rashad
Registered
Morning. The beginning.
There was Rouns, A tall lanky kid ATGATT with leather suit, well worn pucks, and a 954 fireblade. This guy cannot be followed on a busa (or anything really) in the tight roads we were on. He likes to ride Deal's Gap.
Me. Busa with a squared off rear Shinko 009 that I just noticed cords are showing on. (Getting replaced tuesday), the beginning signs of carpal tunnel and the desire to keep riding anyway. (im 27 and waking up with numb arms).
Jake and his girl on his F4i. Kindof a loudmouth but he means well. He can inspire the type of Ego battle that can be dangerous on motorcycles.
Ray on the ZX14. He rides it like its a 600 in the twisties. Been riding for a long time. Owned a Blackbird and the 200and somethingth RC51 ever made here, among other bikes.
Kevin. Got into trackdays recently and rides a 636 Kawi.
Kimberly. Kevin's fiancee (for another week!) CANAM SPYDER. This gets all the attention anywhere we go! Oh and its for sale. She wants to step up to two wheels and get an sv650.
Ok..the story.. which I will never forget...
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We rode every back road in Jersey Shore, PA.. It was such a good day. I was really leaning and feeling great about keeping up and feeling more comfortable on the bike. I have put about 2000 miles in less than a month on it.
We eventually hit a rode that felt like a goat path and I think I lost some fillings. We pulled over at a really nice Campground with a bridge and creek and water pump. They even had a nice recyclable toilet that turned poop into topsoil.
After a few minutes a few Harleys came roaring by in a clatter that made all the kids run and scream. One of them dragged his 600.00 pipes after going around the turn off the bridge. We laughed, made jokes and proceeded to make topsoil before heading off again.
About 10 miles or so down the road I am doing really well in keeping up with Ray. I had this feeling though.. in my gut. And as I type this its the first time since, that I thought about that feeling. The kind where you know something is wrong.
Weird. I remember THINKING... "Something's wrong."
Mainly because Jake was way behind me. Hes too competitive for that. Even with his girl on the back. I slowed down a bit to see if I could see them. Nothing. Ray slowed a bit but then we saw something shiny (turn) and sped up again.
That's when we saw them.
I first noticed an attractive woman...then a girl. Both locals, outside their house.. Ray slowed and flipped up his visor. I heard them but not clearly.
Then I looked ahead. In the road, there was a group of people. They were gathered in the middle of the road in a bit of a circle... I knew something bad had happened.
As we got closer.. Even as Jake and Kim and Kevin all pulled up behind us... That feeling returned. I remember feeling sick... then adrenaline...
As we approached the scene I saw two things:
1.) The wrecked Harley on the left side of the road still laying there.
2.) The expression on people's face.
Ray and I both slowed down again, but they waved us on hastily. They didnt want us to stop. There was no Ambulance. Just people... bikers. And a few cars that had pulled over. They waved us on as if there was nothing that could be done....
I looked. I shouldn't have...but I did. I will NEVER EVER FORGET what I saw. There lay one of the Harley guys that had passed us. NO helmets. One guy even had no shirt on... He laid on his back. They had tried to cover him up. His friends. His riding buddies..helpless. There was a thick pool of blood underneath him that seemed to be the length of his body. It started at the back of his head....
All that I saw in passing. I wanted to cry. I wanted to sell my bike. I wanted to just stop. Call me a wuss.. whatever. I dont care. Until you see something like that IN REAL LIFE... as you are DOING what he did to die... its not the same... For some reason that really hit me hard.
After praying, I saw Ray pull over and I did the same. We talked about it. Kim is actually certified and pulled over but they said the ambulance was coming and that she should go...She said he didnt look good.
Guys... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE... I know its preached everywhere..but always wear your helmet.
That would have saved his life.
I will never be the same. God Bless.
There was Rouns, A tall lanky kid ATGATT with leather suit, well worn pucks, and a 954 fireblade. This guy cannot be followed on a busa (or anything really) in the tight roads we were on. He likes to ride Deal's Gap.
Me. Busa with a squared off rear Shinko 009 that I just noticed cords are showing on. (Getting replaced tuesday), the beginning signs of carpal tunnel and the desire to keep riding anyway. (im 27 and waking up with numb arms).
Jake and his girl on his F4i. Kindof a loudmouth but he means well. He can inspire the type of Ego battle that can be dangerous on motorcycles.
Ray on the ZX14. He rides it like its a 600 in the twisties. Been riding for a long time. Owned a Blackbird and the 200and somethingth RC51 ever made here, among other bikes.
Kevin. Got into trackdays recently and rides a 636 Kawi.
Kimberly. Kevin's fiancee (for another week!) CANAM SPYDER. This gets all the attention anywhere we go! Oh and its for sale. She wants to step up to two wheels and get an sv650.
Ok..the story.. which I will never forget...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
We rode every back road in Jersey Shore, PA.. It was such a good day. I was really leaning and feeling great about keeping up and feeling more comfortable on the bike. I have put about 2000 miles in less than a month on it.
We eventually hit a rode that felt like a goat path and I think I lost some fillings. We pulled over at a really nice Campground with a bridge and creek and water pump. They even had a nice recyclable toilet that turned poop into topsoil.
After a few minutes a few Harleys came roaring by in a clatter that made all the kids run and scream. One of them dragged his 600.00 pipes after going around the turn off the bridge. We laughed, made jokes and proceeded to make topsoil before heading off again.
About 10 miles or so down the road I am doing really well in keeping up with Ray. I had this feeling though.. in my gut. And as I type this its the first time since, that I thought about that feeling. The kind where you know something is wrong.
Weird. I remember THINKING... "Something's wrong."
Mainly because Jake was way behind me. Hes too competitive for that. Even with his girl on the back. I slowed down a bit to see if I could see them. Nothing. Ray slowed a bit but then we saw something shiny (turn) and sped up again.
That's when we saw them.
I first noticed an attractive woman...then a girl. Both locals, outside their house.. Ray slowed and flipped up his visor. I heard them but not clearly.
Then I looked ahead. In the road, there was a group of people. They were gathered in the middle of the road in a bit of a circle... I knew something bad had happened.
As we got closer.. Even as Jake and Kim and Kevin all pulled up behind us... That feeling returned. I remember feeling sick... then adrenaline...
As we approached the scene I saw two things:
1.) The wrecked Harley on the left side of the road still laying there.
2.) The expression on people's face.
Ray and I both slowed down again, but they waved us on hastily. They didnt want us to stop. There was no Ambulance. Just people... bikers. And a few cars that had pulled over. They waved us on as if there was nothing that could be done....
I looked. I shouldn't have...but I did. I will NEVER EVER FORGET what I saw. There lay one of the Harley guys that had passed us. NO helmets. One guy even had no shirt on... He laid on his back. They had tried to cover him up. His friends. His riding buddies..helpless. There was a thick pool of blood underneath him that seemed to be the length of his body. It started at the back of his head....
All that I saw in passing. I wanted to cry. I wanted to sell my bike. I wanted to just stop. Call me a wuss.. whatever. I dont care. Until you see something like that IN REAL LIFE... as you are DOING what he did to die... its not the same... For some reason that really hit me hard.
After praying, I saw Ray pull over and I did the same. We talked about it. Kim is actually certified and pulled over but they said the ambulance was coming and that she should go...She said he didnt look good.
Guys... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE... I know its preached everywhere..but always wear your helmet.
That would have saved his life.
I will never be the same. God Bless.
lease:
