SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> The Cafe >> I used to love seeing deer.
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1343540035

Message started by SuperSavage on 07/28/12 at 22:33:54

Title: I used to love seeing deer.
Post by SuperSavage on 07/28/12 at 22:33:54

Before I began riding Motorcycles again. Now I cringe when I blow past those deer x-ing signs at dusk. I know it's gonna happen, I just have to be super vigilant. Slow down and scan, scan, scan. Seeing and not hitting is the plan... :o

Title: Re: I used to love seeing deer.
Post by MarcosS40 on 07/29/12 at 05:53:47

I can identify with your feelings about deer. I live in N. Central PA. We have plenty of whitetails running around here. Best to not ride at dusk in my opinion. Hitting a deer can sure ruin your day. I've also had black bear sightings along the roads of Pa.. Hitting a possum, skunk, rabbit, fox, or porcupine can be just as disasterous. It seems all the above are only too willing to give their lives to ruin your day. :o

Eternal Vigilance is the only solution.

Happy Riding!

Title: Re: I used to love seeing deer.
Post by 360k+ on 07/29/12 at 07:52:08

Also be extra diligent in the mornings. The deer x-ings are usually where they are because it's a natural path to food or water, and animals will tend to cross at both dawn and dusk. Besides slowing down, tend to ride as close to the center of the road as safely possible as this increases your avoidance options. It's much better to have two directions to swerve rather than just one if you are riding near the side of the road. Lastly, deer can appear in mere seconds, so basically try to rehearse in your mind what you WOULD DO should a real event happen.

The only time I have been down was due to a deer at June Lake, CA at about 6AM. I had no option but to to lay the bike down because I had the lake on the right side of the road and the steep mountain side on the other shoulder. Luckily I was only going about 50mph, but even then, both myself and the bike slid for a long way. The "coulda, woulda, shoulda" remorse afterwards is painful in both the literal and figurative sense.

Title: Re: I used to love seeing deer.
Post by verslagen1 on 07/29/12 at 07:53:01

Heard the deer whistles were useless, but a good rifle crack backfire on command would be very helpful... I wonder how you could do that [smiley=evil.gif]

Title: Re: I used to love seeing deer.
Post by 360k+ on 07/29/12 at 07:58:10

2E3D2A2B34393F3D3669580 wrote:

Heard the deer whistles were useless, but a good rifle crack backfire on command would be very helpful... I wonder how you could do that [smiley=evil.gif]

I seem to remember reading a report years ago where deer whistles actually had a negative effect, because the deer would stand in the middle of the road trying to figure out what all the whistling was about. ;D

As far as the rifle crack, what about the old trick of turning the ignition off for a second in gear, then back on?

Of course, this is all predicated on assuming you have time. After analyzing my crash I figured I had less than 1 second to make an plan and execute it.

Title: Re: I used to love seeing deer.
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/29/12 at 08:16:56

I used to just put a slight pressure on the sidestand & let off,, it would go off like a gun, If I was running a hazardous road, I wouldnt mind doing that a few times, It isnt something to do when the handlebars are aimed at one,

Title: Re: I used to love seeing deer.
Post by RidgeRunner13 on 07/29/12 at 09:35:57

7E6167607D7A4B7B4B73616D26140 wrote:

+1
Used to do that on my first Savage just to screw with people. Mostly people walking side by side, almost or in the roadway. Out grew that phase & always wondered if I did it for too long I might do some engine damage. 8-)

Title: Re: I used to love seeing deer.
Post by RidgeRunner13 on 07/29/12 at 09:48:30

BTW, I live on a barrier island where I've been told for over 30 years there are no deer. Now, I knew better from my dirt bike riding days when I would find deer tracks, in an area known as "Charlies' Pasture", but I couldn't prove it until last December.
That's when on a run to my bank, I ran up on this fine specimen on the side of the road.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n94/Pappygt13/IslandDeer004.jpg

So even if you don't think there are any around, you still need to keep a careful eye out for them. This one was so recent, it was still warm. On my way back, the constables & a county truck were there loading it up. I hope it didn't go to waste, cause it wasn't even close to being spoiled. 8-)

Title: Re: I used to love seeing deer.
Post by Serowbot on 07/29/12 at 10:19:58

Spook'em with a deer whistle, backfire, or horn, and they are even more unpredictable than if you didn't...

I say slow down and go stealthy... hope you don't disturb...

:-?...

Title: Re: I used to love seeing deer.
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/29/12 at 10:21:50

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n94/Pappygt13/IslandDeer004.jpg

The buck stops here.

Title: Re: I used to love seeing deer.
Post by babyhog on 07/29/12 at 13:32:59

Took this on Friday morning from my driveway as I was heading out to work. There was a doe and 3 fawns behind the buck.

http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/xx211/babyhog/stuff/072712.jpg

Then, took this of the same buck Saturday morning out my back door. It was about 8 a.m. The doe and 3 babies came back and followed the same path this buck did later yesterday morning. And the buck came back yesterday evening. They are out and about alot more at this time of year.

Definitely be on the lookout for them when riding!!

http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/xx211/babyhog/stuff/buck072812.jpg

Title: Re: I used to love seeing deer.
Post by Serowbot on 07/29/12 at 14:36:14

That one posed for you, Piglet...
Looks like a garden decoration with the lights on each side... ;D...

Title: Re: I used to love seeing deer.
Post by Trippah on 07/29/12 at 20:49:17

Not always but often deer travel in groups of 3-5 so if you see 1, slow down and prepare. ;)

Title: Re: I used to love seeing deer.
Post by stinger on 07/30/12 at 01:28:20

The day I bought my 2002 Savage it was pouring down raining and so I left it at the dealer and borrowed my moms car to go to work. I was just cruising thinking how much fun this was going to be on my bike when the weather was nice. A deer jumped right in front of the car, and wiped out the grill and hood and smashed the windshield. Might have been a omen because had it happened on my bike, I would have been dead.

Title: Re: I used to love seeing deer.
Post by Wolfman on 07/30/12 at 02:28:27

A shot like crack will have em looking for where it came from. Standing right in the middle of the road.
Best bet is hit the horn and flash your light.
Regardless of your attempt to clear the road keep one thing in mind. Deer got the right of way and your VERY best bet is braking and avoidance.
The bucks are in velvet and even with the heat their moving more lately. That and food is a bit harder to find with the drought so their ALL moving more right now.

And screw the marked crossings, deer can't read. Their liable to pop out anywhere. High point on a ridge or low spot along a creek or draw.

Title: Re: I used to love seeing deer.
Post by Badass94Cad on 07/30/12 at 04:55:29

A buddy of mine had just picked up a brand spankin' new bike a number of years ago. He was out for a ride, a deer ran out, head down and rammed the bike. He held on, his GF fell off (only cuts and bruises, fortunately), and the brand new bike was totaled. :o

Title: Re: I used to love seeing deer.
Post by 360k+ on 07/30/12 at 07:27:56

5A5D40474E4C5B290 wrote:

And obviously, your Mom didn't kill ya either!