Man Waits 38 Years To Buy Motorcycle, Dies Three Miles Later

Troy Siahaan
by Troy Siahaan

Barry Strang’s story is a tragic case of being careful what you wish for. Since they were newlyweds, Strang would ask his wife, Pam, if he could get a motorcycle. Fearful of the dangers involved, she said no. But it was clear Barry had his heart set on being on two wheels some day. Finally, after 38 years of marriage and his retirement upon him, the stars aligned.

Pam’s objections wilted, Barry found the perfect bike for him — a 2013 Harley-Davidson Dyna — and he bought it on June 27. Ecstatic with his new purchase, and the chance to finally cross one item off his bucket list, he posted a picture of his new ride to Facebook with the caption “44 years finally got one.”

Unfortunately, this is where the success story turns south. Only three miles from the dealership, Strang collided with a tractor trailer, where he was ejected upon impact and landed underneath the tractor, sustaining fatal injuries. The Wyoming Highway Patrol lists “unfamiliarity with the motorcycle” as a possible cause for the incident.

For their parts, both Pam and their son harbor no ill will towards their husband and father’s decision, realizing this was a life-long dream for him, and he “went out with the biggest smile on his face,” says their son, whose name was not disclosed.

Troy Siahaan
Troy Siahaan

Troy's been riding motorcycles and writing about them since 2006, getting his start at Rider Magazine. From there, he moved to Sport Rider Magazine before finally landing at Motorcycle.com in 2011. A lifelong gearhead who didn't fully immerse himself in motorcycles until his teenage years, Troy's interests have always been in technology, performance, and going fast. Naturally, racing was the perfect avenue to combine all three. Troy has been racing nearly as long as he's been riding and has competed at the AMA national level. He's also won multiple club races throughout the country, culminating in a Utah Sport Bike Association championship in 2011. He has been invited as a guest instructor for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, and when he's not out riding, he's either wrenching on bikes or watching MotoGP.

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