Deer strike
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Bakersfield, CA
Deer strike
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
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.
Sounds like you're lucky the deer wasn't any bigger. I've hit a few things on the highway that I thought were going to leave dents or scratches and been pleasantly surprised that there were no marks or anything effected. Good idea to call the police, did you get a police report? (Just in case soomething surfaces?)
Ride safe ... and that means being defensive!
Mike
Ride safe ... and that means being defensive!
Mike
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas
had a similar thing happen once on a street bob. Problems actually took a couple days to surface. Wound up having to have the front wheel re-laced and trued because of it (at least that was all I could attribute it to).
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 263
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From: st.charles mo.
Glad to hear you are all right. 5 years ago I was riding on new years eve day the weather had turned nice here. I was on my Big Dog cruising about 45-50 mph. A small buck came running down a hill and collided with my bike just behind the front wheel. The deer was thrown to the side of the road and by the grace of God I kept my bike upright.It wiped out my rear brake pedal master cylinder and smashed my exhaust. As for me it smashed my foot into the timing cover but it was not broken.I killed the dear but there wasn't a scratch on my paint. I considered it a good day considering.I am now more deer cautious than ever. ride safe
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,895
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From: Southern WV
Whacked one before daylight last year. Figured that the bike was still rolling ok so I'd check the damage when I got to work. All I could find was a spot on the crash bar that was wiped clean.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Bakersfield, CA
The deer was originaly running away, then turned back to the road, I think that I may have become fixated on the target so to say, and yes being new to the bike and not having rode one quite that big before could have helped. But I do believe that there might have been a little skill in keeping it up and heading straight.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 104
Likes: 3
From: kansas city
In october a 6 point buck blindsided me knocking my new RK on its side at 45 mph.The deer and the bike were both totaled. I broke a leg and some ribs but consider myself lucky.
I had never owned a street bike so I was alittle light on my expierence. I have really looked back on it so I will make sure I do everything possible to avoid any similar situations. The one thing I will not do again is ride carefree down a country road at night during the deer rutting season. I might also take up deer hunting.
I had never owned a street bike so I was alittle light on my expierence. I have really looked back on it so I will make sure I do everything possible to avoid any similar situations. The one thing I will not do again is ride carefree down a country road at night during the deer rutting season. I might also take up deer hunting.