Oh Deer... again...

3742 Views 86 Replies 46 Participants Last post by cycledude, 2 mo ago

Werdigo

Discussion Starter · 2 mo ago

With a sunny 60F-ish Maryland day it seemed time to give the 2018 DCT Wing a little exercise. The rural roads of northern Baltimore County are only a short hop away and I chose my favorite 70-mile loop that includes Prettyboy Reservoir. Heading home, at the 57-mile point, I was tailing a pickup truck at a comfortable distance, figuring deer would hear it and allow both of us safe passage.
No deal... we were doing about 45 mph when a large brown and white blur appeared, seemingly leaping right into me. I felt a "thud" and a slight leftward pull of the steering, but didn't go down and kept moving ahead. The bike seemed to be working fine, but some flapping plastic led me to stop to check the damage. Woah... the photo shows it. (I don't know where the deer ended up, right or left side. Maybe it heard the truck, then decided crossing the road was safe.)
After finishing the ride home I called my insurance company, then rode the 11 miles over to the dealer, a bit anxiously with plastic flapping at (slow lane) freeway speed. It awaits professional attention.
Next accessory: For sure, a deer whistle...

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JoeHall

· #61 · 2 mo ago

A local friend hit a deer on his GL1800 trike, going to work one morning. He said all he recalls is suddenly seeing a deer's eye, about the size of a saucer. That was 6-8 years ago and he has never ridden since, because his wife has threatened to divorce him if he ever does.

Reactions: 1

Tubemkr

· #62 · 2 mo ago

GLblinded said:
My experience is that you don’t see the one the you hit. Still only have a memory of a ghostly/shadowy brown torso just to the right of center. Almost cut it in two. Destroyed the bike, and I got 15 basketball sized bruises for 2 weeks, from my tumble on the ground, from 60 mph to zero.

My experience was similar in that I only saw the headlights of that car flash as the deer ran across, then huge impact force as though I had run and jumped straight into a Sheetmetal wall. I recall seeing a bunch of bright streaks lighting up my vision which I later assumed to be deer hair lighted up by my headlamp. Hit that deer so hard the dash mounted ignition cylinder blew out the bottom of the lock cylinder. Fortunately for me, it was early October so I was wearing several layers under my leathers. It was also the first time I wore my helmet that year. Ruined that helmet too.

Reactions: 2

Zee Fifty

· #63 · 2 mo ago

Wow…. Glad you’re Ok. The bike is just metal and plastic… it can be fixed or replaced.

Reactions: 2

Bowhunter61

· #64 · 2 mo ago

yellowrex said:
Well I met a man that had those electric ones on his 1800 GW I ask what is that and he told me then I ask does it work and he told me I live and ride in a area that seem like a Deer reserve his bike was a year and a half old and he had road it 75K and he said I have not hit one yet and he see them grazing on the side of the road all the time, and what he told me was it will not make them run but the sound is not white noise like traffic to them and they stop and look to see were the sound is coming from and that is exactly what it does, I saw this more than once for myself while riding.

I don't disagree if they are on the side of the road it will get there attention. My contention is it will not stop a running deer from jumping across the road like in the situation the OP experienced. I've hit 4 deer in the last 6 years with my truck and in all cases but one, they came out of the side on a dead (pun intended) run. Nothing was turning them around running at that speed. In fact one ran into the passenger door.
Now a few deer trotting or walking to cross, I can see it impeding them from crossing, but that isn't how most deer collisions occur.

Reactions: 3

Baldy_Oz

· #65 · 2 mo ago

We lost a friend and fellow rider to a Kangaroo hitting him. Very sad because he was leading a ride and another rider was hit by a Roo but didn’t come off but damaged his bike and knee, a mate rode ahead to tell the leader who turned around to come back but never made it. A large Roo hit him in mid jump and killed him instantly with blunt force trauma to his head and chest.

I’ve always been cautious riding in Kangaroo areas, but now even more so.

Very sad

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Reactions: 2

charleetho

· #66 · 2 mo ago

Some have mentioned not seeing the deer before impact or only seeing a ghostly image. That happened for me. It was BAM just as I saw a brown blur in my windshield.

We teach in the BasicRider Course, a rider has only a 3 degree cone of focus. Your eyes don't focus in the peripheral vision. We do an classroom exercise where a student tries to read a large playing card coming in from the side while staring straight a head. They cannot make out the card until it is right in front of them. It is very "eye opening".

We recommend a scan technique of left, right, near, far. Several years ago I actively started doing this scan. I see a lot more deer! It is actually tiring to constantly scan, but it can save your life.

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Reactions: 3

JK28

· #67 · 2 mo ago

Glad you are ok! Bike's can be replaced/repaired. Human's cant!

Reactions: 1

KrustyKush

· #68 · 2 mo ago

Riding through Texas Hill Country, it is common to observe deer milling about on the side of the road. They only become a problem when they dart out into the roadway. In well over a million riding miles I have never hit a deer. I have come close many times, but have managed not to actually hit one.

What I am saying is, the fact that deer seem to be standing in the grass watching me as I go by, doesn’t mean they were aware of me before they heard the sound of my tires. I seriously doubt any horn whistle would be more noticeable to an animal than the sound of rolling tires on asphalt, which is LOUD.

Also, deer are herd critters. They can’t tolerate being separated from their herd mates. If a deer jumps across my path, most likely his herd mates had already crossed before I got there and he was just rushing to rejoin them. My tires was just part of the din of tires on vehicles going past, which is what they hear all day and all night long.

Reactions: 2

cycledude

· #69 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

Unfortunately I have killed 5 deer with motorcycles and very lightly hit quite a few more. Fortunately I only got seriously hurt once, that Goldwing was totaled.
One of my friends asked why I hit so many deer, in the next month he hit and killed 2 different deer with his car so now I suspect he understands how quick and unexpected it can happen.

Reactions: 2

MxavierD

· #70 · 2 mo ago

Werdigo said:
With a sunny 60F-ish Maryland day it seemed time to give the 2018 DCT Wing a little exercise. The rural roads of northern Baltimore County are only a short hop away and I chose my favorite 70-mile loop that includes Prettyboy Reservoir. Heading home, at the 57-mile point, I was tailing a pickup truck at a comfortable distance, figuring deer would hear it and allow both of us safe passage.
No deal... we were doing about 45 mph when a large brown and white blur appeared, seemingly leaping right into me. I felt a "thud" and a slight leftward pull of the steering, but didn't go down and kept moving ahead. The bike seemed to be working fine, but some flapping plastic led me to stop to check the damage. Woah... the photo shows it. (I don't know where the deer ended up, right or left side. Maybe it heard the truck, then decided crossing the road was safe.)
After finishing the ride home I called my insurance company, then rode the 11 miles over to the dealer, a bit anxiously with plastic flapping at (slow lane) freeway speed. It awaits professional attention.
Next accessory: For sure, a deer whistle... View attachment 416112

Glad you’re all right

Reactions: 1

MFL

· #71 · 2 mo ago

Al P. said:
Cool, thanks. I am on the website. 10ma is nothing. I will run it to the fuse box, ACC, no switch. No dogs in the house, except me, at times.

Can you give us some tips on where and how to mount the Hornet on a 2018+ Goldwing? Thanks!

Al P.

· #72 · 2 mo ago

MFL said:
Can you give us some tips on where and how to mount the Hornet on a 2018+ Goldwing? Thanks!

I have not ordered it yet. Its on my current list of things to get. Very interested. Reading a bit more reviews. However, per the website instructions, I see a very simple install, straight forward. I was thinking on the license plate bracket via 3M tape and run the wire hidden up to under the seat and to the ACC terminal with no on/off switch (no animals). Another location can be under the headlight assy. Ganrly has installed it too. He should have a better view on this.

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Gnarly

· #73 · 2 mo ago

I used a 1" P-clamp to fasten the Hornet to. It is located on the R side engine guard.

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Al P.

· #74 · 2 mo ago

Gnarly said:
I used a 1" P-clamp to fasten the Hornet to. It is located on the R side engine guard.

Can you photo, when you get a chance?

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Gnarly

· #75 · 2 mo ago

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Gnarly

· #76 · 2 mo ago

Al P. said:
Can you photo, when you get a chance?

You just happened to ask, when I was on my way out to the shop.

And this may put me in the running for Dirty Trike Award.

Hope that helps....I don't recall much about the newer engine guards Most anything would hold it in place at 45 degrees because it weighs like zero point zip.

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Al P.

· #77 · 2 mo ago

Gnarly said:
You just happened to ask, when I was on my way out to the shop.

And this may put me in the running for Dirty Trike Award.

Hope that helps....I don't recall much about the newer engine guards Most anything would hold it in place at 45 degrees because it weighs like zero point zip.

Seems like it can be anywhere at 45. Got to do this. Deer in my area is an issue. Thanks a bunch.

Reactions: 1

Gnarly

· #78 · 2 mo ago

IIRC the simple directions, it needs to be mounted fairly low, out front, at 45 degrees, pointed in your direction of travel....but I've slept since then.

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yellowrex

· #79 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

MFL said:
Can you give us some tips on where and how to mount the Hornet on a 2018+ Goldwing? Thanks!

It should be as close to the ground as possible facing forward when the bike is in the up right riding position @ a 45 deg angle, and it should not be mounted @ the rear just saying the angle is so the sound bounces of the pavement and travels further distance, and not so low it will touch the ground in turning, if you have highway pegs look @ them that is how I mounted mine on some Kuryakyn pegs, and that is how I will mount them on the 21 GW in one of the unused holes with a short piece of metal for the bracket, yes it will have a switch so I do not have to hear it when I am in the garage with the bike turned on and you can hear it it is a very low tone sound, and yes @ very slow speed you can hear it when it is quiet around you.

Reactions: 2

Warranted

· #80 · 2 mo ago

Rick H. said:
.......The best defense for avoiding deer is to slow down and watch the sides of the road you are on for movement of any sort. Keep your eyes moving unless you see something. Be extra careful/watchful in areas where deer crossing signs are posted. They don't install those signs for no good reason......

Rick H.

Still one of the funniest jokes (maybe it was for real) on a radio show I ever heard. Lady called in to complain that the deer crossing signs are always in areas with a lot of traffic. Wanted to know why they didn't have the deer crossings where there was less traffic and less chance of one being hit

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