Deer Question
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Deer Question
The are a ton of deer collisions around here. I just read that Iowa is #2 in the country with deer collisions with 1 out of every 67 motorists being involved in a deer collision within any 12 month period. West Virginia is number one with 1 out of 42, Michigan is number 3 with 1 out of every 72.
Only two days after reading these stats there was a biker who died in this area because he swerved to miss a deer & lost control of his ride.
This brings a question to mind. I cages they say to not swerve for deer. They say you are better off to take the hit than risk hitting something else (like a tree), or losing control of your vehicle.
What about on a bike? Do you take the deer strike if it looks unavoidable, or do you take the evasive maneuver of swerving?
Only two days after reading these stats there was a biker who died in this area because he swerved to miss a deer & lost control of his ride.
This brings a question to mind. I cages they say to not swerve for deer. They say you are better off to take the hit than risk hitting something else (like a tree), or losing control of your vehicle.
What about on a bike? Do you take the deer strike if it looks unavoidable, or do you take the evasive maneuver of swerving?
Road Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,137
Likes: 2
From: Virginia
****, I think you would be extremely lucky to even have the chance to process your options. Deer come of out nowhere and they are usually hauling ***. If you have time to process your options you probably have time to take evasive maneuvers, road conditions permitting.
Banned
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 911
Likes: 0
From: KY
An old rider I know has hit several animals. He says if you have time, and a hit is unavoidable, gear down and floor it and hold on. I don't know if he applies this to deer, we were talking about dogs at the time. He says your chances are better in getting lift from it, rather than just laying it down. He might be full of it, I don't know. He does say, never swerve very hard.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: North Shore, MA
I think this depends on the situation and unfortunately you're probably just going to swerve in the moment. Either way, keeping your speed down through areas more prone to deer and especially at night will improve your chances no matter what you do.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,542
Likes: 6,217
From: In your head rent free
I live in a deer infested area.
Almost every person I know that has hit one didn't have a head on collision. The deer almost always came from the side at a full run and hit the front quarter or side of the vehicle.
If you watch a deer tearing *** across a field, you realise that a collision will most likely happen before you even know animal is there.
Deer are actually pretty good at avoiding the hit, you just have to not panic when it all goes down, which isn't easy.
Almost every person I know that has hit one didn't have a head on collision. The deer almost always came from the side at a full run and hit the front quarter or side of the vehicle.
If you watch a deer tearing *** across a field, you realise that a collision will most likely happen before you even know animal is there.
Deer are actually pretty good at avoiding the hit, you just have to not panic when it all goes down, which isn't easy.
Road Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,137
Likes: 2
From: Virginia
An old rider I know has hit several animals. He says if you have time, and a hit is unavoidable, gear down and floor it and hold on. I don't know if he applies this to deer, we were talking about dogs at the time. He says your chances are better in getting lift from it, rather than just laying it down. He might be full of it, I don't know. He does say, never swerve very hard.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Hernando, MS.
As a rider of forty years, I will say this, taking a hit on a motorcycle is never easy. Sometimes you just get lucky, having said that, for deer, you will be lucky if you have time to process anything, it will happen that fast. I think the post that said, slow down a bit in areas where you might come in contact with deer could help more than anything. Swerving is not always a bad thing, have a plan when you ride, an open field or a ditch is not always a bad place to go.
Trending Topics
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 91
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
Just hit a deer in upstate New York back in August. Like everyone here is saying the thing jumped from nowhere from left to right in front of me. 2up and cruise set @ 65. 9:30am bright sun. Watching intently for just this to happen. Still had no time to do **** but grab all the brakes I could. Lucky to hit it right in ribs straight on. Road Glide fixed fairing took the most of force. Being frame mounted versus on forks saved it from turning handlebars. Anti Lock brakes kept from skidding outta control. Kept it upright and got stopped on side of road. Having said all that just pure *** luck to survive, musta had an angel riding with me that day.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,476
Likes: 5
From: Republic of Texas
The key is to not hit the deer. Slow down at night. Good lights and watch the ditches and fence lines. We also have a wild hog population that is dangerous to run over at night. Hitting the deer is different then the deer hitting you. I know two people that have hit deer and stayed up. I have seen articles where the deer jumped into the riders trying to avoid being hit. In doing so they injured or killed the riders. I love riding at night but limited vision means that to stay safe we need to slow down when we are on our motorcycles. Too many people try to ride their motorcycle like they drive their cars. They forget they have less tires and no protective box to save them from themselves.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 2
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Just hit a deer in upstate New York back in August. Like everyone here is saying the thing jumped from nowhere from left to right in front of me. 2up and cruise set @ 65. 9:30am bright sun. Watching intently for just this to happen. Still had no time to do **** but grab all the brakes I could. Lucky to hit it right in ribs straight on. Road Glide fixed fairing took the most of force. Being frame mounted versus on forks saved it from turning handlebars. Anti Lock brakes kept from skidding outta control. Kept it upright and got stopped on side of road. Having said all that just pure *** luck to survive, musta had an angel riding with me that day.
The Road Glide fairing took the brunt of the impact, I was shot off the bike on the left side like I was in an ejector seat,
Don't know the legal aspect of dumping the bike to avoid a deer. If the thing is laying dead next to your damaged bike then it is a no brainer as to the cause of accident. If you have a damaged bike and no evidence as to culprit, just what will the Police Report state, and you insurance company insinuate happened?
