Calling All XJ Riders!!!

Memorial Ride For Bill Schmitt:

Mark & I have posted several times to gather some riders... and no takers. Seems life has gobbled us up and we are all so busy or the economy is kicking our cans... you know Bill would understand that.... Man I certainly do! That was the coolest thing to find out out my brother... his giving heart... whether it was an XJ forum or a fellow/new rider he was there to help with his experience, but as his brother... he shared his heart as well.

I/we received cards and messages from around the world and thats what Bill loved about this forum... he has been a global guy as long as I can remember with his ham radio, made sense he would move to the www

So if I may be so bold... I can't think of a better memorial ride to honor Bill. . Take some time and ride your favorite road this month... and dedicate that ride to someone who loved to ride, build and share his knowledge with his fellow XJers, Bill Schmitt...then post your experience... what you love about the ride... what riding means to you..even some pics... oh and bring someone along to share the fun... the response will lift his family's hearts and honor an XJ freind... thanks to all Dave

 

Dave, I never knew your brother, I'm sure I'd be a better person if I had.....this is a small exerpt of a article I wrote some time ago....and somehow this part seemed right to post....

Taken from: I love to Smoke

I look back at all the bikes that I’ve owned and especially the people that I’ve met along the way. I remember so many people that were so different from each other yet all of them with a deep abiding love for motorcycles, especially smokers! Like a lot of older riders, I’ve lost some friends to that which we love so much. Big Joe Haney who used to host huge parties on his farm letting his guests pick their choice from a barn full of street and dirt bikes (some legal and some very warm to the touch) to go for a group ride in the woods to the rock quarry. Big Joe was a gentle, very kindhearted guy that was riding his IT400 Yamaha (yes, the blue one) on his deeply rutted, long driveway without a helmet before he headed into an immovable tree lapsing Big Joe into a coma for three days before going to meet the Lord. There was “fast” Ronnie who didn’t have a self-preservation bone in his body that surprised us all by living so long when the inevitable happened. He knew big Joe and I often wonder if they see each other in heaven. There are others but there are no regrets, although I do miss them. We all know the risks that we’ve signed up for and we all accept it and they wouldn’t want me crying over their misfortune anymore that I would want my friends to regret my passing.

It’s easy now to remember back in the days when Ronnie, Sammy, I and a few guys that I didn’t even know would meet at the old Box factory loading dock on Telegraph Rd to watch Ronnie wheelie his H2 through the first three gears. Or how Sammy’s full race GT750, which we had raced for two seasons, could blend in with my H1 and Ronnie’s H2 as we stormed the local roads. We were all avid smokers then and the sound that the three bikes made going down the road was wonderful and loud! We loved teaching the occasional sports car driver what the “deadly blue cloud” was and we would laugh and laugh as we left them back at the light covered in smoke.

So here I am now in my 50’s, nearly 38 years after my very first motorcycle ride and I haven’t seen Sammy in ten years or so. He looked very thin, sickly thin the last time that I saw him and I hope that he’s doing alright but I’d heard he may have passed.

I thought about him and Ronnie both last night. Yes, I thought about them last night as I wound second gear to redline on the straightaway to Gibson Island knowing that he and Ronnie were right there next to me in spirit as my ’75 H2’s expansion chambers screamed.

They would have been smiling too that after I returned home, adrenaline pumping through my veins as I pulled my deep purple H2 into the garage, that I just couldn’t bear to cover it without just spending a few minutes staring at it. I quit using cigarettes years ago but I’m never going to quit smoking!


Who knows, maybe Bill's joined them all on a terrific group ride.....

jeff

 

Dave
I'll be riding the Dragon this weekend with the XS/XJ11 group, Bill will be with us the entire time. I think you were going to be in the area, look us us. We are going to be at the Iron Horse lodge, Friday to Monday.
http://ironhorsenc.com/
Check your PM, I'll send you are phone #

 

Never met Bill but heard a lot of good things about him. I took a ride today since I got my bike back together and I dedicate that ride for Bill. I had fun even if it was hard to ride with a neck brace! I'm sure I got some looks.
Bet Bill has some nice roads to ride up stairs with the Man.

 

thanks to all so far... I can't ask for more than to ride and enjoy life...

Mark.. I have my little on this weekend and will be mountain bound next weekend... stay warm, you guys have a cold snap on the way... sunny but cooooold! Hug your sweety for me.. she has been a HUGE help in my life sharing support and laughter...

 

Western WA Meetup For Bill
Here's a link to a thread from the meetup we had to sign the card for Bill's family. That was a fine day.

 

Rain here all weekend (heavy at that) but plan to get a good ride in next weekend, and shoot some video of a popular road as the leaves are turning..... sooooooo
I'll put the rear pegs down for that one....

 

It sounds like a good thing, but it would be hard to get from Colorado to NC, if I was closer I would be all for it.

Hope it comes together for ya.

 

OK fellow riders... the weather is kickin' today and I'm rollin to the Diamond Back in the NC mountains to honor my brother, who I miss dearly... I'll post some pics. The rest of you get out and roll.... ride with your pegs down to honor those friends and family we have lost that loved riding as we do... ride knowing they are carving the pavement right there with you! Ride Safe, Dave

 

Man thanks for reposting... you folks have no idea how important this was to Bill's son Steven. Well not just Steven but for all of us.... to see a church over flow in support is impressive, to receive notes from around the world from fellow XJers was amazing. It still warms my heart knowing that Bill made a difference in so many others lives... thank you all again.

 

I didn't know bill as im new around here but i did see this thread just before my brother and i took off on a ride so i kept him in my thoughts and threw the camera on board and we headed off on a afternoon ride. this wasn't our favorite riding area but the mountain roads we go on frequently have been subject to ice and snow the last few days. we headed off to hagerman Idaho, the best thing about this ride it the warmer temps and great views. we did 192 miles and it couldn't have been more perfect.