Hey motorcycle riders - watch out for deer! (they hurt like hell!)

[Vainglory, Esq.]

Maybe we can all take a moment of silence for my motorcycle, a 2000 VFR Interceptor, which is very likely to be totaled out after smacking a deer.

Here's the story - I was riding in rural Wisconsin just after dusk, which as I figured out is a stupid thing to do, but I'm from L.A. and only recently moved up north - we don't have wildlife in L.A. - and it never crossed my mind that deer would be a problem.  Anyway, I was nearing the tail end of a 200ish mile trip to see an old friend, going 75 miles per hour, light traffic.  I'm cruising in the right lane and all of a sudden there's bambi running across the freakin road.

Anyway, my thought process went something like this (and keep in mind that this is all happening in less than a second) "is that a, oh crap it is, get out of the, uh oh, not good, oh crap oh crap oh crap - SMACK."

Like I said I was in the right lane, and the deer just came off the shoulder and was running across the road.  The guy who was driving behind me and pulled over to help said that he saw my headlights go out from the impact before he noticed any brake lights, which means I probably didn't even have time to react.  I can slow it down in mind but the whole thing was over in a split second.  The guy also said that as soon as I skidded to a stop, I was scrambling off to the shoulder, so I guess I knew subconsciously that there was traffic behind me.

The poor VFR ended up in the left lane about 30ish feet away from impact and the very, very dead deer about 20 feet more in the right lane.  I came away with a sprained ankle, a cut on my elbow, and some soreness.  I've always been a theoretical believer in protective gear, but I had never had the kind of accident that actually validated my decision to cover up.  I actually think that one of the things that saved my hide as well was the fact that I hit the deer pretty much directly in the side - I didn't clip it and go spinning off sideways somewhere, I actually almost flew over the bars because it was such a direct impact. 
I later found out that highway 29 in central Wisconsin is like death alley for deer, and they like to come out at dusk.  Oops.

Anyway, the bike is likely a total loss.  I've never had to make an insurance claim in my 8 years experience, so I'm new at it.  If anyone has any pointers in dealing with insurance people, getting the full value of the repairs or replacement, etc., please let me know.  Thanks for listening, and watch out for deer!

[Ponch ®]

damn dude...at least you're (sorta) ok.

sad to hear about the Tokyo Two Wheeler though...

[Vainglory, Esq.]

Yeah.  Hey, you remember the day I got that.  I showed up at the DR with it in all its yellow glory.

I really, really liked that bike.

[Ponch ®]

Yeah.  Hey, you remember the day I got that.  I showed up at the DR with it in all its yellow glory.

I really, really liked that bike.

I know man...and I got all excited cuz when you said you did something crazy and it was yellow I thought you'd banged an asian chick.

[Vainglory, Esq.]

Yeah.  Hey, you remember the day I got that.  I showed up at the DR with it in all its yellow glory.

I really, really liked that bike.

I know man...and I got all excited cuz when you said you did something crazy and it was yellow I thought you'd banged an asian chick.

Good times.

Here's a nostalgia pic in L.A.

[bull]

At least you got your first crash out of the way without dying. It was your first, right? They say when it comes to motorcycle riders there are those who have crashed and those who will. I'm in the "have crashed" category.

I've had probably close to 80 close calls with deer in my life and have taken out probably five. Fortunately for me I have never damaged any of my vehicles beyond minor repair because of it but deer are really stupid when it comes to having a death wish in the dark. I "commuted" to work way out in the woods working midnight to 8 am one summer and time and time again I would have to slam on the brakes, swerve, etc. to avoid these stupid animals that would wait beside the road until I was right on top of them before jumping out in front of me. I don't know what it is about them that causes them to do that but it got to be pretty nerve-racking.

Oh, and hopfully this experience will convince you to move your theoretical belief in protective equipment to a real belief in protective equipment. I always cringe when I see people in the summertime riding bikes in nothing but T-shirts and shorts.

[Blusmbl]

So are you going to keep the deer? 

[Troy]

That sucks. I have been out many times at/near dusk on mine and the only thing that has saved me is that I'm usually traveling slower on the back roads and I keep my head on a swivel looking for deer. I have hit a bird but I'd rather do that any day of the week (unless it's a turkey!). Too bad about the bike but they are mostly disposable. Just be glad you hit it the way you did and that you weren't hurt a lot worse. I've never had to file a claim with my insurance either so I won't be much help there.

Troy

[Charger_Fan]

I hit a bird about the size of a pigeon just above my face shield one morning, it didn't even leave a scratch on my helmet. I've had a couple semi close calls with deer, antelope & a friggin' cow! They say the best place to hit a deer is broadside, so you did great.

I'm glad you're ok, that sucks about the VFR, those are good bikes.
I've decided that on a bike, it's not IF you're gonna crash, it's WHEN. There's too many more variables with a bike, than with a car. I don't personally know of anyone who's been riding for say 4-or 5 years that hasn't had at least one boo-boo. I've personally got two to my credit, thankfully they were both at low speed. I ALWAYS wear a helmet (my personal choice, there no helmet law here yet) & 95% of the time, I wear a leather jacket. 50% of the time, I wear chaps. With my first crash, I walked away with only small scratches & a sore knee...rode the bike the rest of the way to work without a left footpeg, mirror & half a clutch lever.

Insurance companies vary naturally, but most won't have much problem replacing your loss. My first crash was when my bike was about the same age as yours & the insurance company paid about 85% of the estimate...the payout was partially age based. I fixed it myself & came out ahead on the deal.

The best way to get the most out of the deal will be to take the bike to a Honda dealer, as opposed to a "Larry & Fred fixit shop" type of place. The dealer will be able to get a more exact estimate.

Good luck Man, let us know if you get another bike soon.

[TruckDriver]

I'd say about 80% of all the roads in Wisconsin are Hell for deer. We have a LOT here.

[TK73]

So are you going to keep the deer? 

First thing I thought, spent a LOT of time in rural areas... 

[Ponch ®]

So are you going to keep the deer? 

First thing I thought, spent a LOT of time in rural areas... 

I hope you never got stuck with an ugly one.

[Lowprofile]

Well, I'm glad you're ok Bro! 

Although I haven't ridden in about 10 years, I have been a "rider" most of my life. [started at 10 yrs. old] And like most of the guys have told you, it really is a matter of "when" you'll have a accident. "Damn those laws of Averages" I have dumped my ride at least 3 times and was lucky enough to walk away with minor injuries just like you. I can't say enough about wearing the proper attire.....Helmet, leather jacket, gloves, boots, etc..........

Damn shame about the bike, but its man-made and you can get the parts to fix it. If you kept the deer, I know a good recipe for "Venison Stew" 

btw, remember, it could have been worse............

[Blown70]

Sorry to hear about the bike.  WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING IN WI.

Ohh and I almost nailed a bambi going down my driveway last night.  Yes I live in the sticks.


Tom

[Vainglory, Esq.]

How was I gonna keep the deer?  Strap it onto the back of a non-operable bike 200 miles away from home and go on my way?

Not the cops didn't ask.  See, I'm starting to see this as funny...


By the way, this was my 3rd time down.  The first two were minor enough that I could ride away.  This was the first big one.  And I was wearing a helmet and a good jacket, so the road never got to my skin.  Funny enough, I got a big abrasion on my elbow through the jacket.  My head didn't even touch down apparently, since there's not a mark on my helmet.

[Blusmbl]

Every good backwoods traveler has a pickup truck on standby, man!

At work a bunch of the guys were offsite at the Wixom assembly plant.  A deer got hit right out front at luchtime.  Several people ran out and piled it in the back of one of our late 80's Escort pool cars. 

Glad you made it out unharmed.  I know of several people that recieved several broken bones from deer collisions on bikes...

[Brock Samson]

Glad you're OK John.

my first crash was my last as i parked my bike and sold it..

in my case a young girl walked her bicycle out from between two parked cars directly in my path,.  I was doing about 30-35 MPH and was about 30 feet from her, i had just enough time to aim for the parked car,.. the bike stopped and i didn't i went sailing 25 or 30 feet over the car in slow-mo  Big La bowski style... and landed with a half twist, on my left shoulder 'n  broke both wrists and lost enough skin to hurt,..

the girl's family scooped her and her bike up threw her in the SUV and burned rubber in their escape, lucky for me an off duty Paramedic saw it and phoned 911. I was in shock and couldn't figure out why my wrists would support my weight.
I got great drugs in the hospital which was about the only plus...

and so being 40 years old and allot less resilient  i made the decision that i wasn't gonna risk that again...
no more bikes for moi... 

glad your still able to post! 
my bike was a perfect Yamaha D-250 BTW:

[Lightning]

Glad you made it.


I've hit 3 raccoons, a 'possum, and a couple birds, as well as an armadillo in my short driving "career".


My Uncle on the other hand, hit 3 deer within a year and a half with his '03 Ram, the extended family had enough Venison for 2 months or so.

[694spdRT]

Sorry about the bike but glad to hear you are alright as it could have been much worse.

Welcome to Wisconsin and all it's natural beauty.    My old '79 Ramcharger took out several deer before I retired it.

My wife killed 3 in one year too so she has a better average than most hunters. 

[Chryco Psycho]

I`m glad you are ok or at least reasonably OK , the bike can be replaced , you can`t be
Wisconsin is a WHole lot different to LA !!

[bull]

How was I gonna keep the deer?  Strap it onto the back of a non-operable bike 200 miles away from home and go on my way?

I'm thinking it was a joke.

[Charger_Fan]

My wife killed 3 in one year too so she has a better average than most hunters. 

[volk68]

I feel for you, Vain.  We have unbelievable numbers of deer with deathwishes out here in Colorado, so they are always foremost in my mind when driving anything, especially a bike.

Thankfully, I have never hit a deer (yet), but I did have a very close call with my brother on a Honda Goldwing   I must have been about 17 or 18 at the time, and my Dad has a first model GL 1000...it doesn't have any of the fairings or other crap on it, just a big heavy cruiser.  My brother and I had been hanging out in a neighboring town and headed home around 10:30 or so at night.  We go over a small mountain pass on our trip home from this town...the pass is really mild by Colorado standards, but there are a few fairly tight curves on it.  We were doing about 70 mph or so around one such curve when I caught something moving into our lane out of the corner of my eye.  We were closing fast, and we were still "in" the turn at a high rate of speed...there was nothing I could do.  We hit the "animal", and to this day, I am thankful for how heavy that bike was, as it swerved a little, but I was able to get it under control without going down.  It happened so fast, we couldn't even tell what the animal was...until we realised we had quills in our gloves and pant legs   We had in fact hit a very large porcupine    The bike survived pretty well, but it took the crash bar up front and folded it under and around the the timing covers on the bike. No other real damage though.

I firmly believe we were blessed that night, as you probably were with your deer experience.  I know of at least one other rider who encountered a deer at about 45 or 50, and it destroyed his bike and majorly injured him.  I saw the video ( he had a helmet cam), and he hit the deer broadside.  He woke up 7+ days later and is still rehabing AFIK.

[Ponch ®]

the bike can be replaced , you can`t be

tell me about it. Dude's been gone since May and my crew and I are still trying to find a replacement for "the white guy" of the group.

[skip68]

Glad you're OK.  I've been riding 20 yrs and can't even guess how many close calls I've had.  I've had 12 sportbikes, been down 4 times and have finally learned that at night I run 45mph on these roads in the hills(Ca.).  Those deer scare the hell out of me.  I ride an R1 and it's my last fast bike.  My next bike will be a sport tour bike.  Those VFRs are nice bikes and I feel pain.   Good luck and be safe.....Chuck