| Author | Message | ||
     Lovehamr |
I had to take a 4 hour trip early Wed. morning to handle a ticket that I got last month (yeah, I know, go figure) in Augusta GA. Anyway I was traveling about 60 on a country road (US 25 in GA if anyone is interested) at about 5am doing my best to watch for deer and other critters. My best wasn't good enough. For the millisecond that I could see him/her it was apparent that it had just seen me. Have you ever seen a deer try to run on pavement? How about a dog on a hard wood floor? Well that's what it looked like long enough to put an indelible imprint on my mind but no longer. I remember counter-steering and kind of leaning into it, then WHAM! I thought I was back playing football. Anyone ever try to tackle a deer? Those bastards are remarkably tough. We hit a glancing blow off of my left side and I abruptly changed lanes to the right as I fought to maintain control while spewing profanities. I finally came to a stop about a quarter of a mile past the impact point and almost dropped the bike right there. My left arm and leg were both killing me and numb at the same time, if that makes any sense. After forcing myself to calm down and get off of the Uly I just sort of stumbled around taking stock of my situation. I noticed that there was an unusually large amount of light coming from the back of the bike and upon inspection found that my left side case was obliterated and my tail light lens was gone. I didn't even notice the front turn signal until later. In retrospect I was probably very lucky. I don't know how I'd have fared if I'd T-boned Bambi, but I don't think that I'd have gotten off that lightly. As it was, I could see no evidence of Bambi down the road so he must have been at least mobile. Maybe he feels like a linebacker now like I do. I don't know. I just know that I now have a broke bike and some nice bruises for the experience. Curiously, I also have 2 puncture type wounds on my left thigh, in the middle of the bruising, and have no idea what part of the deer is responsible for them. Weird huh? The offshoot of this is that after I get the Uly all back together, increased lighting has just taken a major leap in priority. I’m including a couple of pics for those of my BadWeb brothers who are curious. Steve    | ||
| Ulywife |
All in all, you're pretty lucky. Last year, I had a deer try and jump my Suburban. Had hoof prints on the front pillar/windshield and he/she busted out the 2nd door window and covered 3 children in carseats with glass. About $1,200 later my truck was fixed. Deer suck! Take it easy and I agree with you about the extra lights. M2nc just changed to the Sylvania SilverStars lightbulbs and he says it really has made a difference in the visibility during the dusk/evening hours. | ||
| Too_tall_todd |
Sorry to here it man. but it really could have been worse. a co-worker of my wife center punched a deer with her gs650. Slaughtered the deer, totaled the bike and a broken clavicle was the result. count yourself lucky. by the by I am also looking to upgrade my lights. T3 | ||
| 12x_infatuation |
Very lucky indeed, Hamr. My last encounter like that made me sell my bike (XR600) & give up riding for 10 years. Ran over a large kangaroo's tail at 100kph at 11pm. Had a semi trailer behind me and another one approaching in the opposite direction. Talk about multiple species roadkill almost! Anyway thanks for the wake up call... improved lighting for me too. | ||
| Aeholton |
With the impact required to obliterate that case like that, I think you did an excellent job of staying upright. Sounds like you will be OK. I wonder if the side case actually helped you from taking the brunt of the collision to your leg. If you would have had the cases off the bike, you may not have faired as well. By the way, did you get your ticket taken care of? | ||
| Oddsc |
I had a deer run straight at me this summer and graze the right side of me and my Uly. I spooked him out of the ditch coming up over a ridge. My bike would have looked like yours if I'd have had my cases on... Anyway, I'm thinking of going hunting for the first time this fall. | ||
| Michael1 |
WOW.... that's a close call. You could have punted him dead square... Yikes... As I tested it out before... The Uly's are suprisingly crash resistant. | ||
| Daves |
Glad you are ok. | ||
| Paochow |
Good to hear you are alright. I slammed a deer on my DRZ last spring. Surprisingly I was also able to keep the bike up. Looks like the Uly is pretty tough. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
No deer jerking curing on your cylinder fins? | ||
| Royintulsa |
The president of the BMW Owners of America was killed last year when he T-Boned a deer. This is time of year when deer are mating and are often crossing roads in a hurry. The mating season lasts until Christmas so be extra careful. I try not to ride on the two lane roads during the night because this is time of year when they are most active. I do have PIAA lights on and they really help light up the sides of the roads well, and it will give you a chance if you can spot them before they get to the road. By the way, the puncture wounds on your leg are probably from the deers' antlers. Now we all need to do our duty to thin the population out, the deer herds in most states are too large - so get a hunting license, a rifle, and kill a few does! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Friggin' 200lb ditch rats! They are really bad here. When I go riding on the Natchez Trace Parkway at night, it's not uncommon to see 25-40. | ||
| Beachbeemer |
Glad you are ok. You need more than good lights. You need good luck. I've hit two in my riding career and have several friends who have hit deer during the day, even being broadsided by the critter. | ||
| Lorazepam |
Wow hamr, that sucks. I hate frigging deer. My girlfriend came as close to hitting one without actually touching it. I have narrowly escaped 3 times this year. PM me and I will send you a bracket to help with your lighting, no charge. | ||
| Hacksaw |
Deer are light weight try hitting a cow. Totaled bike, 4 days in hospital and still fighting with health insurance. Glad you came out of your encounter ok.  | ||
| Lowflyer |
Well I promise to do my best to make some deer pay for this!!!  | ||
| Lovehamr |
Lowflyer, send me some jerky from it man! LOL.  Hacksaw, how can you hit a cow? That must of hurt!  Beechbeemer, my wife got hit in our truck from the side. She saw the dipsh** frolicking down a hill then watched in awe as it accelerated right into the side of the truck, left 8k worth of damage, then bounced off on it's merry way. Bizarre. I agree with a few writers here; Eat more venison!  Steve | ||
| Hacksaw |
Lovehamr I don't know how I hit it, I have no memory of the accident. Yes it hurt and still hurts. I talked to the tow truck driver who picked up the bike and cow he said he butchered the cow and barbequed it. He told me at the time he had some steak left in his freezer that I could have. | ||
| Lorazepam |
when I was a patrol officer, a woman hit a horse in broad daylight on a straight road. Whe I asked her why she didnt slow down or stop, she said she thought it was a hallucination. I sure dont want to ride home with her from a party. | ||
| Hacksaw |
I was on a straight road just before sunup on my way to work. I wish I knew what happened just to find out if I did everything that I was supposed to do to avoid the accident or at least minimize my injuries. | ||
| Retired_cop |
The woman who hit the horse got her license from the " here is your license, give us your brain " issuing agency we all have had encounters with. There are times I do not miss the LEO life but some of the stories are still worth laughing at. On a serious note...WOW glad there was minimal damage to you. |
