Bike + Deer = TRASHED

[Road-Dog]

Was out today enjoying my bike nearing 3,000 miles of endless fun (only bought it new a few months ago) when it all ended. Traveling around 35 MPH Bambi jumped out and wanted to ride my bike. I managed to pull over safely after impact and Bambi jumped off, stood there contemplating why a dumb biker hit her and ran off. I cant believe that I picked up a hitchhiker knowing the risks you take. I rode the bike home and realized the front is smashed but the entire bike bodywork needs to be adjusted or replaced. Tomorrow I'll trailer the bike to my Honda dealer to find out the damages. Any chance all the plastic shell only costs $5.00?.......lol. I'm making light of this because I was not injured, except my pride.

[Tbone4855]

Buddy I'm glad, as we all are, that you are ok. We police officers call that a hit and run ....lol. ...wish I could've govern her the ticket. Glad you are ok though.

[Mel46]

I just posted on another thread that Pennsylvania is beautiful riding country except for the deer. My sister in law has lost more cars to deer crashes than any other way. It seems like they hit a deer a least once a year there. My nephew was out on his bike and had a small animal run into him right after he avoided a deer. Crazy animals. If they put up a Deer Crossing sign, the deer should follow the rules and only cross there!

[davenowherejones]

I had Bambi's big sister run along side my DR650 one day. I could have jumped on her back but that would have wrecked the DR650.

I had to swerve around a deer sleeping in the middle of the road recently. Another time someone put a blanket over the deer to make it look like it was sleeping.

But don't any of YOU people look around you when you ride. I have passed many deer with no problems.

We shoot deer so many ours are more afraid.

What you really don't want to hit are moose. Think big horse with big antlers. I had one walking along side the Coquihalla highway one day.

I put up my tent alongside a moose trail one day. Big mistake. They look even bigger from a sleeping bag.

[davenowherejones]

Buddy I'm glad, as we all are, that you are ok. We police officers call that a hit and run ....lol. ...wish I could've govern her the ticket. Glad you are ok though.

Plastics are expensive but broken bones cost a great deal more. I have had a few broken bones and it is no fun at all.

My 2014 Forza was dropped by the previous owner. Our provincial insurance, ICBC, wrote off a practically brand new Forza just because of the plastics. A wrecker bought it, another guy rebuilt it and then I bought it with 1500 km on the clock. Half of that was done by the wrecker and his pals.

I have had a few problems with the re-built bike but most of them seem to be poor engineering on Honda's side. Too many snap together parts, tabs in slots, spring loaded fasteners for body panels, cheap plastic rivets and poor quality screws that go into plastic. I now have 22,000 km on the odometer.

My fractured hip still hurts 20 years later but scooters are replaceable.

[Road-Dog]

I just called my Honda dealer and was told I am on a 2-3 week wait because its "prime" season. 2-3 weeks just to wait till they give me an estimate and order the parts. My summer fun is over before it even began....damn deer!

[Mel46]

You COULD...note that you may have the option but I am not sure of your particular setup with your insurance company...get a check from them, order the parts from some place such as Bikebandit.com or partzilla.com, and put the bike back together yourself. Of course, you may not have the confidence to do that either. When we had our accident I had the insurance company give me a check for the repairs and I put them back together myself. The cost was a fraction of what they paid me because labor is so high. So, learning how to work on your bike could save you a lot 9f money in the end.

[montliz44]

Road-Dog, I wouldn't wait on the dealer for this repair. You can do this one yourself. All you need is the parts, and these can be had in a few days from several different sources. Grab a Honda Service manual and git 'er done. You'll be back on the road in no time.

Question: You didn't talk about this in your post, though you did say you rode home -- Is your front end straight? The forks don't appear to be bent, and you didn't say you noticed anything wrong, handling-wise, on the way home, so you're probably OK there. Just asking...

Johnny

[Pete07bikes]

Glad you're OK Road-Dog, as peep's have said it could have been much worse - are you full comprehensively insured? If so I would request a hire bike - the cost of this will make your insurer pull there finger out and get repairs underway. If it is a write-off try buying it back and 'doing it yourself' as others have suggested.

Good luck fellow

[Road-Dog]

Hello everyone and thanks for the feedback. I just dropped off my Forza at Honda who told me I would get an estimate in 1-1/2 to 2 weeks because he is booked. My bike is fully insured minus a $500. deductible. My attitude is that if the repairs are less than $2,000 I'll just pay it and forget the insurance to save my license an accident claim. If they total the bike then I'll call my insurance and bend over. My ride after the accident getting the bike home was like I was never in an accident so I'm hoping the frame/forks are ok. In the meantime I'll look up parts/costs and see where I stand should I wish to save a few bucks and do it myself, I'm very handy in that department. While at the Honda dealer a new Forza was sitting there saying my name ever so softly so I ran out before I rode it out.....lol. All in all I am just happy I didn't end up injured or molested by bambi.



June 1st and I'm bikeless, my ex-wife would be laughing.

[Azrof]

I just called my Honda dealer and was told I am on a 2-3 week wait because its "prime" season. 2-3 weeks just to wait till they give me an estimate and order the parts. My summer fun is over before it even began....damn deer!

gland youre ok.. lucky of course....THE POLITICIAN ARE NOW IN CONTROL OF THE DEER POPULATION,,, THEY COULD CHANGE THE POP IF THEY WANTED THAT.. IM RASING HELL IN MY STATE BY NOT MUCH HELP

[Mel46]

I called the deer council. That's the group of deer who have the one ring to rule them all. They said that there are some deer that are outside of their rule...outlaw deer. They don't raise their young to obey the rules. That one that hit you was one of those types. They are going to talk to it, to try to let it see the error of its ways. However, don't be surprised if you meet up with it again. As I understand it, that one is a little retarded and likes to play in traffic. Sorry Road-dog, I tried.

[Road-Dog]

Honda just called me with a price tag for parts and labor at $975.00. I asked them to also install a new rear tire and they want an extra $220.00. I gave them the green light and should have my bike back in less then two weeks. I only had 2700 miles on the rear tire but it was looking "cupped" so I figured why not just do all this in one shot. $1192.55 and I'll be back on the road. I thought their price was fair considering the parts were itemized (online parts warehouses) at roughly $600.00 doing it myself WITHOUT the rear tire....Thoughts?

[homie]

WOW! third crash this month. You have skills and a guardian Angel. Certainly you deserve a metal of some sort for keeping your cool whilst a deer jumped on. Nerves of steel is what Chief says.

Join the prestigious lucky ones ones below and I hope that deer appreciates the casual speed you were cruising because if it were me I would have destroyed her and my scoot.

Give em a hug Chief

[davenowherejones]

In the last week I have passed at least a dozen different deer. No Honda Forza 300 parts were hurt in any way.

I think the American deer must all be on drugs. They found the air dropped cocaine.

[davenowherejones]

Honda just called me with a price tag for parts and labor at $975.00. I asked them to also install a new rear tire and they want an extra $220.00. I gave them the green light and should have my bike back in less then two weeks. I only had 2700 miles on the rear tire but it was looking "cupped" so I figured why not just do all this in one shot. $1192.55 and I'll be back on the road. I thought their price was fair considering the parts were itemized (online parts warehouses) at roughly $600.00 doing it myself WITHOUT the rear tire....Thoughts?

I had an experienced mechanic do the brake recall on my 2014 Forza. My Forza was crashed by the previous owner. The plastics were repaired and re-installed by someone. It took all day for my frustrated mechanic to take the plastics off and put them back on. I smelt fresh epoxy? when I picked up the bike. Several important body screws were missing. Honda paid the dealer 2 hours to do work that took all day. Get your quote in writing.

[Road-Dog]

davenowherejones

Maybe you are correct and I might be taken to the cleaners. I'm relying on "brand reputation" in that Honda will do a professional job but who knows. He stated he would "order" the parts and at no time did he say "repair" the plastics. Like all repair jobs even on cars the job done is never better than new so I'm hoping. I'll post when the bike is picked up and inspected.

[Road-Dog]

I received my Forza back from Honda a few days ago and ran her for a few hundred miles before posting this opinion. My bike looks and functions like new. I could not find a single thing to complain about. I do not know exactly what they replaced nor do I know if anything was "glued" because I'm not about to disassemble my bike to figure it out, likewise the bill is also vague. I'm feeling VERY satisfied with the Honda shop and would recommend Honda to anyone as a result. Should my opinion change in the future from this problem or another I'll post another reply. Thanks.

[kramnala58]

Glad to hear everything has worked out. I guess escaping the accident without an injury or not having the bike damaged worse than it was, is the best thing to be thankful for.