Off Topic, but because i talk to you guys its here

[nylife]

Tonight I lost my best friend of 20 years he was killed in the motorcycle crash, this has seriously made me consider my own riding and keeping the bike and the same time all i can think was getting on the bike and hitting the road to clear my head. I know once the dust settles my wife will be on my case to get rid of it.

I don't know the details yet, who's fault or anything all i know he is dead, i came to the hospital and he was already gone.

Please be careful out there

[ka5ysy]

Condolences for your friend.

Keep in mind that we all go that way sometime, so it is important to grab life and live it to the fullest you can. Stuff happens that we have no control of, so do not worry about what what might happen or you will withdraw into yourself and never do anything.

I just lost my mom to alzheimer's and I can firmly say that there are much worse ways to die than going quickly when doing something you enjoy. The week before she died, I was so stressed that I jumped on the RT and took a 400 mile ride to nowhere in particular. I simply needed to clear my head, and the bike was a wonderful way to regain clarity of thought. I actually ended up visiting the grave of one of the best teachers I ever had, and said hi to her in the northern part of the state. I came home with a calm that helped five days later when I had to say goodby to her.

Yesterday I received a call that a friend of many years had died of metastatic prostate cancer. He suffered with that for 18 months of radiation and chemotherapy that did nothing to stop the inevitable. I will celebrate his life and move on.

Celebrate your time with your friend, say goodby and move on. He will live on in your thoughts and memories.

[mogu83]

I hope their is no objection to you posting on this list. I feel the same way about some of the members of this list that have been on here almost from the beginning. Although I've never met most of them, I consider them friends and value their opinions.

Most of us are at the age where we've lost friends and in some cases their passing involved a motorcycle. Their is risk involved, and many times we're at the mercy of someone else, but the rewards are worth it. If it's not worth the risk, then stop. If your willing to continue then remember your buddy when your riding a nice section of road on a perfect day.

Condolences and I hope that, wherever he went, he finds smooth roads and blue skys.

[BigEasy]

My most sincere condolences to you and your friends family.

It is up to you to continue with the bike or not as the others have said and will say after my post.

I made a decision to sell my bikes several years ago when getting into my first serious long term relationshsip thinking that was the safe way. That relationship eneded and I spent several more years not owning a bike. Once I decided to get back on 2 wheels I kick myself almost every time I go out for a ride for depriving myself of something I dearly love. I did that in the name of avoiding risk, just like you're thinking about. As others have said much more nasty ways to go that you truly have no control over.

Remeber your friend and the good times ya'll had and be thankful for those. All the best, good roads.

[nylife]

Thank you all
something i wrote tonight as i could not sleep if you care to read
http://rkruglov.blogspot.com/2012/03/ex ... ut-it.html

[TT RDHS]

Condolences.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones.

[Tarmac]

Motorcycles are the flame to which we are drawn. Yes, they can burn you, but without them its all dark.

[MTBeemer]

Very sorry for the loss of your buddy.

[angellr]

Sorry to hear of your loss.

I used to take life for granted, but now on the other side of 50, life seems a bit more fragile. Saw a neighbor and friend struggle and ultimately die recently from stage 4 melanoma. For him, "someday" came after his diagnosis for a few last minute items on his bucket list. Another friend killed over suddenly about 10 months ago in his prime (late 50's) As a result of this, I have decided to hit my bucket list with gusto (going back to school, riding, spending time with family, enjoying the dogs, etc.).

Therefore, I take the calculated risk of throwing my leg over the R12 with ATGATT, a prayer and I'm off. Truly all you can do.

[Rrider]

I am so saddened to read your blog and forum post about the loss of your good friend. As you mourn, I would only add that you try to remember what an amazing blessing it was to have had 20 years with such a special friend. For many people, and regrettably for myself, fostering relationships hasn't been a top priority. Your story has certainly caused me to reflect on what I've been missing and that I need to start placing a higher value on friendships. So thank you for sharing with us and take care.

[sky_sailor]

My thoughts are with you. We are a band of "brothers". Take care
Lyle

[SDMAX]

I am very sorry for the loss of your friend. At 65, I now have grandchildren and a terrific life; I also ride several times a week and do not want to give it up. I think about injury and worse every time I ride. I do the ATGATT thing; I've taken the classes; I'm riding pretty well now going on three years since taking up riding after a 40 plus year lay off; actually I didn't ride very well as a teen ager as I just didn't know what riding was really all about.

Today, I found myself really hauling ass and taking some chances; I told myself several times to dial it back and I did. So far the risk is still worth it. I just have to say my prayers as I do before each ride and when I return, and just keep it all as safe as I can.

Within the last year I lost a long time friend; I know a few others who have been seriously injured; I study every motorcycle accident I read about...I look for what happened so I can be certain to try to avoid a similar circumstance.

I hate the advice I get from non-riders. My doctor called me a donor this morning at my regular exam. It's always some gratuitous crap.

I'm going to follow the Harry advice and keep riding....if I get to a point where it doesn't balance then I'm out....for now....I'm very in....riding has been great for me; it's given me a great appetite for life, many new friends, and a garage full of motorcycles.

Finally, I firmly believe that if I am going to ride, then I have to ride a lot; for me it's not a once a month deal. I work on my skills every time I ride and I ride a lot. I think a lot of motorcycle safety for me has to do with keeping the information in the "lizzard brain" up to date. Every so often when something a little unexpected happens, I'm happy to see that my right hand grabbed that front brake...that I knew at a subconscious level that I was on one of my ABS equipped bikes and that I could squeeze that mother for all it was worth; or, that I was on a non ABS bike and that was factored in too and that the Lizzard knew what to do.... all trained up and ready for a thank you when the big operating system got to the problem. Whew.

Thanks for your post. Best regards. John

[fastdogs2]

Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. It is never easy to cope with the loss of a loved one or a friend we thought would always be with us. Grief is one of those things that is unexplicable to anyone who has never personally experienced it. The reality of the loss strikes us so cruelly and then the guilt of all the things we left undone or unsaid remains to haunt us. Remember the good times you had with your friend and cherish them.

Motorcycling is dangerous, but as others have mentioned, so is everything else in life. I saw a quote by Helen Keller a few months ago about a cautious lifestyle:

"Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold."

Bill

[nylife]

The Story
http://www.silive.com/eastshore/index.s ... _isla.html

[2wheelfish]

My sincere condolences. From reading that story your friend was a really great person, so sorry to hear.

As for the bike, we all rationalize this in our own way. There are just too many variables in each persons life to take into consideration. From time to time after hearing a story like this one, especially with an experienced rider, I start to question the bike. Someday I may give it up, but for now it still makes sense.

[deilenberger]

Sorry to hear this - I've been to way too many motorcycle wakes in my time. It's particularly hard when the rider had young children. The wakes are usually full of fellow motorcyclists trying to rationalize continuing to ride. In some cases - the risks don't balance with the rewards and it's time to hang up the Aerostich, at least for a while.

I've also been to way too many wakes of people who I've ridden with through the years who passed on of other causes. At those wakes, almost inevitably - the close members of the family make a point to come over to me and talk about how much the deceased enjoyed riding, and they'd mention specific rides we'd done together - meaning they had been significant events to the rider, enough so that he told people about them. That is one of the things that keeps me riding.

Someone once said "Some people mistake breathing for living.." and I think that's true. There are times where perhaps the motorcycle should be given up - other times where giving it up really rips something vital from the person giving it up. We have a number of local club members who as they've gotten up there decided it wasn't safe to ride (blood-thinners, stuff like that..) They just aren't the same person.

Nothing really deep to say - to repeat Harry - it's all risk/reward. Right now - my reward exceeds the risk, so I ride. If it didn't, I'd likely stop.

[MTBeemer]

The older I get the more reasonable it becomes to accept risk in my opinion. At age 60 how many more years of riding can I expect to have. I know a few people who ride into their 80s, but they are a notable minority. In actuality, I think the risk of riding at this age is much less than when I was 16 and riding. I'm smarter, less likely to behave like an ass, have a more realistic assessment of my abilities and realize that even I can die; and, I am a better rider in most respects.... not as fast but better. In my younger years I was of course invincible and just knew I could ride well with 2 or 3 beers in me. Hell, I probably have 50 or 60 freefall parchute jumps to my credit where I had a few beers in me. At my age there are certain things people are handy for; they should use us to clean-up asbestos and other hazerdous materials that do not show their affects for 30 years or so, its a great age to take-up smoking or perhaps some recreational drugs and for riding motorcycles.

None of this eases the horrendous loss your friend's family is experiencing right now and I do not intend to make light of their loss.

[websterize]

What a tragedy, Roman. So sorry for you and his family.

[AncientMariner]

I am sorry for the loss of your friend, and for the disruption of your riding harmony.

I frequently ask myself how I will react to the death of one of my moto buddies in a bike accident. So far there have been some nasty close calls and serious accidents, yours truly included, but no fatalities of actual acquaintences. Heck there have been several deaths from natural causes and those have left me both saddened by the losses, but also thankful for having known and ridden with some great guys. Were it not for riding, I would have never known them. And I have made many great friends as a result of riding.

It is well to keep reviewing this equation while reflecting on the inherent dangers involved here. This process may help us to stay safe whether or not we continue riding.

I'm glad we of the R1200 R Forum are here for you. This is more important than how to lash up your latest farkle. See you in the wind. Keep the shiny side up.

Bruce

[nylife]

Thank you all, the hardest days are yet to come.
Having to look into his boys eyes one day and explain to him what happened.