Loss of Community member

[Firefly]

Before I even read the post from Way2fast and the subsequent "take it to another thread rhetoric" response, I thought of the DPS issue and said a prayer for the ryder.

Not to be insensitive, but he is gone and there are other ryders alive with steering issues, some which will not realize it until it is too late. This could be a case of that very scenario.

What I am saying in my posts, to boil it down for ya -

- Why do so many automatically jump to ryder fault and simultaneously dismiss the ongoing issues? When as you stated nothing is known yet. I concur, but am not willing to ignore the obvious as others do.

- What gives people the right to tell others that they should not discuss DPS in a thread when somone runs off a road? This just baffles me. We should all take note of this and be cautious.

Big difference between 'being told' and 'requesting' to take something to another thread.

FYI--- my opinions on this matter are based 100% on statistics.... and logic.. which says less than 2% of such accidents are due to mechanical failure. Certainly this unfortunate accident could fall in the 2%, but without facts to back it up-- it's a long-shot from a statistical viewpoint.

Fact of the matter is most accidents are just that-- accidents--- and most are due to operator error.

 

[SpyderWolf]

Before I even read the post from Way2fast and the subsequent "take it to another thread rhetoric" response, I thought of the DPS issue and said a prayer for the ryder.

Not to be insensitive, but he is gone and there are other ryders alive with steering issues, some which will not realize it until it is too late. This could be a case of that very scenario.

What I am saying in my posts, to boil it down for ya -

- Why do so many automatically jump to ryder fault and simultaneously dismiss the ongoing issues? When as you stated nothing is known yet. I concur, but am not willing to ignore the obvious as others do.

- What gives people the right to tell others that they should not discuss DPS in a thread when somone runs off a road? This just baffles me. We should all take note of this and be cautious.

I understand your points as well. The fact is we need to be cautious all the time whether we have a steering issue or not, as many things could potentially happen to us. We are not in a cage, and the slightest ryder error or mechanical failure could spell disaster at any time. Not too mention the fact we all need to keep an eye on the cagers at the same time.

This just happened in Myrtle Beach (Rider died passenger taken to hospital): http://www.wmbfnews.com/Global/story.asp?S=12478766

Meanwhile, this was a double fatality of two motorcyclists on separate bikes when a SUV rear ended them:
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/may/18/doublefatal/

The car crash fatalities may be decreasing due to all of the safety features they now have to make standard in the cars, but it is definitely not getting any safer for the riders out there.

 

[RodO]

"They're burying the kid that got killed in my plane.

- What happened to him?
- He got killed.

- What?
- I said he got killed.

I'm sorry.

- He was your friend?
- Maybe. I don't know.

- He was very old.
- But he was a boy.

He died.
You don't get any older than that."

"Catch 22", Joseph Heller.

 

[Dudley]

Yeah your right, why would we want to even remotely consider a design flaw which has almost killed several members of this site when someone flys off an onramp. That would be completely out of place and uncalled for seeing as someone died under circumstances that could be caused by the same flaw. That was just silly and insensitive of me. I wonder how the family feels about it.... Yes, Im sorry miss, but your son flew off the overpass cause he was most likley drinking, driving to fast or was just tired. It is not at all possible his equipment failed...

Further, why would we want to hear the voices of all members when a few can just try to dominate threads and tell others what to talk about and where to talk about it constantly.

Grow up people......

Well, I don't often comment about comments, but I feel like I have to on yours. You seem to accuse others who have expressed that this accident may have been caused by speeding, etc., as covering up for what you think is the steering problem. For one, no one has said the young man was speeding, just stating that the accident may have been caused by going excessively fast. I certainly wasn't there to see it happen, neither was anyone else. And neither can you say for certain that the steering malfunctioned. Several factors could have caused the accident: experience (or lack of), speeding, any momentary distraction that could cause the slightest hesitation in control that could throw the dynamics of the turn, just to mention a few. With over 40 years on street motorcycles with over 400,000 accident-free and ticket-free miles (except one slight fender-bender at about 5 mph) I have heard of many accidents and have known several who have died in motorcycle accidents. No accident is without a cause. People who investigate accidents come to a conclusion as to the cause. Too many times people on forums attempt to influence others by trying to sound like experts on matters that they know nothing of. In any accident where someone dies, the biggest tragedy is the lost of life. No conclusive result as to why can ever bring back the life of a loved one.
And, by the way, I find offensive your use of stand alone letters to refer to vulgarity. Listen to what you told us "Grow up people" and do a little "growing up" yourself.

 

[SpyderGirl]

Yeah your right, why would we want to even remotely consider a design flaw which has almost killed several members of this site when someone flys off an onramp. That would be completely out of place and uncalled for seeing as someone died under circumstances that could be caused by the same flaw. That was just silly and insensitive of me. I wonder how the family feels about it.... Yes, Im sorry miss, but your son flew off the overpass cause he was most likley drinking, driving to fast or was just tired. It is not at all possible his equipment failed...

Further, why would we want to hear the voices of all members when a few can just try to dominate threads and tell others what to talk about and where to talk about it constantly.

Grow up people......

Well if you are so scared of the Spyder's flaws, then why do you still have yours?

 

[WaltH]

When a fellow rider is killed on his motorcycle my heart feels heavy with sadness and loss because we all share a bond born of the love and joy of riding tempered by the danger and risk inherent in the sport. We all understand that none of us are ever very far from catastrophe ourselves.

I have made mistakes while riding my motorcycles which could easily have been fatal. I also have experienced circumstances not of my doing which could have been fatal. Either way the result would be the same. I don’t know what happened to my brother rider on that overpass, early one morning, but I do know that it could have been me.

I offer my most sincere condolences to the family and friends of my brother. I am deeply sorry for their loss.

 

[spyryder]

Thanks for that added information. I have not found an article yet that states any more details.

Here is another vague one though: http://www.live5news.com/Global/story.asp?S=12491553

Would you happen to have a link to the Charlotte article?

Unfortunately he wasn't wearing a helmet, here's the link:

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/may/18/18briefly/

 

[SpyderWolf]

Unfortunately he wasn't wearing a helmet, here's the link:

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/may/18/18briefly/

Thanks for posting this link as well. Not sure the helmet would have helped, but you never know.

 

[Roger]

Ok ok everybody calm down no name calling lets all just take a wait and see attitude. I'am sure we will learn more in a few days. We all have a vested interest in this so we will wait and see. Think about the loss of life here. ray:ray:ray:

 

[Lamonster]

Please show some respect for this young mans friends and family. None of us know any facts as to why this young man died such a tragic death. I did some digging and all I could find was he was a well loved and ambitious young man who ran a delivery business delivery food for high class restaurants. As of right now this business is shut down until further notice.
http://www.charlestondelivers.com

 

[Desert Spyder]

Thanks for that added information. I have not found an article yet that states any more details.

Here is another vague one though: http://www.live5news.com/Global/story.asp?S=12491553

Would you happen to have a link to the Charlotte article?

I did a search at the following link:

http://www.postandcourier.com/search/?q=+Can+Am+Spyder&operator=search

There are 2 stories about the same accident, one stating he was not wearing a helmet. Pay close attention to the comments from readers at the bottom of the page in both articles.

Anyone can drive a Spyder. Hell, even amputees can drive this and have fun. PTL.

But not everyone can be a Ryder. Selah.

 

[Firefly]

Please show some respect for this young mans friends and family. None of us know any facts as to why this young man died such a tragic death. I did some digging and all I could find was he was a well loved and ambitious young man who ran a delivery business delivery food for high class restaurants. As of right now this business is shut down until further notice.
http://www.charlestondelivers.com

Glad we're able to put a face on this young man we've been discussing.

How very sad indeed, seems like a happy, enterprising young man in the prime of his life.

Rest in peace.

Good reminder to us all that we are not infallible --- even on 3 wheels.

 

[Way2Fast]

Yeah your right, why would we want to even remotely consider a design flaw which has almost killed several members of this site when someone flys off an onramp. That would be completely out of place and uncalled for seeing as someone died under circumstances that could be caused by the same flaw. That was just silly and insensitive of me. I wonder how the family feels about it.... Yes, Im sorry miss, but your son flew off the overpass cause he was most likley drinking, driving to fast or was just tired. It is not at all possible his equipment failed...

Further, why would we want to hear the voices of all members when a few can just try to dominate threads and tell others what to talk about and where to talk about it constantly.

Grow up people......

I agree with jsmiley.....No one here is saying that it was a design flaw that caused this death. As was discussed, it could have been any one of many things that resulted in the accident. But all avenues should be investigated. If it were not for the grace of God my wife and I would have been killed while riding our Spyder due to a mechanical (computer?) malfunction. The steering issues must not be ruled out. As far as those percentages given in reference to what causes accidents.....they are not accurate because many times it is easier to prove that driver error was responsible than it is to put blame on mechanical malfunctions. In many cases it is possible that a combination of the two caused the accident.

 

[Firefly]

I agree with jsmiley.....No one here is saying that it was a design flaw that caused this death. As was discussed, it could have been any one of many things that resulted in the accident. But all avenues should be investigated. If it were not for the grace of God my wife and I would have been killed while riding our Spyder due to a mechanical (computer?) malfunction. The steering issues must not be ruled out. As far as those percentages given in reference to what causes accidents.....they are not accurate because many times it is easier to prove that driver error was responsible than it is to put blame on mechanical malfunctions. In many cases it is possible that a combination of the two caused the accident.

Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence