Oh Deer! Oh Sh*t!

I'll join the chorus -- glad you are ok.
Your incident is similar to many I've read and heard. From anecdotal evidence, consistently the best outcome is on a larger bike, without hammering the brakes, and punching the deer in the center, as you did.
Likewise, the front of the bike (as one would expect), including forks, bodywork and radiator, will be the most damaged / destroyed. Most bikes are written off as total loss, as a result.
Meanwhile, I'm reminded of the savvy rider's wisdom... "never run over anything that you can't finish in one sitting."
And looking at it another way, your RT can now be considered "protective gear."
A new, unplanned and unexpected adventure story for you and for Tammy.
 
St-Gerard said:
Here in BC I have been told if you kill a deer with a motor vehicle, you just have to report it to the authorities and you get to keep it for food. Don't know if it is true as thank God haven't killed one yet.
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I don't think that is the case in Ohio because they don't want people chasing deer with vehicles. I remember seeing a buck with trophy antlers walking across a field and I joked to my helper that maybe we should chase it and nail it with my truck.
 
Thanks for all the well wishes! This forum can really make it feellike a distant family, dysfunctional at times, but family none the less. :roflmao: . The day after I still feel just fine, just a normal Sunday, even went for both a bicycle ride and motorcycle ride. No not on the RT, it runs but wouldn't for long without coolant in the radiators, (or would it :unsure: it is partially air cooled, never mind bad idea). I have a 1986 Honda Magna that I purchased new in 1987, it ONLY has 17,000+ miles on it. I added 70 to that number today.

Upon further inspection today the following need replacement from damage.
Right side.... external plastic and 2 internal plastics, radiator and fan, Wunderlich engine guard, lower light, bracket and possibly wiring.
Left side.... external plastic, and 1 maybe both internal plastic, radiator
Front..... Both fender plastics.
I can visually see no other damage. Using a straight edge, fork appear to be straight at the top and bottom, all steering linkages do not show any visible cracks, cables, hoses and connections all appear to be clean and tight. But we will see, maybe they can do a dye penetrant test and look for hairline fractures in the internal castings, although I doubt the shops do that, I'm sure they follow "when in doubt replace it". IF that is the case replacement of the front suspension?

rjs987 said:
Looks like possibly there are some bambies that will go hungry tonight.
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Maybe, the larger "bump" I think was hemorrhaging from the crash injuries. I've field dressed enough deer and the udders aren't noticeably filled with milk till you removed them.

Erdoc48 said:
even though you didn’t want to hit the deer, you mitigated well, probably by braking fairly aggressively (you may have or may not have because everything happens so fast in the moment)
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I didn't have anytime to do anything, barely was able to say OH ***** over the comms.

SMSW said:
Looks to me like she was pregnant. You tagged two forest rats at once...but it was an expensive tag. Hormones made her run out in front of you.
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Probably not pregnant, the rut is a minimum of a month away more likely 2 months. The "bump" I believe is hemorrhaging from injuries.

Kevin_56 said:
The DEER MANAGEMENT sign is TOO FUNNY. Not really but........................
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It was ironic that I had to help manage the herd. Should I send them the repair bill?

Donk said:
Hope you're not too sore today
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Not at all. the deer and I never actual touched, the bike took the impact.

St-Gerard said:
you get to keep it for food
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I probably could have kept it, but I had other things to deal with not to mention process and transport the deer without the proper knives and tools.

Sadlsor said:
punching the deer in the center, as you did.
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I didn't aim, just was damn lucky. I barely got the "Oh *****" before I hit it.

Mary-Anne said:
Welcome to the club :(
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Are there t-shirt and patches? Maybe a certificate? :unsure: :roflmao:

Darth rider said:
I can see the possibility of a new 1300RT in the making
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Maybe?? but first I have to see what the insurance company says. I would have to ride one first before I made that decision. And it would have to be the racing blue. :bl13:
 
glad you managed to come out of that one relatively unscathed; good thing you were in the lead. You have a pretty good account of events leading up to the collision; I'm guessing in the curve to right the deer comes up from the right[?], gets struck pretty hard where mass x acceleration helped you out [along with the structual integrity of the bike,] and then does [no joke intended] a bit of a wrap around.
 
I often wonder about how much better you might make out on different bikes if you hit a deer. For example I'm sure my NC750X would fold up like a thin cardboard box. I hope I never find out. I think a Goldwing would do quite well. Seems the RT did well too. Remember the goal isn't the bike surviving unscathed but the rider. No two ways about it when 2 objects collide you want to be on the bigger object. Maybe plastic absorbs some impact too?
 
Just to wrap up, the insurance company eventually totaled the bike. Actual cost of repairs were about 3x the estimated cost from the pictures I sent the adjustor. In the end it turned out well for my, I was able to put a few miles on my 1986 Honda Magna and I found a new to me bike. In mid September I flew to Nashville to pick up a 2024 R1250RT with just over 2,500 miles on it. Found it on Facebook and contacted the absolutely great couple immediately. Heck the couple even drove to Nashville with the bike and picked me up at the airport. I drove it home and over the next few days I stripped the 23 of the farkles that were good and I could transfer over to the 24. A few days later a salvage company hauled the 23 away to the auction yard.

2024 R1250RT.jpg
 
MR Q. said:
Just to wrap up, the insurance company eventually totaled the bike. Actual cost of repairs were about 3x the estimated cost from the pictures I sent the adjustor. In the end it turned out well for my, I was able to put a few miles on my 1986 Honda Magna and I found a new to me bike. In mid September I flew to Nashville to pick up a 2024 R1250RT with just over 2,500 miles on it. Found it on Facebook and contacted the absolutely great couple immediately. Heck the couple even drove to Nashville with the bike and picked me up at the airport. I drove it home and over the next few days I stripped the 23 of the farkles that were good and I could transfer over to the 24. A few days later a salvage company hauled the 23 away to the auction yard.

2024 R1250RT.jpg
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Sounds like you came out pretty well on the deal Kevin, other than the fact that you were out of a nice ride for a month or two. Nice pic by the way!
 
Darth rider said:
Sounds like you came out pretty well on the deal Kevin, other than the fact that you were out of a nice ride for a month or two. Nice pic by the way!
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New bike looks sharp! I'm curious how Tammy handled the whole thing? That has to be a bit of a shock to see that happen in front of her. Hope you can finish the ride you were on as I'm sure you both were having A nice time before the deer screwed it up.
 
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