Sad Day :( Bent the forks on my FJR.

[Bluebullet]

As some may have noticed I posted that we just bought a Bunkhouse recently and was working on getting the bike ready to tow. 4 days after the purchase I hit a deer on the way to work and totaled the FJR.

This is all I had left the day of the crash.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2802/4536849166_a53c24c37e_b.jpg

The rest went to the yamaha dealer for the claims adjuster to look at. :( :( :(
A few days later the insurance company told me it was a total loss so I went and picked up my very sad bike.. So I took some photos for posterity.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2802/4546224228_161b57696f_b.jpg
Side shot so you can see the angle of the forks coming from the handlebars is not the same as the forks below.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4546227978_eb650ea1cc_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4545596365_03ce3a3b0c_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4546239130_a26cbb994c_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4545611567_6e64656ee3_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4545620493_be80efe850_b.jpg

Feeling a bit sad, she was a really great bike and Beth and I rode 92900 miles on her with a lot of fond memories.

[Black and Blue]

That is sad news:(, but the upside is you weren't hurt or at least you didn't say.P^

[Mr. Jeff]

Well, at least you were able to tell us about it!

[TrainBagger]

I hit a deer on the way to work

One more reason not to work!

[Mellow]

1st of all, glad you are okay... assuming you major injuries...

Doesn't take much to total a bike these days... what are your plans? Get a new one or buy the bike back and fix it up.

[Whosoever]

Oh NO! :eek: "FJR DOWN"! :dizzy1:That's not good...that a double bummer!
Thank the Lord you are Ok! Hopefully, there is a new one in your immediate future! Life's not good without a FJR!

[Jetfixer]

Glad to hear you're ok but sad to hear a fellow fjr rider crash. Is the bent forks from hitting the dear or a crash afterwards?

[Sharpie]

Ouch!

[denny]

At least you live in a town where there is a Great place to go have a Steak and a beer while you think it over and decide what to do next.

It's good news that you are able to give us the news.

[Ironheadziggy76]

Glad to hear you are okay. I'm with Joe I think I would fix it. Fork tubes aren't real expensive if you have no triple tree damage. I once ran a Honda V-65 Sabre through a split rail fence at 70 after crossing through a ditch and rebuilt it fairly cheap with salvage yard parts.

[tankereng]

Glad your ok. Were you going to tow that bunkhouse with the FJR?:eek:

[motomac]

Dang Nate, this is really bad news. As already said, glad you're OK. And talking with you at Moonshine, know how much you were looking forward to using the Bunkhouse. Best of luck in getting the repairs sorted out.

[motomac]

Glad your ok. Were you going to tow that bunkhouse with the FJR?:eek:

Yes, he and Beth were really excited about getting it ready to go. Carole actually brokered the deal at the chili supper at Moonshine!!! They had come out to the Farm and checked out our Bunkhouse and rode the Wing.

[Bluebullet]

OK now for the rest of the story:

I bought another 05 FJR with 5600 miles on it. I had 92900 on my first one that I bought new. The new bike was in Los Angeles so I bought a one way ticket and rode it back to Indy. I stopped one night in Payson, AZ at my Aunt and Uncle's place. The next day I completed a BBG from Payson to North Salem. Despite really bad weather (snowstorm in the AZ/NM mountains and thunderstorms in IL) I made the 1601 miles in 23hrs 45min. I bought the bent fork feej back from the ins. co. for 685$ and put all my stuff on my newer bike. I added a unigo hitch and had a custom bar made at Mooresville welding to attach the ball.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3343/4598659922_915b4efe97_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1326/4598656762_af62d22682_b.jpg

As you can see I also got the plug from Bunkhouse and wired that in.

Now it is one week after I finished the BBG and I have everything ready so we took off from Indy for our first ride ever pulling a trailer on down to Fort Brag, NC to see our daughter, Bekah. The first day was 35 mph wind gusting to 50 and a direct crosswind for us all the way down I74 and the AA highway in KY. I guess I just wanted to learn to tow the hard way. We stopped at a KOA just outside of Greyson, KY and found out that a Bunkhouse will weather a massive frog strangling rain whipping sideways kind of thunderstorm and not leak even a drop. The next day we rode 9 hours to Fort Bragg and stayed at Heritage CG just outside of Carthage, NC. It was a really nice place. Saw Bekah for a bit more the next day and rode back to Wytheville, VA and almost froze in the mtns at Deer Trail Park CG. Our 1500 btu electric space heater could not keep it warm when it was 31 deg outside. We then made the final run home the next day and got into our garage just before the rain hit here in North Salem. The new bike and Bunkhouse had performed without a hitch. (oh wait...thats what I just bolted on the bike ain't it)

[Bluebullet]

Yes, he and Beth were really excited about getting it ready to go. Carole actually brokered the deal at the chili supper at Moonshine!!! They had come out to the Farm and checked out our Bunkhouse and rode the Wing.

Thanks for the advice on the unigo hitch and making sure the ball for the trailer was at axle level on the FJR. As you can see from the pics it all worked out. It pulls right on down the road nice and smooth. Took a few tries to get the trailer brakes set just right but they are dialed in now. See ya next Moonshine if not sooner on the road.

Nate

PS ...and yes we almost bought a Wing instead.

[Bluebullet]

Glad to hear you are okay. I'm with Joe I think I would fix it. Fork tubes aren't real expensive if you have no triple tree damage. I once ran a Honda V-65 Sabre through a split rail fence at 70 after crossing through a ditch and rebuilt it fairly cheap with salvage yard parts.

Yes I plan to fix it. I have quite a few of the parts already and the forks are only 1800$ new.

[tankereng]

Yes, he and Beth were really excited about getting it ready to go. Carole actually brokered the deal at the chili supper at Moonshine!!! They had come out to the Farm and checked out our Bunkhouse and rode the Wing.

I rember that deal going on...I think Carol was just as excited knowing that someone else would be enjoying a bunkhouse.....I need to find one....cheap....:p