GaryJ was killed on his motorcycle today (new-gen green ninjette). He lowsided on Pescadero, and unfortunately went off the road where there was a steep drop-off. The injuries from the fall (50+ feet) were life-threatening, and even though he was helicoptered out, he passed on the way to the hospital.

Gary was one of the few folks here in the bay area who just about everyone on a bike seemed to know, and he was one of the greatest supporters and promoters of the Ninja 250. While he owned and raced all types of bikes, his favorite streetbikes over the last 10 years have continued to be Ninja 250's, one of them which he rode over 100k miles. He joined us not so long ago on one of this site's 250 rides here in the south bay.

(Left to right: GaryJ, Eugene, Andre)

http://www.ciurczak.com/Motorcycles/Ninja-250-Pictures/2011-08-06-Ninjette-Ride-up-Mt/i-JgPqHpv/1/XL/Ninjette-Ride-up-Mt-Hamilton-XL.jpg

More links on this site about Gary if you search for his last name, so I won't link 'em all here. Huge loss for the community, and please think good thoughts for his wife, his family, and all of the many friends he left behind here in the bay area as well as all over the world online.

Thread on BARF (http://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=401838)

Seemed like he was really involved in the Sport Bike community. He wrote this book about Sportbiking http://www.amazon.com/Sportbiking-World-Advanced-Riders-Handbook/dp/1556308353.

Very sad indeed.

My condolences to his family and friends.

:rip:garyj

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=401838

Sad to hear. Prayers to his family and friends left behind :(

Very sad indeed.

My condolences to his family and friends.

Same.....

I can't believe this... not Gary... :Cry:

RIP Brother.. this is really sad news. Don't know him personally but he's still a fellow rider and a Ninjetteer. :(

NO WAY!!!! That is horrible and I too want to offer my condolences to his family and close friends. I will never forget that I met him on my first group ride ever when the Ninjettes went to Lick Observatory last year. It was such an awesome experience for being on my first group ride and I will never forget being threatened that I better not share this photo. Now seems like the time to share something that was so cute. This is Alex and Gary on my bike to go rescue a rider on Mines Rd. :eek:

http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj530/motomom7/ninjaridedoubleup.jpg

RIP Gary!!!!

I will be praying for his family. Sorry to hear about this. Even though I didn't know him like a lot of the people on this site and in Cali did, he seemed like a really nice guy from what I read. RIP

Sad day all around. Thank you for posting that picture, Tina! Here was the 100k+ bike...

http://image.motorcyclistonline.com/f/features/122_1009_2001_kawasaki_ninja_250/34137318+w620/122_1009_02_o+2001_kawasaki_ninja_250+right_side_view.jpg

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/features/122_1009_2001_kawasaki_ninja_250/

RIP Gary.

Sad day when we lose a rider.

:( Always hate to hear things like this. Just lost someone I grew up with about a month ago, and my fiancee lost a close friend last season in a motorcycle accident. My thoughs and prayers are with his family and friends. Godspeed, Gary!

Wow very sad. :( He seemed like a very awesome man.

rip gary...had a nice ride with you last summer...
Posted via Mobile Device

Found a clip of him riding on Youtube. I can only dream about being as good of a rider as him.

S-PgApo95NE

It is crazy to think that this very very skilled rider was taken out by a low side off a cliff. Just goes to show us that no matter your skill level you can be taken out in seconds. I am depressed now and I never even knew of this man until a couple of minutes ago. Just reading through the BARF forum anyone can realize what an amazing man he was. So sad.

Terrible, terrible news. Gary's a major reason why I bought a Ninja 250 and an inspiration that keeps me on the bike today.

R.I.P.

:cry :cry .... Why did it have to be Gary J ? So many of those rain rides you organized, your lessons, your teachings, and you reprimanding me for riding like a squid and trying to pass people. He was one of the *SAFEST* riders on street. And, this sh!t happened to him? .... I just cannot believe this.

How horrible. :( I am truly sorry for such a tragic loss. :(

Terrible, terrible news. Gary's a major reason why I bought a Ninja 250 and an inspiration that keeps me on the bike today.

This.

Sad, sad loss to the riding community. Condolences to Gary's family and friends.

Everyone ride safe.

Jeff

:rip: :salute2:

Sad news.

May a warm breeze blow softly at your back Gary for your journey ahead.

You will be missed.

Such sad news. We had a local rider go down yesterday as well. My heart goes out to Gary's family and those of you who knew him. He seemed like a great guy that truly left a mark.

RIP. :( A sad day for the Bay Area motorcycling community and for riding as a whole.

Heaven calls another one back home....

Rest In Peace, Gary.

My condolences to your family.

He really loved our 250's. Someone posted up one of my favorite pics of him on a 250 racebike earlier today:

18649

You can just tell he's smiling ear-to-ear under that visor.

I'm so sorry for your loss, our loss. My prayers go to the family.

My deepest condolences to his family and friends. Alex, I hope you are doing okay. Lots of friends here for you if you need anything.

I knew of Gary only by reputation, and his riding skill and sensibility are such that it is hard to process an accident on this stretch of road (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=37.267415,-122.309512&hl=en&ll=37.267423,-122.309504&spn=0.001955,0.003616&num=1&t=h&z=19). An awful reminder that even someone with hundreds of thousands of miles of experience can make a mistake. Ride careful out there, ninjetters, every ride, every corner.

RIP Gary. :rip:

:Cry: OMG No way! I have no words. RIP.

he was one of the first people I met after I got my 250. Always put a smile on my face when ever I met him. When I first heard it I was in denial for a bit. RIP.

Very sad. :( Was he on a 250 when the accident happened or was he on a different bike?

i'm shocked-good guy-taught me me how to ride on the track with club desmo-track club

CZroe - He was on his new-gen Ninja 250.

sucks to hear of such experienced riders getting taken out, a true tragedy....RIP Gary

Earlier this morning I made a public photo album for everyone to contribute photos to, so we can all have them, from multiple users on multiple forums, in a single location for everyone to download, keep, share, and remember Gary J. I thought this might be beneficial for organizing the photos for the June 10th event since Gary J was so involved with multiple online communities.

The link to view is: http://goo.gl/gONhR

The link to contribute is: http://goo.gl/aIdOI

Someone also a created facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/362649033796940/

Very sad news and very sad for the Bay Area. I am new to riding but not new to losing people on a motorcycle. Was Gary on Highway 9 or in the Santa Cruz mountains? I hope there is some sort of cautionary tale to come from the loss of what seemed to be a very good rider. Without some sort of lesson, his sacrifice just doesn't make sense.
Ride safe everyone.
My best to those who knew him.

pescadero road just outside loma mar on the ocean side

Rip :(

RIP

RIP Fellow Rider.

:(. Gary was one of the nicest riders I've ever met.

:rip:garyj

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=401838

Man, there's a number of riders in there who saw/rode with him the day of or rode by the crash and had no clue. That's gotta be a crazy feeling.

Wish I got to meet him.