Sudden end to a vacation

[Fatcycledaddy]

I installed new rotors, pads, rear tire, checked everything out on the bike, and the camper trailer and headed out. Wife and I put the bike and trailer on the Badger car ferry going from Ludington MI to Manitowoc WI and enjoyed the 4 hour trip over. We unloaded the bike and were headed to Deadwood for the three wheel rally, enjoying the back roads of WI.

Just a few hours into our ride a crazed deer decided to run up a bank and into our path, we were cruising about 62mph, I hit the brakes as hard as I could, the trailer has brakes too and left some black marks, the brakes on the bike worked great, but we still made hard contact killing the dear. I pulled the bike off of the road and shut it off and got off to take a look at the damage.

Both mirrors gone, headlights and fog lights broken, bezel around lights broken, front shoved back about 1-1 1/2", switch panel on dash popped out, both speaker panels popped out, vent on right side missing, cant open glove box that i just got working right, no body line gaps on the right side are tight, we are talking 3/4" gaps, and one left front tire pushed back 3/4" farther than the right one. One small bruise on my arm where a mirror hit me(I think) and one small bruise on my wife's leg.

If this would have been a 2 wheeler, we might mot be here, but at the least would have spent some time sliding down the road. I LOVE MY SPYDER!!

I hope that my riding for the summer is not over because of waiting for repairs.

I want something to ride!!

[allcd88]

Glad you are OK, the Spyder can be repaired or replaced.

[larryd]

GLAD EVERYONE IS OK...Bike can be fixed or replaced...I live in deer country and they are my BIGGEST fear...larryd

[ARtraveler]

Glad to hear that you survived the crash with the deer. Sorry to hear that the Spyder was damaged.

The good thing. Spyders can be fixed or replaced.

Yes, we are hoping that the repair process will go fast for you.

We are also back in deer country and see them a lot on our drives.

Please keep us posted.

[Grandpot]

Hope you heal soon. After awhile when things calm down, you'll have a great story to tell.

[Tec35]

Glad you are OK, the Spyder can be repaired or replaced.

[Lew L]

Thank goodness that you're both OK. The can be fixed. I also live in deer country and have had close calls.

Lew L

[Ex-Rocket]

Glad you both are ok but I think I would get rid of that Spyder cause it attracts deer.

[Yabbadabbadoo]

Very happy that you're relatively unscathed! Get the Spyder declared totaled and buy a new one asap! I did that with a crashed snowmobile and was riding a new one in a few days...

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Very happy that you're relatively unscathed! Get the Spyder declared totaled and buy a new one asap! I did that with a crashed snowmobile and was riding a new one in a few days...

... it sounds like an expensive fix, and there is no guarantee they will get it right ..... also glad no serious injuries ...... Mike

[Mikey]

It's just nuts and bolts, the good thing is that you are OK!!! Sorry to hear your trip got cut short! Good Luck and get her back on the road, or replace her!!

[gkamer]

Thankfully you both escaped pretty much unscathed. Do you think your insurance will just total the bike?

[gkamer]

Very happy that you're relatively unscathed! Get the Spyder declared totaled and buy a new one asap! I did that with a crashed snowmobile and was riding a new one in a few days...

I was thinking along the same lines. Waiting on parts to make repairs, you're pretty much out the rest of the season.

[sandeejs]

Good reactions! The Spyder has great brakes, but you have to use them. Glad you are both okay. Hope you are back to ryding soon.
~Sandee~

[johnv50]

Glad to hear that you are both ok, bike can be repaired or replaced, Best of luck

johnv

[JayBros]

Consider yourselves very fortunate; things could have gone seriously south. Hope the bruises heal quickly.

[bmccaffrey]

glad everyone is ok...bike can be fixed or replaced...i live in deer country and they are my biggest fear...larryd

yep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CopperSpyder]

Glad to hear you and the wife were not hurt bad. I hope you are both able to ride again soon, Stay safe, be safe.

[Fatcycledaddy]

Thankfully you both escaped pretty much unscathed. Do you think your insurance will just total the bike?

At this point I have mixed emotions. This one is paid for and I like no payments, but like Blueknight says, who knows if they will get it right!!

[Fatcycledaddy]

Does anyone have any idea what percentage of value repairs would have to hit for it to be totaled?
If the frame is a little out of wack do they total it, or can the frame be repaired?
I truthfully don't know if I would want them to fix a frame.

[Ex-Rocket]

If the frame is bent they should total the bike. I sure wouldn't trust it being repaired correctly.

[Navydad]

If the frame is tweaked they should total it. Even if the frame isn't tweaked the price of the plastics and other items will be very expensive. My lunch money says they will total it.

[EdMat]

Fatcycledaddy, I hope the ending with the RTL works out as well as the injuries suffered in the accident. I was thinking when I read this this afternoon that it could have been far worse, very easily.

I bet they total it.

[WisconsinDavid]

Thankful you both are okay. As others have said, with that much damage and stuff pushed around... I would press insurance to total it and get a new/different spyder. There is no guarantee it can be made right again... and most with that much damage moving things out of place will never be right. I wouldn't trust it if they repaired it.

[rugercharger]

hi glad you both are ok. deer are the most unpredictable. out from the side of the road before you know it. as far as your bike, the insurance company will total a bike if any structure is bent. unlike a vehicle which will be put on a frame machine and repaired.