Motorbike enthusiasts today paid tribute to one of their own, gentle giant Malcolm ‘Tiny’ Broadbent, who died following the pursuit he loved.

Mr Broadbent, 49, a 28-stone, 6ft 6ins hospital worker, of Lidget Green, Bradford, was flung from his bike after a car pulled out into its path on a quiet country road in North Yorkshire.

The driver, 18-year-old Jason Ripley, was convicted of careless driving when he appeared before Harrogate magistrates last week. He was fined £150 with £45 costs and a £15 victim’s surcharge. His licence was endorsed with eight penalty points.

Friends of former soldier Mr Broadbent – known as Tiny because of his huge presence – remembered him as a kind-hearted and popular man who lived for riding his motorbike.

Darren Young, of Plumpton Close, Wrose, said he considered him “a second dad”.

He said the accident had devastated the biking community in Bradford as well as Mr Broadbent’s family, including his sister and father, for whom he cared full-time after he suffered a stroke.

More than 100 bikers rode in convoy at Mr Broadbent’s funeral cortege in Lidget Green.

Paying tribute to his friend of 12 years, Mr Young said: “Tiny would just put anybody before himself. He was just a big gentle giant, a fantastic guy.”

Mr Young had joined his friend on many motorbike rides and the pair often visited the Isle Of Man for the TT and Manx races.

He had been riding yards behind Mr Broadbent, with girlfriend Gemma Sedgeley, 26, riding pillion when the tragedy happened in Street Lane, Pateley Bridge, on November 25 last year.

Mr Young swerved to avoid the accident as Mr Broadbent’s Yamaha FZ1000 hit Ripley’s Renault Clio as it pulled out into the centre of the road.

Mr Broadbent was flung into the air and landed on the ground. Paramedics took Mr Broadbent to hospital in Harrogate for treatment.

He died in hospital a week later. An inquest ruled his death was caused by massive injuries sustained in the crash.

Mr Young, 36, said: “He was 28 stone. To see him hit that car and go over its roof was absolutely shocking.”

“I knew him really well, he was like a second dad to me, who looked after me. We went riding as often as we could and used to go all over the place. He was a 24/7 biker who went everywhere.

“His sister rang me up when I came home from work and told me he had died on the Monday morning. I was absolutely gutted.”

Graeme Hartley-Havers, 42, of Moor Close Avenue, Queens-bury, also paid tribute to Mr Broadbent.

“Once you had seen him, you didn’t really forget him because he was massive,” he said. “He lived with his father after his mother died a few years ago and he was his main carer. After we had been on a run with the bikes, Tiny would be watching the clock, and would say he had to get back to look after his dad. He was that kind of person.

“Because of Tiny’s death, his dad has now gone into a rest home.”

Mr Hartley-Havers read the eulogy at his friend’s funeral, which was attended by members of motorcycle groups and the Bridge Rats motorbike club, based in Calderdale.

He said: “He was a really, really good and dear friend to everybody who knew him, from all walks of life. There are many people who have been left gutted by his death.”

e-mail: marc.meneaud@telegraphandargus.co.uk