Took the Tenere out dear hunting Sunday morning

[Abercrombie tenere]

It was a beautiful September Sunday morning for a nice Tenere ride to teach motorcycle school yesterday. The glorious morning was shattered when a whitetail doe appeared out of nowhere in front of my Tenere. Before I had a chance to roll off the throttle, or touch a brake, I hit and killed the doe at full highway speed.

The force of the impact bent the forks, smashing the oil filter flat, and locking up the front wheel temporarily. The deer was eviscerated on impact and thrown into the ditch. Things went black for me about this time and the bike went onto the right side sliding down the highway before getting back up on its wheels and rolling to a stop 199 yards from the initial impact site.

I regained consciousness unable to determine where I was at, although I was only 8 miles from home, and the landmarks looked familiar. I also was unable to remember where I was going and felt extremely intoxicated and confused. I was bleeding from two knuckles that had worn through my leather gloves and I had incredibly intense pain in my clavicle, scapula, and ribs area. I stood up and did a groggy self patient assessment and was amazed that all my extremities still worked. I walked to the Tenere that had rolled to a stop down the road finding it on its side in the ditch. I walked around the bike, shut off the key and started to walk the 200 yards to the deer. I think it was about this time I dug my phone out and called 911. I don't remember how I was able to tell the dispatcher where I was at but I knew him and was relieved to hear a familiar voice.

Shortly afterwards some of my fellow volunteer fire fighters, and first responders arrived from a neighboring small town and began caring for me and loaded me into an ambulance when it arrived. It was a bouncy painful 20 mile ride to Fargo strapped to the back board. The ER found no fractures, two scrapped knuckles that they put three stitches in, and a subdural hematoma, and a concussion. They held me till today for observation of the Subdural hematoma and more brain scans and I was released this afternoon.

Thanks to all the people who have encourage me to ride ATGATT.

 

[Abercrombie tenere]

Progressive insurance totaled my bike sight unseen after explaining that I had hit a deer at 55+ MPH.

What should I replace it with? KTM 1190, Triumph 1200 Explorer or another Tenere?

 

[surfinpig]

Tenere

 

[surfinpig]

Thank god your ok! I killed a deer on my victory on the blue ridge parkway last year. I was able to keep her up, and was riding alone as we'll at that point. Don't forget to have insurance replace your safety gear I.e. Helmet. Best wishes and happy tenere shopping!

 

[Bushyar15]

Wow! I'm glad you are basically okay. I knew a guy who hit a deer at speed which broke his leg badly. He required surgery and rehab…

Again, glad you are okay!

 

[True Grip]

Subdurals are serious business. Take it easy healing and be thankful it wasn't worse. I'd buy another Tenere, still love mine after almost 3 years together.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Thank you for preventing that one deer from breeding to make more forest rats.

Seriously, hope for a fast recovery for you and that the bike is fixable.

 

[trikepilot]

Wow. Glad you are OK. That is a big "WIN" for the use of ATGATT!!!

Amazing to think of the force it took to bend those forks and shove the front wheel into oil filter.

I live in the state with the highest incidence of deer/vehicle collisions (WV) and it is kinda scary to ride at dawn and dusk. Below are some interesting factoids.

https://www.statefarm.com/about-us/newsroom/2012/10/23/deer-vehicle-confrontations

 

[Andrew]

Glad there appears to be no new brain damage! I met a guy from Illinois (I think he's Fred here) who was head over heels in love with his new '14 ES. If it was me, today, that's what I would buy.

 

[BravoBravo]

Progressive insurance totaled my bike sight unseen after explaining that I had hit a deer at 55+ MPH.

What should I replace it with? KTM 1190, Triumph 1200 Explorer or another Tenere?

It is good that you were wearing ATGATT. The outcome for you would not have been nearly as positive without it. I am glad you came out of it with no broken bones. That in itself is a bit of a miracle.

As to your question, I have considered this myself. If my Super Ten were to be stolen or written off, I would buy another one without hesitation. This is the best all-round motorcycle I have owned in over 40 years of riding. ::008::

Best regards,

Bruce

 

[jwhuls]

Survival is a rush that I am glad you received.

buy another XT1200

 

[AVGeek]

Glad you're OK! I would also go for the 14 Tenere...and make sure to claim my safety gear as part of the accident coverage (I did this once before when I crashed my first FJR).

 

[fredz43]

Glad there appears to be no new brain damage! I met a guy from Illinois (I think he's Fred here) who was head over heels in love with his new '14 ES. If it was me, today, that's what I would buy.

First off, I'm glad to hear that you are ok after that crash. I totaled a Concours in 1993 when I hit a deer. At that time I literally went head over heals as I flew over the bike, landing face first on the tarmac. As Andrew mentioned, after putting 32,000 miles on my beloved 2012 S10, I now have a 14 ES and am figuratively head over heals with it. A refined version of a bike we all love.

 

[rem]

Glad you survived that one relatively unscathed, old son. Scary, isn't it? I hope you heal quickly, and hope to see posts of that new Tenere soon. All the best for a quick recovery. Let's be careful out there. R. ::020:: ::003::

 

[Abercrombie tenere]

Thank god your ok! I killed a deer on my victory on the blue ridge parkway last year. I was able to keep her up, and was riding alone as we'll at that point. Don't forget to have insurance replace your safety gear I.e. Helmet. Best wishes and happy tenere shopping!

Thanks for the safety gear reminder. Progressive provides $3000.00 accessory coverage and I didn't know that Safety gear was included in that. I had nearly $3200.00 of accessories on the bike and $1700.00 dollars of gear on. The best stuff that I own. Kilme Latitude coat and pants, Shoei Hornet DS helmet, and Sidi boots. I had to remove nearly $2000 dollars worth of accessories quickly this morning or give them to the insurance company. Man did it hurt turning wrenches removing accessories!

 

[trikepilot]

Wanna unbolt the two black right side front plastic fairings and sell them to me? ::013::

Insurance would not notice would they?

 

[coastie]

Scary to hear, and glad you are ok. Thanks for sharing. It's always a good reminder, to stay vigilant and you never know when something will just appear in front of you.

 

[Salmon Sam]

Ouch. Damn forest rats. You have lived through one of my biggest fears as a biker. There have been a couple of others on Teneres who have reported deer strikes on the forum. Heal well. Ride safe everyone.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Glad it sounds like you will be alright. That was a bad one.

I believe deer are the biggest threat I face when I ride. Sorry to hear one of them got you.

Heal quickly.

 

[rotortech71]

Glad you're OK! Another vote for a 2014 Tenere as a replacement.

I absolutely hate deer. I hit my first one last October, in the truck thankfully. She was just suddenly there, didn't even have time to take my foot off the gas pedal. After I finished cussing out the road vermin, I thought, "hmm, OK, at least I wasn't on the bike."

Everyone I dealt with to get the truck fixed, from the lady at claims, to the adjuster, to the body shop people, all reacted the same way. "Ahhhh, ohhhh noooo. Poor thing! Did you kill it?" I kept wanting to scream, "I HOPE SO!!!!!"