| Author | Message | ||
     Mtjm2 |
Steve , I am sorry for you and your families loss . Mark | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Steve, I just read your post and am truly sorry for your loss. Anyone would be proud to call either of you brother. Please accept my most sincere condolences for your loss. God speed Mike, Steve prayers of comfort and healing are on the way. Brad | ||
| Strokizator |
This is truly a sad and tragic story. Some of us have had similar accidents and survived relatively unscathed while others pay a price much too steep. You never know which one you'll be. This is indeed sobering. I feel badly for you, man. | ||
| V8tec |
Thanks to all of you for your condolences, thoughts and prayers. They mean so much to my family and I, and no words can adequately express my gratitude for the outpouring of support. The last few days have felt strange, which I guess should be expected. It is settling in. I met with his friends at work, who were hit pretty hard by it. They erected a cross at the end of the exit ramp where I-84 East meets Route 89 - an awesome move on their part. I am going to see it tomorrow...I'm sure I'll get choked up. Also going to see one of his work friends tomorrow who is laid up with a broken leg. Funeral arrangements have been made. While no one is in any way obligated to attend, if you wish to, feel free to e-mail me and I will send the details on the wake and funeral. I don't know how close any of you were with Mike, or how many of you are in the area. Several people have posted and e-mailed suggesting that I NOT stop riding...while that was my initial gut feeling, I am thinking you all may be correct. Mike would not have wanted that at all, and I would be depriving myself of the freedom and satisfaction that one only gets on two wheels. Maybe I won't sell it just yet. It will take some time to throw my leg over it again though. While I am concerned for my safety (everyone should be concerned for theirs), I am just as concerned for my Dad. If/when I do, it will absolutely be ATGATT. One thing I must do is give thanks to the CT State Police and all the paramedics that were on the scene. The Hartford Courant initially reported that according to the State Police press release, Mike was not wearing a helmet, but the State Trooper who is assigned to the case called me to let me know that the release did in fact state that he was wearing a helmet, and he was quite irritated by the error (The Courant has since corrected the article after I sent them an e-mail demanding that it be corrected). One of the paramedics who was on-scene also commented on the article and noted its inaccuracy, and her dissatisfaction. The State Trooper has also kept in touch just to make sure my family and I were doing OK. While encounters with police are not usually pleasant, and they often have to deal with citizens when they are at their worst, they have performed their duty with absolute professionalism and with a compassion that I honestly did not expect. Many thanks to them for all they have done. Again, thanks to all of you for your support. It means the world to me and my family. I'm sure Mike appreciates it, and is watching over all of you and myself, smiling. | ||
| Daves |
Just logged in and read this bad news. I am so sorry for your loss. RIP Mike | ||
| Hughlysses |
I'm very sorry for your loss. I'm glad to see that you've reconsidered giving up riding. Hang in there. Hugh | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Sorry to hear of your loss. Your family will be in our family's thoughts and prayers. BeLinda. | ||
| Boltrider |
Truly sorry for the loss of a brother and a Bueller. - Mark | ||
| Reepicheep |
Forget riding right now and enjoy your time with your Dad (IMHO). | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Very sorry for your loss. Thoughts are with you and your family. | ||
| 86129squids |
Steve- the most important thing now is looking after your Dad. The rest of your family is next. Sounds like Mike had a great life and had a great influence on many good people- grace and peace will find you. My sister works as a hospital Chaplain, has done this work for years and years... I've always wondered how- .for even one day. Her faith is the answer- it eclipses mine like the sun itself to a wooden match. Once things settle in, have a talk with Dad, yourself, and others important to you about getting back in the saddle again. Things will work out. | ||
| Griffmeister |
Wow, just read this, very sorry for your loss. As you can see you have a very large extended family here that's behind you 100%. | ||
| Fran_dog |
Steve, I am very sorry for your loss. Peace be with you, your dad, and all of Mike's family and friends. Rest in peace Mike. | ||
| Brother_in_buells |
Steve, Wish you and your dad a lot of strength ,now and the coming period. RIP Mike. | ||
| Wbrisett |
wow... I was out of town all last week and catching up on postings, so I just read this. I'm so very sorry for your loss. I've been fortunate to only have lost my dad up to this point and not any of my brothers or sisters. I know this is painful, so the best I can do is put you and your family in my prayers. Wayne | ||
| Weaponxbs |
Steve, I can NOT begin to imagine what you and your family are feeling right now but my thoughts are with you R I P Mike  | ||
| Whatever |
I lost one of my close friends in a motorcycle accident in 2001. I had been on the back of his bike on the same road the week before, with no helmet and jeans and a leather jacket. He died a very ugly death. You never know when your time is up. I sold my bike, at the time a Yamaha 750 SECA that I really adored... and I quit riding for almost a year. Selling a bike and quitting riding is only part of the story now. When I moved north the riding bug bit hard and I bought my first Buell. Been riding with ATGATT ever since. Victor loved to ride his White Buffalo... it was a Softail witha peanut tank with a white buffalo painted on it. He was a big old burly bast*rd that survived three tours of duy in Vietnam, only to get killed by a 16 yo who was driving while on a cell phone. Hang in there, it is going to be a long haul. You will feel destroyed by your grief for a while, and the emotional rollercoaster will feel devastating at times. Take it easy. Be patient with yourself and your emotions. You might even feel like you are losing your mind... It will get better. Stay the course of being good to yourself. Do not expect too much of yourself and never feel like there is something you could have done or it is your fault. You can make it through this and you will be happy again... I can guarantee it. | ||
| Jb2 |
Good advise Char! You and I had this conversation this past May. There is no real instruction manual for getting through this. Everyone's battle is different. There's a whole range of emotions to deal with. Guilt was one that took the biggest toll on me. You never really get over it but you do get past it. And, with the help of good friends, life gets good again as you know and have witnessed. Maybe we should write a book? | ||
| Rcf2 |
Very sorry to hear. | ||
| Fordrox |
I was deeply saddened reading your story and in no way understand your grief right now but I want to send my deepest sympathy and condolences for your and your fathers loss. May the Lord give you strength and peace in your heavy heart in your time of need. You are in my prayers. | ||
| Donutclub |
This news is so sad. Sorry for your loss brother! | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
i read this the day you posted. waited to respond trying to think of something to say and i am still at a loss for words. i am so sorry to hear about this. | ||
| Romanrider |
Likewise, your post touched me deeply even though I don't know you or your brother. So for a lack of anything else to say, Godspeed Mike, and my condolences to your family. | ||
| V8tec |
Thanks again to all of you. Today was the wake. The turnout was absolutely amazing. I am about ready to fall asleep on my keyboard. I feel emotionally exhausted. I will write more very soon. Again, thanks for all your support. It is very comforting, and the advice is so appreciated that words do not begin to express my gratitude. | ||
| Rah7777777 |
RIP our Buell brother!!!! Sorry to hear this. | ||
| V8tec |
Thanks Rah, Mike will miss all you guys. The wake was on Thursday evening and the funeral was yesterday. A LOT of people showed up, and everyone he worked with. He will be missed. It was a tough two days, but he is at rest and peace now. The hardest part was getting up and delivering the eulogy. I barely made it through. Two other things happened also. I went to see Penelope at the impound lot and she doesn't appear to be as badly damaged as I expected. I dare say she may even be able to be repaired. The aluminum bracket that the speedo, headlight fairing and windscreen mount to was broken off, the side air ducts are damaged, but the forks seem to be straight. There is minimal scuffing to the frame and both tires are still inflated, and there are some chunks of grass stuck between the drive belt and rear sprocket. It was just a quick assessment, so a more in-depth one is in order, but I decided that if the insurance company doesn't total her, I will rebuild her. She had a Throttlemeister, the Keda RT-3 exhaust and Erik Buell Racing ecm. Otherwise, she's stock. He had bought a lower fairing and radiator duct covers from some place in the UK, and I think she would look killer with them mounted. I remember that he said they needed trimming to fit the exhaust though. Also, a good friend of Mike's from work (one of the pall bearers also named Mike) got to talking and he said when I was ready, we'd ride to the crash site together. I really wanted to see the cross they put up on the side of the road for him, and it only seemed appropriate to ride there; driving would not be the same. I decided that I was ready today. I pulled my bike out of the garage, sat on her, and asked my brother "Help me do this bro". I followed Mike (he has an '00 Road King) and we went to the site. Unfortunately, it looks like the state DOT took the cross down, but we're going to erect another one further from the road. Yeah, I'm stubborn like that.  It was spooky and a little unsettling...knowing I was standing in the place where my brother died. We said a prayer and investigated the site. You could see the skid marks and some gouges in the ground where something dug in. I also noticed the stop sign at the end of the ramp...it wasn't standing straight. I wonder if he himself hit it. I should be getting the accident investigation report this week. After I got home, I noticed that my wonderful Italian machine with its swanky Ohlins fork had a leaky seal...great, just great.  So my bike is off the road until I can fix that. Also, it occurred to me that I will have to restore his '80 Z28, which is in pieces at a storage facility. It must be done though, and it will be done. I will say that it was actually very soothing to ride again. While I had originally thought about hanging it up, today may have changed my mind...and I don't think Mike would've wanted me to stop doing something I love to do because of what happened. He'd probably be pissed. I'll post up some pics of Penelope, hopefully tomorrow. Again Mike...RIP brother. I hope Penelope can be resurrected...if she can, I am going to do the right thing. I just hope you won't mind me "riding your girl"  Jb2 - sorry I didn't get to call today, I will be sure to do so soon though. (Message edited by V8tec on July 31, 2011) (Message edited by V8tec on July 31, 2011) | ||
| 86129squids |
Thanks for the post,.. Good luck, and Godspeed. Glad to hear you're back in the saddle... | ||
| Bigblock |
My Condolences, may your brother rest in peace. | ||
| Revz |
Good to see the support from the board for you and that in some ways you're posting your way through this time. Thank you for sharing in a very difficult time. My prayers are with you and your family. Larry | ||
| Jb2 |
Steve, Good to hear that you got out to ride again. If it's right for you then you done good by facing your demons. No problem on the call, just wanted to extend the same hand that was extended to me from this community. JB2 |
