Wiggy's in the house but the Dragon is badly hurt! Long

[wiggydotcom]

I had a wonderful time at Inzane and thank all of my past friends I came across as well as the new folks I met. Also thanks to the Staff for putting on another Superb Inzane.

Early Friday morning, I left Ground Zero around 6:30 am and set off to see my daughter in Fort Collins, Colorado. I was packed to the gills and was very pleased to see my route took me for a third trip through Spearfish Canyon. The weather was very cool and made me very alert to my surroundings and to my trusted steed-the Dragon.

At one point, I even saw a deer approach the highway and then do a U-turn and scamper off. I thought to myself, "Who needs deer whistles when you have MarkT pipes with trombones in?" I laughed. There's a little bit of irony in that statement...I came to realize.
Continuing onward, I entered Wyoming and was traveling down Route 85. I was making good time but was sticking to the generous posted speed limit of 65. Had tunes going though my headset when a vision caught me out of the corner of my left eye...COLLISION COURSE. I swear I had only a half second to brace for impact and impact it was. I hit the young doe head on direct.

In spite of what the bike looks like, I guarantee I was doing every bit of 63mph at impact. I didn't go down but took about an eighth mile to stop. Luckily, it was witnessed by a gentleman who stopped and gave me his business card. He said, "Holy Crap, I saw the whole thing and can't believe you kept that bike upright!" He mentioned he was doing 71mph and gaining on me and estimated me to be going mid 60s.
After thanking him, I looked over the bike. It really didn't look too bad for being in a violent collision. I then did a quick self analysis. I wasn't really hurting anywhere except a slight bruising of my left shin, where I probably caught her body as it came around.

The bike seemed "reasonably" intact. I didn't see any obviously bent forks. The fairing was creamed and my left pod was pretty much gone. My #4 velocity stack was broken away from the carb. My fender and gas tank were dented. What to do, what to do. My only thought was of logistics now and how to get myself, and the bike HOME!

I called my daughter and told her I was going to have to take a rain check and I was going to see if I could head for home. There's no way I wanted to leave the bike in Bum F_ _ __, Wyoming(actually I was about 5 miles north of Newcastle) and try to figure out how I was going to get home.
I had that happen last time where I wasn't able to remove my chrome and stuff before the bike went bye bye. I wanted it to be on my terms this time.

I proceeded slowly at first just to make sure "most" of the bike's faculties worked. Believe it or not, the bike performed pretty well. I didn't have any headlights whatsoever...no working front turn signals and had an 1100 mile journey ahead of me. That was pretty daunting but I'm no wimp. My number one concern was how to navigate that 1100 miles without getting stopped by a cop and having the bike impounded. I traveled a lot of back roads, especially through Iowa. Went through many small towns and went by a few cops that were already talking to stopped cars and didn't see me go by, I guess.

I had to stop for the night and get a motel around 6pm Friday because I had no lights and didn't want to be unseen with a black I/S and no front lighting. 660 miles down and 430 to go.
I made a mental game to have a moral victory each time I was able to go under another 100 mile mark.

I negotiated a lot of back roads, went through a lot of small towns and held my breath that the local Barney Fife wasn't going to be the one to get me after traveling 700 miles. I made my way to Route 80 and decided I'd take my chance with the State boys.

I was so wanting to stop and see RJ but couldn't with my bike in the current state. Will have to make that another time. Sorry, RJ!  From I80E I got to I88 in Illinois and brought her home at about 3pm.

Maybe next year at IZ I can get the award for "Who's traveled the most miles(1100) after striking a deer at 63mph without making any bike repairs" ?

Sorry this is so long but I'm really bummed. I don't want my insurance to go up for 3 years on 3 vehicles and am debating on even turning it in. I know I have about 3-5 grand in damages. The bike does pull slightly to the right if I let go of the bars so I might have a bent right fork.  What to do, what to do. Pics to follow.




In this next one, notice my left highway peg bent clear around. I'm glad I usually ride with a "hurdler's stretch" with my left leg back on the rider peg and my right leg on the highway peg.
And folks, that's deer skat on the gas tank, the Day Long seat....and on my jeans. I DID check and it wasn't my own..  









And now a pic of the villain... Can any of you deer hunters estimate weight, based on the pic?Thanks.

[..]

You da man. Well done for getting home!

[..]

To anyone else getting lightless.

WalMart etc all sell really bright led lights for bicycles.

Or just buy some led flashlights and tape them on the front of the bike.

[Gary]

Wow, sorry to hear about the unplanned bonus ride.

Glad you are OK! 

[clintsdivco]

That is quite the story. So glad you weren't hurt. Amazing that you didn't go down and even more amazing that you were able to make it on home.

[six2go #152]

Are you sure your insurance premiums would increase? Hitting a deer usually falls under the comprehensive part of a policy with no increase on a comp. claim. At least that's how mine is.

Glad you're relatively ok, the Valk can be repaired.

[98 T]

Wow!!  That's really toughing it out and going the distance with a damaged bike!!

On the way to and from InZane I would occasionally think about what would happen if one of our party hit a deer - what would we do? How might it turn out?

Makes you stop and think!!

Thank you for posting and yes,  you should win an award for traveling all the way home like that.

Glad you made it home - the bike can be repaired, even if it takes a while to gather the new parts and pay for them.

98t

[Jess from VA]

What a shitty story (very well told, but a nasty plot).

Thanks for sharing it.

Glad you came out of it relatively unkilled.

I have often considered finding a car to follow thru deer infested country (not too close, but closer than usual).  The way they appear from nowhere may make no difference.  

Deer...... the suicide bombers of American roads.

Maybe work up a good idea of repair costs, and then decide on insurance (if you have coverage, that's what it's for after all).  (No, I don't have an accident report, but I have good pictures.  Because if I did get a report, they'd tow it from the scene, and not let me have it back, and I'd have no way home.  Hey I saved you my claim for alternative transportation costs home.  )

[~ Timbrwolf]

. . ...Wow. ...thats very bad luck Russ, and were glad you werent hurt worse !

. ...Thats a very long journey home the hard way....a miracle that you made it
..and a testament to your fortitude that you did make it. . . .  



. . ..some people will do anything to have a great motorcycle trip story to tell ! ..  


......glad you,re okay my friend..  

[Bighead]

Insurance premiums shouldn't go up for that I have hit several in a car and was deemed an act of nature so no increase.
Glad you came out ok. If you don't want to repair it you could part it out. There is a nice IS in the classifieds

[Fourtyniner]

Way to kill those forest rats, and survive. Eye of the Tiger and F-ing lucky I think.javascript:void(0);

[Valkorado]

Glad you're OK.  It was nice meeting you at IZ.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Miserable ending to a nice trip. Glad you got her home and weren't injured worse yourself.

[MarkT]

Sorry to hear about this, Russ.  It was good to meet & chat at GZ.  Glad to see you pulled through the hit w/o damage to yourself.  I wasn't quite that lucky.  I was able to fix it though - and I hit TWO mulies. Like the others said - won't affect insurance - doesn't even count on your driving record.  Good luck gettin it squared away.

Cheers.  mrt

[jimmytee]

Glad you made it home. Man, sorry for the luck. It'll buff out though, just throw a little "doe" at her...

[ChromeDome]

Glad you are OK and you got home safely. As Britman said ........ You Da Man!

[eric in md]

duck tape my friend fixes anything

[Michvalk]

I would say, you're very lucky. Too bad that had to happen, but, got the best outcome. I think with the damage to the fairing, that was the reason it pulled to the side. Not very aerodynamic anymore. I really have doubts your forks are bent, maybe just twisted in the mounts a little, or just the wind pushing on that busted fairing. I don't see anything that can't be fixed or replaced, with a moderate amount of effort. I agree with others about the insurance. Should fall under comp!

[Oss]

Russ you did real good all the way round

I will remember the flashlight and duct tape solution

[Willow]

...
I proceeded slowly at first just to make sure "most" of the bike's faculties worked. Believe it or not, the bike performed pretty well. I didn't have any headlights whatsoever...no working front turn signals and had an 1100 mile journey ahead of me. That was pretty daunting but I'm no wimp. ...

Indeed, Wiggy, you are no wimp!   

Two meaningful feats of will, skill and strength, keeping the bike up after impact and making the long ride home.

I'm glad you weren't hurt.  I'm sorry for your turmoil.

As for the deer, I join with our confederate general in my preference,  "Let us kill them.  Kill then all." 

[Disco]

Really glad you're OK!  My hat's off to you for not going down, and then completing your journey!   

[NJF6Cowboy]

Sorry to hear about this, glad you were not injured. The bike can be fixed or replaced, you can't!

Stan

[MacDragon]

Wow.  Glad you came out with just a bruised shin.  Could have been way worse.  The bike can be fixed.  I would suggest putting in a claim.  Call your ins. co. and tell them what happened first and find out from them that the ins. won't go up before submitting the claim.  Let them pay for the damage. that's what you pay ins. for. 
Oh, and BTW... That looks to be around a 140# to 150# doe to me.  Quite healthy looking ... until now!!! I'm real surprised there wasn't more damage to both you and the bike at 60+ mph.

Glad you're ok.

[wiggydotcom]

Thanks to all who've replied with either encouragement, words of kindness or even advice. I consider you all family, many of whom I've met and others who I hope to cross paths with someday down the road.

There are a few who offered advice that I'd also like to reply to.

Britman, good advice on the LED lighting. I hope to never need that advice again but will remember it.

six2go, you were the first to mention that the insurance should fall under the "Comp" category. It appears this will be the case and be a load off of my mind. Thank you, thank you! Also thanks to Bighead, MarkTm and Michvalk for also mentioning the "Comp" angle.

What a shitty story (very well told, but a nasty plot).

Jess from Va, even in the darkest hour, there's always humor somewhere---loved your stab at it!

. . ..some people will do anything to have a great motorcycle trip story to tell ! .. 


......glad you,re okay my friend.. 

David, I'd prefer to leave the great motorcycle stories for you to tell. You do it so much better. But thanks!

I wasn't quite that lucky.  I was able to fix it though - and I hit TWO mulies.
Cheers.  mrt

Wow, Mark. I couldn't even imagine hitting mulies! They have a LOT of weight to them!

Glad you made it home. Man, sorry for the luck. It'll buff out though, just throw a little "doe" at her...

jimmytee, Loved the "doe" reference! Clever.

I think with the damage to the fairing, that was the reason it pulled to the side. Not very aerodynamic anymore. I really have doubts your forks are bent, maybe just twisted in the mounts a little, or just the wind pushing on that busted fairing. 

Michvalk, I think, and hope, you might be right about this. It make sense that I need to wait for insurance but then get the fairing off and see how she handles on a trip up and down the road. Thanks.

Oh, and BTW... That looks to be around a 140# to 150# doe to me.  Quite healthy looking ... until now!!! I'm real surprised there wasn't more damage to both you and the bike at 60+ mph.

Glad you're ok.

MacDragon...thanks for the estimate on the doe weight. I know it's hard to reference without any known items in the picture....LIKE A BURIAL SHOVEL, but it's a good stab at it. I also was stunned that the bike was still driveable but it is what it is...and I'm thankful for that.

[michaelyoung254]

Are you sure your insurance premiums would increase? Hitting a deer usually falls under the comprehensive part of a policy with no increase on a comp. claim. At least that's how mine is.

Glad you're relatively ok, the Valk can be repaired.

+1 on this! I would definitely check on this because here in Texas, insurance companies are not allowed to raise your rates for making a claim if the accident was caused by hitting wildlife.


Mike

[The emperor has no clothes]

Glad you are ok. It was good to meet you. And I agree with Willow, you are definitely no wimp. Closest we came to one on the way home was a Sherrif blew by us at about 90 after someone in front of us.  As he got up to the car a deer runs across the road in front of them both and they lock them up. That was a signal to me to stop for the night in the next town which was Blanding, UT. I think the cop must have took pity on the driver for the near miss because he never pulled him over.

[wiggydotcom]

Glad you are ok. It was good to meet you. And I agree with Willow, you are definitely no wimp. Closest we came to one on the way home was a Sherrif blew by us at about 90 after someone in front of us.  As he got up to the car a deer runs across the road in front of them both and they lock them up. That was a signal to me to stop for the night in the next town which was Blanding, UT. I think the cop must have took pity on the driver for the near miss because he never pulled him over.

Glad to finally get to meet(meat?) you too, Meathead. That's good that you got a sign to shut it down for the night. And the cop probably figured the other driver also got his sign.

I forgot to mention in my original post that I talked to my daughter's fiancé after the accident and he asked if I still had the guardian bell on my bike that he and my daughter had bought for me? I had forgotten about that but assured him that "Yes, I did have it" and "maybe" that was what kept me upright and free of injury and thanked him for that.

Then a couple seconds later I added, "NEXT TIME SPEND A LITTLE MORE AND GET ME THE ONE THAT KEEPS DEER AWAY!!!!"

[The emperor has no clothes]

Glad you are ok. It was good to meet you. And I agree with Willow, you are definitely no wimp. Closest we came to one on the way home was a Sherrif blew by us at about 90 after someone in front of us.  As he got up to the car a deer runs across the road in front of them both and they lock them up. That was a signal to me to stop for the night in the next town which was Blanding, UT. I think the cop must have took pity on the driver for the near miss because he never pulled him over.

Glad to finally get to meet(meat?) you too, Meathead. That's good that you got a sign to shut it down for the night. And the cop probably figured the other driver also got his sign.

I forgot to mention in my original post that I talked to my daughter's fiancé after the accident and he asked if I still had the guardian bell on my bike that he and my daughter had bought for me? I had forgotten about that but assured him that "Yes, I did have it" and "maybe" that was what kept me upright and free of injury and thanked him for that.

Then a couple seconds later I added, "NEXT TIME SPEND A LITTLE MORE AND GET ME THE ONE THAT KEEPS DEER AWAY!!!!"

it's good to have you here and able to joke about it. 

[cookiedough]

AS others said,  get the bike fixed thru comprehensive claim and insurance should not raise but only will be counted against you as a claim is all, but should not raise your rates as others said. 

T-boning that small doe (125lbs. max) must have been an 'oh _hit' moment for sure.  How you managed to keep it upright is a testiment of not only luck, but skillful driving as well.

My wife just clipped a deer with our near new 2014 santa fe a couple weeks ago but luckily only surprisingly just put a 6" scrape thru the paint on the passenger rear door panel with no visible dents or other damage.  Got lucky on that, touched it up and good enough even though scratch all the way thru the paint still shows with matching factory brush on paint applicator.  The small doe must have just grazed her back end of the SUV and bounced off luckily NO dents. 

I surely hope you can get the bike repaired and straightened out for say 3-5 grand and not be a total loss since seems to be still driveable for the most part.  Best of luck with your insurance company.  The one time you need them,  I sure hope they do the right thing and let you do what you want done and get repair paid for with no hastles.  Good luck! 

[wiggydotcom]

AS others said,  get the bike fixed thru comprehensive claim and insurance should not raise but only will be counted against you as a claim is all, but should not raise your rates as others said.  

T-boning that small doe (125lbs. max) must have been an 'oh _hit' moment for sure.  How you managed to keep it upright is a testiment of not only luck, but skillful driving as well.

My wife just clipped a deer with our near new 2014 santa fe a couple weeks ago but luckily only surprisingly just put a 6" scrape thru the paint on the passenger rear door panel with no visible dents or other damage.  Got lucky on that, touched it up and good enough even though scratch all the way thru the paint still shows with matching factory brush on paint applicator.  The small doe must have just grazed her back end of the SUV and bounced off luckily NO dents.  

I surely hope you can get the bike repaired and straightened out for say 3-5 grand and not be a total loss since seems to be still driveable for the most part.  Best of luck with your insurance company.  The one time you need them,  I sure hope they do the right thing and let you do what you want done and get repair paid for with no hastles.  Good luck!  

Thanks, Cookiedough. I will be the first to admit that sheer luck in how I hit the doe probably played more into me staying up than great skill on my part. I am a fairly strong person but had that doe hit me in the side, it might have been all over. I called Progressive and my info was taken. They said I'll get a callback within one business day from a Claims Agent. He'll go over the details and we'll take it from there. I do have comp and only a 100 deductible. Thanks to all the advice here, I'll feeling a whole lot better about it not affecting my sterling record. Because I have no "at fault" accidents or tickets, I haven't had to take either a driving or written test, even motorcycle, in probably 30 yrs. I'd like to keep it that way.

[Hooter]

Dayum Wiggy! Is that crap from the deer or you?      Glad you are alright coulda been a bunch worse. Says a lot for the old girl. Heavy and will stay upright as long as you can hang on.

[KG]

Wow I'm surprised it didn't damage more. Send atticrat a pm he was parting out an interstate with a bad engine and may sill have the complete faring and other parts you will need.

[MarkT]

Russ, I'm not a deer expert, can't really see the tail very well, but that doe has big ears.  Might be a mulie.  Checked the range map, both species are in Wyoming. 

[wiggydotcom]

Dayum Wiggy! Is that crap from the deer or you?     Glad you are alright coulda been a bunch worse. Says a lot for the old girl. Heavy and will stay upright as long as you can hang on.

Honest, Hooter....my shorts were clean..I knocked the crap right outta her! I thought the same thing about the integrity of these fine machines. The whole way back, with some of it at 70mph, I was thinking, don't let the frame break in half, or the triple tree, etc. That would REALLY leave a mark!

Wow I'm surprised it didn't damage more. Send atticrat a pm he was parting out an interstate with a bad engine and may sill have the complete faring and other parts you will need.

Thanks for the suggestion, KG...AtticRat is good folk and I'll take that into advisement. First I need to hear what Progressive says when they get back to me. They said it should be no more than the end of the next business day.

Russ, I'm not a deer expert, can't really see the tail very well, but that doe has big ears.  Might be a mulie.  Checked the range map, both species are in Wyoming.  

Mark, thanks...I'm no expert either but it doesn't look much different than the white tail in Illinois. Don't know if I got a pic of her tail to see. I musta been thinking a muley was something else in the earlier reply to your message. I was thinking they were related to and about the size of a moose.. So I was off on that assumption.

[MarkT]

We have a herd of 13-24 does with fawns mulies in the yard every day.  The bucks hang in smaller groups, sometimes alone. I guess they are maybe 20% bigger than whitetails.  Have big ears and smaller tails. They aren't as skittish as whitetails - usually don't run in front of you, but they might do that, or just mosey onto the road.  Still have to watch the edges and the road closely.  Lots of them round here. If I see one on the edge and pointed towards the road, I give them the big horn - that spooks them into running - before I get there. These are mulies -

[wiggydotcom]

We have a herd of 13-24 does with fawns mulies in the yard every day.  The bucks hang in smaller groups, sometimes alone. I guess they are maybe 20% bigger than whitetails.  Have big ears and smaller tails. They aren't as skittish as whitetails - usually don't run in front of you, but they might do that, or just mosey onto the road.  Still have to watch the edges and the road closely.  Lots of them round here. If I see one on the edge and pointed towards the road, I give them the big horn - that spooks them into running - before I get there. These are mulies -

Thanks for the pics and clarification. You must have your own piece of Paradise there, Mark. Very Nice!

[Mallett]

Dang Russs...sorry about you hitting the deer but glad you are okay & was able to ride it home...you might think about changing your handle to "deer slayer"....

[wiggydotcom]

Dang Russs...sorry about you hitting the deer but glad you are okay & was able to ride it home...you might think about changing your handle to "deer slayer"....

Thanks, Mike...no deer slayer for me. We already have one or two with that handle.

[Gryphon Rider]

Well, at least MY dear came through her encounter with you with a smile on her face!

[wiggydotcom]

Well, at least MY dear came through her encounter with you with a smile on her face!

Touche! Kevin. I enjoyed your's and Emily's company. She's got a talent with those sketches. I wish her well in her future endeavors! She's a great young lady!