Bike Guy

So I've been riding for over twenty years now, and in that time I've been VERY fortunate to only have one friend killed in a motorcycle accident. It was a long time ago, and he was more of an acquaintance than a close friend, but it still hit home. He was away at college, riding to work, when a car pulled out in front of him. He hit the car broadside, and died of a broken neck.

I've slowed down over the years and don't ride as aggressively as I used to. I'm fairly active on a few marque specific motorcycle boards, and I remember thinking how fortunate us R1100S riders were, since very few of us crashed. Visit some of the other motorcycle boards, and it seems like they lose a rider every month.

Our streak has sadly come to an end. Last fall, one of the senior members of the board was nearly killed when he collided with a minivan. It's now six months later, and he's still in a rehab hospital. There is a chance (albeit a slim one) that he will someday walk again, but his riding days are over.

Two weeks ago another senior board member was in a crash, and it cost him his life. A simple error in judgement, a few feet too deep into the corner; this time there were no second chances. He was 31 years old.

I didn't know him well, had never ridden with him and had never spoken to him in real life. Still, we shared a common interest and he ALWAYS made me laugh. He just knew how to push peoples buttons - even if he pissed you off, you'd still walk away laughing.

With all the news exposure to the Terry Schiavo case, I'll be drafting a living will in the near future. For me, there is one indisputable rule: if I'm on life support, and there is no chance that I'll ever be able to ride again - pull the plug.

Anyway, Shannon - ride on, amigo. Wherever you are, you're making people laugh.