I read the article on the rider thrown from a motorcycle (“Rider dies after being thrown from motorcycle,” Valley Record, May 10).

If he was riding a crotch rocket, my experience with them is bad.

Once, I was traveling at 60 mph on a curve and was passed by one on the center line as he went by. The good news is a Washington State Trooper had him pulled over as we went by.

Highway 1 in California is narrow and winding. On it, three riders passed a car with a a pick-up and camper coming head-on. The pickup moved as far as he could to avoid a collision. They never slowed down .

Another time, a van was travelling north on Highway 401 at the Astoria, Ore., bridge. A rider took a curve too fast and hit it head-on. The rider ended up on top of the van and was killed in the accident.

Why is speed so important? Why kill yourself or someone else at a young age?

Ralph Freeman

North Bend