Shortly
after I bought my first new Harley Davidson, I was out taking a ride on a sunny
summer afternoon. I was enjoying the day and the ride. As I got close to the
county line, I noticed something move in the shade out of the corner of my eye .
At first it resembled a dog coming up from out of the ravine. But then it
squatted down hiding itself in the tall weeds just off the shoulder of the
highway.
It
was just a blur, when it suddenly jumped up and out into the middle of the
other lane. I could see spots on it and knew it wasn't a dog at all but rather
a young deer.
The
sound of my motorcycle may have startled it originally. There was absolutely no
time to react, even to let off on the throttle. A split second later it jumped
again into the middle of my lane and directly into my path. All I could do was
brace for the collision. I stiff-armed it just before the impact.
The
bike jerked hard and I could hear the cry of the deer as if it were a calf
calling out for its mother. The blow suspended the motorcycles momentum nearly
stopping the motorcycle in its tracks when the front wheel hit.
The
rear wheel raised completely off the ground, increasing its speed while it was
suspended. It was no longer aligned with the front when it finally hit the
pavement. The results caused the motorcycle to bounce wildly. Its failure to
follow the front wheels travel caused the motorcycle to wobble and jerk
viciously and uncontrollably.
As
I Squeezed the clutch and tried using both front and rear brakes, struggling
with it before getting it under control. Gradually the motorcycle slowed down
before finally coming to a full stop.
It
was all I could do to keep it in my lane and on the highway. I was lucky to be
alive. Fortunate to have kept the Harley upright without laying it down.
Upon
inspection I realized why it had taken so long for it to slow down and to get
it stopped. The rear brake reservoir had been broken off completely. Rendering
the rear brakes totally inoperable.
After
I stopped, I turned the Harley around to look, but the deer was long gone. The
motorcycle had some significant damage. Other than being shook up, I was all
right.
Being
out at the county line, there weren't any houses nearby to be able to use a
phone to call for help. There wasn't any reason to wait, so once I had calmed
down, I decided I would continue on my ride and opted to ride the remaining
eight miles home.
Once
there, I called my insurance company and was asked if there had been a police
report. Later, an officer came to my house to take the report and see the bike
damage. It was fixed at the dealership shortly thereafter.
I
added a new set of Deer Whistles and mounted one on each side of the Oil cooler
cover. I have lived in a very rural wooded and hilly area nearly my entire
life.
The
smoothly paved roads, with gradual inclines, sloping hills filled with all kinds
of twists and turns make for some great riding. The road surfaces and paved two
lanes are excellent in this part of Jefferson County, compared to other parts of
the state and country. They are kept up and marked well here in Missouri. So it
was easy to put on the miles since hitting that deer in more than a decade of
riding since.
It's
maybe another in a long list of reasons I am as fortunate as I am because to
have ridden for as many miles on two wheels as I have, I couldn't have asked for
better conditions.
Unlike
the majority of riders, I gave up drinking many years ago. Simply put, beer and
bikes don’t mix. Because of my non-drinking, I believe that also has contributed
to why I have spent as much time in the saddle riding as I have.
Then
there are times when I suppose everyone gets a little restless. Everyone has
their reasons for riding, especially if it’s a warm summer night when the moon
and stars are shining brightly. That or maybe it was a wild hair that caused me
to take a ride on another night.
There
are countless horror stories I have heard over the years of riders who have met
their fate meeting up with a deer in their headlights. Many more have suffered
with severe injurys to themselves and their passengers. A few were not so lucky.
These tragedies make me that much more humbled by this event. There is nothing
like the wind in your face to help blow the cobwebs from your mind and since I
hadn't been able to sleep, I knew a ride would do me a lot of good.
On
this particular night ride, I was just going to head down to the local service
station to get something to drink. I hadn't given any thought to the missing
Deer whistles as I began throttling through the gears bringing up the speed as
I approached the straightaway, well over 70 mph. The thrill of that ride
couldn't have been more intense. I had just backed off the throttle, rolling off
it as I crossed the Dutch Creek bridge. Within a few seconds, I was climbing up
the next hill before seeing a flash of light, from an oncoming vehicle. Suddenly
in the corner of my eye a deer appeared. It was all I could do to stiffen my
arms and brace for what was to happen next.
Everything
went into a slow motion from there.
The
deer had crossed the other lane and was virtually broadside directly in my path.
There was no time to react. A second later the lights of the oncoming vehicle
blinded me. In that instant it was as if I were transported to what could have
been. Had I gone down, the bike would have leaned into the oncoming lane and not
only would there have been scrapping me up off the highway, but they would have
been picking parts of me up from under that oncoming vehicle.
There
is nothing more humbling than knowing you have escaped almost certain death and
or a disaster and then realize you missed another opportunity to meet your
maker. There is no doubt in my mind and I know that I am not only blessed but I
live a charmed life as an individual as well.
In
both instances, at the time, I did NOT have deer whistles on my Harley. And in
between those times, I have put a couple hundred thousand miles on my 'O1 and
saw with my own eyes what the hundreds of deer do when the DEER WHISTLES are
on.
Say
what you want, but until you have ridden as many miles and experienced it first
hand, you have no clue. Granted, loud pipes can be heard, but a startled deer
is a bikers worst enemy. If you believe Gremlin bells work, this is one thing,
but I am telling you, I KNOW deer whistles are worth the effect. Do what you
want, but as for me, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what works
and what doesn't. Experience is one of the best lessons, but why take a chance
on your or someone else's life riding without taking this advice.
For
those that are serious about riding, heed these words. For the rest of you,
good luck on your deer encounters. I wish you all a safe and enjoyable ride.
And while I am at it, let's leave deer hunting to those with Rifles instead of
MOTORCYCLES, shall we ?
