Just a thought. CLSB is a terrific group... no, more like a family. All good individuals with a common love for motorcycling.

However, I find the attitudes here somewhat disconcerting as of late. Threads like "Another idiot dead.."

Really?

I'm 33. I have friends the same age with the same bike. They are good people with good hearts that, on occasion, will ride faster than they should, as many of you will do, if only on occasion. Perhaps in your head, it's Darwinism, or cleansing of the gene pool when it happens to someone we don't know...

I don't ride with full gear everytime. Am I, and my early 30's friends, then squids? Should my parents, friends, or family be subjected to coming across this website and hearing such things about me or my friends if an accident should happen? Take a moment and wonder how your own parents would feel if they should lose their beloved child and read about how it was Darwinism at it's best....

Educate others. Lead by good example to try to make a difference. But threads like this have no place here, or for that matter, anywhere. To think a man lost his life, for circumstances unknown to us, and the concern is whether or not the police will begin to follow groups of motorcycles...

Condolences to the family, and god speed to Ralph Storino.

Well put... good post.

I was thinking the same thing after looking at the link in that specific thread. The article stated the rider was 34, driving at over 100mph, and wearing a helmet. Those conditions alone don't make him an idiot, but just guilty of maybe making a poor decision. Maybe he was trying to catch faster riders so he wouldn't get lost and hit a pothole or something like that?

Either way I think everyone here is sad to see anyone get hurt/killed, 'squid' or not

I am with you 100%. I think his death and condolences to the familes should be priority #1.

Condolences to the family, and god speed to Ralph Storino.

Please be careful, everyone.

RIP bro... Godspeed.

Another rider down. Another controversy. Many more to come. Stay tuned boys and girls.

I never understood the point of posting about dead riders. Was he a member? no. Do I know him? no. Do I really care if he was doing 100mph? no. Is it going to change the fact that people die all the time doing what they love? no. Why post deaths unless you directly know the person or is a member of the site? I don't get it.

I think we should have a rider down section for all the posts we get on them.

i agree with oldschool.

except for a forum for the mortuaries.

I was joking about that... hence the

HRB and OldSchool... thank you for the excellent posts.

I agree with Old School, however, I partially disagree with HRB. I am the one who addressed the deceased as an idiot, and I am sorry that some of you got offended, however, I am not apologizing for using that word. Do we have to sugar coat everything because it suit the moment? When a gang banger gets killed, his family and friends all claim he was a caring and loving person, however, the individual could as well be a murderer who robbed a cleaning business for 30 dollars and some T shirts. Riding at that speed with as little experience is a voucher for free mortuary services. I am sorry if I have offended any members, it was not my intention, however, I am sick of being Politically Correct.

I tend to disagree with you on this one. It’s never good to hear about a rider down but it’s a good source of “reality check”. Sure we all know our bikes are potentially lethal, but in the heat of the moment sensibility can go out the window. These tragic stories make me step back (if only for a moment) and respect the power of my bike and reevaluate my abilities.

I personally feel inexperience has been the most contributing factor in many of these latest accidents.

Off Topic

My personal views:

These newer riders need to learn more about the dynamics of bikes and how to control them. I feel I have a whole new understanding about riding after reading and watching Twist of the Wrist and from other rider’s advice (like Ken’s safety day). I’ve only cracked the surface of what there is to know about riding but feel I’m a step ahead from many riders out there.

Also these younger/newer riders need to learn to ride within their limits. It’s ok if you’re left behind, you’ll live to ride another day. There have been many rides where I’ve been out with a group traveling at insane speeds and still fell behind. If you hear a voice in your head saying “This is nuts, I’m riding beyond my ability” for Gods sake slow down. If the group is unwilling to wait for you, you probably shouldn’t be riding with them anyway. Fortunately the majority of the riders I have ridden with from this board are respectful riders.

AMEN BROTHER!

The reason I post about dead riders is because I don't think newbies realize how dangerous it is to ride a motorcycle. I also don't think they realize the effect the loss of their life would have on their families and loved ones.

As far as accidents go, I know when I first started riding, I thought "It will never happen to me". If these posts can get a newbie to wear gear, then I think they serve a great purpose.

You can't necessarily read about an accident and then say "that's an idiot". We've all seen that the media and drivers will tend to skew the accident to look like it's always the bikers fault and make the speeds a bit faster and the story a little more out there. Such as the case with the stunters and the SUV that went off the road. Now if someone goes passed me on the expressway on one wheel then I can see it for myself and say 'oh well, looked cool at least...hope nothing happens, but if it does then it's not much of a surprise'.

I think that we use terms like 'idiot' because we don't know the person. I heard a story years ago of a guy who didn't come down in time from a wheelie and ended up killing himself...in that thread there was no mention of stupidity or anyone being an idiot. We're somewhat two faced, but I don't mean that in a bad way...for example if I come online and tell everyone that I'm very very upset because a buddy of mine died on a bike while learning to do tricks...chances are that it will mostly be condolences and a few people might vaguely comment on the dangers of stunting, but I doubt that I'd see 'idiot' written anywhere. But if it's just some guy out there then we're free to judge and say whatever we like and not in the least feel bad about it. So it's one thing if I'm out there practicing clovers and I go faster and faster and eventually wipe out to say 'well, it's not a surprise...you were pushing your limits and maybe that of the bike so a smaller mistake could have worse consequences' and it's another to say 'that's dumb, you're dumb, you deserve it, etc...'

You're comparing a theoretical gang banger death with a motorcyclist that was speeding? Um... ok.

I'm not sure what point exactly you're disagreeing with me. I could care less what's politically correct, I know, in my heart, what's right...

The point of my post. Everyone makes choices and mistakes, but is loved by someone in their life, and rather than judge that person, why not pray for the family and friends for their loss.

But for everyone that wants to cast the first stone at someone who made a mistake, fire away...

I agree with you here. Perhaps people will learn a little from the poor decisions of others. Isn't that part of the reason we post these accidents? I know that when I started riding, if I was a little more fearless, I could have been one of these riders. My first accdent happened on a clased road but was very timely.... shaked some sense into me. I was riding like an idiot some of the time. If I had been killed after loosing control on the freeway at 100+mph... I hope ypu all call me an idiot too.

Little reminder.... cars lose control at high speeds in a straight line becasue they are inherently unstable at high speeds. Motorcyle are the opposite... to lose control, the rider must have been braking very hard, failed to negotiate a turn, collided with something, or hit a very large patch of gravel or slippery substance. We all know this for a fact.

Hopefully most of us have the sense to recognize when we are in a "no exit" situation. Where you are 100% commited to manuavering a certian way and have no ability to slow down or change direction if a last minute course correction is needed.

Dammit....I missed more drama.

To all of you who'd like to live in the Utopian World were everything is honkey-dory, no one ever disagrees w/ anyone, life is always pleasant..........get real.

Life SUCKS.....the only outcome is DEATH. People aren't always gonna see things your way, LIVE WITH IT! You wanna go pout in a corner when someone calls someone else an idiot......go ahead ya big babies.....jeesus, grow a set.

I didn't get to read the thread as it was deleted.........but the jist of it had to be: So and so was doing something he shouldn't have been, riding way to fast at the wrong time, in the wrong place and payed w/ his life. See ya doofus.....next please. To hell w/ being PC......you want to be PC, run for elected office. Don't like what I say, tough! Don't read it.

Are you a cop? All i've got to say is, if it were anyone on here that were to go down, i'm almost positive the word idiot won't even be present in a post. That is all.

Ok to pass judgement on my opinion and thoughts on a thread I began, but not ok for me to disagree, even though I've had nothing but respect for threads with a differing opinion?

Your post of respecting others opinions is a little ironic and hypocritical, don't you think?

People on this board HAVE crashed and typically call themselves an idiot.

We however have been good about looking after new riders and have not had one fly into a wall at 120+ because they don't know how to judge or negotiate a turn at high speeds. Our newbies are typcially too scared (as they should be) to ride like that.

After thinking about it a little more... RIP to the poor 600RR. The bike never did anything to deserve that kind of treatment.

After the dust settles... the familes pay, the whole motorcycle comminity pays (emotionally and in insurance premiums), and the politicians add another statstic and story to their arsenal.

The friend's post said that he rode a 2002 900RR........................ I'm assuming he was on a 954 then

hey GUESS what?

i havent read this whole thread just a few bad comments.

how about this, is someone wants to piss on someone elses feelings, TAKE IT TO PM"S!

other wise, i am about to just close this thread, ALL of you just want to preach about your feelings, and MAKE the world AGREE.

guess what? IT ANT GONNA HAPPEN.

move on, go work on something rather then reading this crap.

I give up. I'm outta here.

This thread was nothing more than about respecting the dead, their memory, and their families. About how we are all loved by someone, and although we all make mistakes.. but sadly, sometimes those mistakes are irreversible.

Obviously, that has been lost somehow.... And rather than argue the point, I'll just let it go, as I don't know how someone can care about insurance premiums after reading the story from Ralph's friend...

HRB, cause its a cold world bro.

you hit it on the head, just like i am starting to do, just worry about myself, and a few close ones. and fuck trying to change the world by myself.

If you wanna fill up your heart with the pain and suffering of others the rest of your life, feel free to do so. I, on the other hand will not worry about the poor decisions of others I don't even know.

My prayers are with his family and friends. I am done.

lol now crazy lets not get carried away, cause if that was the case alot of your bike trouble and you asking would have never been answered...lmao

love ya bro

just had to poke some fun at ya

I would care if somebody from CLSB would get hurt. But I'm not going to start getting upset over people I don't even know.