Hit a deer with my '03 pride and joy

[marauder]

On July 10 of this year I was traveling home to Wenatchee, WA from Vancouver, WA on one of my most favorite roads in Washington...Bickelton Hwy east of Goldendale. In the middle of the day I was just dropping down into the awesome Klickatat River valley when I saw out of the corner of my eye a mule deer running along the left side of the narrow, two lane road. I was quickly overtaking it so I thought that I would get past safely. Wrong! It was cornered with the cliff on the left and me on it's right so it immediately cut across right in front of me to get off the bank on my right side. I hit it broadside at the ribs across my headlight. It took my bike violently to the right as I went flying off to the right. I figure I was going about 40 mph when I hit it cause I slid unconscious for about 100 feet.

I broke my left collarbone and shoulder blade and my right thumb. (When I was braking I was holding onto the bars with my right thumb which was ripped backwards at impact) My bike was totaled mainly because the crankshaft was broken on the left end from hitting the pavement. Now as I heal I am planning to buy a 2010 in the spring. Does anyone know when Yamaha announces their new models? I'm thinking September. Gotta get back on and ride...

Bill

 

[GunMD]

Hey, that sucks! Sorry to hear about your forest rat encounter. Sounds like you'll heal up just fine, so that's good. No idea on the 2010 models.

 

[6mmbr]

Glad you're ok

Hope you killed the deer.

Even year models are the best.

 

[Texan]

Major ouch. Sorry to hear about your crash. Glad you were mostly okay and bully on the '10 whenever they come out.

Can you tell us what kind of gear you were wearing and how that held up?

 

[FJRBluesman]

Glad you're in good shape, bummer about the impact.

 

[Toecutter]

Does anyone know when Yamaha announces their new models? I'm thinking September.

Customarily. I predict it will be the Monday after Labor Day (9/14).

I hope it's nice enough to help you get over losing your pride and joy!

 

[ALFJR]

Marauder, coming from a guy with a like experience, I feel for you! I trust you heal soon! Those forest rats are completely unpredictable. Any more, I see one, and I am hard on the brakes. In fact on my trip last week, in eastern WV, I had one and 4 of her young ones dart out in front of me.. The whole clan!! And this was in a relative clearing where the road grade was about 4 to 5 feet below the adjacent field. I thought I was in the clear when the rats came from right beside the road at field level..out of nowhere!

Part of the sport, I tell myself! Be safe out there! Cheers!

 

[DrFaulken]

I am so sorry to hear about that Breaking your bones sucks, and so does losing the bike. But you made it out alive, and that is what's most important.

The deer are the primary reason I stop riding to work every year. There are always several dead bodies on the highway every week until about November / December.

I wish you a full and speedy recovery.

 

[user 6393]

wow, glad you are 'ok'. There has been a ton of deer strikes this year. Good luck on getting a new ride.

 

[wfooshee]

My bike was totaled mainly because the crankshaft was broken on the left end . . .

Yeah, I'm thinking that'll do it. Holy Hell!

Stator magnet broken off? What? That's a helluva whack on the road!!!

 

[fjrwalker]

Damn, sorry to hear about your crash. I haven't seen many forest rats in that area, but know they are there.

It sounds more like you were entering Rock Creek Canyon if you were between Goldendale and Bickleton.

The Klickitat River Valley is West of Goldendale along Hwy. 142. Both roads are favorites of mine.

I hope you are healing quickly and fully. Let us know when you are ready to show off that 2010.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Been on that stretch of road several times myself...too bad the deer spoiled it for you. Good luck with the healing process and the new bike search. Unless you're set on a '10, keep an eye out for a left over '08 or'09, that is if the extensive color selection suits you You'll be very happy with the GenII improvements.

--G

 

[FJR-Voltron]

Wow, that really sucks...

Hope to see you on the saddle again soon.

 

[Bokerfork]

My dad was born and raised in Pishaston(sorry about the spelling) which I understand is just north of Wenatche. Beautiful country.

Sorry to here of your encounter, but damn If I'm not jealous of your territory.

Heal up and don't rule out a used '07. They are the purtiest. Just ask Old Michael. He's seen plenty of mine from the ass end.

Regards,

Mark

 

[dustyrains]

That Bickleton Hiway is really a great motorcycle road. Sorry to hear about the accident. The nine mile stretch of highway I commute on near Castle Rock WA has a new dead deer carcass on the shoulder just about every week. Keeps me alert. So anyway, heal up and get back out there on a 2010 model.

 

[pmspaul]

Now as I heal I am planning to buy a 2010 in the spring. Does anyone know when Yamaha announces their new models? I'm thinking September. Gotta get back on and ride...
Bill

Glad you made it through ok. Our 2010 Model Introduction regional dealer meetings are scheduled for September 8th, so I'll know around noon that day. I imagine it'll be up on the web shortly thereafter.

Take care.

 

[NightShine]

Well, I'm glad to read that the score was bike=0, deer=0, rider=1. Thanks for passing your experience along, yet another reminder that not everyone on the roadway is polite enough to let riders "play through". Heal well.

 

[marauder]

"It sounds more like you were entering Rock Creek Canyon if you were between Goldendale and Bickleton.

The Klickitat River Valley is West of Goldendale along Hwy. 142. Both roads are favorites of mine."

Yep, you are right Jim, I was on the Bickleton Hwy crossing Rock Creek not Klickatat. And for the person who asked what I was wearing, I had, of course, a full face helmet (HJC) that saved my life. I hit so hard as to have brief bleeding on the brain detected by Cat Scan. That quickly went away. I was also wearing my First Gear summer jacket, a long sleeve shirt, gloves and Levis. If I had been wearing a short sleeve shirt it would have ground away most of my left arm and shoulder. Even with the jacket and shirt the biggest and slowest to heal was the contusion on my left forearm. I probably broke my fall with my left arm.

When I saw that I was going to hit the deer I was in full braking mode but thinking back on it I could have braked harder. It was clean, dry pavement and I did not leave any skid marks. You always think about what you coulda shoulda done...

As far as older models of the FJR are concerned, (ie. '07 and later) I have no concerns. I want the heat management system but ABS? I like the ergonomic adjustments that the newest ones offer. I don't care for the black color but it can be dressed up with some discrete pin striping. I will watch for the '10 model with anticipation.

Bill

 

[Rick_W]

When I saw that I was going to hit the deer I was in full braking mode but thinking back on it I could have braked harder.
I want the heat management system but ABS?

Bill

Surely glad to hear you are OK!

As for ABS, all I can say is I'll never wonder whether I could have braked harder!