The elaborate modifications that made Gavin Ridgway’s motorcycle a show-stopper also likely made it tougher for him to avoid a fatal crash, a Tasmanian coroner has found.
Ridgway, a 52-year-old handyman from Burnie, died from complications weeks after his custom Harley-Davidson replica left the road during a charity ride in February 2023.
The bike – described as his “pride and joy” after winning the ‘Top Chopper’ category at the Ulverstone Motorcycle Show – was fitted with oversized tyres and extended front forks that compromised its handling.
Coroner Leigh Mackey found these changes left Ridgway powerless to regain control after his front wheel struck a small stone on Cradle Mountain Road between Moina and Wilmot.
“Choppers are primarily designed for their look rather than their function,” Mackey wrote.
“They have less clearance for cornering than conventional road motorcycles and unless being driven in a straight line can be difficult to manoeuvre.”
Footage showed Ridgway’s bike drifting wide on a moderate right-hand bend, travelling 44 metres along the grass verge without braking before hitting a guidepost and throwing him into blackberry bushes.
A witness riding directly behind told the inquest he was “sure” he saw a rock fly from under Ridgway’s bike.
Another rider suggested fatigue may have been a factor, saying Ridgway appeared “oblivious to where he was and what was happening” after leaving the road.
A police motorcycle instructor who investigated the crash said the bike’s 21-inch front rim created an excessive “gyroscopic effect”, making it resistant to turning, while the wide rear tyre limited its ability to lean in corners.
Ridgway initially survived the crash but died suddenly at the Royal Hobart Hospital on March 15 from a blood clot linked to his pancreatic injuries.
The coroner found speed, alcohol and drugs were not factors in the crash, which happened at 56km/h in a 100km/h zone.
“I convey my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr Ridgway,” she said.
