Tried to avoid deer, hit furniture instead

[Catchina]

I was riding out to Avon from Rochester NY a couple of Saturdays ago on rt 390 when I noticed a car with a small trailer hauling a bunch of furniture and asorted junk. It was one lane over and about 5 car lengths ahead of me. Traffic was moving at 60 mph. All of a sudden a wooden dresser with drawers flies off the trailer and starts sliding into my lane. I made an emergency swerve to the left and avoided hitting it head on. It struck the right side of the bike and exploded into pieces. The bike wobbled but I regained control and was able to cut across two lanes and stop safely about a quarter mile further. A car stopped next to me, the driver said she had run over a metal milk crate which also fell off that trailer. She had been behind me and saw me hit the dresser. Looking back up the road we saw that the owner of the car with the trailer had pulled over, we watched as he walked out onto 390 between cars and pulled several items (including the remains of the dresser) to the side of the road so no one else would hit them.

By this time the police was on the way, I had immediately called 911. Back up the road we saw the driver get in his car and start towards us. Not knowing if he was going to stop I had my phone ready to take a picture and hopefully capture the license plate number. He did stop. You can imagine the choice words I had for him as he got out of his car. I could easily have gone down and likely been run over by cars from behind. Turns out this was an elderly person and he was very very sorry, he kept apologizing and couldn't believe the items were not secure in his trailer and was most thankful that nobody was hurt. The cops came and I got a full police report. The car that ran over the milk crate was leaking radiator fluid.

My bike is still drivable, it will need a new front fender and right side air foil and anything else the shop finds that scraped the right side, they are inspecting it today. There were wood splinters jammed up between the front suspension wishbone connector and the cylinder. I have a claim filed against the guy's insurance.

I think the r1200r saved me for at least three reasons. First its handling allowed me to make a hard left swerve at 60 mph, no way I could have done that on my Virago. Second the bike's low center of gravity and overall stability allowed me to regain control after a very hard hit. Third my right leg was protected by the cylinder, had that happened on a V-twin the leg would have hit.

The irony is that I normally take the back roads but on that day because there are so many deer out I decided to take 390....little did I know I would be trading a deer for a wooden dresser.

Ride safe!

[dbrick]

A good outcome, Catchina.

I had a similar experience last month on I80 E/B near Rapid City SD. All of a sudden the cars in front of me jinked, and there was a 32-gallon plastic garbage can rolling into my lane. Right under the front wheel: thump/buzz/thump, all in maybe half a second. More aural than physical, bike not dynamically upset or damaged at all. The can was softer than your dresser.

My take-away was: I was riding too close to the cars ahead, and didn't have time and space to dodge.

[ammolab]

My brother wrecked his car when oil field equipment fell off of a flatbed truck. The truck was ticketed for "failure to secure his load", but the Cop and eventually the truck's insurance company said:

"If you run into something that falls off a vehicle you were following too close".. My brother's insurance fixed his car.

I see your case is different if the load came from another lane of traffic. Good luck in recovering damages.

[fpgirard]

I fear deer and would have made the same choice. Who knew flying furniture would be just as dangerous. Glad to see you're okay.

pas

[michael Tobias]

lucky and good reactions...glad you are ok. road trash is not much fun...I definately agree that the r12r helped in that situation. I had one several years ago on an old K bike and I know for sure had that been my roadking I would not be here typing this. I think the r12r handles way better than the old K1200 did.

[BLAIR1200R]

Glad your avoidance maneuver worked... good to hear you didn't have a get off.

[Catchina]

The estimate came to just over $1,600, insurance is covering it and it will take several weeks mostly waiting for the parts to come in from Germany. At least the timing is good - the weather is turning bad and I wouldn't be out riding much anyway.

[nylife]

glad all worked out and you are safe

[fastdogs2]

That must have been one scary moment for you. Glad to hear you are OK and the bike can be repaired.

[Bigg-Brother]

I'm glad you are OK - this could end much different...

My story from several years ago riding CBR600F3 - following a truck and large piece of truck tire ("alligator") flew about 5 - 10 inches over my helmet... Since then I do keep my distance and almost never follow a truck closer then 50+ yards.

[angellr]

I'm glad you are OK - this could end much different...

My story from several years ago riding CBR600F3 - following a truck and large piece of truck tire ("alligator") flew about 5 - 10 inches over my helmet... Since then I do keep my distance and almost never follow a truck closer then 50+ yards.

I was 3 lanes over and almost parallel with a truck that had a major blowout ... heard bits and pieces of tire fly past my helmet and had a few hit me on the shoulder. Had I been about another inch back, it would have been a disaster. I get up/around trucks immediately even if I need to goose the speed to do so.