Likely totaled my VFR today

Discussion in 'Anything Goes' started by Doug7200, Jun 17, 2018.

  1. Doug7200

    Doug7200 New Member

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    Decided to do an early - early ride (Early ride - Early home) up Angeles Crest this morning. The first early went well...

    There was a light drizzle and low clouds on ACH, so I took Big Tujunga down to Angeles Forrest Hwy, then up Upper Big Tujunga (UBT) back to ACH. Well the drizzle had became worse when I reached ACH, so I decided to call it and head home the same way I had just came on the Tujunga's.

    Well about 3 miles down UBT, I was having a great ride in nice sunny weather, a nice 55-65 mph flow on a twisty road, great fathers day to me!

    On a straight section of road, 2 deer jump out about 30-40 feet in front of me! They are blocking most of my lane, and I don't have much time, brake a little, steer straight, brace and hang on!

    I was a big impact, rear end comes up, plastic went everywhere. The closest deer was pushed into the second deer. The first deer went up a little and down the right side knocking my foot off the peg, and brushing my leg as it went by. The second one went up on the left side hitting the the bar, mirror and my arm and shoulder.

    But, I did not crash!!!! My lucky day!

    The impact destroyed nearly all the front end parts - fairing, body work and panels, wind screen, fender, dash, wiring, oil cooler was gushing oil, radiators are bent. front end is bent, front rim edge is bent, gas tank is all scratched from faring rubbing as it ripped away, not sure what else is broken, bent or missing.

    But, for me, all I had was sore foot where the deer bent it around the foot peg, and deer blood on my jacket, pants, boots, gloves and helmet!

    Of course there is no cell coverage where this happens, so I send notes with a couple riders to call my wife to bring truck and trailer to pick me up. A USFS ranger takes a report, the sheriffs stop by. Both said they will check on me later. One funny note happens here - A bright yellow McLaren slows and stops next to my destroyed bike. The driver asks if everything thing is OK. I bend down to see the driver, as the car is about 30" tall, and it's Jay Leno! He checks things out for a few minutes, asks if I need anything, I tell him I'm OK - Thinking my wife is on the way...Off he goes, and I forgot a selfie...Dam!

    Well, if you ever played telephone, you'll understand what happened next.

    One of my notes ended up at Newcombs Ranch restaurant. Someone there called my wife and left a message that I had crashed after hitting a deer. Not a good message for a wife to hear. The second person went to a USFS station and someone there called my wife and said I was being airlifted after crashing! Somehow, my incident was confused with another crash nearby at nearly the same time.

    So my wife does not know what to do, and does not know where I am, and thinks I'm seriously hurt. She strtas calling CHP, Sheriff, USFS, hospitals, etc...Not good.

    Well, I hit the deer at about 8:30AM, now it's noon and I don't know whats happening. Finally, a Sheriff patrol comes by again. The Sheriff, USFS, and about 50 riders stopped to ask if I was OK - Lots of great people. The sheriff comes back by, and says they can't leave me here and insist on calling a tow truck. I have AAA Gold card plan, so OK. I convince the sheriff officers to try calling my wife again, to tell her the tow truck is on the way.

    Well, another hour goes by, several riders and cars stop to check on me, then I hear a vehicle coming. I look up to see my wife in the truck with our flatbed trailer! Wow. I open the door and she is crying, she's worried, been lost due to phone direction mix ups, etc. After she see's I'm OK, she calms down and we share stories. Right then the AAA tow truck shows up. He is good, as he had a nice drive, was happy to see I was OK, and 2 other calls for vehicle recovery nearby, which pay way better he said. So all is good.

    Turns out one of the original people I gave a note to, called her back to see what happened. He then corrected all the misinformation and she came looking for me. She got lost, but came through in flying colors and saved my but. We loaded the bike, stopped for lunch, and made it home.

    My VFR is a 2002, and I had her exactly how I wanted. Nice mellow exhaust with a header, Power Commander, new Pirelli Rosso III tires, suspension set up well, Helibars, etc. She is badly hurt, and I doubt insurance will fix her. Way to much body work and parts for an old girl...wait and see.

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    Last edited: Jun 17, 2018
  2. TOE CUTTER

    TOE CUTTER Mullet Man

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    Wow you are lucky, hope you bought a lotto ticket on the way home.
     
  3. RllwJoe

    RllwJoe Insider

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    Wow! I'm glad that you are well. Deer are unpredictable when you have time to react, it's amazing that you were able to keep yourself and your bike from going down. There must be something more for you to accomplish yet in this world, What will it be?
     
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  4. gojukai

    gojukai New Member

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    Holy Shitaki muchrooms Batman. Father's day blessed you with the luck of the forest dragons!
    Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk
     
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  5. Lint

    Lint Member

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    Dayum!!!!

    Even kept it up. So happy it's the deer on the ground and not you.
     
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  6. TOE CUTTER

    TOE CUTTER Mullet Man

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    It is quite the mod you pulled off with oot a crash, trip in an ambulance, or a hospital stay. I am truly amazed.
     
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  7. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

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    Glad you are OK. I had a close call month or so ago. Coming out of the small town of Orinda in the bay area and two deer came off a bank to my left, cut directly in front of me. Fortunately I have ABS which saved my ass. They went down trying to scurry across the asphalt, but made it. Stupid driver behind me blew his horn at me for nearly stopping, not realizing what happen.
     
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  8. Doug7200

    Doug7200 New Member

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    Thanks, I'm glad to to posting from home too!
     
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  9. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

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    You were wise hit them straight on, bike absorbed the impact, and you stayed upright.
     
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  10. GatorGreg

    GatorGreg Honda Fanboy/LitiGator

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    Wow you're very lucky to be okay after that! Sorry about your VFR :(
     
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  11. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

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    Bad news and good news, but the good news means nothing really serious needs fixing. :wheelie:
     
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  12. Riding a 2000

    Riding a 2000 Member

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    The best outcome, considering all the possibilities.

    Very glad to hear that you are not injured. But do pay attention to that foot, there are lots of little bones which can be broken, and it can cause you grief down the road.
     
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  13. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    Quite the amazing story. Sure glad it worked out for you, well sorta anyways. I hope you have coverage for the damage to the bike or replacement if it is not repairable. I have to agree absolutely with Riding about having that foot checked out by a doctor. I know you guys pay out of pocket for doctors visits but like what was said, there could be an injury there that if unchecked, could come back to haunt you later.

    I have read here before, a couple times I think, of chance meetings with Jay Leno up and around that area. From what is reported, he does seem like a real decent guy.

    I hope your wife has settled down. She must have been really upset with not knowing exactly how you were, then getting unclear or mistaken directions and getting lost and stressed over the whole thing
     
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  14. Doug7200

    Doug7200 New Member

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    Wife is good after she saw I was OK.

    I'm lucky, she raced dirt bikes, and supports my riding. In fact most of my family, mom, dad, sisters and most extended family raced bikes. So they understand.

    Foot is fine, but if it bothers me, we have good insurance.

    I ride with good gear, including full knee/shin guards under my leathers and Sidi full height boots. Just in case...I think the boots and pads prevented injury today!
     
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  15. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    Yep, very lucky and to be honest, you can fix her up. My 5 Gen was actually totaled by my insurance company and I was able to use the insurance money and get it rebuilt. I’ve been using it at the track since last September. I used ebay and the two VFR centric forums to find all that I needed. So with patience and careful looking through the fore mentioned web sites, I’m sure you can get the bits and pieces you’ll need.

    As far as the deer goes, almost had an incident up on AFH one morning, thankfully the brakes on my Ducati and the available traction on the road that day saved me from what you suffered through. Glad you’re OK and RIP Bambi!
     
  16. sfdownhill

    sfdownhill New Member

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    I've heard the gruesome tales and always assumed any impact with a deer would cetainly be disastrous for a motorcyclist, but there you were, having a threesome with two female deer. No wonder your wife was upset.

    But seriously, thanks for sharing your story so well. Your technique of max braking and not steering to avoid is what saved you; excellent split second decision making. I'm grateful for the insight...maybe someone among us will be able to walk away from a deer hit because of reading your example.
     
  17. Samuel

    Samuel Member

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    Glad to hear you're OK!!! :eek: Did they at least let you keep the deer? ;)
     
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  18. Lint

    Lint Member

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    So, did you eat them? I would.
     
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  19. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    When Chomper nailed the deer in north east Oregon a few years back, the bow hunters who came along and lend a hand immediately went and searched for the deer and tagged it when they found it. We thought that was kinda odd but we were in their back yard. When in Rome do what the Romans do.
     
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  20. Gator

    Gator Insider

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    Glad you came through it all basically unscathed. You might be able to collect the insurance, then buy back the bike pennies on the dollar and make it a project bike like OOTV did.
     
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