Motorcycles deadlier than Iraq!

F

fergilious

New member
More service members dying on two wheels then in combat.

As an Army flight medic and a motorcycle rider I am ecstatic that combat deaths are down but as a rider I don
 
I'm guessing here, but there's been about 3 or 4 thousand casualties in Iraq in the last six years, so that means there's been over four thousand enlisted men killed in bike crashes over that same period? That sounds pretty extreme.
 
The time frame referenced was the 2008 calendar year. As a reserve medical corps officer, I too had to do the training when activated to ride. Now I will admit I only saw about 50% compliance with the vest, but everyone was wearing helmets, gloves, and full coverage gear.....We are trying to do more, but there are so many soldiers who have minimal experience, and way too much disposable income after getting hazard/combat pay and income tax exemptions, faster and faster bikes are getting purchased.......
 
With some 3 million active and reserve troops, 4000 over 6 years,yeah, I can see where motorcycles could kill more people. A 18-24 year old, drunk and bullet proof. I know, I was there once.
 
yes your both right. the average E-4 can easly come home post deployment, and go to the local power sports and pay cash for for a new GSXR-750 but most are buying R1's.

Ironically it seems that alcohol is not the determining factor excessive speed on city streets is. Don
 
What about requiring a real training class for the sport bikes. If they are going to go fast around the curve anyway, why not teach them how to stay on the road and control the bike. Lets face it, the NSF course only teaches you how to park a bike in a parking lot. My sister just finished the course, and it was three days of additional training before I would lead her out of the neighborhood. Lots of hard braking with the front brake and how to swerve and such.

They just don't teach things like doing a stoppie is better than hitting the hood of a car.

Joe
 
As a former Marine and someone that was deployed in the gulf, i can say first hand that when you come home from any deployment you're looking for excitement. Most of the time when you're sitting around and not out training or on patrol, you talk with your buddies about going home and buying that new car or motorcycle, mine was a V-max. The standard deployment can range anywhere from 6mo to a year, most people have direct deposit and with no expenses while they're deployed and have a sizable savings when they return home. I can also attest that many young military personal have a sense of invincibility that comes with the training they receive and the situations they're thrown into, not to mention that they're young and don't know any better. Lets face it, the military is squid central when it comes to bikes. Throw it the fact that we're talking about 20 year old kids with money and it's a recipe for disaster.

Oh, and that safety vest they make you wear........my friend and i had an agreement. We always pulled them off as soon as we cleared the base gate and stuffed them under the seat. We agreed that if either of us got killed on the bike that the other would put the vest on the body so our parents would still get paid from the military. Stupid huh? Remember what i was saying about young squids................



I know that older military personal also die in motorcycle crashes so don't flame me with some of that BS. By far a majority of the military personal are below the age of 25.
 
That's really sad to hear. I saw one good episode of Super Squids. uh, super bikes,, where Jason went to a military base and did some instruction and rides with the guys. The emphasis was surely on safety.

Maybe a lot more of that type of thing would be helpful.

I don't know if he taught wheelies or not...

Brian
 
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