Luc Bourdon

Luc Bourdon died last week, after drifting into the opposing lane of a two-lane highway, on what I can only assume to be twisties, given that it's a NB highway. He was killed instantly when hit head-on by an incoming transport. He was 21. He had a potentially rather promising NHL career ahead of him. He was the pride of Shippagan, NB, a relatively tiny town of 3,000. It's tragic, no question.

I've been without internet at home for the last week, so it took me a while to search this out (and I think they didn't release it right off the bat), but I really wanted to know what kind of bike Bourdon was riding. The answer?



A brand-spanking new 2008 Suzuki GSX-R 1000. Or in other words, a ridiculously crazy crotch rocket. Something that, really, under no circumstances a beginner should have been on.

Here's a YouTube video of the acceleration of a GSR-X 1000 (this is in km):


This person shifts into SECOND at 150km/hr. Into third at 200km/hr. This bike is pretty much the equivalent of attaching a rocket to your ass. This is in addition to the fact that they have touchy throttles (as do pretty much all supersport bikes) and just...aren't friendly for learning at all.

The first bike I rode was a 2001 Triumph TT600 (my partner's). I took it around the block a couple times before I took my course (which was done on a 250cc dirtbike). I then rode it around the city after I took my course. It felt okay. Over the winter, I got a great deal on a 2005 Suzuki SV650s, which I purchased as my first bike. After having ridden it for about 600km, I rode the TT again, to fill it with gas. The difference was STAGGERING. It was right then that I finally understood what everyone was talking about, in terms of learning on a friendlier bike. The throttle is so touchy compared to mine, and it just takes off after about 4,000 rpms. And honestly, mine isn't even the best "beginner" bike - it's classified as something you can "get away with" as a beginner, and is better for intermediates. In retrospect, I am curious how it would have made an impact on my development as a rider if I would have purchased a Kawi Ninja 250/500 as my first, and then progressed to my bike a year later. But honestly, I do tell myself that, while I may not have made the absolute perfect/optimal decision, at least I didn't go with something that can just fly on out from under me.

This just goes right along with my general bafflement with regards to riders who ride in shorts, t-shirts, sandals, bare hands, and in the US, no helmet. Yes, motorcycles are dangerous. Why wouldn't you do everything you can do mitigate that potential risk?

I wrote about this in my other blog yesterday, and got this response from a friend:
sorry, i just don't feel the tragedy of it at all. he did something stupid, he paid the price. i feel bad for the team because they lost a good player, but not for the player: he had his priorities, he lived his desires, and he paid his price. he was stupid: he tried to pass on a curve in the notoriously twisty/no-passing-zone roads of new brunswick, and we should be glad that he didn't take anyone else out with him.

In a way, I agree. In another way, I find it tragic that it illustrates how the whole being 21/feeling invincible/wanting to keep up with your friends works. It's the whole "how would you feel, being the guy on the 250 when all your friends have Gixxers" at work. Obviously, if you don't take your life into your own hands and buy a ridiculously overpowered bike as your first, you cannot possibly be a real man.

And honestly, that is what I find most tragic - the social expectations and pressures that, most likely, were the foundation and groundwork for the events that unfolded.