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About 10.30 this morning I was headed east on West Coast Rd. Just carving along at about 90kp through the many twisties. Not really fast, just a pleasant hustle. Well out of no where a deer decided to leap onto the road directly in front. One instant clear road, next instant blocked road. I remember having enough time or instinct to brace myself, square the bike and roll off the throttle. That's all there was time for, then IMPACT! It happened so fast yet it was like slow motion. I can remember the front forks bottoming out, the deer folding back around the front of the bike and Ratbyk and I were air born. Well when the front tire came back to earth it must have been twisted a bit because I then went into a massive tank slapper. Instinct and/or experience allowed me to control it. By now I'm down to likely 60kp but on the gravel shoulder. Well, rode that out too and finally just before stopping I put the brakes on for the first time.
Whooo! Got off, the front forks were twisted a bit. Right side signal and driving light bent back and up, right side crash guard was bent back. Forks didn't appear bent but were twisted in the triple clamps and front fender was bent down into the tire. Forks would bounce up and down. Well, lets road test. Rode up and down the road gingerly for a bit. Bike wanted to snake slightly at low speed and also would not hold a line going through turns left or right. It wanted to weave around a bit but was rideable. In fact the faster I went the straighter it would ride. Only low speed was uncomfortable.
Hell, lets get on with my errands for the morning which I did.
This afternoon put bike on rear stand. Jack under engine and unloaded the front tire. Loosened front axle, front fender, fork brace, all clamps on the triple tree. Clamped the front tire/wheel between my legs, grabbed the handle bars and gave a few wiggles and twists and the handle bars straightened out. Eye balled everything from every angle I could think of and all looked good. Started at the top triple tree clamps and torque to spec. Then lower triple tree, front fender, front axle and then the fork brace.
Bent the signal and driving lights back into line, cleaned the deer poo I found out between the cooling fins on the cylinder head. Went for road test. Yahoo! Felt just like it should. Polished up some of the scuff marks. straightened the front fender.
I was lucky lucky lucky.
Ken/Sooke
78E Ratbyk
Whooo! Got off, the front forks were twisted a bit. Right side signal and driving light bent back and up, right side crash guard was bent back. Forks didn't appear bent but were twisted in the triple clamps and front fender was bent down into the tire. Forks would bounce up and down. Well, lets road test. Rode up and down the road gingerly for a bit. Bike wanted to snake slightly at low speed and also would not hold a line going through turns left or right. It wanted to weave around a bit but was rideable. In fact the faster I went the straighter it would ride. Only low speed was uncomfortable.
Hell, lets get on with my errands for the morning which I did.
This afternoon put bike on rear stand. Jack under engine and unloaded the front tire. Loosened front axle, front fender, fork brace, all clamps on the triple tree. Clamped the front tire/wheel between my legs, grabbed the handle bars and gave a few wiggles and twists and the handle bars straightened out. Eye balled everything from every angle I could think of and all looked good. Started at the top triple tree clamps and torque to spec. Then lower triple tree, front fender, front axle and then the fork brace.
Bent the signal and driving lights back into line, cleaned the deer poo I found out between the cooling fins on the cylinder head. Went for road test. Yahoo! Felt just like it should. Polished up some of the scuff marks. straightened the front fender.
I was lucky lucky lucky.
Ken/Sooke
78E Ratbyk
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