Thursday Smack-down V85 vs Black bear

[Vagrant]

Thursday morning it appeared there was a 4-5 hour window for a nice putt in the Suches area. About thirty minutes in, right after a right-hander, I was between two steep hillsides when I spotted a large black bear flying down the one on the left. His paws hit the pavement about the same time everything started to register in my brain. I know I got to the brakes, but I'm not sure they were applied before I center-punched him at 40 MPH + - 5 MPH. I doubt the whole thing lasted 1/2 a second. They're good for 30-35 MPH and he was going downhill WFO! I vividly saw and felt the impact at the same time. That's the last I remember until I regained consciousness. I think the V85 stopped instantly and threw me straight into the ground. I evidently was knocked out for a bit, as a first responder who only lived 1/4 mile away was just getting there, but one of the county (I think) sheriff's officers was already there. I was hypervigilant that day because the day before I saw four deer on the side of the roads between 12 noon and 12:25. Seven for the whole day. There was no way to have had any other outcome with the bear.
Moral of the story, I had a brand-new LS2 carbon fiber modular helmet. It's got some road rash, but it did its job. I had a good riding mesh jacket, and it too worked well. One arm seam opened up but I am basically road rash-less. Just one tiny spot from a direct impact but no signs of sliding on it. I had on some very old padded riding pants they also worked. The top of my hands are a bit torn up and I was blaming the Joe Rocket summer gloves but the first responder, who has six bikes and he and his wife both ride, pointed out the broken away air deflectors on top of the hand guards. When reviewing the one pic I think the tops of the hands were scrapped bad by that broken, quite thick plastic.
Just two weeks ago one of our members here hit a deer at 70 on the Virginia turnpike. He contacted me to thank me for convincing him to buy a Helite vest a couple of years back. He said that is what saved him from major trauma.  Now I have to say the same thing to Bill Hagan for being the first guy I know to wear a Helite. I figured if he felt it was a good idea, then I needed one too. I know when I broke 11 ribs in Alaska in 2010 it would have made a major difference for me then. There is no doubt that I would have been busted up had I not been wearing one yesterday. Instead I was able to get up and walk around.
JMHO, but ATGATT is the only way to go. FYI, the paramedics were very impressed with how well the safety gear worked also. Rant over.
I'm waiting on the insurance co now. The bike looks better than it should and the 2022 only had 13,600 on it but I suspect there is fork damage and front wheel along with the road rash it got.

[kballowe]

So glad to hear that you walked away from this !

[John A]

A bear is a solid chunk alright. Check the lower bearing area on the steering neck for signs of damage , that can get deformed before the forks bend . I’ve fixed those by cutting off the lower bearing cup and welding on a new one turned on a lathe. It helps to heal if I get the bike repaired by the time I heal up enough to ride.

[Iron Cross Junction]

.
Well, Steve, most any of us can hit a deer.  Kathi hit an elk in Montana once, but in a cage.  I've hit a dog and woodchuck, and had numerous deer scare me feceless on my Guzzis, but never unhorsed.

But, you, Sir are the first rider I know to have T-boned a bear.   

Given your trophy room back in Georgia, one cannot help wondering if some sort of Ursus revenge was not at play!   

And, wow, re the Helite vest, too.  Despite my own age -- I turn 78 next month ... gasp  -- I am thinking about replacing my own Helite as it is getting long in the tooth. If so, I'll probably go with one of the electronic rather than tethered units.  After George Roark's dismount in Corsica last fall, I have become a bit wary of low-siders with the flash-bang to the pavement before the tethered CO2 cartridge deploys the airbag.

Obviously, those work just fine in bear strikes!   [Oh, how's the bear.  If KIA, did you get to keep any of the meat or at least hide for a rug?  ]

Best wishes for rapid healing .. and no repeats of that sort of adventure!

Bill

P.S. Kathi sends her shocked condolences from the road, as she's driving to teacher's social event in Ellijay "as we speak."

[Vagrant]

The bears in my trophy room came from Canada but I to was wondering about collusion and getting even. Oddly the officers at the scene seemed to have no desire to follow a wounded bear into the woods! If he did live through that hit in the ribs I’d be surprised 😮
If you research the electronic vests and buy one let me know. I was thinking about getting one as a replacement too.

[Stelvio Scott]

Glad you are ok.  🙏

[Kiwi_Roy]

Black bears are scary creatures
You are lucky buy a lottery ticket.

[Dave Swanson]

Great that you are here to tell the tale!  Now I have a Helite on my list. 

[moto]

The experience of you guys who are smart enough to wear these vests or jackets is profoundly impressive. I have been edging toward getting one too. I did notice a new Dainese vest, merely $690, that sounds impressive. Perhaps one of you can buy it and tell me how it is.

https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2025/02/17/dainese-smart-air-review-motorcycle-airbag-test/

A nice feature is that it can go over or under one's jacket.

I'm interested in other possibilities too.

Moto

[cliffrod]

Glad to hear you’re ok.   Gearing up often seems like overkill until it saves the day.  I hope the aches and pains don’t last too long.

[Vagrant]

If there was ever one thing in life you shouldn't procrastinate on, it's buying a vest. Any vest is better than none, but I know the Helite works. Sometimes there are deals out there on the black ones.

[kingoffleece]

Glad you're ok.  What a story..............

[tazio]

Steve, NO !!  You,sir, are as tough as nails. The Good Lord must still have use for you, and I know how much you've meant to me. Any motorcyclist would be well served weighing what they've blown an chrome do-dads and such for their bike -vs- the cost of an Airbag Vest (spoken from experience and out of compassion). As you've expressed to me last week, if there's ANYTHING you need assistance with, don't hesitate to reach out.
Michael

[guzzisteve]

Wow, glad you are OK. Pays to be alert up there. AND it wasn't even Fri the 13th.

[Tkelly]

How hot are they under a perforated riding jacket ,I imagine they have no way for air to ventilate?

[Kev m]

Steve, NO !!  You,sir, are as tough as nails. The Good Lord must still have use for you, and I know how much you've meant to me.

Ha, I think more like God went "F'no I'm not ready to deal with him yet". 

Any motorcyclist would be well served weighing what they've blown an chrome do-dads and such for their bike -vs- the cost of an Airbag Vest (spoken from experience and out of compassion).

Point of order. I will admit, embarrassingly, to buying two chrome do-dads ever in my life. One each for my first two Harleys in the early 90's.

Both were pretty cheap and wouldn't pay for a single boot today, never mind a vest.

I hate chrome....

Just saying.

[Vagrant]

How hot are they under a perforated riding jacket ,I imagine they have no way for air to ventilate?

I'm sure I am over 100,000 miles on mine. With a 20+ YO Joe Rocket Phoenix jacket with large air holes everywhere, it isn't an issue. With a tighter weave, vented, it is warmer but not bad. Note, I got bright yellow, as I'm sure the black would be hotter. Also I rarely ever stop for more than a minute.
There is one brand of the electronic vests that goes under the jacket. I assume it would be the coolest.

[tazio]

The handguards I've put on through the winter come to mind, Kev.
For the mighty GRiSO  I paid a small fortune for the carbon fiber ones.    ...all about the bling at the time!
https://ibb.co/4gYx2ZJ2
https://ibb.co/LGwxQbn

[Kev m]

The handguards I've put on through the winter come to mind, Kev.
For the mighty GRiSO  I paid a small fortune for the carbon fiber ones.    ...all about the bling at the time!
https://ibb.co/4gYx2ZJ2
https://ibb.co/LGwxQbn

Ahem ahem.... Carbon Fiber is not chrome!!! 

[tazio]

 "Chrome do-dads AND SUCH"
It's the "and such" that I always fall prey to...
Somewhat related, Progressive pays out $500 for Safety gear
But $3,000 for "accessories" !!
Speaks volumes to me.

[Kev m]

"Chrome do-dads AND SUCH"
It's the "and such" that I always fall prey to...
Somewhat related, Progressive pays out $500 for Safety gear
But $3,000 for "accessories" !!
Speaks volumes to me.

I have a policy ...I try to never make a cosmetic modification unless I have a functional excuse.

 

[jrt]

Dang, man...glad you are ok.  I'm also happy that the bear didn't come back after you smacked it.

[Bob Wegman]

Steve,  Glad you survived that encounter, and the vest did its job.  Headed to church now to say thanks.