1st & last ride with good friend

[imnowhooked]

I had not had a bike in years but picked up a 1980 gs750e in Sept 08, I got the clutch fixed & a long time friend kept hounding me to go on a pleasure ride, I met up with him & 4 or 5 other bikes(yes,they all had crotch rockets)but anyway,we rode app 200 miles round trip including what they call here in TN "the baby gap". I had the most fun I had had in a long time & the gs hung in there better than I thought,afterwards we hung out at his house & talked about old times & planned another ride before winter. Three weeks later he was on a short ride with a few other guys & lost control in a turn & ran off a steep ditch,he was in a coma for about a week & passed away on 10/26/08. RIP Big Chad!! Not trying to bring anybody down, just wanted to share a memory I will never forget. Celebrate life & don't take anything for granted. Bless You All !!!!!

[tkent02]

Be happy you rode together when you did, you would have missed the opportunity completely.

[bonanzadave]

Sorry for your loss and this cliche...

"He died while doing what he loved"

[imnowhooked]

It may be a cliche bonanzadave, but it is very true, he loved riding that bike very much. I am very happy that I got to ride with him, it is an experience that I will never forget. Thanks very much, he was 38 yrs old & had a wife & three kids,all prayers for his family would be greatly appreciated! Live & Love cause you never know.

[spyug]

So sorry to hear of your loss and my condolences to his family. It is a tragedy when someone so young gets taken so early.

As mentioned, and cliche or not, he died doing what he enjoyed. We can all only aspire to the same end.

I'm glad you got the opportunity to ride with him and I hope this doesn't discourage you from continuing to ride yourself. If you haven't already, take a refresher course and read all you can about riding techniques and safety. I highly recommend David L. Hough's series Proficient Motorcycling (2 books) available from all good book stores.

Make sure your bike is in good working order and ensure you get and wear the best gear you can afford.

Stay safe.

Cheers,
Spyug

[imnowhooked]

Thank you spyug, & it has not discouraged me from riding, he would not want that. The hard part was going into the garage to get the bike back out last week, it was put up for the winter just after he passed & getting back on it for the 1st time brought back a lot of memories. Hard to believe it was only 4 months ago. I ride in his memory!!!!!! Will make sure I refresh my skills & will take your suggestion on the books. Ride safely brother!!

[seuadr]

good plan, imnow. the best thing you could do to honour his memory is to ride safe and promote it to others so less of our friends and family will be put in harms way.

(not that i am implying that your friends accident was anyone's fault.)

[imnowhooked]

Thanks seuadr, didn't take anything as implied. The fact is though that he was a very good rider,but always rode on the edge on his gixxer 1000, part of the reason he lost control was because another in the group crowded him in a turn, not intentional of course & it was just a factor of adrenalin on both parts, it is just a reminder no matter how you ride you have to leave room for the other guy. Granted that was just a contributing factor & a fatal reminder for everyone involved. Almost always, adrenaline will override common sense. Safe ridin 2 you brother!!

[nisom512]

I had not had a bike in years but picked up a 1980 gs750e in Sept 08, I got the clutch fixed & a long time friend kept hounding me to go on a pleasure ride, I met up with him & 4 or 5 other bikes(yes,they all had crotch rockets)but anyway,we rode app 200 miles round trip including what they call here in TN "the baby gap". I had the most fun I had had in a long time & the gs hung in there better than I thought,afterwards we hung out at his house & talked about old times & planned another ride before winter. Three weeks later he was on a short ride with a few other guys & lost control in a turn & ran off a steep ditch,he was in a coma for about a week & passed away on 10/26/08. RIP Big Chad!! Not trying to bring anybody down, just wanted to share a memory I will never forget. Celebrate life & don't take anything for granted. Bless You All !!!!!

what kind of bike did he ride?

[imnowhooked]

He had a 2000 suzuki GSXR1000 crotch rocket,not an older gs but a sweet bike none the less. Very fast bike.

[dpep]

Sorry to hear about your loss of your friend. The best way to honor him in my view would be to maintain a higher level of awareness of your own vulnerability and mortality when you ride. Read the books; wear the gear; practice; and always, always ride your own ride. It's a lot more fun that way anyhow.

[imnowhooked]

Thank You dpep, it definitely makes you more aware & puts things in perspective. He will be greatly missed & I will always cherish the one ride we got to share. God Bless & ride safe brother!!