A couple of years ago a guy in Grenada got killed on a sportbike the very same day he bought it. He had never ridden before, but his bro-in-law and buds rode all the time. They went for a ride on a "probably worse than Deal's gap stretch of road only shorter" at East Carver Point on the other side of Grenada Lake.
The new guy never showed up at the end of the road. They went back for him and found him laying at the front of a car (driver says the motorcycle didn't make the turn and hit him head on. Chances are, the driver of the car came across his line and hit the bike, but no one was there to witness it for the rider), ALIVE, leg messed-up bleeding like he was going to lose it. He died in a helicopter on the way to the hospital. He left behind a wife and two little kids.
Lessons?
While riding in groups, if they run off and leave you, SO WHAT! Drive slowly like you want to and be careful, so you won't go across the middle line and hit someone head on.

That's sad.
Lesson 2: Don't buy a sportbike if you're a newbie or go to the most dangerous road around on your first day.
Stupidity shouldn't be deadly.

Right on both accounts. As evil at it sounds, I don't have a shitload of remorse when I head about a suid going down, but a newbie does kind of tug at the heart strings. R.I.P.

If the rider was new, it was quite possibly target fixation that caused the collision.

I still have to remind myself to ignore the 3 tons of steel, glass and rubber driving at me from time to time.

His friends were no hero's either. at least put the guy in the middle of the group...

His friends were no hero's either. at least put the guy in the middle of the group...

True, it's group riding 101 to keep the slower riders in the pack and the vets first and last. But what can you expect from someone who take a new rider to a difficult road of his first day and not take care of him.

True, it's group riding 101 to keep the slower riders in the pack and the vets first and last. But what can you expect from someone who take a new rider to a difficult road of his first day and not take care of him.
I was hoping someone would say that.
:thumbsup:thumbsup

True, it's group riding 101 to keep the slower riders in the pack and the vets first and last. But what can you expect from someone who take a new rider to a difficult road of his first day and not take care of him.



+1 couldn't agree more. But what agrivates he crap out of me when I go riding with my girlfriend, and she and I are the ones of the group that know the route the best, she is insistant upon riding right behind me.

some people i use to ride with when i lived in california they took me to "Ortega Hwy" i was scared shitless and i was on a little 250 and couldnt keep up but my buddy stayed in front of me at a slow pace and one of his friends behind me and it really helped out a lot.

Why noobs ride on the scary twisties right away, I don't know. And yes, shame on the friends who took him there.

Hell, I've been riding for about three years now and only recently did I finally get to the Ortega Hwy (sorry Chris, I know you're not a fan). 'Course we did a twistie section up past Ojai...but, guess what? Yep my SO totalled off the road on a diminishing radius curve. Also, a relative new-comer. A little target fix? Maybe. Just lucky he didn't go off the cliff side and lucky he wasn't much hurt.

Watch out folks! Slow down and get a few miles before going for the tough stuff!:?

Watch out folks! Slow down and get a few miles before going for the tough stuff!:?

+1. Especially going for the tough stuff at higher speeds than you can handle...