*CAUTION*

Just a heads up to my fellow viffer heads in the NC area (northeastern specifically). The deer seem to be exceptionally bad this year, I see them all over the place lately. I could be bias because I hit one square doing 55-60 mph this past Thursday. It jumped clear over the drainage ditch and landed directly in front of me. Bike looks totaled to me, helmet, pants, jacket, and gloves are trashed. I saw the bike at the salvage yard yesterday and I'm pretty sure I just want to part ways with it. I don't think I have the time available to fix her up even if they don't total it. Anyway, WEAR YOUR GEAR, keep your eyes open for the deer, and enjoy the perfect riding weather this weekend.

Glad you are ok. I once came around a corner really hot only to find a black bear sitting in the middle of the road. I hit the horn and he took off running. Did you take any pics of the bike??

Rollin

[image: View Post]RollinAgain, on 23 October 2010 - 07:59 AM, said:

Glad you are ok. I once came around a corner really hot only to find a black bear sitting in the middle of the road. I hit the horn and he took off running. Did you take any pics of the bike??

Rollin


Thanks, yes I do have pictures of everything. At some point today I may get the drive to hobble to the office to upload them. Stationary feels REAL good right now.

Glad you are ok and live to tell the tale..........

:beer: :beer: :beer:

Sorry to hear about your run-in with the deer......... Living in a deer area as well (this is Rutt season) I'm always concerned, and no matter how good and alert we are, the deer can still get right in front of us from no where.

[image: View Post]VeryFineRide, on 23 October 2010 - 07:53 AM, said:

....The deer seem to be exceptionally bad this year, I see them all over the place lately. I could be bias because I hit one square doing 55-60 mph this past Thursday. It jumped clear over the drainage ditch and landed directly in front of me. Bike looks totaled to me, helmet, pants, jacket, and gloves are trashed. ....


Holy chit - glad you're okay brother!

We've got the same problem with roos here in Oz - although, at a guess, i reckon the average deer would be a bigger/heavier problem in a collision than would a typical skippy! :blink:

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1287620871/gallery_19264_5124_45896.jpg
Kangaroo

[image: View Post]TexOz, on 23 October 2010 - 12:15 PM, said:

[image: View Post]VeryFineRide, on 23 October 2010 - 07:53 AM, said:

....The deer seem to be exceptionally bad this year, I see them all over the place lately. I could be bias because I hit one square doing 55-60 mph this past Thursday. It jumped clear over the drainage ditch and landed directly in front of me. Bike looks totaled to me, helmet, pants, jacket, and gloves are trashed. ....


Holy chit - glad you're okay brother!

We've got the same problem with roos here in Oz - although, at a guess, i reckon the average deer would be a bigger/heavier problem in a collision than would a typical skippy! :blink:

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1287620871/gallery_19264_5124_45896.jpg
Kangaroo

If they'd not put those crossing signs up, then the deer and skippy's wouldn't be able to cross.(Skippy's I like that...Is it OZ's, or your's?).

[image: View Post]TexOz, on 23 October 2010 - 12:15 PM, said:

[image: View Post]VeryFineRide, on 23 October 2010 - 07:53 AM, said:

....The deer seem to be exceptionally bad this year, I see them all over the place lately. I could be bias because I hit one square doing 55-60 mph this past Thursday. It jumped clear over the drainage ditch and landed directly in front of me. Bike looks totaled to me, helmet, pants, jacket, and gloves are trashed. ....


Holy chit - glad you're okay brother!

We've got the same problem with roos here in Oz - although, at a guess, i reckon the average deer would be a bigger/heavier problem in a collision than would a typical skippy! :blink:

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1287620871/gallery_19264_5124_45896.jpg
Kangaroo


That one looks big enough cause grief if you hit it!

So how about you folks out in India? Do you watch for monkeys? :huh:

To the original poster, I'm glad you are OK

Brian

[image: View Post]VeryFineRide, on 23 October 2010 - 07:53 AM, said:

Just a heads up to my fellow viffer heads in the NC area (northeastern specifically). The deer seem to be exceptionally bad this year, I see them all over the place lately. I could be bias because I hit one square doing 55-60 mph this past Thursday. It jumped clear over the drainage ditch and landed directly in front of me. Bike looks totaled to me, helmet, pants, jacket, and gloves are trashed. I saw the bike at the salvage yard yesterday and I'm pretty sure I just want to part ways with it. I don't think I have the time available to fix her up even if they don't total it. Anyway, WEAR YOUR GEAR, keep your eyes open for the deer, and enjoy the perfect riding weather this weekend.


Deer and cops , the 2 best training courses on the street, always one eye open for both. They'll keep you sharp or take ya out, one or the other. Same tactics are used for both.

Wow - Happy to hear you are still with us. Hope you are able to make a total and complete recovery. Thank You for the alert - it serves as a great reminder.

[image: View Post]Monk, on 23 October 2010 - 01:11 PM, said:

If they'd not put those crossing signs up, then the deer and skippy's wouldn't be able to cross.(Skippy's I like that...Is it OZ's, or your's?).


The state of Kansas refuses to put up any more deer crossing signs and has actually removed some. The KHP simply states, "Motorist should be advised that deer may be present at any time, at any location on any road in the state of Kansas."

Thanks for all the comments guys. Joe Rocket and Arai did me proud on this one. After looking at the sad state of my gear and myself, I can't imagine what I would have looked like without it. Insurance is going to cover replacement cost of the safety gear and add-ons to the bike, though I'm still waiting on the totaled, or fix it verdict, I'm leaning towards totaled. If that is the case, the new bike is picked pout already (not a viffer, sorry) and as soon as the all the burns and the limp heals I'll be looking into getting it. Deer are something you just except as a probability, not something you can really prepare for and after the way this incident went down, I truly believe that. Thanks again!

SO.... What bike do you want ?..........

[image: View Post]Monk, on 24 October 2010 - 11:28 AM, said:

SO.... What bike do you want ?..........


Oh boy, I don't want this turn into one of "those" threads. But if you must know, 2011 Concourse 1400 ABS. I sat on one yesterday and all I can say is wow, what a comfortable bike. Hard bags along with all kinds of bells and whistles included.

ps...I think my days of leaning forward are over.

[image: View Post]Monk, on 23 October 2010 - 01:11 PM, said:

[image: View Post]TexOz, on 23 October 2010 - 12:15 PM, said:

[image: View Post]VeryFineRide, on 23 October 2010 - 07:53 AM, said:

....The deer seem to be exceptionally bad this year, I see them all over the place lately. I could be bias because I hit one square doing 55-60 mph this past Thursday. It jumped clear over the drainage ditch and landed directly in front of me. Bike looks totaled to me, helmet, pants, jacket, and gloves are trashed. ....


Holy chit - glad you're okay brother!

We've got the same problem with roos here in Oz - although, at a guess, i reckon the average deer would be a bigger/heavier problem in a collision than would a typical skippy! :blink:

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1287620871/gallery_19264_5124_45896.jpg
Kangaroo

If they'd not put those crossing signs up, then the deer and skippy's wouldn't be able to cross.(Skippy's I like that...Is it OZ's, or your's?).


nope ... can't claim that for myself ... you sometimes hear them called skippys in 'stralia :happy:

Not to hijack the thread, but I thought I would share my Friday ride home from work....

I-40 just west of Knoxville, in the far left lane at perhaps 75-80mph. I'm passing trucks in the right two lanes that are coming up to speed exiting a weigh station, and I hear / feel something hit the bottom of the bike (maybe in the rear fender liner area?) and instantly feel like I'm in a 50mph cross wind.

Slow oscillations...until I try to change lanes (5 sec.). WOW!!!! Rear Pilot Road is completely flat at 80mph. After carefully and slowly crossing all the traffic (about a mile), I got to the right lane exit ramp and started to slow below about 60 mph. That is really when the fun started. I suspect that at higher speed the tire maintained some shape....but once I started to slow down below 55 to 60 mph the wallowing began to load the suspension and pull the bars around....good times.

I made it to the bottom of the ramp, duck-paddled into the Dunkin-Donuts parking lot and had a talk with God. I thanked Him for delivering me safely...and for giveing ME the blowout and not my sister who just started riding this year.

Amazingly, though the sidwalls were overheated and brown, there were no cuts in the tire at all....but dead center in the tread a perfectly round hole that I was easily able to poke my little finger in. One brand new Pilot Road 2 (and a clean pair of drawers) later and I was back on the road. Perhaps I should buy a lottery ticket!

Thanks for listening,

Jon

[image: View Post]jpm163, on 25 October 2010 - 09:26 AM, said:

Not to hijack the thread, but I thought I would share my Friday ride home from work....

I-40 just west of Knoxville, in the far left lane at perhaps 75-80mph. I'm passing trucks in the right two lanes that are coming up to speed exiting a weigh station, and I hear / feel something hit the bottom of the bike (maybe in the rear fender liner area?) and instantly feel like I'm in a 50mph cross wind.

Slow oscillations...until I try to change lanes (5 sec.). WOW!!!! Rear Pilot Road is completely flat at 80mph. After carefully and slowly crossing all the traffic (about a mile), I got to the right lane exit ramp and started to slow below about 60 mph. That is really when the fun started. I suspect that at higher speed the tire maintained some shape....but once I started to slow down below 55 to 60 mph the wallowing began to load the suspension and pull the bars around....good times.

I made it to the bottom of the ramp, duck-paddled into the Dunkin-Donuts parking lot and had a talk with God. I thanked Him for delivering me safely...and for giveing ME the blowout and not my sister who just started riding this year.

Amazingly, though the sidwalls were overheated and brown, there were no cuts in the tire at all....but dead center in the tread a perfectly round hole that I was easily able to poke my little finger in. One brand new Pilot Road 2 (and a clean pair of drawers) later and I was back on the road. Perhaps I should buy a lottery ticket!

Thanks for listening,

Jon

An empty shell casing(ammo)if pointed at the tyre is like a hole punch.... Little finger sounds like a .45 cal. ......... Mine was a .380 and I was just starting to pull away from side of the road and heard a clicking sound(with my earplugs on as well), so I stopped and checked the tyre, and found the shell stuck in my tyre down to, but not in the thread..... So I road it home ok(slow)(oh yea I did pull the shell out and stopped and checked a few times)....So no shooting automatic's from moving veh. please.

[image: View Post]VeryFineRide, on 23 October 2010 - 07:53 AM, said:

Just a heads up to my fellow viffer heads in the NC area (northeastern specifically). The deer seem to be exceptionally bad this year, I see them all over the place lately. I could be bias because I hit one square doing 55-60 mph this past Thursday. It jumped clear over the drainage ditch and landed directly in front of me. Bike looks totaled to me, helmet, pants, jacket, and gloves are trashed. I saw the bike at the salvage yard yesterday and I'm pretty sure I just want to part ways with it. I don't think I have the time available to fix her up even if they don't total it. Anyway, WEAR YOUR GEAR, keep your eyes open for the deer, and enjoy the perfect riding weather this weekend.


Sorry to hear about your bike and glad to hear you made it out in one piece. I was riding on I-85 between Greenville and Atlanta and saw about 20 deer dead on the side of the road. They are all over the place and jump out when you least expect it.

Thanks for the reminder.

[image: View Post]Monk, on 25 October 2010 - 09:49 AM, said:

An empty shell casing(ammo)if pointed at the tyre is like a hole punch.... Little finger sounds like a .45 cal. ......... Mine was a .380 ....So no shooting automatic's from moving veh. please.


Interesting ... who woulda thunk it? ... i never even considered that a shell casing could be riding hazard :huh:

Now that's something we don't generally have to deal with in Oz; there's not a very strong gun culture here and pretty strict rules about who can own and why. The authority's view is that protection of self and your property from the actions of other humans isn't a good enough reason. Not a judgement either way but it's quite strange for me to sometimes read on this site that some of you North American guys/gals carry handguns while touring.


Mmmmm ... seems that's a thread jack on top of a thread jack ... my apologies VeryFineRide!

Deer are no different than people. They have no concept of "yield the right of way". As far as Kansas, very consoling to know that they don't give a chit about motorists other than kiting their money through speeding tickets. :491:

Glad you're still amongst the living. Heal up fast! Know what you mean about a totaled bike. Nothing the cry about.....it's gone.

Good analogy too, Spud..... :laugh:

[image: View Post]Bent, on 31 October 2010 - 10:57 AM, said:

Deer are no different than people. They have no concept of "yield the right of way". As far as Kansas, very consoling to know that they don't give a chit about motorists other than kiting their money through speeding tickets. :491:

Glad you're still amongst the living. Heal up fast! Know what you mean about a totaled bike. Nothing the cry about.....it's gone.

Good analogy too, Spud..... :laugh:


I read your post and you're right, we walked away thats all that matters. Got my insurance checks and my gear replaced, with a sizable chunk left over for a down payment for the new bike. Still got some healing to do but it will come soon enough. Look for a Joe Rocket "Survivor Suit" review, coming soon, and a review for the Shoei "multitech" helmet as well. Thanks for all the well wishes and ride safe.

[image: View Post]TexOz, on 23 October 2010 - 12:15 PM, said:

[image: View Post]VeryFineRide, on 23 October 2010 - 07:53 AM, said:

....The deer seem to be exceptionally bad this year, I see them all over the place lately. I could be bias because I hit one square doing 55-60 mph this past Thursday. It jumped clear over the drainage ditch and landed directly in front of me. Bike looks totaled to me, helmet, pants, jacket, and gloves are trashed. ....


Holy chit - glad you're okay brother!

We've got the same problem with roos here in Oz - although, at a guess, i reckon the average deer would be a bigger/heavier problem in a collision than would a typical skippy! :blink:

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1287620871/gallery_19264_5124_45896.jpg
Kangaroo


Actually, a full grown roo is much heavier than a deer here. I've spent a lot of time in Oz working and kind of laugh about those monstrous "roo bars" on the front of tractors of those road trains going from the east coast to Perth. I like the Aussies philosophy.....just plow over the bastages..... :laughing6-hehe:

I was braking for a fast right-hander on the way into work just noe, and just to my right is a big ass deer (B.A.S.). He looks at me as I try to get as far to my left as possible. He didnt move, but deer are like bad guys to me : if you see one....ther are two. I almost soiled my armor. All this about half a mile outside the capitol beltway.

Watch out for those fellas, and if you see a R.O.U.S........RUN AWAY!!!!

[image: View Post]TexOz, on 25 October 2010 - 03:56 AM, said:

If they'd not put those crossing signs up, then the deer and skippy's wouldn't be able to cross.(Skippy's I like that...Is it OZ's, or your's?).


:offtopic:

You are clearly not old enough to have watched this on tv................


http://en.wikipedia....e_Bush_Kangaroo

:biggrin:

[image: View Post]Dutchy, on 01 November 2010 - 02:06 PM, said:

[image: View Post]TexOz, on 25 October 2010 - 03:56 AM, said:

If they'd not put those crossing signs up, then the deer and skippy's wouldn't be able to cross.(Skippy's I like that...Is it OZ's, or your's?).


:offtopic:

You are clearly not old enough to have watched this on tv................


http://en.wikipedia....e_Bush_Kangaroo

:biggrin:

:mellow:

umm ... it wasn't my quote ... it was Monk's and I'm fairly certain he's old enough to remember :happy:

as for me ... at nearly 42 years old, I've had my fair share of Skippy on the tele - on a black and white TV no less - we were the last on my street to get a colour television!!! :dry:

Heal up fast VeryFine and enjoy that Connie 14 if that's what you get...it's an incredible machine IMO. At 5'7" I'm way too small to handle the beast. I just found a 2006 ST1300 that fits me good.

[image: View Post]TexOz, on 01 November 2010 - 03:25 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Dutchy, on 01 November 2010 - 02:06 PM, said:

[image: View Post]TexOz, on 25 October 2010 - 03:56 AM, said:

If they'd not put those crossing signs up, then the deer and skippy's wouldn't be able to cross.(Skippy's I like that...Is it OZ's, or your's?).


:offtopic:

You are clearly not old enough to have watched this on tv................


http://en.wikipedia....e_Bush_Kangaroo

:biggrin:

:mellow:

umm ... it wasn't my quote ... it was Monk's and I'm fairly certain he's old enough to remember :happy:

as for me ... at nearly 42 years old, I've had my fair share of Skippy on the tele - on a black and white TV no less - we were the last on my street to get a colour television!!! :dry:

I'm old enough to remember when there were no TV's..... :laughing6-hehe: :laughing6-hehe:

[image: View Post]Monk, on 01 November 2010 - 04:48 PM, said:

[image: View Post]TexOz, on 01 November 2010 - 03:25 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Dutchy, on 01 November 2010 - 02:06 PM, said:

[image: View Post]TexOz, on 25 October 2010 - 03:56 AM, said:

If they'd not put those crossing signs up, then the deer and skippy's wouldn't be able to cross.(Skippy's I like that...Is it OZ's, or your's?).


:offtopic:

You are clearly not old enough to have watched this on tv................


http://en.wikipedia....e_Bush_Kangaroo

:biggrin:

:mellow:

umm ... it wasn't my quote ... it was Monk's and I'm fairly certain he's old enough to remember :happy:

as for me ... at nearly 42 years old, I've had my fair share of Skippy on the tele - on a black and white TV no less - we were the last on my street to get a colour television!!! :dry:

I'm old enough to remember when there were no TV's..... :laughing6-hehe: :laughing6-hehe:

:offtopic: My Dad bought our first TV used out of a bar around 1950 or 1951 I believe (I was four or five). Before that I went next door every day to watch Howdy Doodie, Hopalong Cassidy, and the like. The picture was monochrome, poor quality, and there were lots of "technical difficulties", but none of that mattered then. Now I can't even surf through all of the available channels during a commercial in time to get back to the show I was watching. Better now? Some times I wonder.

When I got married, we had a 19" B&W portable. I'd roll it up to my side of the bed at night so I could reach over and change channels (there were four) without getting out of bed. A poor man's remote control. I'd fall asleep and wake up in the morning to the test pattern.

OK, enough "old fart" nostalgia. Back to the subject, what ever it was.

[image: View Post]2thdr, on 01 November 2010 - 04:30 PM, said:

Heal up fast VeryFine and enjoy that Connie 14 if that's what you get...it's an incredible machine IMO. At 5'7" I'm way too small to handle the beast. I just found a 2006 ST1300 that fits me good.


Hmm, maybe I should sit on it again. I'm barely pushing 5,8 and 170 and it felt pretty comfy. I was on the balls of my feet on the VFR and it's not much higher then that at all on the Connie and it only weighs about 150 more. Plus I'm ordering with the lowered seat (optional) which drops it about an inch. I don't know, all I can think about is all these petite women I see on fully dressed cruisers and Goldwings and I have to think there is more to it than size. Hmm, Goldwings, I was sitting on one of those today too, talk about a lot of bike!