Twenty-year-old Daniel Rowlands was a young man who enjoyed adventure and recently celebrated buying his first road bike.

Mr Rowlands lost his life after an accident while riding his Yamaha GT 650R on the Princes Hwy at Unanderra.

The accident occurred just after 8am when he attempted to pass a semitrailer that was making a left turn.

A learner rider, Mr Rowlands hit the kerb and was thrown from his bike, suffering serious injuries.

He was rushed to Wollongong Hospital for emergency surgery but did not survive.

Mr Rowlands' death has devastated the community of Stanwell Tops where he was raised and was part of a close-knit circle of friends.

A third-year student at the University of Wollongong where he was studying to be a mining engineer, he had been a keen motocross rider for many years before testing his skills on the road.

A friend, who asked not to be named, said Mr Rowlands, one of two children who lived at home with his parents, was known for his distinctive dreadlocks and his friendly big smile.

"He was a bit of a dag who would usually rock up in his ugg boots with this big grin on his face," she said.

"At one point he bought an old 4WD and fixed it up to drive around the bush tracks of Stanwell Tops."

Tonight was supposed to be a time of celebration, when Mr Rowlands and "the gang" were to unite for a friend's 21st birthday party.