Please remember...

SAFETY FIRST. But not even that keeps you out of danger all the time...

THIS thread (http://www.sportbikeworld.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=40057) is about a friend of mine... Somehow these things are always different when it's someone you actually know.

I guess it's just Tangie's PSA for the day.... Be safe out there.

sorry to hear about your friend there Tangie. I'll make sure i'll keep up with being a safe rider

SAFETY FIRST. But not even that keeps you out of danger all the time...

THIS thread (http://www.sportbikeworld.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=40057) is about a friend of mine... Somehow these things are always different when it's someone you actually know.

I guess it's just Tangie's PSA for the day.... Be safe out there.

hey i just read ur pst from sept. i know its a little late and i really hope ur friend is doing well hes a very lucky guy. but i wntd u to know that ur situation hit very cls to home for me and my friends. michael johnson, was visiting friends and family in michigan on aug 12, 2003 and he was riding back from hooters on his jixxer (pardon my spelling if its wrong) 1000. he was doing about 180mph when a car pulled in front front of him mike had no time to hit his brakes. he passed away on contact. riding was mikes life. i know thats the way he wanted to go. 180, u know that was the biggest rush ever for him. he was due home here in phoenix the next day. we all miss him so much. pls be carefull, pls. rest in peace michael james johnson
Oct 21, 1985- Aug 12, 2003
1:18am

My friend still has an aircast on his ankle, and he probably should still have a sling on b/c he tore something in his shoulder. The important thing is that his riding gear and helmet saved his life. Had he been wearing riding boots, his ankle might even be less injured.

I had another friend get hit about a week after this one. He was rearended on his bike. Bunged up shoulder and stuff... still sore about 3 weeks later, but again, saved by his gear.

Both bikes in both tales were totalled. Be safe, people. Cagers are everywhere and they DON'T see you.

Hey some car drivers do! I know from my own experience what happens when some dumb-hole doesn't check their blind spot and tries to merge into you! However, sometimes I'm amazed by how inconsiderate, and stupid bikers can be! (and these ones, they either learn, or die - and that's the truth) I see people on bikes putting themselves in danger all the time, and for absolutely no good reason either (would any sane person risk their life to get a car length ahead in traffic?) and it's even more agravating when I see they have a passenger who has no say in what they're about to try and pull. Protective gear is good to have, but a good, working, logical mind is even more essential if you plan on enjoying 2-wheeled transport for a long, long time.
I don't want to sound like a jerk, but if that guy was going 180mph in traffic, he might have as well pointed a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. I mean stupid, just plain stupid. It really makes me angry that people die because they're too dumb to use logic.

Hey some car drivers do! I know from my own experience what happens when some dumb-hole doesn't check their blind spot and tries to merge into you! However, sometimes I'm amazed by how inconsiderate, and stupid bikers can be! (and these ones, they either learn, or die - and that's the truth) I see people on bikes putting themselves in danger all the time, and for absolutely no good reason either (would any sane person risk their life to get a car length ahead in traffic?) and it's even more agravating when I see they have a passenger who has no say in what they're about to try and pull. Protective gear is good to have, but a good, working, logical mind is even more essential if you plan on enjoying 2-wheeled transport for a long, long time.
I don't want to sound like a jerk, but if that guy was going 180mph in traffic, he might have as well pointed a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. I mean stupid, just plain stupid. It really makes me angry that people die because they're too dumb to use logic.

yes i we all know it was a very bad decision that mike made and the funny thing is hes a very smart guy and an awesome rider. as to y he wld decide do make that decision i dont know. it was a very long, open stretch that he was on, he had a friend with him. his friend was going 150 and he said that mike flew past him. at an estimated 180mph. he came around a corner and an old couple pulled in front of him. he wasnt even able to touch his brakes. he died on impact. all im saying is to all of u guys and girls out there please be careful. no matter how good u are theres always someone whos not watching or cant see u. even though u all didnt know him please keep him in ur thoughts and prayers, a fellow rider. his saying was "RIDE TILL I DIE" i just didnt know that i would have to see that day come.

REST IN PEACE
Michael James Johnson
Oct 21, 1981- Aug 12, 2003
1:18am

yea one of my brothers best friend was riding his sports bike to work and he was sitting at red light and some jackass in a van came flying up behind him and slammed into him going really fast and made him and his bike go flying through the intersection and now he's paralyzed from chest down:(

Hey some car drivers do! I know from my own experience what happens when some dumb-hole doesn't check their blind spot and tries to merge into you! However, sometimes I'm amazed by how inconsiderate, and stupid bikers can be! (and these ones, they either learn, or die - and that's the truth) I see people on bikes putting themselves in danger all the time, and for absolutely no good reason either (would any sane person risk their life to get a car length ahead in traffic?) and it's even more agravating when I see they have a passenger who has no say in what they're about to try and pull. Protective gear is good to have, but a good, working, logical mind is even more essential if you plan on enjoying 2-wheeled transport for a long, long time.
I don't want to sound like a jerk, but if that guy was going 180mph in traffic, he might have as well pointed a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. I mean stupid, just plain stupid. It really makes me angry that people die because they're too dumb to use logic.

U know its funny that you mention that he might as well point a gun to his head and pull the trigger, because Mike Johnson is my brother, and a week before Mike died, My other brother died that exact way. So instead of being completely insensitive, and rude about the situation, stop and think. Mike died the way he wanted to go. Where he died, there is hardly ever traffic especially at 1:00 in the morning. It was a very small town in Michigan. it was a long stretch of road in the middle of nowhere. obviously he was meant to go that night. why else would there be an ELDERLY couple out at 1 in the morning making a left hand turn? that old bag couldnt wait one more second to turn?
its not like she had to beat traffic...there were no other cars.
but im not here to mourn his death, but celebrate his life.

Sweetheart, at 180 the "old bat" probably didn't even see your darling brother flying at her at break-neck speed. :screwy:

The guy was irresponsible, plain and simple. Those speeds are NOT meant for public roadways. Take that shit to the track.

Celebrate his life however you desire, but don't pretend like his behavior can be excused. Hell, at those speeds in "rural" Michigan, he could have hit a chipmunk, gone over, and died from the impact.

Sweetheart, at 180 the "old bat" probably didn't even see your darling brother flying at her at break-neck speed. :screwy:

The guy was irresponsible, plain and simple. Those speeds are NOT meant for public roadways. Take that shit to the track.

Celebrate his life however you desire, but don't pretend like his behavior can be excused. Hell, at those speeds in "rural" Michigan, he could have hit a chipmunk, gone over, and died from the impact.

Well "sweetheart" just to let u know that we already stated that he made a bad decision. (see above). she was just responding to what someone had wrote. none of what we said was in excuse to his actions. hes already paid that penalty, unfortunately. so basically thanx for the schooling on where those speeds are meant and where they arent. thats irrevelant. if u read back threw the thread it says that it wasnt a smart decision but hey thnx for ur two cents. as if we didnt know that already.

Sweetheart, at 180 the "old bat" probably didn't even see your darling brother flying at her at break-neck speed. :screwy:

The guy was irresponsible, plain and simple. Those speeds are NOT meant for public roadways. Take that shit to the track.

Celebrate his life however you desire, but don't pretend like his behavior can be excused. Hell, at those speeds in "rural" Michigan, he could have hit a chipmunk, gone over, and died from the impact.

well its a good thing nobody asked you huh. well, I didnt say it was in "rural" michigan. so there is no reason for the quotation marks.
and another thing is, its old bag, not "old bat". and yes, she did see him...it says so in the police report. and whether or not those speeds are not meant for the public roadways, thats what he did. I didnt ask for your opinion. :2cents:

I'm not playing this lame game anymore. I made my point without being "insensitive and rude", at least I tried not to. :disappoin

I'm not playing this lame game anymore. I made my point without being "insensitive and rude", at least I tried not to. :disappoin

nobody said that YOU were insensitive and rude...
let me guess, 8th grade, tops.

Reckless and irresponsible.

I hope that the elderly couple were not killed in the crash, at 180mph even a motorcycle makes a car looked like rumpled tinfoil. When you are going 180mph on a public road you put more people in harms way from your stupidity than just yourself.


"So instead of being completely insensitive, and rude about the situation, stop and think."

"nobody said that YOU were insensitive and rude...
let me guess, 8th grade, tops."

contradictory?

I, on the opposite end of saturn, am an asshole. Your brother is now just another statistic of why sportbike riders are looked upon so badly, and the reason why insurance rates are so high. He could have been one of the greatest guys on the earth, but at that moment he was the biggest idiot on the earth.

Reckless and irresponsible.

I hope that the elderly couple were not killed in the crash, at 180mph even a motorcycle makes a car looked like rumpled tinfoil. When you are going 180mph on a public road you put more people in harms way from your stupidity than just yourself.


"So instead of being completely insensitive, and rude about the situation, stop and think."

"nobody said that YOU were insensitive and rude...
let me guess, 8th grade, tops."

contradictory?

I, on the opposite end of saturn, am an asshole. Your brother is now just another statistic of why sportbike riders are looked upon so badly, and the reason why insurance rates are so high. He could have been one of the greatest guys on the earth, but at that moment he was the biggest idiot on the earth.

nobody said he wasnt an ass that day. I wasnt making excuses for him.
thanks, have a great day!

Maybe i can bring some insight to this conversation.

No one here is denying the poor choice he made that day. Not even the friends or family. But we ALL know that anytime you get behind the wheel or the tank, you take on responsibility. It sounds to me (i was not there) like he was in his lane, but the car switched lanes.
The car is responsible as well. To what degree is the only question. But no doubt that BOTH parties are responsible. Cars not seeing bikes is a big problem, (i know this personally since i was hit and almost KILLED this past spring.) But as they stated the car admited it saw the bike. which is worse than not seeing the bike.

What i think is worse is the attack on this individual, ESPECIALLY from fellow motorcycle riders. FOR SHAME. Him acting irresponibily is true, but we should be morning AND celebrating his life, just as they have said. We are all in the same position every single time we start the bike. We are always at a disadvantage when we get on the road. We should be looking out for each other. The choice he made that day is wrong, but to attack the family and friends in the way some of you have is shamefull. There is NOTHING any of us can do to reverse to erase the damage done, so why argue and demean the survivors?

Dispicable

You should go through ONE day of what MY family or ridetilidiegirl's family went through, ONE DAY! I doubt very much you make it to see the next sunrise.

May he rest in peace.

Thnx soo much once again Xv7vX, thats the smartest responce ive heard so far in this thread.

This dead horse has been beaten long enough. My stance is invariable.