Terrible news about a forum member...

I'd like to think so. It's a shame he didn't start earlier, he had a very short time to enjoy himself. Less than a year riding. He sure packed in as much as he could though. He rode it pretty much every day that it would start (he ran into a couple of tanks of bad gas, or something. It was finicky in cold weather).

He was going to come over soon so I could show him how to clean the carbs and set the floats. I'd never sync'd a set, but I have a basic understanding on how. One carb had a float needle that didn't always seat, he left it on prime once and it filled the crankcase with gas. Talked him through that, and I was glad I gave him a spare oil filter.

He was really enjoying it, had so many plans, was planning on riding it year round...

It's a crying shame. I still can't believe it. What a disaster.

Daniel and I are planning on attending his funeral. I'm a bit leery of being identified as the guy who sold it to him, though. I'd be mad at me too. Is that selfish?

Damn it. What a miserable, awful tragedy.

 

terrible thing to happen and so young,hey camshaft ,its easy for me to say it but don't beat yourself up over this,its not your fault, my mums next door neighbour lost his leg only last week in an accident,he is 69 and been riding for nearly 50 years,'the only reason he didnt die was because a doctor was in the traffic,,this stuff unforetuneatly happens,we all know the danger,that's one of the reasons why its thrilling,to me anyway. R.I.P

 

I have asked one of his friends, in the most humble way possible, what exactly occurred. I just hope he didn't suffer.

 

He was in a head-on collision with a car. He may have drifted out of his lane, but no one is sure yet. No info about the car driver. Was alive but unconscious, and died on the way to the hospital. Probably didn't feel a thing. I'm going to throw up.

 

i cannot imagine how you're feeling right now. all the logic says it's not your fault yet i completely understand how you could feel they way you do.
you should go to the services and offer your condolences. if you're met with anger, them let 'em vent and move on but my money is on a special thanks for being his friend this last year. you know in your heart he valued his time with you as you did with him.
time is the only healer in this and truthfully, you'll never get over it, you'll just manage it better.

 

Dont beat yourself up over it, he went out doing what he loved. RIP man, too many are going.

 

His family deserves to be mad, and if they decide to be mad at me, I will respect their feelings. It's all I can offer them, frankly.

 

Suddenly losing a spouse or a very close friend, especially under the circumstances such as this tragedy, is all alone on at the top of life's most agonizing and remorseful emotional traumas.

People often don't know what to do or say.
Just having someone to lean on can help them through the shock and grieving process.

It’s common to feel helpless, awkward, or unsure. You may be afraid of intruding, saying the wrong thing, or making the family feel even worse. Or maybe you feel there’s little you can do to make things better.

While you feel guilty and powerless to take away the pain of the loss, you can provide much-needed comfort and support. There are many ways to help a grieving friend or family member, starting with just letting the family know you care and your heart is broken, too.

Gather everyone and lead them all in prayer from the bottom of your heart.
Just before you do, open a Holy Bible to The Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew. Chapter: 18 Verse: 20
God be with you.

 

You cant hold yourself responsible, even though I know you do. The fact that he died on that bike is insignificant in the greater scheme of things and if it hadnt been you that introduced him to it, it would have someone else, maybe even someone that didnt give a shit about the guy.

Its obvious you are hurting over this, and thats natural, but the "blame" is not only irrelevant, its the reverse of whats accurate. I have been involved in a serious life threatening accident. I know several people who have been as well to the point that years of recovery were required. NOT I, nor a single one of those guys "blame" ANYONE but themselves. WE blame ourselves for loving a dangerous activity, we blame ourselves for going out that day, we blame ourselves for smallst instant in time that might have made it different...but to a man, no one I know has ever blamed a fellow rider for introducing or encouraging out passion for riding, and with it our passion for life.


Lets face it, what we do is dangerous, and people die doing it. Its a risk we take when we trow our leg over and hit the start button. Its a risk we all take because it means something to us...and you can be sure it meant something to him.

Thats something. its not trivial. it may not give you solace, but I hope it gives you comfort.

 

That's where the light is in this whole mess. He was going to get a bike regardless, and I always thought "Well, this bike sure went to the right guy". He was clearly in love with it.

Him buying my bike was the only way we'd meet, so I'm glad I had the opportunity to meet him, and I'm glad he had such a good time, regardless of how short it was.

 

one other thing, no matter you religious belief...


Conservation of Energy: Energy can neither be created nor destroyed.


His energy lives on, in one form or another, if nothing else, through his wife and child. Death is not the end, its only a door.

 

Terribly sad....my thoughts are with you and his family

 

Man, sorry to hear that camshaft! My condolences to you as Doc's friend and to his family as well. I add my amen to everyone else's sorrow over this loss. We all know it could be us. That's what makes it ring so close to home.



"What is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little while and then vanisheth away."

 

So sorry to hear this. My thoughts and prayers are with you and his family. You shouldn't beat yourself up over this but I know how you must feel but like others have said on here. He would have bought a bike from someone. At least you got to meet and have a relationship with an awesome person. I was going to pm him about meeting up for a ride sometime since I am not too far up the road from him. Now I hate that I have waited. Please send his family my condolences and let them know that all of his XJ family will miss him as well. Godspeed DOC!

 

Man, what a tragedy, he had posted up on several of my asking advice posts.
He was willing to help and put in his thoughts to help the rest of us.
I will miss seeing his replies. Hope he is riding the on the great wide open up there!

R.I.P. brother Doc.

 

R.I.P Doc you will be missed.
My thoughts are with you and his family.

Al

 

R.I.P brother. I can't believe this, especially with how close knit this community of xj'ers becomes. I literally just sent him my old tank badges for his maxim 2-3 weeks ago. He seemed like a very nice individual and was excited to throw them on the bike. My thoughts are with his family - my condolences.

-Tim

 

Holy smokes. I rode with him on Sunday afternoon. Can someone PM me what happened? I was wondering why he wasn't returning my PM. This must have happened after we seperated to go our seperate ways...

 

I just talked to his wife. She wanted to make it perfectly clear that he loved the bike and I shouldn't feel guilty.

 

It sounds like Doc's wife is as decent a person as Doc was....hopefully her words will help you camshaft because you don't own any part of this tragedy. It strikes without discrimination....old, young, years of experience or FNG....it makes no difference!

Jeez, I hate hearing things like this! Thoughts and prayers out to everyone involved.

R.I.P. Doc