Posted on 07/27/2008 12:23:29 PM PDT by BenLurkin
RIVERSIDE A 16-year-old Riverside boy doing stunts in a high school parking lot crashed his new 2008 Yamaha R1 motorcycle into a classroom building, and died a short time later, Riverside police said Sunday.
Coroner's officials identified the teen as Austin Lee Allen, 16, of Riverside.
Riverside police Sgt. Dan Reeves said the motorcycle rider was initially believed to be a student at Martin Luther King Jr. High School, where the crash was reported at 7:22 p.m. Saturday.
Witnesses said Allen was riding the Yamaha alone in a parking lot at the school, in the 9300 block of Wood Road in the south Riverside area of Woodcrest, according to police and coroner's accounts of the crash.
Allen was doing a variety of high-speed stunts when he lost control of the Yamaha and crashed into the classroom, Reeves said. Allen was wearing a helmet, but he was pronounced dead at 8:18 p.m. at Riverside Community Hospital, Reeves said.
An accident investigation was expected to continue, and police asked anyone with any information to contact Riverside police Detective Rick Prince at (951) 353-7990.
Granted this was too powerful of a bike for most 16 year olds, but we do not know his skill level. He could have been a very accomplished rider on dirt bikes and he did show enough sense and responsibility to practice in an empty parking lot with a helmet on.
Accidents happen and who are we to second guess when it is our time to go?
We buy our kids old beat up cars that can still go fast enough to get hurt or killed in but somehow this is different because he was on a motorcycle and we blame the parents.
Motorcycles don’t kill people anymore than guns are responsible for people being killed with one.
I’m with you. People are getting rediculous with their kids. When I was in high school in the ‘80’s, there were maybe a couple new cars in the student parking lot but now every school is full of them.
Prayers go out. Tough way for a 16-year-old to learn a hard lesson. A shattered leg would have done wonders for his maturity. Very sad when a young man doesn’t get a 2nd chance to learn a lesson but pays the ultimate price for a bit of foolishness. I feel very sorry for his family.
I used to live not far from there....and worked at RVSD Community Hospital.
Inexperienced riders need a motorcycle that is appropriate to their skill level. I started out on a 150 cc scooter, and still managed to get into trouble. As I mastered every bike, I would move up another level.
Frankly, when I moved up to a CB 750, I figured that was all the power I needed or wanted. Others may want more, of course. I don't ride so much, anymore, so I don't consider myself to be a good enough rider to handle a Yamaha R1 safely.
People need to be realistic about what they can handle.
I’m thinking this gene pool is where we get our warrior class from. How many die before they can defend us?
We don’t know anything about his experience but it’s not uncommon for people to want more bike than they can handle. That’s a whole lotta bike. Prayers for the family.
My friend had a Honda 125 to get to school and back. As soon as he turned 17 his mom bought him a 750. He thought he could do anything with that power increase. What he did was try to pass a car on the right, who ended up turning right, and was thrown head first into the curb.
Like this poor kid, too much bike and nowhere near enough maturity.
Not sure if you meant that as an insult — but as a former Marine Infantryman I find it pretty offensive!
Everyone is blaming the parents and the motorcycle. I would be willing to wager that it was the helmet that caused his death. There isn’t many stunts that require enough speed to cause enough blunt force injuries to kill a person.
Full face helmets have a tendency to severe the brain stem because the chin guard acts like a lever and simply unplugs a person.
One reaps what they sow.......
A couple weeks ago I was driving down a 4 lane (west bound 4 lanes and east bound 4 lanes)doing about 50 mph when I hear a roar behind me and look in my rear view mirror at some jackass who had just popped a wheelie on his crotch rocket. He held that wheelie at over 50 MPH for about 75 yards till he passed me then dropped down and sped off. I was really, really tempted to pull into the lane on my left when I saw him take off. It would have been all over for him...........
I have jerks in cars roar past me all the time in my big truck! I guess they’ll get what’s coming to them if I cut them off and put them in the ditch.
I can’t believe how such a somber thread could attract so many callous anti-motorcycle bigots
A brand new R-1, off the show room floor, with street tires, could have won AMA Superbike races just 5 years ago. And Grand Prix races less than 10 years ago.
According to Yamaha, the bike has a dry weight of just under 400 pounds, and 180HP at the crank. So figure in the neighborhood of 150-160 at the rear wheel.
And these things are perfectly stable, not the high-strung racing bikes of years past. They're perfectly happy to run as commuter bikes, AS LONG AS THE RIDER KEEPS HIMSELF UNDER CONTROL!
That's the key. But cranking open the throttle suddenly will cause all sorts of horrible problems that all but a very few 16 year olds can handle. And by that, I mean riders who are already professional racers at 16.
Mark
Unless his last name was Hayden, Bostrom, or Hopkins, he didn't fit that mold. And in fact, what you'll find is that the top level young riders are actually far more CONSERVATIVE AND RESTRAINED in their riding on the streets, if they ride on the streets at all.
A real, high lever rider only needs to prove what he or she can do on the track, and they're aware of the less that controlled conditions on the streets or even in parking lots.
Mark
I still don’t appreciate it today. That is why I have four motorbikes in my garage. Started on “crotch rockets” at 18, but I started responsibly. Didn’t do wheelies, etc because I didn’t know how and wasn’t in a rush to learn.
Regardless, 150+hp and a 16year old is a combo asking for trouble.
RIP
That'll serve as his casket.
This kid probably would’ve done just as badly on a modern 600 — all of them are much stronger that the Z-1 was back in the late 70’s. And the new ones don’t have the “death wobble” at speed — they’re solid as a rock at any speed.
I’ve been riding crotch-rockets all my life, and have two now. People ask me what bike they should get, and if they don’t currently own a bike I tell them I don’t recommend buying one at all. It’s just too dangerous.
Of course I have to explain why I still have them — it’s in my blood. I can’t help it. Risk is mitigated by the fact that I ride less than I used to, and my street skills are excellent. I also wear proper gear, including (usually) full roadrace leathers and (always)a full-face helmet.
Not to mention there’s nothing like the thrill you can experience on a good crotch-rocket.
Not at all an insult, as I put myself in the "warrior class" during Viet Nam. There are too few of our American youth who would even attempt expertise with dangerous equipment. It's a pity that attempts with similar skills weren't channeled earlier into a patriot's service.
Everyone is blaming the parents and the motorcycle. I would be willing to wager that it was the helmet that caused his death. There isn’t many stunts that require enough speed to cause enough blunt force injuries to kill a person. Full face helmets have a tendency to severe the brain stem because the chin guard acts like a lever and simply unplugs a person.
I instruct drivers in high speed car control for my BMW car club, and I prefer the NASCAR-style open-face helmet for that very reason.
I would never have had a son on that motorcycle. My folks bought me a used VW Beetle when they learned I had bought and was driving a motorcycle.
R1 MSRP = $11,699
Nice gift from daddy, I wonder what the kid’s funeral cost him?
you’re forgetting also that to be perfectly honost, 90% of riders will never come close to finding out what a litre bike is truly capable of. its rare to find someone who will fully utilize even a 600cc bike. especially if they’re only riding on the street.
i drive a shadow 750, and that’s more bike than i need.
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