Cousin Jim’s Bike gets mashed

My cousin Jim from Virginia started a cross-country ride with his good friend and riding buddy, Ben. They left Virginia last week. They rode a somewhat southern route going through Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas panhandle, New Mexico and down to Tucson, Arizona. Jim was visiting his son who lives there. From Tucson, they headed north through Colorado to Wyoming where they were going to visit more family. From Wyoming they were planning on visiting me here in Helena, Montana on Sunday and Monday.

Sadly, they won’t be visiting. Last night they had parked their bikes in the parking lot of the motel they were staying at. When they got up in the morning, they found their bikes had been run over by an automobile. Jim was riding an Aprilia. The front brakes were damaged along with enough other things that the bike isn’t road-worthy anymore.. Ben was riding a V-Strom. The forks on that were damaged enough that the bike is not safe to ride.

They decided to rent a truck to haul the damaged bikes back to Virginia. Unfortunately they will not be visiting me. That is very sad for me because it has been a couple years since Jim last visited.

It angers me that people driving cars don’t look out for motorcycles, even when they are parked.

I just had to vent a little. Jim, I hope you and Ben have a safe and uneventful trip back to Virginia. I am looking forward to the next time you head west.