Good Bye Fellas, I'm done!
#111
07-21-2010, 01:31 PM
Road Warrior
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location:
Posts: 1,437
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Six weeks ago a friend of mine was killed when a car turned into him at 40mph. I contiplated selling my bike, asking myself, why couldn't that happen to me? I've been riding 25 years and pride myself on my defensive riding habits and the fact that I've never had any real close calls. He, too, had been riding his whole life. This evening I was traveling home, 50mph on the two-lane road I take all the time. Car opposite direction, signaling left into service station, turns in front of me. Ironically, the same exact scenario that killed my friend. I had this really odd feeling, before it happened, that he was going to do what he did. I veered right and went off the road, through several big pot holes, wacked a mail box, and came to a stop in somebody's front yard. It all happened so fast and all I remembered was thinking, "it's finally happening". I looked back and saw a major cloud of dust. A car stopped, asked if I was OK, and chased the car because it went on through the service station, never stopping. I dialed 911 and when the frick'n idiot cop got there says, "a lot of my friends have been killed on bikes and, even if I caught him, it's only a failure to yield". I told him it was attempted murder. They're checking surveilance cameras, but nothing is probably going to come of it. The good samaritan that chased him, lost him, but came back and made a statement. Anyways, I'm done, had enough, selling the bike. If it can happen to me and my friend, both super experienced riders, it can happen to anyone! How do you prevent this scenario that killed my friend and, if it wasn't for the grace of God, me? What's wrong with people? My headlight and passing lamps are so frick'n bright that my buddies complain when I'm behind them. How could I not be seen? In the cloud of dust, I'm sure he didn't know my outcome, leaving me for dead. I'm so shook up right now, becoming more pi$$ed by the moment. He couldnt have come any closer without hitting me. And I can't even explain how I kept it upright at 50mph through gravel with major potholes off the side of the road and then clipping the mailbox. There's nobody out there that loves to ride more than me, but I'm done! I have four kids at home that begged me to sell after what happened to my friend. What a fool I was. it's just not worth it. A friend of mine once told me, it may not be today, maybe not tommorrow or even next week or year. Maybe not even five or ten years. But eventually it's going to happen and it's not going to be good. I'm convinced he's right. I never thought it would happen to me, but it did, and there was nothing I could do about it. So GoodBye and Farewell my forum friends. I've enjoyed this forum immensely. I don't mean to discourage anyone, but needed to share and bid farewell. I'm going now to hug my kids. I don't feel right signing off by telling you all to ride safe, because I was.
But a couple of years ago my borther's best friend and business associate died in a senseless bike crash. They were doing no more than 40 mph. He suffered from diabetes. We believe he kind of fainted when going through this bend. Just went wide and crashed straight into the guard rail. My brother was destroyed, and he moreover had an extra-hard time as their business was going south without his friend's contribution.
He wanted to sell his bike, but later reconsidered.
Yes, an accident can kill you, but when I hear the "It may not be today, or even a year, but sooner or later somebody will kill you", well I call bullshit.
There are hundreds of thousands of bikers that died of old age in their beds, and hundreds of thousands of careful people who never rode a bike and died nonetheless in stupid accidents.
Something in the end is gonna kill us all. The later, the better, granted, but within the usual reasonable limits, I prefer dying having lived, than not living. Hoping that nothing like what happened to you (or your firends) happens to me or somebody else I love. And taking all the care I can to avoid it.
Anyway, it's your call.
If somebody doesn't feel like he should ride, he shouldn't ride.
#112
07-21-2010, 02:05 PM
Road Captain
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Harrisburg
Posts: 671
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm sorry to hear about your friend and only you can make that decision for yourself. Nobody else can. but I have to add that some of you have some pretty depressing stories. I've been riding for a while and luckily, I don't have all those sad stories.
#113
07-21-2010, 02:22 PM
Cruiser
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Nashville, GA
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Been down once...it was spooky gettin back on it, car cut me off and drove away....Pissed? Hellz yeah I was, we as riders accept that risk every time we put a leg over one....I am truly sorry to hear about your friend as well as your close call!
I honestly try not to ride in big towns or cities either, but it is ineveitable! I respect your decision to hang up the keys....dont leave here though, it may just re-energize ya to get back on it!
I honestly try not to ride in big towns or cities either, but it is ineveitable! I respect your decision to hang up the keys....dont leave here though, it may just re-energize ya to get back on it!
#114
07-21-2010, 02:27 PM
Novice
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Dexter, MI
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If I may quote from one of my favorite movies: " If you want the ultimate, you've got to be willing to pay the ultimate price. It's not tragic to die doing what you love" Bodhi from Point Break.
#115
07-21-2010, 04:46 PM
Road Master
I'm not calling bullshit per say.. but I tend to agree with 99octane.. I know sooner or later I am going to die.. I just refuse to let the fear of what might happen, keep me from experiencing the things I'm passionate about in life. And as such, I have no plans to give up my bike or stop riding any time soon. I shoot competitively, and attend professional firearms training as often as possible, and I assist in the training and certification of police and privately owned protection dogs. And like riding, I have no plans of not doing this stuff either.
When you get down to it, I think it's a personal decision for each of us. To the OP, I respect your choice.. godspeed and I hope you at least continue here in the forum. As for me, when I'm done here, I'm going to go fire up the ultra and go for a ride...
Cheers
mavrick
When you get down to it, I think it's a personal decision for each of us. To the OP, I respect your choice.. godspeed and I hope you at least continue here in the forum. As for me, when I'm done here, I'm going to go fire up the ultra and go for a ride...
Cheers
mavrick
#116
07-21-2010, 04:53 PM
Stellar HDF Member
About 10 years ago, I was riding with 2 friends when the lead guy went down. He wasn't hurt or seriously injured, but my other friend was so freaked out (the wreck looked worse than it was) that he went home and parked his bike/quit riding.
Just a few months later he was killed in a car wreck as his wife was driving him to the hospital of all places. I thought it ironic that he quit riding for fear of a crash, only to be killed in a car. But I hadn't said anything to him about quitting riding, because that's a personal choice everyone gets to make for themselves.
Sell your bike if you want to; you can always buy another one later if you change your mind. Regardless, it doesn't mean you have to quit hanging around your riding buddies or this forum.
Just a few months later he was killed in a car wreck as his wife was driving him to the hospital of all places. I thought it ironic that he quit riding for fear of a crash, only to be killed in a car. But I hadn't said anything to him about quitting riding, because that's a personal choice everyone gets to make for themselves.
Sell your bike if you want to; you can always buy another one later if you change your mind. Regardless, it doesn't mean you have to quit hanging around your riding buddies or this forum.
#119
07-21-2010, 05:37 PM
Man, what a story. My mind has been racing these last few days as well.
I was coming home on the Garden State Parkway, a three lane highway, in New Jersey in the center lane. Going 65 to 70 mph and traffic slows suddenly. I slow down, and check my rear view mirror. Car behind me is slowing down I think all is good. Out of nowhere I here this horrendous screaching. I look in my mirrors, holy crap, a car right behind me in the right lane is scidding sideways out of control. I keep moving about 20 mph and watch this car coming skidding right by my in the right lane and slam into the highway barier. The car then bounces of the barier, and no lie crossing all three lanes of traffic. I watch the car pass by 10 feet in front of me. It was close to rolling, I could see the undercarraige of the car. The car slams into the barrier on the left then keep moving foward slamming into the first car in the left lane. At this point I was directly parrallel to the accident. I could see the suprised and shocked look on the driver and passengers eyes.
My first thought was to stop and see if they needed help. I was still moving look in the rear view mirror and traffic was madness all over the place. If I would have stopped I would have been hit, no doubt in my mind. I let loose on the throttle and watch the cluster unravel behind me. I just thought, holy $hi! if I was one second ahead that car would have taken me out. I love riding, but things like this make you think.
If only I had that on video tape. Its not everyday that a car crosses three lanes of traffic on two wheels just a few feet away from your front fender.
I was coming home on the Garden State Parkway, a three lane highway, in New Jersey in the center lane. Going 65 to 70 mph and traffic slows suddenly. I slow down, and check my rear view mirror. Car behind me is slowing down I think all is good. Out of nowhere I here this horrendous screaching. I look in my mirrors, holy crap, a car right behind me in the right lane is scidding sideways out of control. I keep moving about 20 mph and watch this car coming skidding right by my in the right lane and slam into the highway barier. The car then bounces of the barier, and no lie crossing all three lanes of traffic. I watch the car pass by 10 feet in front of me. It was close to rolling, I could see the undercarraige of the car. The car slams into the barrier on the left then keep moving foward slamming into the first car in the left lane. At this point I was directly parrallel to the accident. I could see the suprised and shocked look on the driver and passengers eyes.
My first thought was to stop and see if they needed help. I was still moving look in the rear view mirror and traffic was madness all over the place. If I would have stopped I would have been hit, no doubt in my mind. I let loose on the throttle and watch the cluster unravel behind me. I just thought, holy $hi! if I was one second ahead that car would have taken me out. I love riding, but things like this make you think.
If only I had that on video tape. Its not everyday that a car crosses three lanes of traffic on two wheels just a few feet away from your front fender.
If she woulda hit my wife it would have probably been the end and I hope they realize it and watch the road from now on instead of texting or checking email or whatever she was doing,,, she obviously was not watching the road.
#120
07-21-2010, 05:43 PM
Hmm. Been through lots like this, and have faced similar questions.
Back in 2000, while I was teaching college, the security guard comes to the door, and tells me my wife is coming to get me with a friend. I knew right away what that was about. Passer-by up north had found my Dad in the middle of a low-travelled popular motorcycling road, dead. Wrecked bike at the side of the road. No details, nothing.
2004, riding with my club, my best friend and I are going up Elephant Lake Road in Maynooth. Coming up to a stop sign, he low-sides in gravel, hits the guardrail. Dead. I did CPR on him for 20 minutes waiting for an ambulance. All for nothing. Now I look after his family as well as my own.
Both guys wearing full armour, full-face helmets. Game over.
I've been hit, too. Seen plenty of injustice at the hands of the law.
Back in April got some really, really lousy news from the doctor. Now I take every day and live it the best I can. It could be game over at any time. Lots of people asked me if I was going to ride again after all this. I figure when my number's up, my number's up.
Cannon
Back in 2000, while I was teaching college, the security guard comes to the door, and tells me my wife is coming to get me with a friend. I knew right away what that was about. Passer-by up north had found my Dad in the middle of a low-travelled popular motorcycling road, dead. Wrecked bike at the side of the road. No details, nothing.
2004, riding with my club, my best friend and I are going up Elephant Lake Road in Maynooth. Coming up to a stop sign, he low-sides in gravel, hits the guardrail. Dead. I did CPR on him for 20 minutes waiting for an ambulance. All for nothing. Now I look after his family as well as my own.
Both guys wearing full armour, full-face helmets. Game over.
I've been hit, too. Seen plenty of injustice at the hands of the law.
Back in April got some really, really lousy news from the doctor. Now I take every day and live it the best I can. It could be game over at any time. Lots of people asked me if I was going to ride again after all this. I figure when my number's up, my number's up.
Cannon
