming or going there were deer about 50% of the time ... around the Medal of Honor golf course ... or over near the back gate by the Exchange and Commissary ... occasionally, I'd see one or two even closer to inhabited areas ...
There was a sign on base tallying the deer strikes ... I think by early Dec when I left there had been 16 on base so far that year ... (all cages, I am thinking) ...
The exhaust note of my bike normally got their attention ... and if I clutched in and revved the motor, they would normally jump and run away ... one night I almost had to come to a stop one stupid deer was frozen 'like a deer in the headlights' ...
Had a couple of kind of close calls also down around the Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, VA area ... but, fortunately, no strikes (at speed) like some have reported on here ...
Here's hoping all recover from injuries sustained and are able to get back on two wheels ...
R/
'Chop
There was a sign on base tallying the deer strikes ... I think by early Dec when I left there had been 16 on base so far that year ... (all cages, I am thinking) ...
The exhaust note of my bike normally got their attention ... and if I clutched in and revved the motor, they would normally jump and run away ... one night I almost had to come to a stop one stupid deer was frozen 'like a deer in the headlights' ...
Had a couple of kind of close calls also down around the Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, VA area ... but, fortunately, no strikes (at speed) like some have reported on here ...
Here's hoping all recover from injuries sustained and are able to get back on two wheels ...
R/
'Chop
Stage I
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: ithaca ny
deer hit at 55mph
labor day 2012 i hit deer at 55mph on my 03 roadking right in center of my bike. deer came around caught me in left side. i kept bike up right until it left road and hit concrete enbuttment flipping bike and myself end over end. luckily bike didnt land on me i fractured my back 7 places, my neck 1, 8ribs on left side,1 right side, pelvis and punctured lung ,concussion , rode my old bike very short distance,a month later to make sure my mind was ok, no fear.so now im looking to replace my 03 100th anniversary bike really sucks, to take a hit out the blue like this think about this now, another rider was hit same day by deer on his HD 10feet from where i was hit, what odds, but im walking and love ride even though my wife has different opinion
This guy got real lucky and he was two-up can't even see it in the video unless you go frame by frame
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je-76...ature=youtu.be
Attachment 624560
Attachment 624561
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je-76...ature=youtu.be
Attachment 624560
Attachment 624561
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: FWB, FL
Didn't know there were so many deer encounters with motorcycles. Wow.
Glad everyone made it through.
Glad everyone made it through.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 854
Likes: 20
From: CT
I see a lot of deer hits around here. I had a really close call when I was younger and dumber. Leaving my buddy's house around midnight on my Buell and ripped it through a couple gears upon his request. Must have spooked them and 3 ran out while I was doing 80+ I only had enough time to let off. Two went right in front of me missed by a foot and the 3rd was trying like hell to stop, would have hit me right in the side if it kept going but skimmed my back tire. Almost just like the video that was posted above. I have tried not to ride at night since then. Especially on back roads.
My buddy I bought my Dyna from hit one on it. About 40 mph on a back road. Scooped it up onto the front fender, forks broke its back, its head dented one side of the tank and *** dented the other side. He came to a stop, dragged the deer off the bike and kept going.
Had another friend get banged up pretty bad when he hit one on a crazy built up moped. Not many people can say they've killed a deer with a moped.
My buddy I bought my Dyna from hit one on it. About 40 mph on a back road. Scooped it up onto the front fender, forks broke its back, its head dented one side of the tank and *** dented the other side. He came to a stop, dragged the deer off the bike and kept going.
Had another friend get banged up pretty bad when he hit one on a crazy built up moped. Not many people can say they've killed a deer with a moped.
Last edited by vdop; Oct 29, 2012 at 08:54 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 23
From: East of Tulsa
Deer got me a few miles from my house one night in June. I was on my V-Strom. If I'd been on one of my Harley's I think he would of heard me sooner and got across the road before I got there. I was wearing riding jacket and helmet. My knees got the worst of it.
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