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parishollow
Jun 26th, 2008, 3:23 pm
Dept. of Wildlife had to finish it off. I felt bad but good enough that I wasn't hurt.
Heading east on US40 just west of Grandby,CO. a young moose steps onto the road. I was going about 65/70. I had enough time to think, "CRAP, that's a moose!" In the few moments before impact I saw my route to the right would take me into the river, to the left into the direction it was moving, it stopped, grabbed all the brakes I could hoping it would walk forward and it did only too late. I struck it in the rear hind quarter breaking its leg/hip and probably more. I managed to slow down enough that I was able to stay up on the bike after the impact. Love those ABS brakes! Thinking back if I had tried to swerve and clipped it I surely would have gone down so staying upright I think was the best thing. I have seen deer and elk change direction in a flash and I just couldn't guess it.
I was wearing all the gear and luckily didn't have to use it up like Brian. Hope he heals quickly.
Grandby police were on the scene pretty quick, a driver behind me who witnessed it called 911 right away. DOW was there in about 20. EMS showed up but I didn't need them. I had to wait around for the state troopers to fill out the accident report which took it out 2 hours and a half. No ticket. One trooper said because there wasn't a Moose Crossing sign I had the right of way! Is this correct? Didn't know if he was joking or not.
Here is photo of the bike. Looks all water spotted because the beast had just come out of the river. Took the photo after cleaning it up a bit taking the pieces out of the nose, zip tying the loose wires and reattaching the mirrors. They were tethered but the left one still has broken glass. The headlight is smashed out, connectors mangled, HID history, Windscreen lifter broke, nose cone and side tupperware don't fit right. The Hella's don't work as they were slaved to the high beam. Glad I have the Motolights to give others some indication I was there even though this happened around noonish. Honestly can't believe I got out this easy, my angels were with me.

justlookin
Jun 26th, 2008, 3:42 pm
I saw the Title of your thread and thought, "he couldn't have hit a moose and be talking about it."
Holy Crap!! :eek:
How many riders can say they hit a moose and walked away?
Outstanding job of keeping bike under control. Clear thinking and actions really helped.
I was driving north to sandbag last week and a deer popped out in front of me. I'm a believer in ABS.. They eventually closed the road there were so many deer coming out of the flood zones.

Great Job, glad you are ok. Bikes can be repaired or replaced..
Jeff

motorhead
Jun 26th, 2008, 4:48 pm
Glad you RODE away from the impact ... Damn lucky you are !!

** No picture shows up ?

Lonewuff
Jun 26th, 2008, 4:53 pm
I know of a couple of people that hit a moose and walked away, but they were in F350's with tubular bumpers and cattle guards on the front of their trucks, never have I heard of anyone on a motorcycle.

I think you should run right down to the store and buy a lottery ticket.

Glad you are able to tell the story instead of a coroner. :eek:

JPSpen
Jun 26th, 2008, 5:14 pm
Damn Boy, You're getting pretty hard on the Moose population...

Glad you're ok...Moose Chili for Everybody.....

You'll have to paint a "kill" on your next bike.

John

grifscoots
Jun 26th, 2008, 6:07 pm
I've been told that the police training is to nail the brakes and then nail on the brakes some more. All the money spent on studies and driving by the police departments across the nation can't be wrong.

RonKMiller
Jun 26th, 2008, 7:18 pm
I bagged a deer in 1973 on a Kawi 500 late at night. Bike and deer were history. I was bruised and banged up pretty good - felt like someone beat me with a hose filled with lead shot.

Ultimate revenge - I et him.

Venison is pretty good if you don't over cook it.

ronk1200lt
Jun 26th, 2008, 7:29 pm
I have seen two vehicles that hit a moose recently. The first was a one ton ford. It was totalled. The second was a Jaguar convertible. It had the top sheared completely off level with the hood as the driver ended up going between the mooses front and back legs. In the first case the driver walked away. In the second both the driver and the passenger were killed. Thankfully a good combination of luck, skill and a fantastically responsive machine kept you out of trouble. Glad you weren't hurt.

RonKMiller
Jun 26th, 2008, 7:37 pm
One trooper said because there wasn't a Moose Crossing sign I had the right of way! Is this correct? Didn't know if he was joking or not.

Gallows humor.

That whole stretch from Winter Park all the way to Rabbit Ears Pass is LOADED with moose, it's kind of their "last stand" in Colorado.

(for those of you that don't know there ARE moose crossing signs all over the place along that road - I've driven it probably 100 times. Plenty of deer and elk too)

Glad to hear you made it through in one piece - hitting a moose is like hitting a horse, they are HUGE. :eek2: