I have a '05 FJR w/ over 11k miles and recently became a motor officer for a municipal PD... I was on a ride Saturday, 06-03-06, sponsored by a California Police Officers Association..... I was a first annual....
When all was said and done there were only 14 motorcycles, going from Montrose to Santa Barbara. The mid-point stop was Deer Lodge in Ojai...
I was the only one riding a sport touring bike,, everyone else had Harleys or metric cruisers... While traveling on highway 126 I saw a group of 4 FJR's going South (or east) as we went toward Ojai... I'm sure they had a better ride....
We had traveled highway 150 through the mild twisties and were just coming into Ojai, when I saw an old man setting up for a left turn...we were traveling at 40 mph,,, (too slow for me..) I checked my mirror because I was about the forth rider from the front, and saw that although there was a gap, the guys behind me pretty close.... and another group trailed them ....
I few moments later, I see the other bikes that were a distance back were no longer behind us....the "leader" (organizer) notices and we all pull over w/ 6 bikes..... We probably traveled 1/2 mile
After another 1/2 minute, one of the bikes catches up and talks to the organizer... I over hear "a crash.".... We all turn around and go back the 1/2 mile....
The eight guy in the group, with his wife on the back was down.. The old man made the left right in front of him,,,, His wife was pitched 50' into the on-coming traffic lane.... The rider, a 48 yr old, was killed.. He was decapitated when his head went into the right rear passenger window and his body continued over the car.... He, obviously, was instantly killed....
His wife of only six months was treated at Ojai Hospital and only had a bruise to her right shoulder, nothing broken (but her life)....
The driver of the Ford Taurus station wagon was 81.... The group had a pretty broad range of motorcycle skill levels. I was the only motorcop, having just completed 175 hours of training and having my motorcycle license for over 24 years....
The rider left about 25-30' of skid (I assume from the rear) other riders in our group said the car turned suddenly, and the bike stayed upright, right into the side... I suspect he used little front brake,, there was pretty significant damage to the side of the Ford....
I tell this story only to keep everyone here thinking about what we all know.... left turners can kill you and you go in a split second... Practice with your braking,, be very comfortable using maximum front brake... anticipate the driver’s movements and plan your escape route before you need it...
Most of the guys on the ride were very seasoned cops (but the guy killed was a cop’s neighbor),,,, but we were all jacked up over the incident..... You never think it will be in your group, when the driver will take out a motor and someone gets seriously injured or killed.....
I searched the internet and could not find a story but I know the reporters were on scene...
If anyone lives in the area and saw something in their local paper, I would like to get a copy...
We are all praying for the guy's wife and family... It was a senseless tragedy, which I'm sure will be repeated,,, But if we all think of the risk and prepare, maybe for us it will be a close call and we live to ride another day.....
Ben
When all was said and done there were only 14 motorcycles, going from Montrose to Santa Barbara. The mid-point stop was Deer Lodge in Ojai...
I was the only one riding a sport touring bike,, everyone else had Harleys or metric cruisers... While traveling on highway 126 I saw a group of 4 FJR's going South (or east) as we went toward Ojai... I'm sure they had a better ride....
We had traveled highway 150 through the mild twisties and were just coming into Ojai, when I saw an old man setting up for a left turn...we were traveling at 40 mph,,, (too slow for me..) I checked my mirror because I was about the forth rider from the front, and saw that although there was a gap, the guys behind me pretty close.... and another group trailed them ....
I few moments later, I see the other bikes that were a distance back were no longer behind us....the "leader" (organizer) notices and we all pull over w/ 6 bikes..... We probably traveled 1/2 mile
After another 1/2 minute, one of the bikes catches up and talks to the organizer... I over hear "a crash.".... We all turn around and go back the 1/2 mile....
The eight guy in the group, with his wife on the back was down.. The old man made the left right in front of him,,,, His wife was pitched 50' into the on-coming traffic lane.... The rider, a 48 yr old, was killed.. He was decapitated when his head went into the right rear passenger window and his body continued over the car.... He, obviously, was instantly killed....
His wife of only six months was treated at Ojai Hospital and only had a bruise to her right shoulder, nothing broken (but her life)....
The driver of the Ford Taurus station wagon was 81.... The group had a pretty broad range of motorcycle skill levels. I was the only motorcop, having just completed 175 hours of training and having my motorcycle license for over 24 years....
The rider left about 25-30' of skid (I assume from the rear) other riders in our group said the car turned suddenly, and the bike stayed upright, right into the side... I suspect he used little front brake,, there was pretty significant damage to the side of the Ford....
I tell this story only to keep everyone here thinking about what we all know.... left turners can kill you and you go in a split second... Practice with your braking,, be very comfortable using maximum front brake... anticipate the driver’s movements and plan your escape route before you need it...
Most of the guys on the ride were very seasoned cops (but the guy killed was a cop’s neighbor),,,, but we were all jacked up over the incident..... You never think it will be in your group, when the driver will take out a motor and someone gets seriously injured or killed.....
I searched the internet and could not find a story but I know the reporters were on scene...
If anyone lives in the area and saw something in their local paper, I would like to get a copy...
We are all praying for the guy's wife and family... It was a senseless tragedy, which I'm sure will be repeated,,, But if we all think of the risk and prepare, maybe for us it will be a close call and we live to ride another day.....
Ben
