I had a bad day.

[POPS 57]

Well on 8/1/22 at 1:30 in the afternoon i was on my way home. I was within 5 miles of home when things went really bad. It was a great day around 85 and sunny.
That's when a 300 pound bear jumped out of the ditch right in front of me. I was doing around sixty. I don't even think i had time to hit the brakes it was that sudden. Man that bear was hard. I braced and still went over the windshield at an incredible rate of speed. I put my arms around my head and hit the tar. I rolled slid then rolled and slid again.
I laid there and did not move for around fifteen minutes until someone came along and called 911. The local fire dept. showed up first. They didn't move me just talked to me util the ambulance showed up. I was then loaded into the meat wagon. I was always awake and talking. Well heard them say the copter  was on the way. I said we are only five miles to the hosp. just get going.
 Now i didn't have on a helmet or protective gear. The list goes like this Broken left arm and broke the bone on the right side of my face between the jaw and eye. Road rash every place on me. I spent a week in the hosp. the worst pain was in my ribs and chest. That was until wound care showed up.
The bike is in tuff shape only looked at it once even though it's in my pole barn. Front fender, gas tank, windscreen, right engine guard,my new painted to match right hard saddle bag. There's probably more.
I will make it. Don't know about the bike yet. Bear did not make it.

[Serk]

Dang! I started reading, got to "bear" and skipped to the bottom, looking for the punch line, sure this was a joke thread!

Sad to see it's not, but glad to see you're still with us, and on the mend!

Any chance someone got pics of the bear? Wow.....

Sorry you're going through this, but heck of a story you've got now!

[Jess from VA]

I am sorry for your troubles POPS.

And glad you did better than the bear. 

[old2soon]

      did that S O B of a bear have insurance? Were it a legal or illegal bear? The Single most IMPORTANT thing IS-Yer STILL with us!  And you WILL have some Really GNARLY scars! I'm with Serk-there be a picture of the bear?  Any of his bear buds watchin should larn how to git outa da way!  AGAIN Glad yer still suckin wind!  RIDE SAFE.

[scooperhsd]

You're lucky you didn't have worse.

And THIS is why you should always wear a helmut / protective gear while riding, even of you're an adult with "50 years" of riding experiance.

I've had road rash (and broken arm) and it was no fun.

Glad it wasn't worse.

[csj]

I'm a month outta knee replacement, and I thought I had a hurt goin on.

Take care there young fella.

[..]

Crap. Ouch.

2017 I had 4 close encounters of the bear kind. One ran along next to me so close I coulda tapped him with my right boot.

None since.

[DragonRdr]

I'm also glad you're on the mend. Take it from an old MSF Motorcycle Safety coach, All The Gear All The Time (ATGAT). Take a minute to check out the video on the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Jr7IWwACNw

[henry 008]

WOW what a terrible day indeed  . so glad you survived and getting better. 

[Chrisj CMA]

Holy crap Batman. Glad you made it. What a story. Did you get the bear for a rug in front of the fireplace?

[sandy]

It’s a good thing the bear didn’t make it. If he had, he might have been mad at you. A worse ending for sure.

[Jersey mike]

I’m glad you’re ok, hope your bike gets fixed up but holy mackerel…you killed a bear with a motorcycle and lived to tell the story 

Rest up and get better real quick.

[Willow]

Glad you made it through the experience.

My thoughts:

We have an unhelmeted rider that made it through a 60 mph collision with a bear and some are using this as a reason to talk about why one should wear all the protective gear?  Get wise.  Choose to wear or not to wear but this is not the time to talk about how much good the gear does.

60 mph into the bear.  I'll be shocked if the bike is repairable.  Bike and bear didn't make it.  One out of three in this case is the good outcome.

[Jess from VA]

The only two bears I've seen riding were both on the same day, and on the VA Skyline Drive (top of Blue Ridge Parkway - BRP).  Both were on the side of the road, though the big one was just sitting in tall grass thinking he was invisible, and the small one was running down the hill to cross the road.  I saw them both, and slowed down and stopped and made noise so they did cross the road.  But I've passed deer on the side of the road and never seen them, and later had other riders ask if I saw them.... nope.  I always try to pay more attention and watch for wildlife when the woods is right next to the road, but admit sometimes I forget to.  And even in daytime, you get down in the woods under deep forest, it can be very hard to see anything but the road.

The pure randomness of auto/bike accidents is limitless, and we try to have good safety habits, and sometimes it helps and sometimes it doesn't. 

I used to ride with a guy who (told me about) hitting a bear up on the BRP, and he ended up down and tangled up with the bike (BMW) AND the bear.  The bear got untangled and ran off (without inflicting any vengeance), but the guy was hurt and under the bike.  He said 15 people drove by and didn't stop.  Then a nurse did stop and rendered excellent aid, and called for help for he and his bike.  He told the story better.     

[POPS 57]

Thanks for all the good thoughts. This is still america. Live free   For the ones that want to see the bear i don't know how to post pictures. It's on facebook Pillager fire and Rescue.

[Valkorado]

Here ya go.



https://www.brainerddispatch.com/news/local/motorcycle-hits-black-bear-near-pillager


I've come upon bears when riding, but can't imagine nailing one.  As others have said, you're a very lucky man.  Glad you're here to tell the tale, probably many times.

[msb]

Glad you made it through the experience.

My thoughts:

We have an unhelmeted rider that made it through a 60 mph collision with a bear and some are using this as a reason to talk about why one should wear all the protective gear?  Get wise.  Choose to wear or not to wear but this is not the time to talk about how much good the gear does.

60 mph into the bear.  I'll be shocked if the bike is repairable.  Bike and bear didn't make it.  One out of three in this case is the good outcome.

I agree with these sentiments, and I really like the perspective...60 mph into a bear, and only one out of the three participants  (rider, bike, bear) makes it out alive...and it's the rider!!
Glad to hear you'll be OK POPS 57. That's quite an experience to walk away from.

[da prez]

Pops , best wishes for a speedy recovery .  Bike can be replaced if you so wish. Stick around so we can share a beverage .

                     da prez

[Bigwolf]

Pops57,
Wow!  Now that’s a tale that is gonna be hard to beat when tales are being told!

Seriously though, I am glad to hear that you survived it!  Wishing you a full and speedy recovery!


Bigwolf

[cookiedough]

I would consider yourself very lucky indeed.   Only 1 week in hospital not much at all I was in 4 days for diverticulitis alone.    NO helmet for sure you landed at that speed very well to avoid serious head injury.  I have seen one fatal cycle crash up close in my life and at 30 mph hitting an SUV being t-boned, the HD rider no helmet, no gear,  did not make it flipping over the SUV onto his head and back, bloody mess.  

Been near hit by a car head on 60 mph few feet away they were into my lane, close enough for me.  Doubt at 60 mph head on crash helmet/gear woulda made a difference.    Heard deer hoof clops clops clops on pavement so close to me was scary as well.  Heard turkey and goose wings flapping as well few feet away as well, got lucky there as well.  

[Rams]

Best wishes on the recovery, I know too well how difficult that can be.    At least, you can say you won. 

Rams   

[Ramie]

Heal well Pops, I go through Motley all the time on the way up to Akeley and always on the look out for deer on that stretch of 64, now I've got to look out for bears.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Well on 8/1/22 at 1:30 in the afternoon i was on my way home. I was within 5 miles of home when things went really bad. It was a great day around 85 and sunny.
That's when a 300 pound bear jumped out of the ditch right in front of me. I was doing around sixty. I don't even think i had time to hit the brakes it was that sudden. Man that bear was hard. I braced and still went over the windshield at an incredible rate of speed. I put my arms around my head and hit the tar. I rolled slid then rolled and slid again.
I laid there and did not move for around fifteen minutes until someone came along and called 911. The local fire dept. showed up first. They didn't move me just talked to me util the ambulance showed up. I was then loaded into the meat wagon. I was always awake and talking. Well heard them say the copter  was on the way. I said we are only five miles to the hosp. just get going.
 Now i didn't have on a helmet or protective gear. The list goes like this Broken left arm and broke the bone on the right side of my face between the jaw and eye. Road rash every place on me. I spent a week in the hosp. the worst pain was in my ribs and chest. That was until wound care showed up.
The bike is in tuff shape only looked at it once even though it's in my pole barn. Front fender, gas tank, windscreen, right engine guard,my new painted to match right hard saddle bag. There's probably more.
I will make it. Don't know about the bike yet. Bear did not make it.

Man ! That’s a tough story. Until you think about how much worse it could have been. I have more than a few bear stories that I love telling. But none involving near death on a Valkyrie. The bike is likely gone, but there are others if you keep riding. Glad you are ok. (Agree that it’s no time to be preaching about gear)

[POPS 57]

As you are going up hwy. 64 first tar to the right is co. 34. Around five miles down that road is the the spot. Just a mile down from hwy. 1. First tar to the left coming out of Motley is co. 33. If you took that and went around five miles and took a right on co. 32 up one mile on your left is where i live on the Crow Wing river.
 I like all the old Honda's that you restore. My brother restores bikes also. Right now he just bought a 1970 450 cl it's all there just needs to be gone thru. Back in the day that's the bike i drooled over. But i did buy a new Honda sl 350 k2 in 1972. I loved that bike. I have owned over fifty bikes in my day. My brother is in the hundreds. My dad rest his soul started us down this path at an early age. He was always buying and selling bikes.

[Oss]

Hard to say, but I do believe you have had a great day

How many people can say they survived what you survived ?

Your guardian angel deserves a round of applause for sparing your life

[flsix]

Wow......"I had a bad day" sounds like a bit of an understatement. Granted it could have been worse but that's a heck of a thing to survive.
Glad you are on the mend.
That"s a story that will be retold by you and many others for quite a while.

[DIGGER]

WOW!!!!!     Let me tell ya mister......hitting...and killing a bear.....at 60 mph....with no helmet....and surviving....God's not through with you....You still fit into his master plan.    So glad you are going to be ok!!

[POPS 57]

The hits keep coming. Progressive is low balling me on the bike. They are putting the burden on me to prove what it's worth and cost of the all the extras. They want slips on everything and i don't have any. Here in Minnesota the price of bikes drop big time this time of year. People are thinking snowmobiles. 

[Willow]

The hits keep coming. Progressive is low balling me on the bike. They are putting the burden on me to prove what it's worth and cost of the all the extras. They want slips on everything and i don't have any. Here in Minnesota the price of bikes drop big time this time of year. People are thinking snowmobiles. 

That was my experience with Progressive.  It got better when I challenged them to find three equitable replacements within 100 miles.

[Jess from VA]

You may find it helpful to search CycleTrader.com and any other bike selling sites (maybe Craigslist), and try to find similar (to yours) bikes for sale.  Look at VRCC classified.  Nationwide, though more local can be better.  Asking prices are not necessarily selling prices, but a group of similar bikes to yours is a decent rule of thumb for price.

Also, while these may be low, at least look up your make model and year on Kelly Blue Book and NADA listings to see what they say.  If helpful, use them, if not don't show them.  If your bike is low miles, make sure you factor that in.  

Even without bills for extras, it cannot hurt to make a list of your extras, and their prices anyway.  Add a sentence at the bottom of the list that you swear these extras were/are on your bike, and tell them they can send an estimator to see those extras in person.  Or use pictures.  

These efforts may not get you all you want, but they will probably get them to come up some.  They want to settle.

If they send a check and you cash it, the bargaining is over.

[da prez]

Look at Facebook Valkyrie.  Bikes are overpriced.  Some actually sold for the asking price.

               da prez

[valkmc]

The hits keep coming. Progressive is low balling me on the bike. They are putting the burden on me to prove what it's worth and cost of the all the extras. They want slips on everything and i don't have any. Here in Minnesota the price of bikes drop big time this time of year. People are thinking snowmobiles.  

My experience with Progressive:

I was rear ended on my 97 tourer 20K mileage. The wanted to total it and give me  $4500. I said  absolutely not.  I sent them several adds for Valks for sale. Got them off cycle trader, Facebook and a local one. I got a little excited and told them I would get a lawyer if need be.  They came back with $7000 for repairs and if I bought it back for $500 and signed a form to release them from liability they would not give me a salvage title. I paid $6000 when I got the bike so I took their offer & they had the bike brought from the salvage lot to my house the same day! Remember they are paying to have it stored, $100 in my case so don't hurry. I got it back together for around $2000, although I went with Leather like bags-they match my Mustang seat and the OEM bags, hardware and paint to put them on the bike was to say the least unreasonable in price.  GOODLUCK!!
Edit: In my case I just sent them ads with the asking price, they never questioned them. I did not send any that said price negotiable. I did sent them 15 ads.

[POPS 57]

After doing a lot of research. I looked up all the aftermarket parts on the bike. Recorded sites and prices came up with over $5000.00. Then i did a deep search on Valk. prices and handed it all to the agent. I took into account what was posted here. Thank's to you all.
We settled on $10,215. I was able to buy the bike back for $1600.00 with a clean title. The bike needs front fender, tubes, tank, front turn signals, right crash bar, right brake res, right hard saddle bag. This list is just from a couple of quick looks. Don't know what i'm am going to do yet. This is Minnesota winter is coming so i have time. On a good note i am getting better every day. 

[carolinarider09]

Good News!!!!

[Skinhead]

I have several of those parts listed in the classifieds.

https://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,122608.0.html

[Jess from VA]

After doing a lot of research. I looked up all the aftermarket parts on the bike. Recorded sites and prices came up with over $5000.00. Then i did a deep search on Valk. prices and handed it all to the agent. I took into account what was posted here. Thank's to you all.
We settled on $10,215. I was able to buy the bike back for $1600.00 with a clean title. The bike needs front fender, tubes, tank, front turn signals, right crash bar, right brake res, right hard saddle bag. This list is just from a couple of quick looks. Don't know what i'm am going to do yet. This is Minnesota winter is coming so i have time. On a good note i am getting better every day.  

Doing your homework pays off.  Well done.    A $10+K payoff is surprising (to me).  

If you're not up to all the rebuild work yourself, Ross (Dennis's brother) has a shop over in Wonder Lake IL and works on Valks all the time.  Ross' handle on here is da prez.  He responded earlier in the thread.

[Valkorado]

After doing a lot of research. I looked up all the aftermarket parts on the bike. Recorded sites and prices came up with over $5000.00. Then i did a deep search on Valk. prices and handed it all to the agent. I took into account what was posted here. Thank's to you all.
We settled on $10,215. I was able to buy the bike back for $1600.00 with a clean title. The bike needs front fender, tubes, tank, front turn signals, right crash bar, right brake res, right hard saddle bag. This list is just from a couple of quick looks. Don't know what i'm am going to do yet. This is Minnesota winter is coming so i have time. On a good note i am getting better every day.  

Doing your homework pays off.  Well done.    A $10+K payoff is surprising (to me).  

If you're not up to all the rebuild work yourself, Ross (Dennis's brother) has a shop over in Wonder Lake IL and works on Valks all the time.  Ross' handle on here is da prez.  He responded earlier in the thread.

Yep, that's an incredible settlement.  Ya done good!   Glad your body is healing up, that's the really important thing.