oh, deer!!!

[steve]

I'm getting excited about the upcoming trip to pine grove but I almost got eliminated by a deer standing in the middle of the road last night.  I was doing 55mph and due to cars coming from opposite direction I didn't see it until too late to avoid.  No time to swerve or slow or pray or anything!!!  I hit with enough force to kill the deer but I stayed upright and in my lane.  Only minimal damage to the bike and not a scratch on me although my right foot hit with enough force I first thought I might have broken it.  It feels okay today.  Anyone know if those deer whistles work?  Are there better lights for night riding?   :o

[h2olawyer]

First of all, I'm glad you and your ride didn't receive heavy damage or worse. . ..  I've heard both ways on the deer whistles.  I know that if you're going to get some, get the ones with electric power as they work at all speeds.  The non-powered ones work off & on, depending on speed & airflow into them.

A pair of driving lights will help you see & be seen better.  You can spend tons of $$ on some PIAAs designed for motorcycle use or go to Wal-Mart & get some small, cheap ones.  As I recall, that's what Motorplow did & he mounted them to his turn signal stalks.  Watch the power ratings - some states or localities really enforce light power & location laws.

H₂O

[glennw]

Wow... that's a fear I have always had. To get anywhere north of here I have to leave at dawn and drive through deer country. When I lived in Oregon I had friends who swore by deer whistles.. but I'm not sure what type they were. Glad you stayed upright.
GlennW

[VinceDee]

1985, the first couple of days that I had my very first motorcycle (a 1982 Yamaha Maxim 400). I loved my new bike and the freedom that it afforded me. I decided to go out for a midnight drive up behind the Claremont Resort Hotel in Berkeley. It was dark and foggy, but the riding was fun. On my way up the windy stretch of Claremont Avenue I came around a corner at about 30 mph and suddenly a deer jumped in front of my bike! There was no time to react and I hit the animal. The deer bounced off the bike and did nothing to the bike but cause the headlight to shift upwards a bit so it was pointing about 45 degrees in the air. Being young and not knowing whether I'd get in trouble for hitting a deer, I just kept driving for another minute. Then my conscience kicked in and I decided I had to go back and check on the little guy to see if I killed him. When I got back down to the spot where I'd hit him , he wasn't there. So, I guess I must have just stunned/injured him, but he was okay enough to scurry out of the area. Since then I take "deer crossing" signs seriously.

[Kevin]

You are the third rider I've heard of to hit a deer and not go down, good job. Deer hunting magazine did a test on deer whistles several years ago, they said they they were useless. Hey, trains hit deer all the time.