| Author | Message | ||
     Hooper |
This isn't a 100% happy story, but I AM happy to say that I'm mostly OK, but I'm worried about my '06 Uly (about 7480 miles). The deer was a heap on the side of the road. No County Police bullet needed. I'll tell the story, then ask a few questions about accidents and how insurance companies treat bike crashes. Prior to this, in early 2006, I dumped a rented Road King on a dirt road in Apache country in Arizona, near the Roosevelt Dam. I got into some deep sand, fixated on it, and got off. The Hog went into the ditch by the side of the road. My buddy and I got it out with nothing worse than a slightly bent shifter, bent engine guard (thank God for that), and some scuffs on the front fender and left box. I had a little road rash on my forearm - a burn caused by the inside of my leather jacket - and a couple small bruises. Thankfully, I was only going 14mph. My buddy said I would have plenty of respect when I walked into a bar with the scuffs on the back of my jacket. This time was more like 50mph - I was on Maryland Route 28 just west of Darnestown, headed back home to Silver Spring, MD after a fun ride through VA and MD, but through a shocking drop in temperatures, flash flurries, and pummeling winds that reminded me of my ride in Scotland. I had seen deer earlier in the ride on a slow stretch of road and laughed at them as they stood in the woods, staring at me. The stretch was a perfect S-curve, so I went back and ran it about 2-3 more times to get the curves perfect. Practice. Each time, the deer stood and watched me with their big, glassy black eyes: "Oh, it's that guy on the Buell again. What a weirdo." Route 28 out of Point of Rocks and the funny little curve in the road impressively called Tuscarora is wonderfully rural and scenic, and it's still pretty close to the sprawl of the Washington, DC area, which is why I love it. You don't have to go TOO far to get out in the country, see some history (the Monocacy Aqueduct of the C&O Canal is great). It fluctuates between 30 and 50mph. I was doing ALL of that 50 when everything got surreal...there was a car about 100 yards or more ahead of me...or was it 10 yards ahead? The deer seemed to wait on the left side of the road, see me, then run. One went by and made it. The other slipped on the pavement with those damn hooves and went down on its gut. I ran right over the middle of it. I’m either vitally lucky that the buck was on its stomach, or just a few split-seconds too soon, as it might have sprinted by in time. There is no way to decide, is there? I feel like I starting flying left, then I realized I was sliding head first down the road on my back (just like in AZ!), and had the ironic and angry feeling of "DAMN, I can't believe this is happening! I was going to go for my whole riding career without a big accident! I think my jacket is working. How far am I sliding? where's the bike? When will I stop sliding? Am I okay?" When I stopped, I jumped right up - something I do when I slip and fall when walking or fall down some steps, or do something klutzy - I get right up and deny that I'm injured through sheer force of will. The good thing was that it felt like I was just fine. I was walking...all the limbs were functioning, and my head felt fine (as well as your head does after an accident of any sort - adrenaline). I walked with purpose right over to the bike, which had reversed direction and was lying on the shoulder. I think it was in front of me, down the road about 15 more feet where I stopped. I think. I don’t think I turned around to go to it…it must have been in front of me. Yes, I remember walking toward a car that had pulled over. Another car passed slowly but did not stop. Another car came up and asked if I was okay – I replied that I was. They seemed incredulous. They said they were calling 911 non-emergency. I thanked them. Thinking back now, sitting on my couch, I’m a little offended that I didn’t rate 911 EMERGENCY! I was still just so – relieved…happy – that I was walking, talking, and feeling together, like nothing had happened. I came to the poor bike, lying on its left side, H & B bags still on, and everything looking intact – except for a glimpse of the right foot peg and rear brake lever snapped off and hanging. With the strength you can only have when adrenaline is coursing, I faced the Uly and picked it up easily, flicked the side stand out, and let it be. A woman in a minivan pulled up in the oncoming lane and asked if I was okay and also said that she was calling the police. Frankly, at this point, I was wondering who to call for a tow, and was thinking that my afternoon would be ruined – no pub visit, big expense to a towing company, and, by the way, who the hell would I call? I had no numbers on me! I decided to wait for the Montgomery County police – surely they’d be able to help. I paced around a bit, making sure my head was clear and my body was okay. I felt a little burn on my right thigh – road rash, for sure. A lady from one of the cars came up and asked if I was okay and said she’d called the police. She told me that my jacket’s elbow was torn…I looked at it, noticed the tear – I could see the CE armor underneath – and said, “That’s what it’s there for.” I wondered if the road was strewn with Uly pieces, so I started walking up toward the deer, which was lying unnaturally on the shoulder. I got my head together and realized that I wasn’t MISSING any parts, and thought better of going up to the deer. I’d hit one in my car in 1994 and remembered seeing the poor thing hobble away, just as a highway patrolman pulled up. He put it out of its misery back then with a pop of his pistol. This time there was no need. The deer wasn’t moving. “That’s what it’s there for.” She repeated, and walked back to her car. That’s when I noticed that my right pant leg was torn open, but the liner was still in good shape. The little hip pad had done its job. I thought looked kind of funny, standing there with my pants ripped open like that. I still had my helmet on and earplugs in. With the bike up, I took my gloves and helmet off, set them on the seat, and took a look at the Uly. I noticed my brand-new HVMP bar ends had done their job – for exactly the reason I bought them, but not at a speed like this. The right one was untouched. The left one was slightly bent and covered in mud. I easily pulled it out of the handlebar and put it inside the left pannier. The left bag’s plastic shell was smeared away – a little crust of it came off in my hand – but the bag still opened and closed as normal and the mounts didn’t look bent. The left foot peg was bent forward, but it was there, as was the shift lever. I felt better. There was a clear tire mark on the chin piece – hitting that beast had slammed the front fork back hard enough to make it strike that cowl. I worried that it had bent the fork. Hearing sirens, I looked right, then saw the lights – a fire truck and two cop cars. It was a little bit exciting, but also a little bit embarrassing – all this for me? I was standing! The bike wasn’t on fire! And hey, why no ambulance! I pulled my Foothills Colorado BMW hat on and prepared to talk to the police. They were great, of course, asking me if I was okay, looking me in the eye to check my senses. I told one of them that I’d rolled right over the big deer before going down – he mentioned the obvious: “Deer really like to run across this road.” I know. Later that day, I kept asking myself “what were the odds!? WHAT WERE THE ODDS! 110 MILES OF ROAD TODAY, AND THIS HAPPENS!” It was such a great ride that day – I was being blasted by flurries and wind on country roads and cris-crossing the Potomac! My fingers were frigid, but it was still a great adventure ride! It was maddening! How could this have happened?! Will I ever ride a Uly again? As the county police took an assessment of the scene, I turned to see if I could start it up. The headlight was still on as I had put it on its side stand, which was reassuring. The lights and dials cycled, but no engine. I tried a couple more times, flipped the ignition over again. With one officer next to me, it cranked right up. I flicked through the gears, but didn’t see neutral come up. The officer said his partner would escort me up to a gas station in Darnestown, just a few miles away, where I could get a tow. The fire truck barely stayed two minutes before heading on. No Uly fire. Cars slowly passed by and put two-and-two together – dead deer… cops… motorcycle…oh God! Still, nothing to see here folks! I realized that I was incredibly, incredibly lucky. The acronym ATGATT flashed through my head from time to time and a couple times on the way home. Would I wear it all when I rode my Harley? I examined my silver helmet, expecting to see some dramatic damage. It had only one slight white paint scrape on it – how did my head hit something white? I swear I went down the right hand lane! If anything, there should be yellow paint! I was relieved. In addition to my burning right thigh – which started to feel a little moist, too – I started to feel a little soreness in my upper left ribs. My left thumb was a bit sore, and my right index finger (which always sits on the brake lever) was stiff…it had been almost frozen off earlier in the day! Was it just carpal tunnel or the cold, or did something else happen? I was planning to rent a Harley in Florida later this month and visit my parents at their vacation condo. Would this derail it? Would I want to ride again? I have another bike at home – would I want to ride it? Would I be too scared? Would I ever ride out in the country, which is what I love to do most? I thought of my friend Stephen who loves to hunt deer and other game – I felt like telling him to go hog wild next season. Or sooner. Finally, I put my helmet back on, pulled the gloves back on, wondered if my head was clear, and turned the beaten Buell around with a squad car blocking oncoming traffic. The handlebars were definitely bent forward and to the left. When the wheel tracked straight, the dashboard and bars were leftward, which didn’t bode well for costs. I was able to ride straight, though my right foot had to rest on the edge of the frame instead of on a peg, and I would have to brake with the front brake ONLY. When I tested it, the front end shuddered and I feared that something had happened up there. Would I make it far enough with the brakes as-is? The mirrors were all cockeyed, but I was able to bend them back to catch a glimpse of the county cruiser behind me. My speed crept up over the 30mph speed limit and a funny thought of being pulled over for speeding crossed my mind…slow down, man, slow down. Will the tires stay inflated? Finally, I pulled into the gas station in Darnestown, across from the Harris Teeter grocery store and a convenience store that I remember seeing a clutch of Harley riders gather one cold morning to start a group ride. I pulled up next to the restroom, hopped off, and said thank you to the officer – he drove off. At that point, I realized my bike was running…maybe I could take it home and avoid a costly tow, or avoid leaving at the Battley H-D/Buell dealer parking lot and finding a ride home. My girlfriend was out of town, and my guy friends were not anywhere near Gaithersburg, MD. Besides, I was embarrassed by the crash. It was just like everyone says: Motorcycles are dangerous! Why would you ride those things?! I know someone who died on one! With my helmet off, I paced around the bike and took some deep breaths. Were the cops going to hold up around the corner and stop me if I tried to ride my broken sled home? Because now I was thinking that I could! The clerk of the gas station came out and asked if everything was okay. I got the feeling that he had been called by the cops to be ready for me. I told him I was fine and he went back in. I asked him for the bathroom key so I could look at my face in the mirror and maybe check my thigh out. The bathroom was a gas station bathroom…the light didn’t work and there was a shit stain on the toilet. So I propped the door open, took a much-needed piss, washed my hands, and took a moment. I was definitely going to ride it home. After a few minutes, I helmeted-up and made the ride back home, getting used to the skewed handlebar angle, the shaking-front-braking, hooking my useless right boot onto the frame, and shifting with my heel because the left peg was bent so that I couldn’t fit my toe in there. I had to remind myself NOT to get used to this system and just consider it a “quirk” of my Uly! I had to talk myself out of stopping by my pub, The Royal Mile, and telling the story. I was embarrassed, and injured. I needed to go home and disinfect my leg and put ice on my digits. And call my girlfriend. And I did. I took my car to CVS for various first aid, and when I got home, I put the cover on my Uly and wondered when I’d give it a good ride again, and when I’d be able to take my girl out on it again, like I wanted to. Would she trust me? Such a freak accident…a deer could hit you in your car, but you wouldn’t have a gash in your leg or a set of bruised ribs! If she had been on my bike today, she would have been wearing jeans and a winter jacket and my full-face helmet. She wouldn’t have faired as well as I, and how could I ever live with that? Folks, I was wearing the Olympia AST jacket and pant set – they were zipped and snapped together in the back, so the pants stayed on in the slide. My helmet was a basic HJC CL-15. I was wearing over-the-ankle H-D lace-up hiking-style boots. My gloves were heavily armored Cortech Scarab Winter. My right riding pant leg was ripped open from knee to waist – the zipper had been torn open. The hip pad was fine, but showed evidence of abrasion. The rest of the pants were dusty and dirty. The word “Harley-Da” on my left boot buckle was filed off by the pavement. “vidson” was still there. The seams on the two elbow/forearms were opened in a couple places, and they were torn and scuffed in places. The armor was in good shape. It wasn’t until I got home when I took off the jacket and got a look at the rest of it. The back was torn and abraded. The armor there did its job as well. The gloves showed evidence of scuffs on the titanium-armored knuckles and other places. The helmet has a swipe of white on the upper back left area. It’s an interesting concept to look at my fantastic AST suit and realize that I need to throw it away and spend a few hundred bucks on a new one, but you pay to play, and I’m pleased with the performance. I was NEVER cold in that suit (only my toes and fingers were ever cold). Hooper damage: my right index finger is swollen and has strange red marks which made me wonder if I had actually been frostbitten. My left thumb seems to have improved. My ribs are definitely bruised, but I don’t think they’re broken. From what I’ve heard, a broken rib is unmistakably painful – you can barely breathe. My upper left arm was tight, but it moved just fine, unlike the time when I fractured my shoulder skiing – I couldn’t raise my left arm above 70 degrees! At home, when I got my riding pants off, I noticed a red spot on my right thigh and a small hole in my jeans, just below the stain. Past the jeans, there was a red spot on my boxers. Past the boxers, there was a gash in my thigh that looked manageable, but when I looked closer, I realized how deep it was…I must have landed on a rock on my tumble…it really gouged out a chunk – there was a lot of “meat” in there, including oddly colored tissue that made me think of fat. Was that fat? Could I remove it? Did I see road debris? With a hole in my jeans leg, I realized that my riding pants liner had been breached as well. Ouch! Do I need stitches? Do I have to go to the damn emergency room? I’d be there all night! It would cost a fortune. I once checked into the emergency room thinking I was having a heart attack (it turned out to be carpal tunnel syndrome), and spent hours there – and I was healthy! I was nervous. I took a shower and cleaned the wound – it wasn’t bleeding – then squeezed a wad of Neosporin in and closed it with a big bandage. If I used a butterfly bandage, could I forego the stitches? Could I pull the bandage tight enough to do the trick? Maybe I could check it tomorrow and see. My ribs felt tender, but not worth going to a doctor. Should I ask my doctor friend? I went to CVS instead and bought more bandages and various antiseptics – but they didn’t sell butterfly bandages. Were they only available to doctors in order to deter people from avoiding stitches? We’ll see – so far, the pain is gone, but it feels hot…right, like an infection. And the pain? Gone. Must be the Manhattan and martinis. Bike damage: right foot peg snapped off with brake lever, but still attached by the bolt; right foot peg bent, making it impossible to access the shift lever normally; tire mark on chin cowl; scuffed lower left fork and shock guard; skewed front end; bent handlebar; shattered front left turn signal cover (doesn’t light); scuffed left fly screen; slightly bent left bar end weight; slightly scuffed left frame puck; and a heavily scuffed left H & B bag. Who do I tell? My parents? No way – they don’t need to worry about me. My friends? Not likely – they don’t need to worry about me either. My girlfriend, who just had her first ever motorcycle ride on that Buell just last weekend? Yes, I have to. I’m so embarrassed to have to tell her – I’ve been such a safe rider and take it so seriously and want to share the trips with her, but what will she think now? The Uly is such a great bike for two-up, and we talked about going all over the place – will she ever want to ride with me again? If it’s totaled, would I buy another Uly? If it’s not totaled, when would I ever get it back, and how much would it cost? Yeah, I’d get another Uly. After suffering frostnip before the crash today, I want those damn heated grips! And I’m just not confident in my job security right now to afford a big, nasty GS. Basic questions to my Buell family: 1. What is your experience with a crash and insurance companies? Are they likely to total a bike quickly? What kind of damage totals a bike? Do you take it to your Buell dealer and the insurance company talks to them to make the decision? 2. What was the total cost to rehab a crashed Uly? 3. How do you get back on after rolling over a deer and sliding down the pavement? Does your decision-making process feel different from an incident with a cager or if you are more seriously injured? Has anyone given up riding for good after an accident? 4. What are the lingering mental effects? Am I going to feel like a damn deer is going to hop out at the last minute again just like this time and nail me? 5. Could I have swerved? 6. Can I ever have my girl on the back with a clear conscience? I just can't believe I hit a deer. I should have been riding for years with no car collisions, but a DEER?!?!?! It makes me SO MAD! Oh yeah, and as one cop finished up with me - saying that he was not going to file a report - he handed me a slip of paper with the incident number (for my insurance company, I assume). The other cop walked up on my right and handed me an antler...AN ANTLER. "This is from the deer - came off it...this is the time of year when they grind them off pretty easily - don't know if you want it." I looked at the officer with a look in my eye that I hoped conveyed the understanding of the irony of the gesture, but also so that the officer would see that I had all my wits about me and not call an ambulance. "Do you want it?" He asked, handing the five-point, foot-long antler to me. "Sure." I said, and put it into the f'ed up pannier along with the f'ed up bar-end weight, and the book that I wanted to read with my dinner at the pub, later. I'll be keeping that antler around from now on. Thanks everyone… (Message edited by hooper on February 10, 2008) | ||
| Lovehamr |
I feel for ya brotha!  http://www.sporttwin.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=4240.h tml Steve | ||
| Maximum |
Glad to see that your typing fingers are working great!  Seriously though, it does sound like you were lucky. Bad things can happen to anyone, anywhere, and anytime. I don't see that you did anything wrong...on the contrary, you showed great wisdom by wearing good protective gear! I wear the same Olympia setup, so it was good to hear that it did its job. You might want to claim the gear with your insurance also, I know that I have coverage for gear and accessories with my motorcycle insurance. Your body will probably hurt more for a day or two after a crash, but it sounds like you should recover fairly quickly. I would also bet that the Uly could be fixed for not too much, even if the insurance company totals it (as long as the frame and engine are OK). I would not worry too much about riding with passengers because the odds are with you now that you got the crash out of the way. but I would definitely insist that your passengers wear the same level of protective gear that you wear. The main thing is to get back on that horse as soon as you can! Take care. | ||
| Hooper |
Ha ha, Maximum! You're right - my fingers ARE feeling better! I love to write about riding, but I can't believe this experience happened to me. Thank you for your encouragement...I think you're right about the body's recovery. Lovehamr: I can only imagine how terrifying it must have been to STAY ON the bike during a collision. I'm sort of glad that once I realized that the front tire had hit the brown, furry body that I was done with the Ulybeast and was just hopeful about sliding to a stop on my back armor! | ||
| Midnightrider |
Hooper I had a high speed get off back in September (diesel fuel spill on 395). Broke an elbow, bruised a knee, $2500 damage. This was my first accident. Before I got back on the bike, my nephew in NY came up over a hill on his Honda and found a slow mover directly in front of him. He's still in rehab. I think that has affected me more than my accident. After mine I was concerned I might get too cocky - heck - I'd gone body surfing on asphalt and walked away. Well, at least walked to the ambulance. So everybody's different but yeah - there will be some affect. I've done the MSF courses but now thinking of taking something like the "total control" course. I had full leathers but have since gotten better boots, the juggernaut armor shirt, and knee and shin armor. ALso added axle and swingarm sliders from American Sport Bike and HVMP bar end weight. And it will be awhile before I put anyone on the back again. I live in Bethesda but ironically, we were in Silver Spring today house hunting. I bought my 06 Uly at Battley and they were OK but I would recommend HD/B of Frederick. Get in touch with Ratbuell from this forum - he was a HUGE help to me getting the bike out of the shop PM me if there is anything I can do for you Don | ||
| Dentguy |
Hooper,I t-boned a deer doing 60 mph last October on my 06 Uly and they totaled it. The accident and damage sounds about like mine. I just didn't see my deer until we were looking in each others eyes thinking s**t this is going to hurt. I type really slow and it will take all night to fill you in on the computer. PM me your number if you want and I will try and call you on Monday. By the way, I had Nationwide insurance and it went well. | ||
| Dentguy |
Hooper,Just read your profile. One of your favorite roads mentioned was Rt.55. I was off of 55 coming back from Skyline Drive. when I tagged the deer.Steve. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Hooper - I'm glad you're OK, and that the bike got you home safely afterwards. I probably would have bagged it and called my entire speed dial list until I found a ride ;) Free advice for you, and some answers to your questions: Yes, usually owners will bring the bikes to the manufacturer's dealer, the dealer will do an estimate and communicate directly with the insurance co. We do the legwork, and keep you informed. Midnight's bike needed quite a bit of cosmetic work, but wasn't all that structurally damaged. It was not totalled and the component replacement list sounds about like what yours will require. Definitely claim your gear as well - I believe Midnight got reimbursed for his helmet in the 'event' he had, as well as some of his other gear. Usually on something like that, they'll just say "go get your replacements and send us the receipts". It's cheaper for them than a stay in the ER. If you need any help getting humpty dumpty back together, just drop me a line. Again, though, the important part is you're OK. The weather was a real bitch today, I rode to work and it was alright but coming home I was getting tossed all over the place...and I had to buy a gallon of paint at Lowes so I was on my 750lb FLHP! I stuck to the back roads, but one right turn nearly put me into oncoming traffic - the wind was coming from my right, the inside of the turn, and it gusted up as I was edging out. Good thing there were 2 lanes for me to pull into, I ended up in the left lane with some wide-eyed folks in the oncoming lane, waiting for their light, and watching me drift closer and closer... | ||
| Aeholton |
Glad you are fairly OK. Hope you heal up soon. Great write-up by the way. How about posting some pictures of the bike and gear? | ||
| Hoon |
Glad to hear you're not too badly hurt. Hang the antler where you keep your bike,it'll act as a charm and reminder for the future. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I'd cut nubs off the antler and make new bar-ends out of it  | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
From experience: You'll be nervous while riding for some miles but time will take care of that. Shiite happens. After all the aches and pains recede you will just love telling the story. Life is a series of close calls. You are alive, the deer isn't. His close calls ended, whereas you have many more to experience. Next time you see all kinds of deer congregating next to the road, know that it's time to call it a day. (Message edited by electraglider_1997 on February 11, 2008) | ||
| Chrisb |
+1 on taking the Uly to Frederick for repairs. | ||
| Treadmarks |
Glad you won and the deer lost Neil. You tell a great story, and it was very entertaining. Like EG said you will just love telling the story later. Hell, it will probably get better each time you tell it!  One of my biggest fears is just what you went through, only at a much higher speed. I barely missed a coyote at high speed, two up, with all three bags fully loaded at night. My outlaw headlights helped by allowing me to see farther and wider than the stock lights and the law allows. I will bite the bullet soon and buy a nice steering damper, just because I think it may help keep me on line in the event of a glancing blow. I have been riding for 40 years (started racing dirt bikes in Spain in 1968, and they didn't make small motorcycles back then) and seen alot of bikes go down hard. I have awakened in the back of an ambulance a few times my self, wondering how in the hell I got there. But I was younger then, and had the ability to bounce. Like the bikes I grew up on the Uly is a big bike, and big bikes go down hard. I spend alot of time planning and modding my Uly, just in case something like that happens. I suppose I could just s l o w d o w n, but anyone that knows me can rest assured that ain't gonna happen. I'm glad it was just you, and not the girl friend too. Hang in there Brother, you be back up in no time. | ||
| Nimnal |
Your girlfriend is safer riding with you now than before the accident. You have to ride with the understanding that it can (and did) happen to you. That is the point of the gear, which obviously "saved your skin". One word of caution. When you see deer, NEVER turn around and come back. Deer are evil creatures sent by dark forces to fall out of the sky in front of your motorcycle (or cage) to mess you up. NEVER give one a second chance. When you see deer, ride directly and slowly out of the area. Your girlfriend (and your Mom) will thank you for it. | ||
| Midnightrider |
+1 with Nimnal I was on some of the same roads as you last year. I was coming from Bethesda and took 28 up north. I think I might have told the story here, but it was getting on towards dusk and I saw so many deer so close to the road I likened it to riding through a petting zoo. Even though I didn't really know where I was at the time, I opted to take Rte 85 towards Buckeystown because I knew I had seen signs for it from I-270. It was a beautiful stretch of road but I did not want to run it again in the dark. I got to 270 and took it back down south to home rather than backtrack through "Deer Alley" I was feeling a whole lot older and beaten up the day after the accident than the day of it. Hope this doesn't hold true for you. | ||
| Midnightrider |
+1 with Nimnal I was on some of the same roads as you last year. I was coming from Bethesda and took 28 up north. I think I might have told the story here, but it was getting on towards dusk and I saw so many deer so close to the road I likened it to riding through a petting zoo. Even though I didn't really know where I was at the time, I opted to take Rte 85 towards Buckeystown because I knew I had seen signs for it from I-270. It was a beautiful stretch of road but I did not want to run it again in the dark. I got to 270 and took it back down south to home rather than backtrack through "Deer Alley" I was feeling a whole lot older and beaten up the day after the accident than the day of it. Hope this doesn't hold true for you. | ||
| Froggy |
I meant to post last night but didn't have a chance. I recently had a major wreck with my Uly, and I don't know what was worse, the fact the bike almost killed me or the way the insurance basically screwed me over. Details are here: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show .cgi?142838/313684 and http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show .cgi?4062/316099 Long story short, the insurance company totaled my bike that had no major damage other than the swing arm and front fairing. I believe it was the cost of the labor that set the repair bill over the edge. Either way, the insurance gave me next to nothing on a bike I bought brand new 6 months earlier, and I am still paying for it. They gave me only $1k to cover gear and aftermarket parts. They considered the bags and GPS to be accessories even though they came with the bike, so that $1k went to cover those items before my gear and real accessories. I couldn't even get them to cover the tax, which is a pretty penny on a $11k bike. Good luck to you, Hope you feel better and are riding again soon. What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger. | ||
| Ulynut |
I hate deer. Glad your O.K. | ||
| Hooper |
The appraiser comes on Wednesday morning. Here are a few photos...and one from happier times...         (Message edited by hooper on February 11, 2008) | ||
| Chrisgrant |
The stretch was a perfect S-curve, so I went back and ran it about 2-3 more times to get the curves perfect. Practice. Each time, the deer stood and watched me with their big, glassy black eyes: "Oh, it's that guy on the Buell again. What a weirdo." Dude??? | ||
| Froggy |
Kick it over on the right, drag it down the road behind a truck for oh, how about 75 feet. both sides will match, replace pegs, good to go | ||
| Firstbatch |
Hoop glad you made it through the "event".....proof positive ATGATT is just plain smart and provided you with solid protection. Your a good writer and that is a compelling read. Best to you and re-mount and ride again....and if you don't have a Stebel get one quick and give those deer a blast when you pass. | ||
| Windrider |
Hooper, Glad you made it. I can't answer all of your questions but this one I know: "5. Could I have swerved? " You can not outguess what animals will do. Which way do you swerve? They only zig when you zag and then you get to collide at a different location. I commute on a deer littered road in Idaho and I have learned that the only safe thing to do in deer country is lose speed as fast as possible as soon as you see one coming onto the roadway. I have seen them completely cross the road, then turn right around and come back across it again. Animals have no understanding of roads or traffic. If you have to travel on roads with deer go slower and get on the brakes as soon you think there might be a possibility of meeting one. If all else fails ATGATT is definitely the way to go. I have yet to meet a rider post crash who says that they had too much safety gear on..... Ride on. | ||
| 08uly |
Wow! Glad you're okay. Looks like your gear did the job. Is that a nylon exterior? Did it melt? How did the seams hold up? Seams in general are certainly the weakest link. I have the Motoport Kevlar mesh and thankfully have not tested it.
One thing I would say is consider the Motoport. Tough to beat Wayne's guarantee. I have no investment in Wayne's Co., just feel his gear is worth your hide! Literally.
Regards, David | ||
| Spectra |
GLAD YOUR DOING WELL,I WAS HIT BY A TRUCK RUNNING A RED LIGHT IN OCTOBER ON MY 06 ULY. BIKE DID NOT LOOK THAT BAD, BUT THEY TOTALED IT. SEEMS THEY TAKE NO CHANCES WITH FUEL IN THE FRAME. I HAVE AN 08 ULY NOW,TAKING SLOW WITH A BROKEN BACK, ATGATT | ||
| Jflaig |
Hooper, Glad to hear that you not only won that engagement, but you are doing well. As the others have said, when you see deer on the sides of the road, slow down. They are worse than we were as kids. They dare each other to challenge the "weirdos" on the road to hit them. I have see them run down the side of the road and then turn and cross right in front of me, I had slowed from 60 to 40 because I did't trust them to stay on one side. I have the same AST jacket and am glad to see that it held up properly. You will think about this often when back on the bike and will be safer for it. Heal fast and stay safe. | ||
| Old_mil |
Hey - glad to hear that you're ok. I almost had a deer take me out on I-35 between Des Moines and Minneapolis a few years ago. I was on my S3T and saw a little golden flash out of the corner of my right eye. "Wow," I thought, "that dog is sure moving fast." Fortunately, I didn't have enough time to react and slow down...had I varied my speed, I would have hit him. >1. What is your experience with a crash and >insurance companies? Are they likely to >total a bike quickly? What kind of damage >totals a bike? Do you take it to your Buell >dealer and the insurance company talks to >them to make the decision? Basically...take the bike to your Buell dealer and they'll come up with an estimate to repair and give that to the insurance company who will then make the decision. >3. How do you get back on after rolling >over a deer and sliding down the pavement? >Does your decision-making process feel >different from an incident with a cager or >if you are more seriously injured? Has >anyone given up riding for good after an >accident? My one accident involved a semi that was coming the other way which dropped a bunch of rocks on my head and totaled my bike. As for how you get back in the saddle - just do it. It'll feel wierd for a day or a week but after that things will be back to normal. >4. What are the lingering mental effects? >Am I going to feel like a damn deer is >going to hop out at the last minute again >just like this time and nail me? I doubt it. >5. Could I have swerved? Doesn't sound like it - and if you had that's no guarantee that you would have had a better outcome. You hit the deer straight on, had you attempted to swerve and still hit it you might have had an accident of a different sort. >6. Can I ever have my girl on the back with >a clear conscience? Absolutely - just don't have her on there in a winter coat and jeans. When you order your replacement riding suit, order two. | ||
| Khelton |
Deer are out to kill ya.... | ||
| Hooper |
The stretch was a perfect S-curve, so I went back and ran it about 2-3 more times to get the curves perfect. Practice. Each time, the deer stood and watched me with their big, glassy black eyes: "Oh, it's that guy on the Buell again. What a weirdo." Dude??? I know, I know - this didn't sound quite normal. At the point I was passing the deer, it was well past the curve and I was going 5 mph as I looked at the damn beasts. 08Uly: the seams held up okay, but they split a little bit on the elbows. The thing that really opened up was the zipper on my AST pants - the zipper ripped off the pant, but the zipper itself is fine. I need to get a tailor to stitch it back together, and it should be fine. Nothing melted, believe it or not. I'm going to check out Motoport - I need a new jacket for my March ride from San Francisco to Big Sur (renting an Electra Glide)! That's right, I'm back, baby! (Message edited by hooper on February 22, 2008) |
