Crash

[rudyr]

One less deer on these Ar. roads. Happened last Tuesday 6:30 am, on the way to VA, never saw it tell it was in front of my front wheel(Littel burger DOA) 1/2 day in emergency room 2 days ICU & I morning in hospital . I can’t get straight answer for the Insurance co.they said maybe next wed.  they or saying my be totaled. And Sturgis in 3 wk.. I’ve got other Harleys & moto Guzz’s.  Just a few crack ribbes , extreme road rash on an arm & may lung reiflatedare so it’s as good as it for 82 years.  Rewrapping arm every day week or so be ready to.Rudy

[Tkelly]

Sorry to hear it Rudy,take it easy and get well soon.

[leroysch]

Sorry to hear this. I'll drink tonight to your speedy recovery!

[Mwether]

That sounds terrible, Rudy!

You're a tough dude to come out the other side of that at eighty-two!

Here's to getting well soon! 

[Shorty]

You're as tough as a boot, Rudy. Heal well and soon, amigo.

[John A]

That’s rough, Rudy. Best wishes for recovery.

[Stretch]

What Shorty said.

Hope you're back in the saddle right soon! 

                             -Stretch

[elrealistico]

Sending healing energy your way! My goal is just be  above ground at 82!

[Motormike]

82 years?  Did I read that right?  I just hope I'm still around/riding at 82!  Speedy recovery (if anything can be called speedy at that age! )

[Vagrant]

Glad you survived. Many don't. Having just been through the "Bear hunt" with the V85 I know how instantaneous it happens. If the ribs hurt horribly, ask the Dr. for a fentanyl patch. That's what I had when I wound up with eleven broken ribs after the Alaska crash 15 years ago.

[DoubleGuzzi]

..extreme road rash on an arm ..

Through an armoured m/c jacket?
I wish you a speedy recovery.

Y'all be careful out there!

[guzzisteve]

Heal up & continue riding. I've hit at least 6 deer all in the Jeep.

[DoubleGuzzi]

.. I've hit at least 6 deer all in the Jeep.

A fan of Carmageddon?

More seriously, as we get older reaction times increase, so additional environmental awareness is a good mantra. Easy to forget and lapse into complacency though, especially through age. Guilty, your honour.

[jcctx]

WOW!, I am 82 also; but vision issues took me off the bikes several yrs. back.

GWS!!

[Moparnut72]

I guess I am still a young'un, I only turned 80 a little over a month ago. Unfortunately I am laid up a bit longer than Rudy. Due to unfortunate circumstances I dropped my bike last week in some sand. I now have a broken ankle and will probably be out of action for six weeks. The joys of getting old. Get well Rudy.
kk

[PJPR01]

Rest up Rudy...hope you're feeling better soon! 

[DoubleGuzzi]

.. I dropped my bike last week in some sand.

You ain't no spring chicken: stick to asphalt!
 

[brider]

  to a man more worried about upcoming Sturgis after a crash like that than "what ifs?" at 82! Get well soon & thank your lucky stars!

[Tkelly]

Hitting deer has nothing to do with reaction time whatever your age.They bolt out of the ditch,woods,wherever,trying to beat the rider at full speed.Think of a car running a red light at high speed before it hits a bike with the right of way.

[moto]

Hitting deer has nothing to do with reaction time whatever your age.They bolt out of the ditch,woods,wherever,trying to beat the rider at full speed.Think of a car running a red light at high speed before it hits a bike with the right of way.

The top speed of a deer is said to be between 35 and 40 mph, say 16 m/s. The reaction speed for pressing a brake pedal is said to be 0.7 seconds. So a deer can travel 11 m or 37 feet before you can react. If you are within that distance from the tree line you are toast.

But if you are further away, you have some chance. The best bet may be to brake as hard as you can because dear don't really seem to plan where they are going and can as easily pass behind you as in front. By braking as hard as you can, you will reduce your own kinetic energy contribution to any impact that will quickly reduce your speed to zero. I reckon.

(Data obtained by idly querying Siri.)

I hope you heal well and quickly, Rudy.

[DoubleGuzzi]

Hitting deer has nothing to do with reaction time whatever your age.

Keep on thinking that; you'll learn, or not. Did someone mention situational awareness?
Example 1: Certain times of the day have a higher risk of deer leaping out from adjacent woods.
Example 2: Free roaming sheep will hug roadside walls, right up to the moment you approach within 10m/33ft/
In short be prepared - it saves lives.

[Tkelly]

How many deer are hit by vehicles in the UK every year?Sheep are not the same.

[DoubleGuzzi]

How many deer are hit by vehicles in the UK every year?Sheep are not the same.

LMGTFY:

In the UK, it's estimated that between 40,000 and 74,000 deer are killed or injured in collisions with vehicles each year. The British Deer Society says these collisions are a major cause of mortality for wild deer populations and also lead to significant damage to vehicles and injuries to humans.

While it's difficult to pinpoint an exact annual number, it's estimated that hundreds of sheep are killed by vehicles in the UK each year. Many of these deaths go unreported, meaning the actual number is likely higher than what is recorded.

Deer are tall & smooth haired, sheep are stocky & wooly.

[Why are some people naturally argumentative? /rhetorical ]

/end of my comments.

[Tkelly]

I guess times have changed since the gentry kept all the game locked up for themselves.

[jrt]

Heal up quickly, Rudy! 

[SmithSwede]

Sorry to hear that Rudy.  Heal up.

Arkansas has a “keep roadkill” law.  Were you able to bag and tag your attacker?

[kballowe]

Get well soon Rudy !

[rudyr]

I’m healing every day, but I Hurt. No pain pills for me but I take one for my arm at nite so I sleep some. That haven’t told me about my bike yet. I did look at it, not to bad but Harly customer paint, not available any more.  Tank & saddle bay $ 3000 + if they could get. I that the problem why they or not telling any thing. Custom paint $5000.+. Boy it was nice, but not now. Reaction time Idid look down it was their. Rudy

[Offcamber1]

Bummer, but glad you are mending. 

As for reaction times, when I hit one in 2007 I was rounding a gentle sweeping left hand turn with a corn field with 8ft high corn.  Unfortunately, the farmers here will plant as close to the road as they can get away with, which in this case was 6 or 7 feet, so the turn was essentially blind.  One second I was having a leisurely ride, the next I was gasping for air on the ground.  All I saw in between was a huge brown eyeball going past my fairing.

Point is, despite good gear, reasonable speed, great reaction times, the situation was only avoidable if I wasn't on that particular road at that particular moment.  I no longer ride if I don't have good field of vision so though that is one of my favorite relaxing rides I avoid it from June until harvest.  Lesson learned the hard way...Clavical, Scapula, top three ribs.

[DoubleGuzzi]

...Clavical, Scapula, top three ribs.

Ouch!
Yup, we can improve our chances for a near miss but sometimes it's just impossible.
I once woke up in an ambulance 'cos some spotty toe rag of a kid decided to play chicken with traffic - witnesses said that I had no chance to react. Bike was nearly totalled, the brat got a broken leg for a game reward and I got away with very minor injuries; fortunately I wasn't going fast at the time (<40mph). That was many moons ago and my Z250 was never quite the same after that.