Sad Story Coming Your Way

"Tripper" (tripe46)
09/29/2016 at 10:23 • Filed to: None

A really good friend of mine was killed on his motorcycle yesterday morning on his way to work. A driver made a left in front of him. I don’t know any of the details, but it doesn’t really matter. I have lost a couple of what became distant friends via drugs, but no one close like this guy. It also hits especially close to home when it’s a moto/petrol-head.

He was a great dude. A avid car and motorcycle enthusiast, his stable was awesome. E39M5, Turbo NA Miata, Cayanne, Ducati 748, BMW R1200c, BMW R1100S, a Harley, and a custom chopper. He just got married in June, one month before I did. I can’t imagine how his wife feels.

It sucks that he’s gone, but it brought a bunch of us together last night at the bar where we would always meet. We celebrated his life and talked about all of the funny stuff he/we did growing up. It made me extra thankful for the friends that I still have. My father always warned that friends would start to drift away as I moved from high school to college and onward. Boy was he wrong! I turn 32 in December, and I just got back from a weekend where 12 people that I have known since I was 14/15 rented a house together to party in while we watched one of our other friends get married. I see those same 10-12 people weekly, and our full crew has to be 30 or more. The other day My wife and I were joking that keeping up with our friends is work. It’s so worth it, but it makes it extra hard to let one go.

Anyway, tell your people that you love them.

Here he is with his gorgeous wife, and gorgeous car.

DISCUSSION (18)

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Tripper
09/29/2016 at 10:27

Sorry for your loss, bro.

Captain of the Enterprise > Tripper
09/29/2016 at 10:27

Im so sorry for your loss.

bob and john > Tripper
09/29/2016 at 10:27

:(. So sorry for you, and a total fucking shame he went that way. Best wishes to all is the only thing I can offer right now.

Jcarr > Tripper
09/29/2016 at 10:30

Sorry to hear that. I’m very glad to hear that you keep in touch well with old friends, though. I had a childhood friend die earlier this year and I decided after his death that I was going to make the effort to keep in touch with my old friends. I realized that if I don’t make an effort to stay in touch and let them know that I care about them, why should I expect them to reach out to me?

Godspeed to your friend.

fintail > Tripper
09/29/2016 at 10:33

Condolences

Left turners are what scare me most on a bike, and what have me not wanting to ride other than on a track. It’s just too stupid out there, and nothing is being done/will be done about it.

extraspecialbitter > Tripper
09/29/2016 at 10:40

God, that’s terrible. Sorry for your loss, man. We’ll pour one out for your boy.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper
09/29/2016 at 10:40

Damn... very sorry for the loss of your friend, and for his widow and family.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Tripper
09/29/2016 at 10:43

So sorry mate....a tragedy for sure. My condolences to you, your wife and his family. :(

You’re around the same age as me (I’m 30), so it hits close to home...

Rainbow > Tripper
09/29/2016 at 10:49

So sorry for your loss.

I suppose it’s at least a comfort that he died quickly while doing what he loved, rather than suffering through a slow death.

He’s doing wheelies with the angels now.

crowmolly > Tripper
09/29/2016 at 11:13

Sorry to hear, man.

Mercedes Streeter > Tripper
09/29/2016 at 11:16

*Hugs* It’s never easy losing someone. Condolences to everyone involved.

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > Tripper
09/29/2016 at 11:38

Sorry for you loss. There are always inherent risks when we ride, sometimes things are out of our hands. Never want to think about it when I’m on the bike, but it sucks.

All the best.

Manny05x > Tripper
09/29/2016 at 12:05

Sorry to hear about your loss as a bike rider I hate to hear stories like this. My condolences go out to you and his family.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Tripper
09/29/2016 at 12:40

Sorry about your friend. A terrible way to go, and an even worse way to be widowed. RIP

Alex Zapata > Tripper
09/30/2016 at 11:58

Sorry to hear, man. My condolences to you and his family, it always hurts when a fellow petrolhead/motohead leaves us, it seems to me he had a ton of fun with his passion, by the cars and bikes he owned and that’s really quite something.

Orange Exige > Tripper
10/04/2016 at 22:43

Such a sad story - sorry for your loss.

At least the awful circumstances can bring up some positive realizations and appreciation for others.

(this is a big reason I advocate so heavily for self-driving cars... I want to ride again, but the danger of being on the road with average drivers who just want to get themselves to work/home without a care for anybody else on the road is just something you can’t just forget about or ignore. I trust myself. I don’t trust others (on the road))

Tripper > Orange Exige
10/05/2016 at 08:29

Thanks, and I agree. I wish there was more dirt around me. I grew up on dirt bikes, and enjoy it more than riding on the road. I still like riding on the road, but everyone is on their phone. I wont even ride during morning or evening rush hours.

I was all set to get a new bike an now I’m just not sure. I can’t even look at another bike let alone throw my leg over one without thinking about all of the cool stuff that happens in life that my buddy isn’t going to get to enjoy.

Orange Exige > Tripper
10/05/2016 at 20:53

Tough decisions to make as a rider...

My decision - almost more indecision though really - was certainly aided by the fact that I moved a couple hours away last year and have no towing vehicle to even rent a tiny trailer. And don’t be that guy to tell me just do it (ride my Ninja 250 100 miles on straight highway). Trust me, it would be the complete opposite of fun (and stable...).

And I’m sure you know what it’s like to have the supportive friends but protective (therefore *ahem* less supportive) family when it comes to bikes. I should at least get back into trail (bicycle) riding...

I’ve never ridden a dirt bike before but I feel like I would a) be dwarfed by it and b) absolutely hate being dwarfed by it. They have such high seats!