Bad ending to a great Vacation

[DairyRat]

We went to Custer, Me my brother and our wives 2 up on Hayabusa's. Sorry we didnt meet all, seen a few of you around town though. We were at the Chief Motel. To much to see and do for 2 days.
Had a great time, left the 14th for home. Stayed in Fairmont, Mn and rode across Wisconsin friday up to Green Bay into Michigan at Menominee. Decided to go the last 55 miles to Escanaba for the night.
Ten miles out of Menominee a deer jumps out in front of my brother at 60 mph. He only had  time to make sure tire was straight and then he gunned it.

My wife and I watched all from behind in horror as the deer was just there then a horrifying WUMP!! sound. In slow motion the deer was sent flying off the road and plastic pieces were  flying everywhere. My brother, with wife and gear went careening/ wobbling 100 yards down the road. We raced behind through all the debris. My wife says I was screeming "Keep it up Darryl! Keep it up!!"

He kept it rightside up and coasted to a stop. His wife screeming. The deer clipped both in their left legs. Thought both were broken. Called 911 from side of road. A few motorcyclists stopped (of course).
Most cars sped by, but a national guardsman stopped.

Both only sprained knees and ankles. Another brother drove 450 miles with a trailer to get bike and riders home saturday.(what are brothers for). Wife and I rode home in rain fittingly and got home 10:30 pm Sat.

Heres a picture of my little bro with his wife. He is my hero and I am just glad he is alive.

[bizarro]

Bummer! Glad to hear they're pretty much okay though.

[twist]

Sorry to hear about the accident, but I'm glad that both of them are ok.  Bikes can be replaced.

[1KPerDay]

Wow. That was some good riding to keep it upright.


Don't quite understand the "gunned it," though. I would think you'd try to reduce speed.


But then I've never actually hit the body of a deer. Just the tail.

[twist]

Don't quite understand the "gunned it," though. I would think you'd try to reduce speed.

You're more likely to just cut through the deer if you go faster.

[1KPerDay]

Does the same theory work for trucks or other solid objects?

[twist]

Does the same theory work for trucks or other solid objects?

Try it and let us know  

[1KPerDay]

No thanks.

[Bunbun]

Ugh that sucks!  Glad everything worked out well!  As for gunning it, I never really thought about it, but given that a deer weighs a buck fiddy and is squishy, that may well be the right thing to do.  More speed/ accelleration = more stability correct?  But the consequences of a wreck will be higher.... Hrm, I dunno.  Good on him for keeping it up and thinking about the situation instead of panicking!

Bun

[toddrod]

wow...glad your bro and wife are relatively ok. Amazing he was able to keep it up. I'm sure that was quite the experience.

Damn road rats!  

[basco]

You're more likely to just cut through the deer if you go faster.

That idea doesn't work for MI forest rats. I think the white tail are the largest deer in the nation except the mule deer out west.  

Good to hear everyone is ok.

[Biglar]

Wow! Incredible! Right On! that you Bro was able to stay up. Really glad to hear injuries were minimal. Bike can be replaced.

[Mookie]

Scary!  I hate seeing people wreck in front of me, especially if I like them.  Glad to see everybody made it out in one piece (with the exception of the deer).

[Andrew]

Wow! Incredible! Right On! that you Bro was able to stay up. Really glad to hear injuries were minimal. Bike can be replaced.

+1

[Stray Cat]

The forest rats were thick all the way to and from custer. Jeebus one ran right out in front of the three cars we were following not 100 miles from home on the way back! I'm really surprised to hear that this was the only deer strike story.... oh wait Spectre got one on the way to Custer.... He's okay and so is his bike. He had a very entertaining tale of his encounter.  
Glad to hear that everyone was okay.

I can't believe deer hunting can be very hard. They were EVEYWHERE!

[Bodhi]

You're more likely to just cut through the deer if you go faster.

Cut through a deer?  

[twist]

Cut through a deer?  

Yes, at a high enough speed the bike will cut the deer in half.  It's narrow enough to do that.  You'll still damage the bike of course, but you might keep it upright, as opposed to crashing right there.

[MisterSmooth]

...I can't believe deer hunting can be very hard. They were EVERYWHERE!

   

I'm glad your bro and his wife are OK.  That's the important thing.  

[basco]

Yes, at a high enough speed the bike will cut the deer in half.  It's narrow enough to do that.  You'll still damage the bike of course, but you might keep it upright, as opposed to crashing right there.

Again, try that in MI with a full grown deer.

[Canuck]

Sorry to hear about the accident, but glad to hear everyone is okay. My wife's aunt and uncle actually survived a collision with a moose two years ago with just bruises and scrapes, and they were both 70 years old. It was a very small moose, probably only a year old, and it was a glancing strike. They had on full gear too.

A young guy, about 20, down the street from me who started riding a couple years ago hit a deer last summer and cut it in half. He went down, but had no serious injuries. The bike was destroyed. Full gear again, thanks in part maybe to me loaning him "Proficient Motorcycling" when he started riding and telling him to take the MSF course, which he did. I'm not sure how large the deer was.

I avoid riding at night outside the city as much as possible, and on trips always stop before nightfall.

[Tony T]

Sorry to hear about the accident, but I'm glad that both of them are ok.  Bikes can be replaced.

+1

[stromgal]

Oy.   Amazing that they didn't crash.  


I was nervous as hell when riding early and late on this trip, saw so many deer.

[Scoop]

Very glad that no one was badly hurt!!
Interesting strategy for cutting through the deer.  I think that I shall put a very pointy front end on the Strom as our white tails around here are rather large.  Maybe a pointy visor too.
Sorry about the crash, but happy it came out with just a story.

[DairyRat]

That is exactly what my brother said. He said he had heard that the more speed the better to stay up. Said he was trying to drive straight through it. Cut it in half...lol
unfortunately it was about 130 pounds. but he stayed up. All the emergency people were amazed.

Just got word bike is totalled....cracked the frame.

[twist]

Interesting strategy for cutting through the deer.  I think that I shall put a very pointy front end on the Strom as our white tails around here are rather large.  Maybe a pointy visor too.

All I asked for was freaking laser beams attached to my bike's head!

[DairyRat]

im going with deer whistles and a "cowcatcher".

We used to run with deer whistles back in the 80's. Never hit one so got away from them...lol
wonder if they really work??

[Ears]

We used to run with deer whistles back in the 80's. Never hit one so got away from them...lol
wonder if they really work??

While GrnArrowe, Andrew and I were waiting out the rain at Crazy Horse, we met a couple from Texas with a 'wing. Somehow got on the topic with the missus and she stated they always used them and said the deer went in the other direction.

I had them on my Radian back in '86/'87 for a one trip up to the U.P. and for driving south on I-55. Can't say for certain they worked but I never had an issue.

[Scoop]

I was reading a couple of studies on the subject.  There is no indication that they do work.  I think that deer will shy away from bikes and from the sound of some pipes the same whether or not there are the deer whistles.  Sometimes though, they shy right into the bike.  

[Yankee Dog]

Again, try that in MI with a full grown deer.

It was in Michigan.  

Yankee Dog

[1KPerDay]

Full grown deer. Psh.

Out West we have horses with antlers!  

[Playinthestreet]

Out West we have horses with antlers!  

Some of the people "out West" have antlers

[1KPerDay]

 

[alphabet man]

im going with deer whistles and a "cowcatcher".

We used to run with deer whistles back in the 80's. Never hit one so got away from them...lol
wonder if they really work??

 Deer whistles,  mine work great for hippo's haven't seen one this year   on the other hand they don't seem to keep many deer away  

[forester]

We have them in the U.P., not that far from Menominee actually, but up der day call dem MOOSES.  YAH, I know dats misspelled, eh.

Anyway, I was up in that area last year for a weekend and I seriously couldn't believe how many deer there were.  It was unbelievable - and none of them were slow crossing the road, either.  It's like they've got two speeds up there - stopped and bust ass across the road speed.

That completely sucks, but I'm glad you and your family are okay!  

Full grown deer. Psh.

Out West we have horses with antlers!  

[basco]

It was in Michigan.  

Yankee Dog

I was kinda making a joke. Deer up there are quite small compared to the ones down here in the Lower Peninsula. There are a lot of corn and other crops that the deer infest on. I just cant see plowing thru a deer helping any like running thru a brick wall.

[DairyRat]

I agree with the part about deer being bigger in lower michigan, but this one was big also. 130-150 id say. As far as not intentionally running into it: Not like he was doing 35 and seen a deer so he sped up to 70. We were doing around 60, he seen the deer stop at side of road and he started to slow down. Deer then jumped out in front of him, no going around it and no time to stop. So he locked his arms and increased speed just before impact. I think his momentum did keep him up, they whobbled down the road quite aways. The steering damper(sic) came unattached in the collision. He says he had read somewhere once that is the thing to do. I personally cannot argue with the results.

[Scoop]

I agree, the results speak for themselves.  Probably a much better outcome than heading for the ditch or an avoidance manouver that could have ended in a highside

[windsorgreen1]

Again, try that in MI with a full grown deer.

So how big are the MI deer ?Cuz the deer in PA aren't too small & I know a guy who did just what the original poster explained- he sped up & split the deer in half

[Scoop]

I think that MI deer are about like Northern Ontario deer.  Small horses.  Maybe the size of skinny donkeys?  I would not want to smack one of ours.  I doubt that my VStrom would cut it in half without serious negative consequences to me and my bike!

[Andrew]

Not sure that the whistles work, saw a lot oof the wood rats running away from me on the ZX11c (with dear whistles) but then it was a rather ugly bike

A guy at work tells me that dear are attracted to bright lights, he is kind of a "know it all" so I don't listen to much he says, but if he is correct are there such a thing as anti-dear lights

[OpFlash]

Glad your bro and his wife are ok.  Amazing skill / luck to keep the rubber side down!  Those freaking deer suck!  Scared the crap out of me while touring through Colorado this year.  Saw a bunch while riding through rain and then snow while reaching the top of Slumgullion Pass.  Just glad that they never decided to bolt and t-bone me they way your got hit.  Glad everything went well. Love the forest rat term  

[vulcanbill]

I think what would cause this "plowing" philosophy to work would be the same thing as when you hit a smaller object.  If I were ever in a terminal gonna hit a groundhot or possum situation, I'd do the same thing.  Basically, you brake till you can't anymore but right before impact, you want to regain your fork travel to avoid the direct transfer of force if you use up the rest of the suspension travel.  Hitting a deer could be the same.  If your forks are all compressed nearly to the stops while braking then if hitting the deer transfers any downforce to the forks, you don't have anything left.  Maybe the full travel of the forks being available absorbed enough of the impact to allow the bike to stay upright regardless of whether the deer was cut in half or not.  

Yes, I realize that most of the impact would be frontal but imagine that imact in slow motion.  If the front of the bike hits the lower part of the deer, the bike will still continue forward with the force going somewhere.  Likely into the forks.  

It's a theory...one I hope to never test.

[Scoop]

If I am going to hit anything undesirable, I want to NOT be on the brakes at point of impact.  If you are hard on the brakes when you hit, forks will be compressed and the ability to make last millisecond decisions will be hampered.  Anytime I have been in such a situation, in a car or on a bike, I find that I am off the brakes when I need to be.  I don't think about it though, but have found that to be my automatic response.
But then, I haven't smacked a deer yet.
Last week, coming along Hwy 61 near the Canadian border, a deer dashed out across the road in front of Basket and I.  Neither of us saw him coming, just there he was.  Luckily, it was far enough in front of us that we did not have to evade.  Stupid deer.

[USA MEDIC]

As a fire fighter and medic I have seen many of these incidents. I will say that if your going straight, and have enough room after striking a deer, maintaining and or or accelerating some can help. Basically an object in motion wants to continue in the straight line it's already traveling in. Additionally, if your on the brakes your bike dips, thus striking the deer lower, and possibly sending him higher into you. By accelerating your bike stays high and straight. I have seen people injured both ways, and killed...But Just recently a buddy hit a blacktail on his harley, he went right over it on the gas and kept the pig upright. It caused 5k in damage, but he is ok because he didn't panic, and didn't go down. I smoked a deer a couple years ago on a GS, but it was small and I didn't even slow down, kind of like running over a dog, don't ask how I know that.

Glad they were "OK"

[veefer800canuck]

We have them in the U.P., not that far from Menominee actually, but up der day call dem MOOSES.  YAH, I know dats misspelled, eh.

 

"Take me Remnar, take me NOW!

[WOZERD]

That idea doesn't work for MI forest rats. I think the white tail are the largest deer in the nation except the mule deer out west.  

Good to hear everyone is OK.

Actually, it does. Having witnessed it first hand. Even with the Michigan road rats.
Before I forget, I think that if you are lucky, it's better to "lay it down" rather than impact them upright. That is, of course, if you are lucky enough to even be able to think. I have three friends (2 dead)  that received broken necks from 2 deer and 1 cow. They have a tendency to come over the top of you and snap your head back.
  The particular case I am talking about was on I 96 east from Lansing. Apparently there was some Harley ride for a charity and there were literally hundreds (if not thousands) of them all parading along on I 96 causing traffic jams. Intermittently, it would rain then the sun would come out. Every time there was a shower, they would all pull over and huddle under a bridge to the extent they would block the right lane. I was on my Suzuki RF900 coming back from my daughters in Lansing, heading toward Dayton, Ohio. Cursing having to sit, stopped/creeping along in the rain for about a mile every time this happened.
  Then, it happened again, everyone on the brakes, bikes parked on the shoulder-- Dang it! But wait, it's not raining! As I came to a rather quick stop, cars ahead were pulling over to the shoulder. People were running out onto the expressway. I saw a big smear of green on the road-- manure-- someone hit a deer. Then, I saw the hind quarters of the deer and blood. Then, as the cars ahead pulled over or passed through, I saw what happened. Two Harley's down. The big wide glides or whatever they are called-- full hard bags and the big windshield/fairing that turns with the handlebars. More blood. I did catch a glimpse of the 4 riders, laying motionless on the road. One lady, older, heavy set ("matronly") laying face down, wearing her DOT approved plastic hat( sorry, meant "novelty helmet"). Her little sleeveless leather vest, so fashionable moments before, all shiny with blood and her sleeveless white blouse stained with blood. She was in the middle of the road and I passed within ten feet of her. Her more than ample arms looked like bloody hamburger. Did I stop? No, there were already 30 or more people there. I was just stunned by the whole scene as I crept by. About 50 yards further up the road was the front half of the deer.
  So, yes-- you can saw them in half. Even Michigan deer.
I count myself lucky so far. I used to live in East Jordan and worked in Bayshore. Worked late one night and heading home, I saw a couple of eyes glowing in my headlight. Dog? Cow? No-- deer. A herd of them, suddenly found myself smack in the middle and had to literally run diagonally across the road with them to keep from hitting them. Being shouldered by a few before I could get it stopped.
  I am scared to death to ride a country road at night and even in the day, I stay as close to the center line of the road as possible to give myself as much reaction time as I can.
I have had plenty more close encounters--but-- thats another story

And, one more thing-- if you are in a car, and you have the time to think, do not hit them with the brakes on-- the compressed front of the car scoops em up and deposits them through the windshield and into your lap. (advice to my EX from a Michigan State Po Po after she did exactly that).