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[Saintnick06]

I am devastated to hear of this!!! I've only met the man once but he took care of me big time!!!  September of 2013 I bought a brand new 2014 CVO Ultra Limited and left from Pittsburgh to Maggie Valley. I was with two other couples and my bike was acting up, I was getting the ABS icon on my Radio screen and then I periodically could not start the bike.  I finally just could not get my bike started and I was 60 miles away from the closest BIG dealer which was Tilley's.  I wanted to go to a bigger dealer because the bike was new and not many people knew about the new design and features. I luckily got my bike started once again and left for Tilley's early in the morning. Z&M Cycles called the night before so they knew I'd be coming. I arrived at Tilley's and the man at the counter told me he was sorry that he could not look at my bike, he said he had two tech's call off and he could not do it. I told him that I was from Pittsburgh and that I was on the road but he said no!  I was standing outside the dealer's and an older gent came up and asked me how I liked the bike, I told him I liked it when it ran!!!!  He started looking at the bike and playing with the controls! I thought to myself who the heck is this guy messing with my new CVO!!! You all know how we are, we don't want anybody touching our Harley's!!!!  He asked what was up and I told him what was going on and that the guy at the check in told me he could not look at my bike.  Well to my SURPRISE it was Don Tilley himself and he yelled who in the hell told you we can't get you in!!! He then told the guy at the service counter to stop what he was doing and to get all the tech's he had out here right now and get this bike into the garage!! I was floored, I took some pictures with him shaking his hand and he said we never turn a person on the road away and apologized. What a great man!!!! Had to love this guy!!!  He had his family show my friends and I all around his garage, show room etc.  He showed us his bikes, race cars and the hospitality was incredible!!!  He soon had my bike on the road as it was just some loose connections on the clips in the fairing.  I thought to myself what a great man Don Tilley is.  He made our trip special.  Not many people like Don Tilley in this world. Rest In Peace my friend and may God Bless You. 

[red ben59]

Great guy, would talk to anyone. Just read a good artical by Preston Spencer; Statesville Record & Landmark. Wish I knew how to export it and post it here. "built the fast harley to ever race, the Lucifers Hammer" "knows Americas roads so well he needs no map" If anybody could help posting the artical it's worth the read.

[Twolanerider]

Great guy, would talk to anyone. Just read a good artical by Preston Spencer; Statesville Record & Landmark. Wish I knew how to export it and post it here. "built the fast harley to ever race, the Lucifers Hammer" "knows Americas roads so well he needs no map" If anybody could help posting the artical it's worth the read.

This article?

http://www.statesville.com/news/superman-rode-a-harley-don-tilley-remembered/article_ce5f4a00-3099-11e4-a25d-0017a43b2370.html

[Jswerve]

This article?

http://www.statesville.com/news/superman-rode-a-harley-don-tilley-remembered/article_ce5f4a00-3099-11e4-a25d-0017a43b2370.html

I never knew the gentlemen, looked like a helluva guy. Prayers to the family. Wondering if he had some sort of ailment that caused him to lose control??

[Tbone]

I never knew the gentlemen, looked like a helluva guy. Prayers to the family. Wondering if he had some sort of ailment that caused him to lose control??

I don't think anyone knows, he had his gall bladder removed the first part of the month. 

[Jswerve]

I don't think anyone knows, he had his gall bladder removed the first part of the month.

Any update on his wife?

[1sharprdkg]

I did not know Don, but from all our fine members saying he was a great guy, it makes me very sad to hear about his passing.
Our prayers go out for his wife and family.

[Tbone]

Any update on his wife?

The last update I had on Saturday was that she was still critical, with several broken bones and spinal injuries. There was concern that she could be paralyzed. Please continue to pray for Robinette and the family.

[red ben59]

This article?

http://www.statesville.com/news/superman-rode-a-harley-don-tilley-remembered/article_ce5f4a00-3099-11e4-a25d-0017a43b2370.html

Yes TWOLANE, Thanks for getting it where the members could give it a read. Tilley's passing will be felt for a long time around here.

[Skillet]

I never had the pleasure of meeting Don but he and his dealership were well respected. He will be missed. RIP.

[Twolanerider]

Among the several articles have read about this sad incident one mentioned that the couple was riding home from a dealer meeting.  If that is so it's not the first time in recent years that the ride to or from dealer meetings have taken dealer principals of long standing.  I'm not sure if that makes the circumstances even sadder or in some way more "right" that the people were fully involved in something they loved.  Whichever it is it is probably far less likely that many of the newer principals would suffer such a fate as it seems so few of them actually ride.

[red ben59]

I'd have to agree with you Twolane, the real bikers that owned dealerships are leaving us. In the seventies or earley eighties if I was on the road and had problems I was taken care of and put in the wind. Now those dealerships seem to not care. There are many fine deaerships still out there, but less that seem to GET IT.

[2k]

2laner is dead on.........many of todays dealership owners wouldn't know how to start one.

[Jswerve]

You hit the nail on the head

[BigLew]

Very sad, we are not promised tomorrow!

BigLew