For the Love of God...

GreginOz · 08-28-2006, 2:36 AM

Sunday, yesterday, I pushed my 'blade out for a ride day with the boys from the shop I just bought her from, plus other customers. We headed up the Windsor Road, over the Great Dividing Range, on The Putty Road, which leads to The Hunter Region, Sydney's closest vineyards. We faced U-bends, twisties, long straights, different cambers, endless corners. It was a 350 Kilometre ride ('round 160 miles), challenging, punishing. The boys from the shop were DEMONS, strewth, they can ride. I came out of one corner and one dude mono'd past me at 100mph, in a t-shirt, sitting on the seat!!! We stopped at a roadhouse, coffee n pies, then my bro and I left early to finish the rode coz I ain't ready to compete with younger blokes on a road I don't know. We were about to leave when I told the group "if you catch up I will just move aside, I'm learning a new bike, after years outta the saddle". Cheers and we were off. We overshot the turn-off, too many good corners to eat, so eventually turned around and headed back. Lo and behold, what did we find

? One of the ZX-10s, went down a straight, way too fast, missed the swoopy lefty, up an embankment, snapped through one tree and SPEARED in the next tree

. A storm of plastic blizzard, green, everywhere, a batterry here, one wheel there...The bloke, David, lieing in a ditch, pale as death, severed artery, crushed, broken, the group slowing traffic at one end, someone desperately trieing to keep him conscious. I manned the other end, slowing the traffic before the bend...The ambulance arrived 30 minutes later, the Westpac Care Chopper arrived soon after and did an amazing landing between a cliff and power lines, in a storm of leaves. It took another hour or so to stabilise him, they managed to do some feild surgery, reconnected artery and he got a pulse back in his foot, no amputation, looks like and lifted off to Westmead Hospital. SUBJECT OF THIS POST? STUPIDITY. HUBRIS. IRRESPONSIBILITY. When a group of riders goes out together, particularly when Motorcycle Industry people are involved, I think it imperative that some rules are laid down before rubber is laid down

. Blokes that ride with the likes of Peter Goddard (ex-Aussie champ) have a responsibility to their charges not to suck them into their wake, at ridiculous speeds. David had owned the bike 6 or 7 days, he bought it just after I bought my 954. NO-ONE can learn how to handle ALL of a Superbike in this time. I am not just talking bullshit law suits here, hell, there was no one else wrenching his throttle! BUT, a few wise words

from cooler heads might have saved this guy this experience. Think also of The Nanny State, how many politicians would like to crush our freedom on the road, "for our own good", of course. If WE don't regulate our own behaviour some ********er would love to tell us we should be in church, not riding superbikes. Also, let's face it, 100mph monos on public roads is not just illegal, it is downright stupid, we have perfectly affordable tracks for this, under experienced supervision. This isn't just an Occupational Health and Safety rant, this is about the life or death of your riding mates...only God forgives, the Road is a Harsh Mistress. Regards.

Repeater · 08-28-2006, 2:46 AM

i hope your friend will fully recover and learn at the track.

monos at the track will get you booted! My only expierence with motorcycle / pro / industry / mag folks was a being stuffed at one of my local tracks. they ride like asshats and should know better!

i hope you enjoy your blade and your firend recovers fully. it is one of my fears to crash like that. makes me wonder why i still ride on the road.

Scout · 08-28-2006, 2:46 AM

The same kinda thing happens stateside also too often.

Greg, I'm not trying to be overly critical, but whenever I ride with others, I try to get a grasp of where they're at, and I let them know where I'm at (prior to hitting the road). If they are at a brisker pace than me, I let them know I'll meet them at XX intersection, and if they're not as brisk, I let them know not to try and follow me - it's not a race - unless they ask me for help, and then I'll explain what I'm doing - talk about looking through turns, slowing time, etc.

It doesn't have to be a good friend for you to put someone at ease or ask them to check their ego, and if they don't listen, well, you gave it a shot.

I'm sorry about your friend.

cvc14 · 08-28-2006, 11:30 AM

Hope you buddy there makes it through ok..

This is what happens to new and even old riders when they try to "Keep Up" to the rest of the pack. I know if I would have tried to keep up with a couple of my boys when I first got my bike I would have killed myself. I am still no where near a great rider but I can hold my own at my own pace not at some one elses.

sheepofblue · 08-28-2006, 11:55 AM

Hope the other rider recovers.

When riding in a pack that anyone thinks they need to compete, turn a 180 at a safe time and head the other way. Not only was he over his head he could have taken you or others with him. My advice is not to ride with anyone in that group again (not saying you can't say hi and hang with them)

GreginOz · 08-31-2006, 2:20 AM

UPDATE ON DAVID - ONE LEG AMPUTATED ABOVE THE KNEE, STABLE...

BladeRider · 08-31-2006, 5:14 AM

Sorry to hear he lost the leg, I'll say a prayer for his best recovery.

Stay safe down there.

JBODIE · 08-31-2006, 5:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvc14

Hope you buddy there makes it through ok..

This is what happens to new and even old riders when they try to "Keep Up" to the rest of the pack. I know if I would have tried to keep up with a couple of my boys when I first got my bike I would have killed myself. I am still no where near a great rider but I can hold my own at my own pace not at some one elses.

BladeRider · 08-31-2006, 6:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBODIE

Come on man he posted that before he knew the outcome, out of respect you might not want to post a clap with nothing else beneficial to add a couple posts after someone mentions a rider lost a leg.

batts · 08-31-2006, 7:22 AM

Know the road well mate. I too came off on Putty road many years ago on my R6 when i was inexperienced and trying to keep up with the big boys. Was much luckier that David though. It taught me a valuable lesson though, and nowdays I am always riding within my limits, and I enjoy every ride I go on. Each ride I pick up hints and tips off others, and learn the road just that little better. Though just as important is the group you ride with and the respect you show each other. For us it's never about who gets to the cafe first, but instead who's shouting the coffee and pies. My thoughts are with your mate Dave, hope he is well.

Mojave954 · 08-31-2006, 8:51 AM

Sorry for your mate. Some people have to learn what you said the hard way and unfortunately, too late. At least he is alive to live another day.

Good words, just hard to get it into some peoples head.

Zeeman · 08-31-2006, 9:39 AM

A friend of mine saw the aftermath of this when driving to Tamworth. He's a rider too, and he called me to make sure it wasn't me or anyone I knew.

It's riding like this that has turned the old road into a 60km/h area, and also why a lot of people get badly hurt or even die.

the worst part is, I was once just as silly, and it did take a year or 2 to wake up to myself. I hope he recovers and hopefully everyone learns.

Z...

Zeeman · 08-31-2006, 9:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreginOz

UPDATE ON DAVID - ONE LEG AMPUTATED ABOVE THE KNEE, STABLE...

Not good news, but at least he is stable.

Z

JBODIE · 08-31-2006, 9:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BladeRider

Come on man he posted that before he knew the outcome, out of respect you might not want to post a clap with nothing else beneficial to add a couple posts after someone mentions a rider lost a leg.

My mistake, i apologize. I did not read that. Was not trying to offend anyone.

FuTAnT · 08-31-2006, 10:02 AM

Just got pointed in this direction.

Very sad to hear anyone come off, far less injured in the way that he was. Looking on the positive side it sounds like he was lucky to be here with us at all.

It's easy to get caught up in the moment but you've got to know when to cool of a let it go a bit too. The putty is also a rather interesting piece of road with plenty of spots to catch you out.

If it's any consolation, atleast a prosthetic and a thumb brake will have him back on the saddle again.

onevcs · 08-31-2006, 10:59 AM

Sorry to hear about the other rider.

jhonda41 · 08-31-2006, 1:42 PM

sucks to hear about the leg...

lesson learned for him and re-learned for me... the street is no place for that kind of riding.

I'm glad I was surrounded by sensible riders in my early stages.

(and now for that matter)

on at least "trying" to check egos on group rides... putting a ride on hold to wait for an ambulance or medivac sucks ass.

-jh

GreginOz · 09-01-2006, 3:35 AM

Thanks, guys...for understanding my need to have a bit of a rant about this..

.Great site, ay? I went back to the shop yesterday to pick up a tank protector (carbon fibre - schmick as) and heard a little more. David hooked up with the guys ON the road, he did not leave from the shop. Thus no liability, an issue am unsure about. I mean, only one person wrenched the throttle, right? BUT he was trying to keep up with a seriously A-Grade rider. Unfortunately the A grader felt uncomfortable about this guy up his arse so he just..."upped it a notch", in his words. Two corners later he noticed that David was no longer with him...you know the rest. I understand about personal responsibility for own actions but imagine, in a perfect world, the A grader slowing to a stop and saying "Dude, you just bought this pocket rocket, chill out til you get a better feel for it"...It has REALLY taught ME a Life Lesson - Ride for yourself, in your limits, odds are I am not a middle aged Rossi!

Stay Upright.

FuTAnT · 09-01-2006, 5:25 AM

So the guy was still joining the ride per se, but he didn't join from the shop and that way they see it as no liability?

Well, anyway, this is the real world and people have to take responsibility of their *own* actions, despite what lawyers may think.

It's a bit hard to say how fast he was really going, and what that kind of speed of action represents. To the faster and safer rider it could have felt completely ok, with no trouble, to lesser skilled riders it may have seen like warp speed. I know I've sped up at times if I wasn't comfortable with people behind me, but if they fall off trying to keep up they should have the brains to slow down and ride within their limits. When you know the person, and their limits I guess it pays to back off a bit though, but who's to say this guy did?

I'm not siding with anyone here at all, I feel sad that the guy on the 10R had to learn this way. In any case, sounds like the general riding wasn't exactly what you'd call "spirited yet safe" more like "spirited and bloody stupid"

GreginOz · 09-01-2006, 9:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FuTAnT

Well, anyway, this is the real world and people have to take responsibility of their *own* actions, despite what lawyers may think.
In any case, sounds like the general riding wasn't exactly what you'd call "spirited yet safe" more like "spirited and bloody stupid"

Amen, FuTAnt! Am Libertarian, and Personal Responsibility is a cornerstone to my philosophy...my 'own' action will be to steer clear of poseurs and ride my own race...I've got the time to learn how to ride

and the GUN riders can pass me, no worries. I'd rather be a live p*ssy than a dead c*nt! Hmmm, Bro just texted, Eastern Creek, 5th Sept Tuesday, guaranteed 6 x 20 minute laps...now, do I have any holidays left?