Road Kill

[ScrapeApe]

A Gold Wing pilot was killed this past week on the freeway here trying to avoid a deer that was previously struck and laying in the road at 5am. He was NOT wearing a bash hat and I'm sure that was key to his survival. But my question is (from the experienced) what is the largest obstacle you can hit and expect to stay upright at freeway speeds? A state trooper was quoted in the paper that swerving is the worse thing to do and the rider would have been better off hitting the road kill.

 

[airboss]

A Gold Wing pilot was killed this past week on the freeway here trying to avoid a deer that was previously struck and laying in the road at 5am. He was NOT wearing a bash hat and I'm sure that was key to his survival. But my question is (from the experienced) what is the largest obstacle you can hit and expect to stay upright at freeway speeds? A state trooper was quoted in the paper that swerving is the worse thing to do and the rider would have been better off hitting the road kill.

According to the instructor at the riders class I took last year "never hit anything you can't eat in one sitting".

 

[Geezer]

Regardless of the size of the critter, it is better to hit it straight on than to hit it while leaning over in an attempt to avoid it. Even worse if you run into a tree trying to avoid it.

 

[Scab]

I think I remember pics of a disected coyote that warchild permanently surgically altered with a bike. That's pretty big in my opinion. I don't know at what angle the impact occured, though.

 

[mdisher]

"Don't swerve if you can eat it in one sitting" is the rule I live by too...

But a fresh deer carcass in the interstate, I would *think* has the power to put you down, regardless of how you hit if, certainly more so at a lean. Unless it's already spread out pretty good. If it's in-tact and fresh, and it's a good size deer, it's goon hurt.

I do not wish to find out but I too would probably take measures to avoid something that large.

 

[Toecutter]

If you can't swerve or stop in time, what other option is there but to hit it? My best advice- Don't overdrive your vision.

I certainly wouldn't be choosing to drive through anything that I could possibly avoid. Aside from the obvious safety ramifications, you can get messy guts all over your bike & clothing. Ewww!

Last time out for me it was a tumbleweed. Luckily, it was one of those wimpy thistly kind. I tried to avoid it, but some bike wash from ExSkiBum's XX put it right into my path at the last minute.

 

[CAJW]

If you can't swerve or stop in time, what other option is there but to hit it? My best advice- Don't overdrive your vision.
I certainly wouldn't be choosing to drive through anything that I could possibly avoid. Aside from the obvious safety ramifications, you can get messy guts all over your bike & clothing. Ewww!

Last time out for me it was a tumbleweed. Luckily, it was one of those wimpy thistly kind. I tried to avoid it, but some bike wash from ExSkiBum's XX put it right into my path at the last minute.

I'm here to tell you, Toecutter's meeting with the tumbleweed was a thing of beauty. It was completely vaporized from my vantage point about 10 bike lengths behind. Hey, thanks again for clearing the way!

As far as swerving vs. impact, the swerve is what we teach in MSF but, if the inevitable happens, hit it at 90 degrees, raise your butt off the saddle, goose the throttle just prior to impact, then let off the throttle prior to the rear wheel contacting the object. Also keep your head up and look down the road, don't focus on the object as there may be more parts/pieces ahead.

 

[ponyfool]

This cracks me up. At least no one here is posting what was posted on another forum a while back, "If you accelerate, you can slice right through it". Yes, funny if the person was kidding, but they weren't.

However, a deer is large enough that you should have enough warning to manuever around it if riding at a speed appropriate for conditions, don't you think? I don't do a lot of night riding, but on a Goldwing, I'd expect the headlights to illuminate that far ahead. Maybe I'm naive.

 

[nusman68]

A Gold Wing pilot was killed this past week on the freeway here trying to avoid a deer that was previously struck and laying in the road at 5am. He was NOT wearing a bash hat and I'm sure that was key to his survival. But my question is (from the experienced) what is the largest obstacle you can hit and expect to stay upright at freeway speeds? A state trooper was quoted in the paper that swerving is the worse thing to do and the rider would have been better off hitting the road kill.

Stupid deer. Should've been wearing a helmet....

For me: Rural part of hwy 290 coming back from College Station, TX, at night. Poorly lit (hell..UN-lit). A sizeable squashed bale of hay suddenly materialized in front of me, with 3 other riders behind. Luckily, it had been mashed into an almond-shaped lump by other vehicles; stood up on the pegs, chopped the throttle, over I went perpendicular to it with no damage. If it had been an intact bale, well, I probably would've ended up doing a 'SkooterG' ! And that's not funny!

 

[sradek]

This cracks me up. At least no one here is posting what was posted on another forum a while back, "If you accelerate, you can slice right through it". Yes, funny if the person was kidding, but they weren't.
However, a deer is large enough that you should have enough warning to manuever around it if riding at a speed appropriate for conditions, don't you think? I don't do a lot of night riding, but on a Goldwing, I'd expect the headlights to illuminate that far ahead. Maybe I'm naive.

Yes, you are naive! Get real and smell the dead deer in your path dude!