Former Oak View Motorcycle Mechanic Killed After Losing Control of Harley

Jay Reed Julson, a 45-year-old motorcycle mechanic and inventor, modified Harley Davidson motorcycles for speed, a passion authorities believe led to his death this weekend.

Julson, who operated a motorcycle repair shop in Oak View for years before moving to the San Joaquin Valley, took a curve on California 33 too fast, lost control and was thrown from the bike, authorities said.

There was no evidence that he had been drinking at the time of the accident Friday night. Although he was wearing a helmet, Julson died from head injuries, said investigator Mitch Breese of the Ventura County medical examiners office.

Julson was pronounced dead at the scene about 20 miles north of Ojai, after being found by California Highway Patrol officers on the side of the remote mountain route that winds from Ojai through Los Padres National Forest.

His motorcycle, a multicolored Harley Davidson FXR, was in the middle of the road, officers said.

No one witnessed the accident, but another motorist saw the bike about 8 p.m. and reported it to the CHP.

Authorities believe Julson was heading to Ventura County to visit friends, but even his closest friends did not know the details of his trip.

“He was a real private person,” said Gary Fox, 47. “Anything you got out of Jay, you just picked up.”

Julson never married and had no children. His longtime girlfriend was killed in a car accident several years ago. His parents, Don and Wilma Julson of Lone Rock, Wis., are driving to Lindsay to arrange their son’s burial, Breese said.

About 10 years ago, Julson owned a small garage in Oak View. When the property was sold, he moved to Lindsay, a town of about 9,000 outside Visalia.

A Wisconsin native, Julson lived alone and spent most of his time customizing Harley Davidson motorcycles and rebuilding engines in his small repair shop, called the Pit Stop.

Julson had plans for a mail-order business and was awaiting patents on several motorcycle accessories, friends said.

“He built hot rod Harleys,” said Fox, 47, the owner of a Lindsay tow truck company. “He liked to build the fast ones, I’m afraid. That’s what got him.”