Terrible news about a forum member...

A rider in Florida prays for his family.

Camshaft none of this is your fault and you cant let that idea take root in your mind.

 

I got a stern talking-to from his wife; she threatened to kick my ass if I let it get to me.

Explaining to his mom who I was was pretty humbling. She paused for a minute, then gave me a hug. "He was going to get one regardless. He loved that bike".

I'm not going to dwell on my part of this any longer. The situation sucks, but I wasn't responsible.

In the meantime, my barely street legal Honda XR400 will sit in the garage for a few more days. I'll take it out again before it gets too chilly, but it's not hurting anything taking a little break right now.

 

From Doc's profile page:

"Purchased on 4/21/11 16,225 Miles when I bought it
Current miles 22,222 (5,997 are mine)(updated mileage on 08-18-11)"

He averaged 1500 miles/month in the first four months. So that rear tire may have had around 8000 miles.


I didn't know Doc outside of here, but this has remained on my mind these past few days. I prayed that his loved ones will get through this, but I didn't think much about whoever was in the car. Apparently no one else was physically hurt, thank God. But that poor lady; I wonder what she saw and how she must be feeling? I've wrecked cars, but never been involved with (or witnessed) an injury/fatality accident and I hope I never do. Some good can come from this if we ALWAYS REMEMBER how blessed we are to be able to do what we do and how easily things can change.

 

DAMN... RIP DOC! WOW, I'd don't know what to say.... my thoughts are with his family.

What a tragedy! I feel like I just met him, virtually. I just sold him some mirrors last week! Here I am, an ignorant fool, checking my PMs to be sure he received them... damn it!

 

FFFFFUUU.....I should have rode with him more. I could have pointed this out...

Should have adjusted those valves...

His wife tried to talk to the lady...She's so traumatized, no one knows what to do.

 

My condolences go out to everyone that knew him on the site, and prelube and skyhawk.

I had a bit of a kinship with him here b/c we had the same bike, bought same month, and we were the same age, and he got the same bags from amazon. Both of us on the road for the first time, except I grew up on trail bikes - don't know his history.

Shakes me up but I'll be measuring my valves this weekend, and drink a beer to Doc.

 

The day he rode the bike home from my house was the first time he had ever ridden a bike, besides the training class.

His first ride was an hour long, down a long dirt road covered with loose gravel, then into the sun, then down a stretch of road covered with speeders and cops, then down a road that is narrow and overcrowded because it's a shortcut, then onto the interstate during a reasonably busy time, then right smack onto Broad Street in Richmond, VA (eternally busy), then into a subdivision, over a curb, and onto the patio of his apartment.

I figured for a first ride, he'd done pretty well.

Damn it.

 

I still remember my MSF instructor telling the class that if you go too fast into the corner you better be damn sure there's nothing in the other lane.

I remember that every time I approach a corner I can't see through and I took my class about 5 years ago now.

 

So sorry to hear about this untimely loss of life. One of my best friends lost her 5 year old son this last May in an accident at home. Ronnie was like a grandchild to me and I miss him every day. All you can do is be there when the grieving person(s) need you. Guilt? Yeah it's part of the grieving process. If only I hadn't sold him the bike..... If only I had been there I might have been able to establish an airway......

Eventually the guilt will lessen. Look forward to the day.

"Life is short. Shorter for some than others". Augustus McCrae, Lonesome Dove.

 

You should have done just what you did camshaft....sold him the bike and remained his friend, the rest was up to Doc.

He was very much into his bike, I'm sure he knew the tire was 'iffy'....probably was trying to minimize his lean angle by going wide into the turn and the lady was there!

It's just a lousy set of circumstances that had a tragic outcome....absolutely nothing that anyone could have done to change this.

 

The weather was lousy and I nearly called the ride off. I hit rain on the way to meet them, and we hit a good rain later in the ride. We hit sprinkles several times. While the road was not wet, it was damp, and I remember Daniels back tire looking shiny from being wet, just before we seperated. He was riding in front of me, and I fell way back because I felt it may be slippery. Damp roads can be worse than wet roads because the contaminants don't get washed off.
Don't beat yourself up Camshaft. We are all adults here. He did recognise his tires were down as he was looking at my new Dunlops and we talked about the good deal with the pricing here on the message board. I did not get 5000 miles out of my last set of Metzlers, so I went with a softer stickier tire (the Dunlop) as they are only good for 5000 miles or less. It is what it is. Do what you can to protect yourself. I normally wear a flourescent orange vest too, but I did't wear it on Sunday as I didn't think we would be in much traffic. Ride safe!

 

Skyhawk....Was someone else riding with him at the time of the accident, or did everyone part ways at the same time?

 

Sorry to hear about Doc. I have read his posts and I know he was truely into his bike and friends with ,any people here. My thoughts are with his family. RIP Doc you will be missed. My rear pegs will be down this weekend.

MN

 

There was 3 of us intially, I rode with them until we got to the fork in the road and it was a left turn for me to go home. Doc and Daniel went to the right. Later those two split off to go seperate ways. As I understand it, he was alone when the accident occurred. I learned of it here on the internet.
May God Bless him.

 

I have been thinking about this all day. It's real out there man. My Daddy died really similar. It happens in a split second.

 

Yeah, he was alone.

Funeral was yesterday. Doc had a lot of friends, a lot of them musicians. Heard a lot of wild stories. The "Time Warp" from Rocky Horror Picture Show was danced to during the service. AC/DC was playing in the background.

"He died happy" was the common theme. Under the circumstances, i guess that's about the best you can hope for.

Anyway, check your tires, your brakes, your lights, your state of mind before your next ride.

RIP

 

Looking at a tragedy like this, we need to find something positive. If we are able to learn from what happened, that is a positive outcome.

When I was 10 years old, I was driving through Lewiston (N. Mi) and a young girl (10 years old) was crossing the street on her bicycle. It was too big for her, and she couldn't control it properly. I woman in a suburban was driving too fast, and not paying attention....

They airlifted the girl to the hospital but she passed en-route.

I won't touch a bicycle without making sure that the size is correct, the seat height is proper, i have my helmet, and other riding gear. I keep this same process whenever I touch my motorcycle.

A couple years later, on the ride back down state from Lewiston, I saw a car drift over the center lane and collide with a couple on a goldwing. The couple died instantly. The gold wing was cut in half, lengthwise...

I learned from this, that cars do NOT pay attention to motorcycles. I also learned that people do NOT think about motorcycles on the road. Whenever I drive now, I keep the same thought. Where are all the other cars. Where are the other people, walking, bicycling, etc...

I didn't have the pleasure to know Doc, but I'm sure we would have been as thick as thieves. Doc playing in a rock band, and riding bikes...I've even been considering Va as my next home...Please don't let something negative come out of this situation. There are so many negative situations now-a-days, that we really need to find something positive to focus on, and look for a better tomorrow.

Ride on brothers, ride on.

 

Very Sad to hear. Skyhawk, Camshaft, my condolences to you and his family.

Remember guys just cause your tires are on your side of the line in a left turn doesn't mean your head is. I see so many guys on the canyon roads almost lose their head cause they didn't see that car coming around to meet them at the apex.


Safe Journey Doc.

 

I hadn't even met the family, and I feel bad.
Everybody tighten up the ship out there.
If you need a new helmet, get it.
What ever your bike needs, bring it up to speed and make it competitive with new. Not speed wise, safety.
My motto is "See and be seen". With cell phone useage most drivers attention has dropped. Ride like you are not being seen at all.
I'm sure there are many more experienced people on this board than I, but I do have 40,000+ miles on Yamaha's and I've been down twice. I too blasted into a curve, met a car, got the scare of my life with a near millimeter miss with the front bumper. I now ride with precision in mind, safety, slowed it down, and ride like nobody can see me. Again, my condolences to family and friends.

 

I'm taking this to heart. pre and post ride checks. I wear a full face as it is and Im keeping all the maintenance up to par. Im so sorry for all of Docs family and friends.
I agree with skyhawk, no matter how safe you are find at least one thing you can do to step up your safe game. Even if it's a really simple thing. people are not watching for us and they are not going to start any time soon