UK Journo killed on watercooled GS Launch

[Operator]

Obviously plaas die insident vir Motorrad onder geweldige druk................... as daar dalk iets fout
sou wees met die motorfiets, dan sal dit vir hulle 'n PR nagmerrie wees en kan hulle
wêreld bemarkings-veldtog vir die nuwe GS erg in die wiele ry.

Natuurlik sal Motorrad se mense versigtig wees.

[Bensien]

There has been enough stirring on this thread. There is no cover up or conspiracy. There simply isn’t enough information yet. They are waiting for the coroner’s report, who  in turn is waiting for lab results.  They have to consider that possibility that he could have lost control as a result of a medical condition. Stroke, heart attack, low blood sugar, heat exhaustion, food poisoning, medication etc. etc.  .

They have to bring in experts to analyse the defects on the bike in order to determine if any of them could be the cause of the crash or if they are all as  the result of the crash. They also have to get in experts to analyse the crash scene for clues or evidence.

The bikes were spaced out at fairly long intervals as a result of the dust. The person behind in all likelihood could not see clear enough to know exactly what happened. The injured rider will still be under sedation and in all probability won’t be able to give a proper statement,  even if he saw or remembers what happened.

There has been enough speculation and BS. My brother’s accident happened in a very similar way. 9 months later and still nobody knows exactly what happened.

[Wolzak]

There has been enough stirring on this thread. There is no cover up or conspiracy. There simply isn’t enough information yet. They are waiting for the coroner’s report, who  in turn is waiting for lab results.  They have to consider that possibility that he could have lost control as a result of a medical condition. Stroke, heart attack, low blood sugar, heat exhaustion, food poisoning, medication etc. etc.  .

They have to bring in experts to analyse the defects on the bike in order to determine if any of them could be the cause of the crash or if they are all as  the result of the crash. They also have to get in experts to analyse the crash scene for clues or evidence.

The bikes were spaced out at fairly long intervals as a result of the dust. The person behind in all likelihood could not see clear enough to know exactly what happened. The injured rider will still be under sedation and in all probability won’t be able to give a proper statement,  even if he saw or remembers what happened.

There has been enough speculation and BS. My brother’s accident happened in a very similar way. 9 months later and still nobody knows exactly what happened.

Sensible post, thank you.

[BiG DoM]

Well all we can say is:No Just one Jounrnalist was killed during this launch! So why do BMW keep us in the dark? Slangolie? Slang in die gras? Elk geval so begin die waterverkoelde BMW vir my lyk!

Pullaway you are the dickhead. How you can begin to compare Zuma with the new GS/BMW is beyond comprehension. You are entitled to your opinion but keep it in the gutter where it belongs. If there was even the slightest doubt that it may have been a mechanical failure you can be quite sure BMW would have halted the global launch immediatly. From the little info available at present 'pilot error' would be a logical guess with a fellow pilot in close formation also involved. No slang in the grass or slangolie on the road or elsewhere IMHO. A tragic accident and sad death. Los it.

[Rynet]

There has been enough stirring on this thread. There is no cover up or conspiracy. There simply isn’t enough information yet. They are waiting for the coroner’s report, who  in turn is waiting for lab results.  They have to consider that possibility that he could have lost control as a result of a medical condition. Stroke, heart attack, low blood sugar, heat exhaustion, food poisoning, medication etc. etc.  .

They have to bring in experts to analyse the defects on the bike in order to determine if any of them could be the cause of the crash or if they are all as  the result of the crash. They also have to get in experts to analyse the crash scene for clues or evidence.

The bikes were spaced out at fairly long intervals as a result of the dust. The person behind in all likelihood could not see clear enough to know exactly what happened. The injured rider will still be under sedation and in all probability won’t be able to give a proper statement,  even if he saw or remembers what happened.

There has been enough speculation and BS. My brother’s accident happened in a very similar way. 9 months later and still nobody knows exactly what happened.

Sensible post, thank you.

Agreed . Very Sensible Post.  It would be great if this thread could end on such a sensible note . 

[Gerrard]

There has been enough stirring on this thread. There is no cover up or conspiracy. There simply isn’t enough information yet. They are waiting for the coroner’s report, who  in turn is waiting for lab results.  They have to consider that possibility that he could have lost control as a result of a medical condition. Stroke, heart attack, low blood sugar, heat exhaustion, food poisoning, medication etc. etc.  .

They have to bring in experts to analyse the defects on the bike in order to determine if any of them could be the cause of the crash or if they are all as  the result of the crash. They also have to get in experts to analyse the crash scene for clues or evidence.

The bikes were spaced out at fairly long intervals as a result of the dust. The person behind in all likelihood could not see clear enough to know exactly what happened. The injured rider will still be under sedation and in all probability won’t be able to give a proper statement,  even if he saw or remembers what happened.

There has been enough speculation and BS. My brother’s accident happened in a very similar way. 9 months later and still nobody knows exactly what happened.

Sensible post, thank you.

Agreed . Very Sensible Post.  It would be great if this thread could end on such a sensible note . 

Very well speculated indeed 

[Vis Arend]

There has been enough stirring on this thread. There is no cover up or conspiracy. There simply isn’t enough information yet. They are waiting for the coroner’s report, who  in turn is waiting for lab results.  They have to consider that possibility that he could have lost control as a result of a medical condition. Stroke, heart attack, low blood sugar, heat exhaustion, food poisoning, medication etc. etc.  .

They have to bring in experts to analyse the defects on the bike in order to determine if any of them could be the cause of the crash or if they are all as  the result of the crash. They also have to get in experts to analyse the crash scene for clues or evidence.

The bikes were spaced out at fairly long intervals as a result of the dust. The person behind in all likelihood could not see clear enough to know exactly what happened. The injured rider will still be under sedation and in all probability won’t be able to give a proper statement,  even if he saw or remembers what happened.

There has been enough speculation and BS. My brother’s accident happened in a very similar way. 9 months later and still nobody knows exactly what happened.

Sensible post, thank you.

Agreed . Very Sensible Post.  It would be great if this thread could end on such a sensible note . 

Very well speculated indeed 

+1 

[Fuzzy Muzzy]

What is clear is that BMW do not want to make more info available. Some people on this thread spoke to people directly involved and they don't want to elaborate or even tell what they've heard. I do not know any specifics or the reason's for the secrecy, but the speculation will not stop. It's natural for people to wonder what happened, especially if it's being kept a secret.

At this moment, there still isn’t a definite answer as to what happened. There isn’t any secrecy. The known facts have been stated.  Anything else would be rumours and speculation.

[Pullaway]

Well all we can say is:No Just one Jounrnalist was killed during this launch! So why do BMW keep us in the dark? Slangolie? Slang in die gras? Elk geval so begin die waterverkoelde BMW vir my lyk!

Pullaway you are the dickhead. How you can begin to compare Zuma with the new GS/BMW is beyond comprehension. You are entitled to your opinion but keep it in the gutter where it belongs. If there was even the slightest doubt that it may have been a mechanical failure you can be quite sure BMW would have halted the global launch immediately. From the little info available at present 'pilot error' would be a logical guess with a fellow pilot in close formation also involved. No slang in the grass or slangolie on the road or elsewhere IMHO. A tragic accident and sad death. Los it.

Just to clear things up, I did not try to insinuate any mechanical failure on the bike. More the lack of information  from the people that was there, as well as the organisers that concern me - much like our leader Mr.Z - story first need to go to the spin-doctors before a decent medea release are available? (Gee my net n oomblik om die waarheid uit the dink)

[Mzee]

I am ashamed of some of the dogs here.  How do you spin information about a dead man?  Why not be patient and wait until the appropriate authorities give us information. 

[buzzlightyear]

I think the namecalling is uncalled for. personal attacks are not allowed.

[Rynet]

I think the namecalling is uncalled for. personal attacks are not allowed.

Personally , in this case, I think Pullaway asked for it .  

[whitedelight]

I personally do not like to comment on matters like these without all the facts at hand.It is an unfortunate incident but I will happily wait to see the official findings.There are far too many permutations in this case for me to speculate what could have happened.
This thread will be 30 pages long in a short while ,and noone will be any closer to the truth.

[Mev Vis Arend]

RIV.  Sterkte aan die familie en vriende.

[BiG DoM]

I think the namecalling is uncalled for. personal attacks are not allowed.

Apologies I meant SHOWERhead ... must have been a slip of the finger, momentary lapse in concentration, had Zuma on my mind...

[jimjim]

Reading Kevin Duke's review of the new R1200GS on motorcycle.com:

"However, the GS did disappoint me during a casual ride down an open dirt road. I was standing up to get cool air through my riding gear, traveling about 45 mph, when I encountered a washboard section. In an instant and with seemingly no provocation, the bike went into a wild tankslapper that threatened to throw me from the bike. It was a very panicked second before the steering regained its composure.
We can’t yet say for certain this is a problem with the bike, but another journalist reported a similar experience when he was riding while standing."

Link: http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/bmw/2013-bmw-r1200gs-review-91507.html

Haven't seen any other reviewers mentioned this issue (yet).

[Bundu]

Reading Kevin Duke's review of the new R1200GS on motorcycle.com:

"However, the GS did disappoint me during a casual ride down an open dirt road. I was standing up to get cool air through my riding gear, traveling about 45 mph, when I encountered a washboard section. In an instant and with seemingly no provocation, the bike went into a wild tankslapper that threatened to throw me from the bike. It was a very panicked second before the steering regained its composure.
We can’t yet say for certain this is a problem with the bike, but another journalist reported a similar experience when he was riding while standing."

Link: http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/bmw/2013-bmw-r1200gs-review-91507.html

Haven't seen any other reviewers mentioned this issue (yet).

http://canadamotoguide.com/2013/01/28/launch-bmw-r1200gs/


"The only hiccup in the bike’s handling is a possible tendency to shake its head while standing on the footpegs over rough terrain. On a couple of occasions while standing, hitting a succession of sharp bumps causes the fork to shake just a bit. It isn’t alarming; it’s just that I don’t remember the old bike having any tendency to do this. A couple of the U.S. journos also noted this."

[Gavin]

The remainder of the launch has been canceled due to the tragic death of Kevin Ash

[hornet3]

In an attempt to end some of the wild speculation on this forum I quote the following from today's George Herald, a local newspaper : "Kevin Ash (53), apparently lost control on the gravel road. ............and died after crashing his motorcycle last Tuesday evening.  It happened too fast for the motorcyclist behind him to swerve out or stop and he collided with Ash, injuring himself as well. The second rider sustained a dislocated shoulder and minor injuries and was discharged from hospital last Friday."

[Trailrider]

Thanks hornet3

I wonder why that was not said in the original staement.