Well, the night started out great

[Gregger]

Man just came across this thread. Glad the two of you are still around to talk about the experience, even crack a joke or two. You guys came real close..... Now you need to get back on a bike and ride. Don't let the only psyche thing get you second guessing yourself going forward.

All the best to you Fred and your wife. Speedy recovery. Post some pics of the new ride if you get one or the restoration project on the old one if you go that route....winter is coming!

Greg

 

[Rocket Scientist]

Fred, so glad ya'll are ok!
Now for the bad news..... I had a girl back up into my front end of the Rocket a couple months ago. Not near as much damage as you have BUT Snake Farm Ins, the value of the bike, even with custom paint & all ofthe mods, was only about $4500 with 40,000 miles on it. Your mileage is prolly that or more.
I also retained the bike to repair myself. When that happens, they deduct the "salvage value" from the $4500 actual value & pay you the difference. The salvage value was about $2100 - You do the math..........
Now hopefully, the salvage value will be less on yours since it has more parts that are damaged that should knock that salvage value down. you need to make sure & tell them the bike does not crank, won't run, even tell them the engine is trashed. Since it will be considered a total loss anyway, convince them that as many parts are damaged as you can, so that the salv value will be less & obviously less will be deducted from the actual value = more $$ for you

Thanks Clint ! Not sure how it works here in Michigan nowadays. Do they have to offer it back to you? I'd hate to loose all my impossible to find aftermarket parts. Back in 83' I got rear-ended (hey, it was college, a time of experimentation ) by another motorcycle on my 82' V-45 Magna. That time I got the bike, $2100 and a new leather jacket. Buy back was $250. Cost me about $500 to make it like new. I have $3500 coverage for accessories. Not sure if that's pro-rated or not. If not, that would get me beetle bags, windshield, mirrors, highway pegs etc. If I could just end up with the bike, and enough money to make it look and work right again, I'd be happy.

 

[1olbull]

I have Piaa high output halogens in European code buckets that actually put the light where you need it, as opposed to DOT requirements. I've ridden with people with Daymakers. They definitely provide a whiter light, but didn't notice a "night and day" improvement. Not knocking LED's, but I have less than $300 into something that works just as well in real world conditions.

As for my deer situation, the deer came out of brush perpendicular to the road. It was strictly a matter of timing. Which got me thinking, say you were filming a movie and wanted to recreate the bike hits deer scene, how difficult it would be to time that. It's really a wonder the collisions ever happen. In 40 years of riding, I had never had a "close call" with a deer.

Sounds very similar to the deer I narrowly missed that struck the car in front of me.
Seen a lot of roadside and in the road deer over my 55 years riding the highways and never been hit - so far!
Now imprinted in my brain forever, is we can do ONLY so much to mitigate a deer strike DAY or Night!
If the deer is at a run when it comes into view and the timing is correct - WE ARE SCREWED!

While riding, we must remain vigilant to our surroundings and at night have the best light possible, while riding slow enough to not outrun our headlights.
My opinion is at night stay close to 50 on an unlit rural roadway.
Your speed times 1.4667 yields feet per second. That times 2 seconds for minimum perception-response time = distance traveled BEFORE you apply brakes.
Your speed squared divided by 18 = MINIMUM distance needed to stop.
Add those numbers together and if you cannot see well enough to discern what an object is (not simply see something) from that distance - you are out riding your headlights!

 

[Willyone]

Rocket Scientist... I've been involved in the insurance gig for close to 40 years, in one capacity or another. My involvement has been focused primarily on damaged buildings and property, little to nothing with cars or motorcycles. Regardless, I may be able to give you somewhat of a mindset of an ins. adjuster. If your ins. company sends a seasoned/experienced adjuster to look at the bike he/she will look to see if there is engine/transmission damage, at least to the exterior ie the cases, induction, exhaust, etc. My guess is, if he doesn't see any issues with the cases then he/she will likely figure the engine/trans is OK. That said, if your engine isn't beat up and looks ok (to you), before dealing with the adjuster it might be good to look on Craigslist or other sources to find out what a used engine in running condition and with similar mileage as yours, is worth. That will or should help whilst dikering over the salvage value. Also it would be a good idea to show Mr/Ms adjuster receipts for after market parts that were damaged. You want the bike totaled, I would think. Stress the possibility and or likelyhood of frame damage.... that's killer right there.

Some adjusters are pure azzholes but most are ok. Some insurance carriers will nit pick shidt to death, others will go out of their way to work with you. It's always a crap shoot.

 

[Rocket Scientist]

Rocket Scientist... I've been involved in the insurance gig for close to 40 years, in one capacity or another. My involvement has been focused primarily on damaged buildings and property, little to nothing with cars or motorcycles. Regardless, I may be able to give you somewhat of a mindset of an ins. adjuster. If your ins. company sends a seasoned/experienced adjuster to look at the bike he/she will look to see if there is engine/transmission damage, at least to the exterior ie the cases, induction, exhaust, etc. My guess is, if he doesn't see any issues with the cases then he/she will likely figure the engine/trans is OK. That said, if your engine isn't beat up and looks ok (to you), before dealing with the adjuster it might be good to look on Craigslist or other sources to find out what a used engine in running condition and with similar mileage as yours, is worth. That will or should help whilst dikering over the salvage value. Also it would be a good idea to show Mr/Ms adjuster receipts for after market parts that were damaged. You want the bike totaled, I would think. Stress the possibility and or likelyhood of frame damage.... that's killer right there.

Some adjusters are pure azzholes but most are ok. Some insurance carriers will nit pick shidt to death, others will go out of their way to work with you. It's always a crap shoot.

Thanks for the info ! I have my insurance through Foremost. Have for many many years. Never had a claim until now. I would hope that would buy me something, but not expecting much more than a cup of coffee

 

[Nat69's girl]

Thanks for the info ! I have my insurance through Foremost. Have for many many years. Never had a claim until now. I would hope that would buy me something, but not expecting much more than a cup of coffee

Aaaawwwwwwwwwww Mr scientist .... And Mrs m .... Hope everything OK now ? I mean how's the scratches ? I can imagine about the deer , when we was in wales for a week...bloody pheasants flying from all angles .... Never seen so many pheasants in my life, we nearly hit a few in his sisters truck ... I know it has nothing to do with deer s but thought that might make u feel better somehow thinking of ya both

 

[Rocket Scientist]

Aaaawwwwwwwwwww Mr scientist .... And Mrs m .... Hope everything OK now ? I mean how's the scratches ? I can imagine about the deer , when we was in wales for a week...bloody pheasants flying from all angles .... Never seen so many pheasants in my life, we nearly hit a few in his sisters truck ... I know it has nothing to do with deer s but thought that might make u feel better somehow thinking of ya both

We both got a couple tiny spots of road rash. Melissa got the worst of it as we think she got pitched off by the impact. I think I stayed with the bike for a bit after it went down and then just kind of slid off it onto to the road. I remember it being in front of me and skidding on it's side. Then it grabbed and tumbled once and I felt broken pieces fly by me. I slid for awhile and then I tumbled once also. It seems like took forever to come to a stop. Our biggest fear was getting hit if any cars came by as we didn't have any reflective gear on. That will change. Melissa was able to crawl off to the side of road. I was able to get up and walk. I was also afraid someone would hit the bike and hockey puck into us or swerve to miss it and run over us. We were in a dark area between two street lights. Fortunately there was a car not far behind us that saw what happened so they pulled up and left their lights on. All in all I can highly NOT recommend it. Thanks for the kind thoughts along with all the other great people on this site. I'm touched by the sympathy and the offers of parts to bring the Phoenix back to life !

 

[sleeves]

Just got online for weekend and OUCH, glad your both OK.

 

[Bernard Vinet]

Sorry to hear that you had a head on with a deer. Happy to hear you are not too damaged. Bike can be repaired or exchanged. Wishing you and the Misses a rapid recovery.

 

[Manic_Mechanic]

Sorry to hear about your misfortune, Fred and Melissa but GLAD to hear you both were able to walk away from it.