Just been thinking, what could have happened

ashman · Saturday at 8:57 PM

As we all know I came close to losing my life last December as well my wife, and it's got me thinking, what would have happened to 52+ years of bike life memories in my shed/workshop, my beloved Norton and everything to do with my biker life, I seen death door open wide, but I slammed it shut, lucky we weren't on the Norton, but its got me thinking, what will become of all my biking stuff, all my life time of collecting tools for every bike I owned, all the special tools I made or brought.
I will never give up on my bike stuff while I am still here or think about never riding again, but so may has, they get older do they give up or also know when it's time, but fingers cross I be 105 before that happens, but sometime we have no say in it.

I think about old Al (Acotrel) he has given up on his riding as well Norton bista race bike, but we hear all his old stories when he did race sometime, he is now an armchair worrier here on our Norton Forum, but what I trying to say what will become of our life time of memories and stuff when we can no long remember and thrown in a home or past away, my kids already know what to do but when I am gone what will become of it all.

When down at the Mens Shed I seen it quite a few times family bring stuff down from a life time of shed tools when their father was too old or past away and what they can't give away or sell the big clear out a lifetime of gear is just treated as junk and most of the time just gets thrown into a big skiff to be thrown out so they can sell up.

Kids and family don't have the love we have had all our life of biking, Al keeps dreaming he will get back on his bike but I think he has gone way past that now and his Norton just sits in the shed 1/2 pulled apart going nowhere, it could be given to someone who could be interested in it, but I dough it, it be just junk to the rest of the family when he is beyond it or kicked the bucket and that could happen to all of us old bikers as we get older.

But when its time for me, my oldest daughter gets the house, she will live here as she could never afford her own place it be hers for ever I hope, my youngest daughter the police officer she gets all my biker stuff, bikes and all, what she does with it who knows be out of my hands, but the family house was handed to me when my dad past on and it be left to my daughter to keep a roof over her head, my 2 girl know what to do and who gets what.

So what will happen when its time, I am just curious, do we all have a plan, leave everything to the kids, sell it all before we get to bad or just keep going as nothing will ever happen, not, as I say both me and Debra came close, my kids know what happens and what is expected of them to do the right thing, what about everyone else, do you have a plan or not, as things can change in an instant, you never know when the time comes it happen so quickly and you might not be ready for it.

I am planning to be here for a lot more time yet, but what Debra and myself have been through the last 5+ months and our lives has changed in what we can do, but I am not giving up I be back on the bike soon but it has opened my eyes in how things can change in an instant, so I hope we all think about this, but there will be a time as we all get older.

What do you all think, do you have a plan or just let fate take control.

Ashley

robs ss · 2026-05-31T00:55:52-0600

No - Ash, I don't have a plan. Maybe I should.
You know though, they say being stupid is like being dead. You don't know anything, it's just the people around you that suffer! Boom boom!!

grandpaul · 2026-05-31T08:51:10-0600

I've been "tailoring" my/our plan for at least 2 years.

I have a "shortcut" icon on my laptop screen captioned "ICE - Insert Thumb Drive" (ICE= In Case Emergency)

Clicking on it give specific details on how to handle our entire estate (including copies of Wills and Family Trust info). It will be (more or less) divided equally between the 5 kids

I have a specific way to divide the bikes- First of all, my wyfe gets the Dreer Monoshock Prototype Norton (she knows the value, and has all the details, she "lived" it with me). Since my 2 older sons each got to pick 3 bikes from my collection back in 2012, my other son and 2 daughters will get to pick 3 each. They must draw for who goes first, then rotate turns. After that, all 5 draw for rotation, then pick the collection down.

As some of you may have learned from some of my previous posts, I have a Motorcycle Master Spreadsheet (linked in the ICE spreadsheet) that gives every finite detail about each and every bike, right down to the last penny and the latest 1/4 hour that I worked on them. Also, each bike has it's own punchlist of any items needing service or repair. There is a tab with contact info listing every shop, outlet, and trade that I've ever used, so they can readily find help or parts. Same spreadsheet also have current/recent valuation. All the titles and papers are in a large accordion folder.

I have (2) backup hard drives - one from 2005 (and earlier) to May 2019 when we moved up to the Austin area, and the other from May 2019 up to the present. They contain all of our data and photos, with folders for each backup to my thumb drive and laptop drive about every other month or three apart. The photos are cross-filed with their respective backup on a specific date, as well as all motorcycle-related stuff in it's own folder, all house stuff in it's own, all ranch stuff in it's own, all financial stuff in it's own, etc...

My youngest son will get all of the tools & equipment, my older sons are all set. Same goes for the boat.

While all 5 kids will own my ranch/barndo/shop equally, I have a strong feeling that my youngest son will probably MOVE there and do heavy equipment operation and electrical work with the barndo as his base of operations. Anyway, the tools, equipment, boat, and bikes are all over there.

Our house will be a 5-way equal split, as will whatever remains of our savings/investment accounts. That will include our knick-knacks, jewelry, scuba gear, fishing equipment, etc, etc, etc. The two youngest can continue to live in it, but must pay the utilities & taxes.

Any one of the kids can sell anything they want, but "first rights of refusal" go to the other 4. They must not sell (to each other) for more than taxable value, but can sell for any amount less if they wish.

I've written my obituary and give instructions for my ashes to be spread - some at my ranch, some out on our favorite twisties, and some at the pond on our family ranch where I grew up.

On the "ICE" list is directions for my oldest son to click on each shortcut on my main internet screen and notify each group (including AccessNorton, of course) that I've passed on, and any details regarding my memorial service. Any of my bikes that end up on the market will be offered to these groups before going on the "open" market. Same for the list of fecebook motorcycle groups.

I'm writing a book of my life's story, also; right from my earliest memories living at our family ranch (from age 3). I really need to get back to it soon, I think I'm up to about 25-30 years ago.

So, I THINK I'm fairly well set...

74ok · 2026-05-31T11:22:18-0600

ashman said:
As we all know I came close to losing my life last December as well my wife, and it's got me thinking, what would have happened to 52+ years of bike life memories in my shed/workshop, my beloved Norton and everything to do with my biker life, I seen death door open wide, but I slammed it shut, lucky we weren't on the Norton, but its got me thinking, what will become of all my biking stuff, all my life time of collecting tools for every bike I owned, all the special tools I made or brought.
I will never give up on my bike stuff while I am still here or think about never riding again, but so may has, they get older do they give up or also know when it's time, but fingers cross I be 105 before that happens, but sometime we have no say in it.

I think about old Al (Acotrel) he has given up on his riding as well Norton bista race bike, but we hear all his old stories when he did race sometime, he is now an armchair worrier here on our Norton Forum, but what I trying to say what will become of our life time of memories and stuff when we can no long remember and thrown in a home or past away, my kids already know what to do but when I am gone what will become of it all.

When down at the Mens Shed I seen it quite a few times family bring stuff down from a life time of shed tools when their father was too old or past away and what they can't give away or sell the big clear out a lifetime of gear is just treated as junk and most of the time just gets thrown into a big skiff to be thrown out so they can sell up.

Kids and family don't have the love we have had all our life of biking, Al keeps dreaming he will get back on his bike but I think he has gone way past that now and his Norton just sits in the shed 1/2 pulled apart going nowhere, it could be given to someone who could be interested in it, but I dough it, it be just junk to the rest of the family when he is beyond it or kicked the bucket and that could happen to all of us old bikers as we get older.

But when its time for me, my oldest daughter gets the house, she will live here as she could never afford her own place it be hers for ever I hope, my youngest daughter the police officer she gets all my biker stuff, bikes and all, what she does with it who knows be out of my hands, but the family house was handed to me when my dad past on and it be left to my daughter to keep a roof over her head, my 2 girl know what to do and who gets what.

So what will happen when its time, I am just curious, do we all have a plan, leave everything to the kids, sell it all before we get to bad or just keep going as nothing will ever happen, not, as I say both me and Debra came close, my kids know what happens and what is expected of them to do the right thing, what about everyone else, do you have a plan or not, as things can change in an instant, you never know when the time comes it happen so quickly and you might not be ready for it.

I am planning to be here for a lot more time yet, but what Debra and myself have been through the last 5+ months and our lives has changed in what we can do, but I am not giving up I be back on the bike soon but it has opened my eyes in how things can change in an instant, so I hope we all think about this, but there will be a time as we all get older.

What do you all think, do you have a plan or just let fate take control.

Ashley

i think u will be among the few top characters, know forever, from this period & site, of norton lore

grandpaul · 2026-05-31T13:51:47-0600

74ok said:
i think u will be among the few top characters, know forever, from this period & site, of norton lore

Agreed... Akin to the "tales of Hobot"...

Richard Tool · 2026-05-31T15:25:13-0600

grandpaul said:
I've been "tailoring" my/our plan for at least 2 years.

I have a "shortcut" icon on my laptop screen captioned "ICE - Insert Thumb Drive" (ICE= In Case Emergency)

Clicking on it give specific details on how to handle our entire estate (including copies of Wills and Family Trust info). It will be (more or less) divided equally between the 5 kids

I have a specific way to divide the bikes- First of all, my wyfe gets the Dreer Monoshock Prototype Norton (she knows the value, and has all the details, she "lived" it with me). Since my 2 older sons each got to pick 3 bikes from my collection back in 2012, my other son and 2 daughters will get to pick 3 each. They must draw for who goes first, then rotate turns. After that, all 5 draw for rotation, then pick the collection down.

As some of you may have learned from some of my previous posts, I have a Motorcycle Master Spreadsheet (linked in the ICE spreadsheet) that gives every finite detail about each and every bike, right down to the last penny and the latest 1/4 hour that I worked on them. Also, each bike has it's own punchlist of any items needing service or repair. There is a tab with contact info listing every shop, outlet, and trade that I've ever used, so they can readily find help or parts. Same spreadsheet also have current/recent valuation. All the titles and papers are in a large accordion folder.

I have (2) backup hard drives - one from 2005 (and earlier) to May 2019 when we moved up to the Austin area, and the other from May 2019 up to the present. They contain all of our data and photos, with folders for each backup to my thumb drive and laptop drive about every other month or three apart. The photos are cross-filed with their respective backup on a specific date, as well as all motorcycle-related stuff in it's own folder, all house stuff in it's own, all ranch stuff in it's own, all financial stuff in it's own, etc...

My youngest son will get all of the tools & equipment, my older sons are all set. Same goes for the boat.

While all 5 kids will own my ranch/barndo/shop equally, I have a strong feeling that my youngest son will probably MOVE there and do heavy equipment operation and electrical work with the barndo as his base of operations. Anyway, the tools, equipment, boat, and bikes are all over there.

Our house will be a 5-way equal split, as will whatever remains of our savings/investment accounts. That will include our knick-knacks, jewelry, scuba gear, fishing equipment, etc, etc, etc. The two youngest can continue to live in it, but must pay the utilities & taxes.

Any one of the kids can sell anything they want, but "first rights of refusal" go to the other 4. They must not sell (to each other) for more than taxable value, but can sell for any amount less if they wish.

I've written my obituary and give instructions for my ashes to be spread - some at my ranch, some out on our favorite twisties, and some at the pond on our family ranch where I grew up.

On the "ICE" list is directions for my oldest son to click on each shortcut on my main internet screen and notify each group (including AccessNorton, of course) that I've passed on, and any details regarding my memorial service. Any of my bikes that end up on the market will be offered to these groups before going on the "open" market. Same for the list of fecebook motorcycle groups.

I'm writing a book of my life's story, also; right from my earliest memories living at our family ranch (from age 3). I really need to get back to it soon, I think I'm up to about 25-30 years ago.

So, I THINK I'm fairly well set...

grandpaul - good on you for your organization efforts - scary in it’s depth of thought ! My wife and I have just redone our wills - one thing the attorney recommended that we never considered is the “ wipeout clause “ - where do you want the assets to go if every named heir pre deceases you ? We picked St Jude’s children hospital.

ashman · 2026-05-31T15:54:54-0600

I am just over thinking things at the moment, with rehab, learning to walk again, unable to do the things I normally do till I am allowed to walk with my new leg till everything is used to it and making sure it is right for my stump and skin to wear longer without damaging my leg, not much time to do the Norton ES kit install or muck around with the train layout and then as well looking after Debra, it's starting to have an effect on me, just over 5 months now after the accident and not having my freedom to just get in the car or on the bike to have that escape, or going out visiting mates that I always dropped around for a few hours, all my mates are doing the usual things that I can't do at the moment, with the rehab and time with the leg makers is getting me out of the house and doing shopping when the daughter and her BF are free to do so, but it's getting to me relying on others for help.
The CTP insurer is helping us but things take time, they arranged and pay a mower man to come do my yard every 2 weeks, but haven't seen them for the last 3 weeks and the last time they did the yard they did a rush job and missed a lot and not doing behind my shed, they were gone after 15 minutes work, not good enough and I complained to the OT person who arranges everything that they not doing what they are being paid to do.
Just things are getting me down a bit and Debra been angry with me because I move things to make it easier for me and the wheelchair not fully understanding I need room to move around, she has a habit of hanging clothes on door handles and when I go through the doors the clothes get caught up in the wheels of my WC as well when she get up off a chair she leaves it out in my way, stuck in the house together to long not helping both of us.

So maybe starting this thread wasn't very well thought out, just hasn't been a good week for me as well suffering a bloody cold as well hasn't helped, I need a break, but I can't, its the way it is now.

Ashley

grandpaul · 2026-05-31T18:40:06-0600

Richard Tool said:
grandpaul - good on you for your organization efforts - scary in it’s depth of thought ! My wife and I have just redone our wills - one thing the attorney recommended that we never considered is the “ wipeout clause “ - where do you want the assets to go if every named heir pre deceases you ? We picked St Jude’s children hospital.

We have 3 "children-in-law", 8 grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. There's plenty of places for our stuff to go under the "issue" (grandchildren, basically) clauses throughout.

grandpaul · 2026-05-31T18:43:19-0600

ashman said:
I am just over thinking things at the moment...
So maybe starting this thread wasn't very well thought out...

Hey, some of us will chat here till the power goes out, if you want to.

It's ALWAYS up to you.

grandpaul · 2026-05-31T18:47:39-0600

I may as well mention that we do have SOME savings, put in interest-bearing savings accounts, that we can draw from as needed, to make ends meet for a good while into the future, until our older kids can take care of us. I am horribly averse to "investments", as early in our marriage I "tried" the stock market. NEVER AGAIN. Bank interest is GUARANTEED and protected by the FDIC even if the BANK fails!

...of course, my BIGGEST investment is MOTORCYCLES! Lots and lots of 'em...

ashman · 2026-06-01T04:06:04-0600

We have some savings and the payout from the Thruxton write off, we have enough money to buy a new car so we can get around but that will drain all our savings to do so (we are wanting to buy new if we can), so starting to look at late model second hand cars, but that will drain over 1/2 or more of our savings, the Land Rover will bring good money selling private as the duel cabs are pulling top $$$$, but need a few minor things fixed before we can sell it and just a good tidy up, but till I am on 2 legs again for me to do the work, my mates installed the new alternator but removed a lot of stuff to get it in that needs to be put back on.

But the CTP insurer needs to come to the party to buy a new car for us, they said they will look into it when I am walking again, but Debra can drive before that but the old Landy is out of the picture for her to drive again, the excuse that they are waiting for my new leg goes against the physios who say I be removing my new leg when I be driving a car, so really they just holding back, but they keep saying they are going to look after us, one of the frustrations I got to deal with.

Dealing with the other party insurance is the biggest frustration as they know the accident wasn't our fault and waiting for long term medical certificate from hospitals and all before they will commit to doing anything about paying for a car we both can drive and getting a few mods for me done to it, but in the end they have to cough up, not hard knowing how long term losing a leg is and same with Debra's injuries will never be the same, so they should do the right thing now not later, at the moment they are looking more after themselves and we just have to play their game, well for the time being, well they paid for my new leg so they do accept my long term injuries, so they need to get on with more of our needs.

grandpaul said:
Hey, some of us will chat here till the power goes out, if you want to.

It's ALWAYS up to you.

I have close mates, family and friends that I can talk with as well and I have had a offer for outside help to talk with the professionals and all, but I am just peeved off in how things are slow going getting the help we need and the wait, my new wheelchair has been approved but no idea how long before I get it, they say could take up to 12 weeks getting approval to being made, well it been over 2 week since the approval but no time frame before I am wheeling around on it.
Lucky the new leg is moving along quicker, 5 months now which could have taken over a year to be made, so glad I didn't have to wait that long.

Rehab in the morning and again on Friday, Monday week they are making my full-time leg, so I be without the training leg for a few days while they make the new one, legless again lol, becoming a habit of losing my leg lol.

Ashley

Just been thinking, what could have happened

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