| Author | Message | ||
     Jsg4dfan |
While out on the XT this morning (her birthday, and she wanted to ride) a big 8 point decided he wanted the same space we were occupying. Managed to stay upright, but she came off of the back and has some impressively scuffed knees as well as being scared half to death. Other than a busted up headlight and instrument cluster housing, all seems well. Our gear did an outstanding job, and I feel fortunate. I want venison for dinner tonight... Pics later. | ||
| Metaldude |
WOW! So many other encounters don't turn out so well. What a testament to your gear and riding skills. Having busted that instrument cluster myself, I found that the replacement parts were inexpensive. Enjoy the steak! | ||
| Froggy |
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| Dr_greg |
How fast were you going? --Doc | ||
| Paralegalpete |
good that your both ok. Hope she gets back on the bike. | ||
| Dentguy |
How fast were you going? --Doc I think Dr_Greg has the highest deer impact speed on here and I may be in 2nd place. That is a heck of a B day present. Glad everyone is OK besides the scuffs and scares. | ||
| Dynasport |
Wow, glad you two are relatively unscathed. Deer strikes often don't turn out so well. Did you at least kill the deer? | ||
| Froggy |
Dentguy, want to settle for 3rd? Glad everyone is safe and alive  | ||
| Swampy |
Now do you know why I advocate poaching, at night, with a spotlight, along the roads? You wouldn't believe the number of deer hunters I talked to in the last week that haven't even seen a deer in the woods(because they are all standing along side the road) | ||
| Dentguy |
Dentguy, want to settle for 3rd? Gladly. I would rather not be on that list at all. Unfortunately the Doc and I both went down hard. That video does stir up a lot of memories. I'll look around and see if I can find some picks of the bike. Pretty amazing to look at the bars. My death grip pushed them forward and to the right in the clamps. I bent them down over the top of the fork tubes. | ||
| Jsg4dfan |
The deer quartered in from the right at a trot - damned near a parallel track when I first saw him. Seeing that I had a clear road ahead of me for at least 1/4 mile and knowing I had traffic right behind, I edged left into the turn lane and slowed, but did not brake, thinking we would pass him. Then he got spooked and accelerated like a funny car. Hard left. I got him right square in the head and neck with my headlights, thankfully missing the body with the front tire. The impact was violent, and he continued down the right side of the bike, somehow taking her with him. I felt no torque on the bars that I recall. I do recall quite vividly hearing her scream, realizing that I was still upright and moving, and seeing her in the rearview mirror sliding down the road. You do not want to experience this. I can only guess that the speed was 50 at the absolute most. Wasn't exactly looking at the speedo, as you might imagine. It's been a hell of a day. She wound up with 20 or so stitches in each knee after some minor plastic surgery to patch them up. They were pretty hashed up in a spot about the size of a credit card on each side. Watched the doc do it in the emergency room. She's also got a dislocated finger, and 3 other small patches of road rash (1 on her right forearm, 1 on her right outer thigh, and 1 very minor one on her left calf). I have nothing more than a less-than-impressive cankle on my right leg from the impact. I was wearing a full-faced HJC, Joe Rocket gloves, and an Aerostich. She had on a full-faced HJC, an Olympia 3/4 length textile, Jordan shorty gloves, and as many of you may have guessed by now, blue jeans. No need to guess how I feel about that now. I have relived this dozens of times today. There are a hundred different decisions that I've "what-if'ed" and "If I would have'd" since this happened. In the end, I know these two things: 1) It very easily could have been much, much worse. 2) I am a fortunate and blessed man. Pics coming next. | ||
| Jsg4dfan |
 Hard to see, but the lens is missing from the near side headlight. | ||
| Jsg4dfan |
 Brake line -- note the hair... | ||
| Jsg4dfan |
 Sharp eyes will note more hair on the bag mount (just below the latch loop and above the bar that goes forward to the footpeg bracket). The dirt on the peg bracket and the swingarm are from the deer. More evidence to me that he knocked her off the bike somehow... | ||
| Jsg4dfan |
 Headlight assembly has been displaced a bit... | ||
| Jsg4dfan |
 Brake line is on left, headlight housing on right. Mangled items in center are the bracket where you adjusted the headlights vertically, and part of the headlight housing itself. | ||
| Jsg4dfan |
Oh yeah -- deer is dead. After the ambulance left with her, I rode the bike home. I think all I'm going to need is an instrument cluster housing, headlight assembly and adjuster bracket. The windscreen even landed in my lap when it came off! I can't believe the bike didn't go down. I can't believe it didn't even crack a turn signal. I can't believe how many people stopped to help. I can't believe how fortunate I am... | ||
| Froggy |
Glad to see the bike held up well. Good news is, the total cost in parts is probably less than your insurance deductible, so if you fix it yourself you can be back on the road with no insurance penalty. Y0500.1AK INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, MPH Retail Price:$275.00 Y0421.1ADA Headlamp (Superseded, I don't got the new number) $161.00 L0940.1AKYBP BRKT,SUPPORT,FAIRING,LH,GRAPHITE GREY Retail Price:$46.00 L0941.1AKYBP BRKT,SUPPORT,FAIRING,RH, GRAPHITE GREY Retail Price:$46.00 L0942.1AKYBP BRKT,SUPPORT,FAIRING,CENTER,GRAPHITE GRE Retail Price:$46.00 Thats most of what you need, I know there is also a headlight mount, but I am lacking that number/cost right now. The dealer will need to program your odometer. | ||
| Sekalilgai |
glad you're safe! this is one time of the year I'd rather be driving a suburban...I see 4-6 'kills' in each direction on my 18 mile commute. And around here, the DOH clears the roadkill very quickly. glad to hear the riding gear worked too, swift recovery for the both of you Happy Thanksgiving Ken | ||
| Pauley2000 |
Thank god for good gear. I had a slide out last year on the KLR (On road, off road who cares) and the gear payed for itself right there. -p | ||
| Dr_greg |
That deer hair brings a chuckle. As I dig deeper into the heart of my "parts bike" I continue to find deer hair. It's hard to believe it got in that far... As others have said, glad you're both all right. I wasn't looking at my speedometer, but I had the GPS track to examine afterwards. --Doc | ||
| Dmmblaze |
Sounds like you reacted well to the freak accident. Deer are very unpredictable and like you said it could have been much worse. Don't beat yourself up over her wearing jeans which a lot of riders wear. You live you learn and thankfully you both are doing the former as well as the latter and will ride again. I hope you two have a happy thanksgiving! | ||
| Black51 |
Glad that you're both ok and that you had your gear on! You're right, gear is priceless. Maybe an Aero would make a nice Christmas gift for the wife if/when she's able to get back on. It's crazy around here in Pa too! Buck season starts on Monday. Time to put the plow on the bike!!!  | ||
| Dmmblaze |
Sweet black, I gotta get me one of those, looks like it would stabilize the Uly for winter riding too. No more shoveling sidewalks either, I could have the whole block done in 60 seconds, my neighbors would love me.. awesome | ||
| Buellerxt |
So happy to hear that you both got through that. Many don't. You obviously kept your cool about you and handled a 'shocking' situation well. Major kudos! I hope your wife heals quickly from both the physical and psychological impacts. That had to be really something for her. I can't imagine how you felt looking in that mirror. Gear, ah GEAR! It has saved so many of us. I agree with Dmmblaze, don't beat yourself up over this. We'll all learn from it and be better prepared. Thanks for sharing and have a great, very thankful, Thanksgiving. | ||
| Pso |
Jsg: Things are replaceable people are not. Great that you both were not hurt too badly. Froggey-The headlight, is that an upgrade over the bizare way Buell had the 06 which focused if the hi beam pointed forward the lo pointed down to the ground? | ||
| Froggy |
They changed the part number, thats all I know. About the aim, it can be adjusted by loosening the screws and tilting the headlamp assembly however you need. They come from the factory pointed a little low, I believe due to DOT regulations. Readjust the aim, throw in better bulbs or HID, and enjoy | ||
| Eulysses |
Scott...thanks for taking the time to walk back through the experience...helps us all increase our safety thinking. The mental picture of your lady in the road behind you was the one that got me...hope I never forget it. Thanks! | ||
| Jsg4dfan |
I finally got the chance to critically examine her gear yesterday. The jacket may be done for, the gloves are done for, and the helmet is practically untouched. I'll try to take some pics later and show the damage. Anyone think Olympia would be interested in a post-surf exam? She has a pretty nice rash on her right forearm due to what could be considered a failure of the sleeve cuff. Stay tuned for pics... | ||
| Jsg4dfan |
Pardon the poor photography -- borrowed camera, etc...  Right sleeve. Her forearm is rashed because of the blown cuff.  Left outer arm. Seam is blown right on the armor.  This is just under the shoulder armor on the same sleeve.  Right front pocket was ripped open. The digital camera that was in there is toast. |
