Deer strike
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,788
Likes: 5
From: Tennessee
Glad that you and the bike are OK. No criticism intended, but it seems like if you saw the deer heading toward the road, you should have been able to avoid it. Do you think that was because you weren't yet familiar with the bike and it's maneuvering abilities since it was your first ride? I don't know what your riding experience was before the maiden voyage on the Road King, but they are pretty responsive and handle pretty nimbly for a big bike.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 477
Likes: 27
From: Iowa
Glad that you and the bike are OK. No criticism intended, but it seems like if you saw the deer heading toward the road, you should have been able to avoid it. Do you think that was because you weren't yet familiar with the bike and it's maneuvering abilities since it was your first ride? I don't know what your riding experience was before the maiden voyage on the Road King, but they are pretty responsive and handle pretty nimbly for a big bike.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 3
From: North Georgia
Great to hear ya kept it up! I believe ya done right!
Lot's of these guys must be animal rights activist... "I had to lay my bike down... broke 15 bones, 14k damage to my scoot, but the dear trotted off unscathed!"
Glad to hear you and the bike are fine!
Lot's of these guys must be animal rights activist... "I had to lay my bike down... broke 15 bones, 14k damage to my scoot, but the dear trotted off unscathed!"
Glad to hear you and the bike are fine!
Good to hear you came out OK.
The whole deer situation is a scary one.
We deal with hogs a lot more down here.
It's a bad feeling when something springs from the bushes and onto the road in front of you!
The whole deer situation is a scary one.
We deal with hogs a lot more down here.
It's a bad feeling when something springs from the bushes and onto the road in front of you!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 1,165
From: No where near you, OH
Yesterday while out riding my brand new 2012 Road King, (first time ever riding it) I was cruising about 55 - 65 mph when I saw a deer heading for the road. I started down shifting and braking, I think I hit that deer at about 30 -35mph, I stayed up but I spun the deer in a 360, it ended up in a ditch on the side of the road. I stopped and walked back in time to see the deer die. I looked my bike over for about tweenty minutes ( I think I did that because I was a little shacken up) anyway I found no damage, nothing dented or bent on my front fender, everything looked good. I did call the police to cover my butt if I did find something wrong later. I rode home from there about 6 miles, bike seem to run fine. The deer weighed in at about 60lbs. Went for another ride later on once I was calmer. seems to run fine.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,832
Likes: 127
From: Coastal Carolina
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 799
Likes: 2
From: WyoBraska (Western Nebraska)
Had a BIG damn antelope try to ram me in Wyoming last year. That thing was on a dead run at the right side of the bike, Cranked the throttle and missed him by about 10 feet: he stood in the middle of the road pawing at the ground ! Still don't know what I did to **** him off !! 
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,270
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta, GA
Congrats on keeping the bike up! Now that you have that behind you - go out and enjoy that bike. If it were mine, I would take it back to the dealer and let them check it over to make sure there is no hidden damage.
There is a YouTube out there that shows a guy on a sport bike with a helmet cam hit a deer. At impact it looks just like a small blip on the screen. The guy keeps the bike upright but does swerve into the oncoming lane (thankfully no cars heading his way). The YouTube then shows it in slow motion and indicates that the impact, which was point blank, occurrd at 75 MPH. Very scary.
There is a YouTube out there that shows a guy on a sport bike with a helmet cam hit a deer. At impact it looks just like a small blip on the screen. The guy keeps the bike upright but does swerve into the oncoming lane (thankfully no cars heading his way). The YouTube then shows it in slow motion and indicates that the impact, which was point blank, occurrd at 75 MPH. Very scary.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,968
Likes: 34
From: Lockport Township, IL
The only way you can avoid hitting a deer is if the deer wants to get out of your way. When you zig, they zag. Sometimes deer are like squirrels. They act suicidal and regardless of the evasive actions you take, they find a way to get right in front of you. I've never hit a deer (knock on wood), but I have seen them darting across the road - changing directions..... I have noticed that deer do hear and respond to the sound of loud pipes, BUT THEY DO NOT RESPOND IN ANY WAY YOU CAN PREDICT! They might run form your path or directly into it. They hear the noise and do all sorts of goofy $hit, but they do not understand that the noise from the pipes means they should run away from you. They might run away, but they mignt run directly in front of you. Anyone that thinks they can "MANUVER" to avoid a deer is sadly misinformer. I'm not saying to not pay attention. If you see the deer early enough and take off some speed, you'll be better off, but never think you can rev the throttle to scare it off, and don't plan on being able to manuver around a confused wild animal that can change directions in an instant!