Rider Down

xs650mike · Posted: April 10, 2006, 11:54 pm Post subject: Rider Down

The following was posted on the All XS11 list:

Safety Advocate Larry Grodsky, R.I.P.
Apr 10, 2006

Copyright 2006, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

otorcycle safety advocate and trainer Larry Grodsky, 55, died Saturday,
April 8 after a collision with a deer in Texas. He is survived by his
parents, Harold and Violet Grodsky; his sister Marcia Grodsky; and Mary Ann
Puglisi. A funeral service is scheduled for Tuesday in Squirrel Hill,
Pennsylvania at Burton L. Hirsch Funeral Home, 2704 Murray Avenue, (412)
521-2600.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

To Larry's Friends,

any of you I have personally called in regards to Larry passing away April
8, 2006. A deer jumped out in front of Larry while riding his motorcycle
home from California in Texas Saturday around 9:00 p.m.

Services will be held Tuesday April 11, 2006 at Burton L Hirsch
Funeral home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Visitation will be from 1:00-2:00
p.m. followed by a service at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, Larry's family has asked that memorial
contributions may be made to Brother's Brother Foundation in Larry's name.
Their contact information:

Brother's Brother Foundation
1200 Galveston Avenue
Pittsburgh PA 15233
Phone: 412-321-3160
Fax: 412-321-3325
mail @ brothersbrother.org
brothersbrother.org/index.htm

Burton L. Hirsch Funeral Home, Inc.
2704 Murray Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15217-0507
(412) 521-2600 or (800) 367-1152
Fax: (412) 422-4236
E-mail: funeralhomeinfo @ yahoo.com
www.burtonlhirschfuneralhome.com

Tom Buzas
Rockville Harley-Davidson
Gaithersburg, Maryland

Be careful out there.

RainLand · Posted: April 11, 2006, 9:36 am Post subject: Re: Rider Down

This would be the definition of "irony".

xs650mike · Posted: April 11, 2006, 10:16 am Post subject: Re: Rider Down

RainLand wrote:

This would be the definition of "irony".

It is ironic but it points out the dangers we riders all face. The most dangerous time for the deer hazard is dusk and dawn. I hit one myself at dusk and only a block from my house. Fortunately I was only going about 25 mph and had time to get almost stopped. I still got tossed off the bike onto the road.

mo650chopper · Posted: April 11, 2006, 10:56 am Post subject: Re: Rider Down

I read this post at 5:00 AM this morning before riding to work, It really had me paying attention. I used to never think about about Deer, and other critters, that much until 15 years ago when a club brother and his wife in Iowa got killed in a collision with one. I found out about 1/2 way to California and I was never so paronoid riding after dark, Man that was a LONG ride.

xs650mike · Posted: April 11, 2006, 11:31 am Post subject: Re: Rider Down

The wild turkey hazard is becoming extremely prevalent too. The birds like to fly across the road at chest height. Could knock you right off the bike at speed. I had a near miss yesterday in the rain. I was able to brake just enough to miss the critter.

I once took out a Chinese ringneck pheasant with my car. Broke the grill.

mo650chopper · Posted: April 11, 2006, 9:41 pm Post subject: Re: Rider Down

I had a turkey a few years back take the grill out on a Chrysler New Yorker. It was one hell of a puff of feathers. he sailed a long way as well. Would have most likely been disaterous on a scooter.

Phred · Posted: April 11, 2006, 11:58 pm Post subject: Re: Rider Down

You just don't realize how hard the impact is, even with a relatively small item. Imagine getting hit in the chest or face with a baseball thrown at 70 mph, and that is just 4 or 6 ounces (i guess). I figure it would be hard to remain on the bike and in control after that, especially if you never saw it coming! A 15-pound bird WOULD be disasterous! The way I see it, it's not much different from the cell-phoning SUVers out there-the dangers are everywhere and you have to be on the lookout at all times to make sure you don't surprise St. Peter by arriving early!

LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES! (but they annoy the hell out of the neighbors and police)

650rider · WebMaster Joined: Feb 09, 2005 Posts: 431

Not knowing the deiced I feel odd commenting but I want to post and say I understand he was a well know person in the xs650 community and will be very missed, I’m sorry to have never had any dealings with him. I believe it is my loss.

On the issue of animals in the road- I live in the mountains and have had on a few occasions almost had the chance meeting with one of those dear and a black bear too.

But I once did hit a large bat in the smoky mountains at 2 am cutting from Knoxville TN to Gatlinburg TN. It was crazy the bat hit me at about 30 mph just as I was coming out of a sweeping left hand turn; it was spread eagle across by jacket full on the center of my chest, it kind of just landed there and was hanging out. I pulled to the side of the road in a little pull off and lifted it off as I did it just flew away. I was kind of freaked out but no real issue.

xs650mike · Posted: April 24, 2006, 8:04 pm Post subject: Re: Rider Down

Way back when, I was riding my Harley WLA up old US 99 in the San Joachin Valley (the Big Valley) doing about 50-55 mph. My eyes were full of sweat since it was maybe 105F so I pushed up my goggles to wipe the sweat away and I saw a bug coming up fast. Just had time to blink and a lucky thing too, got smacked in the right eye by a big ol' black carpenter bee. Almost lost it right there. Hurt so bad my other eye teared up too and I couldn't see anything. Managed to get pulled over and waited till the pain subsided a bit. After about 5 minutes I kicked the engine over and continued up the highway. I stopped at a gas station about 40 minutes later and went in to wash my face. Got a real shock when I looked in the mirror. I had a great big black shiner. Even the white of my eye was red and turning black fast. That damn bug almost killed me.

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