07-24-2016, 12:55 AM
Yep. My GUESS (and it's only speculation) is that the ST rider was not from the area, unaccustomed to riding on curvy roads, and didn't have the necessary skills to properly negotiate turns on his heavy bike. If his rear tire was squared-off from a lot of freeway riding back home ("heck, it wasn't even down to the wear bars"), that would have compounded his problems.
I've taken many organized motorcycling trips to the Alps. A common complaint of the tour guides is when "seasoned, long-time riders" from the U.S. show up and have no clue how to negotiate curves or ride briskly on mountain roads, because their riding experience is mostly from trawling U.S. interstates on a Goldwing. The extent of their experience leaning the bike is on freeway off-ramps. They invariably hold up the group due to inadequate riding skills, and occasionally crash. You can tell they're in trouble when they first leave the hotel -- they ride Fred Flintstone style, with their feet off the pegs, as they leave the parking lot.
I've taken many organized motorcycling trips to the Alps. A common complaint of the tour guides is when "seasoned, long-time riders" from the U.S. show up and have no clue how to negotiate curves or ride briskly on mountain roads, because their riding experience is mostly from trawling U.S. interstates on a Goldwing. The extent of their experience leaning the bike is on freeway off-ramps. They invariably hold up the group due to inadequate riding skills, and occasionally crash. You can tell they're in trouble when they first leave the hotel -- they ride Fred Flintstone style, with their feet off the pegs, as they leave the parking lot.