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Motorcycles deadlier than Iraq!
- Thread starter Pam T
- Start date
El Homre Hambre
New member
For Navy..or at least the base I'm stationed at..there is required safety training classes for sport bikes. I'm not sure if they're doing the cruisers or not, but I've been told the courses are better than the basics but not quite to advanced. That is however their "basic" course and I believe there is more advanced courses they offer. It is a major problem when we get back from deployments. I'm about to get back myself and I've already heard people talking about things they're going to do. 6 months in the desert, no loved ones, no major fun=splurging when we get home.
1st Air Cav eh? My father was 1st Air Cav. 2/20th Aerial Rocketry Battalion. Flew attack helicopters in Vietnam, 1967. Put in 30 years after that. Retired with a star in a box and went on to be the Deputy Adjutant General for the PA Department of Veterans' Affairs. Based out of Indiantown Gap in PA he and my step mother are well connected with the PA Guard.
Being the Chief Safety and Occupational Health manager at the Gap, my step mother has reported very much the same thing about soldiers coming home and killing themselves on motorcycles. We're losing a lot more than we should.
With her help, the track club I'm a coach with extended a special offer to the military at Pocono Raceway this past summer. The club, Team Promotion, would like to do more of these events. Unfortunately only about 5 guys showed up from the Gap. But they got the full treatment, riding on track, riding on the back of a racer's bike at speed, and some training on how to properly ride a motorcycle.
If we could get more returning soldiers out to the track, I think it would go a long way toward curbing what's becoming an all to common event. A track day will give most more adrenaline than they can handle. They won't need to push it on the street once they realize the possibilities on the track. And if they have an off, it's in a controlled environment.
Personally I found it awesome to coach guys from in the military. They are disciplined, actually listen to your advice/instruction, and put it to use on the track. Much easier to train these guys. And I had myself an Apache pilot to train. He picked stuff up quick. It was awesome.
I urge anyone in a position to do so, seek out a partnership with a local track club. They will jump at the chance to grow their membership and in exchange will provide a good environment for returning soldiers to "get their fix."
Again, we didn't have as high a participation as we wanted. But those that came left very happy, appreciative, and I hope better riders.
Being the Chief Safety and Occupational Health manager at the Gap, my step mother has reported very much the same thing about soldiers coming home and killing themselves on motorcycles. We're losing a lot more than we should.
With her help, the track club I'm a coach with extended a special offer to the military at Pocono Raceway this past summer. The club, Team Promotion, would like to do more of these events. Unfortunately only about 5 guys showed up from the Gap. But they got the full treatment, riding on track, riding on the back of a racer's bike at speed, and some training on how to properly ride a motorcycle.
If we could get more returning soldiers out to the track, I think it would go a long way toward curbing what's becoming an all to common event. A track day will give most more adrenaline than they can handle. They won't need to push it on the street once they realize the possibilities on the track. And if they have an off, it's in a controlled environment.
Personally I found it awesome to coach guys from in the military. They are disciplined, actually listen to your advice/instruction, and put it to use on the track. Much easier to train these guys. And I had myself an Apache pilot to train. He picked stuff up quick. It was awesome.
I urge anyone in a position to do so, seek out a partnership with a local track club. They will jump at the chance to grow their membership and in exchange will provide a good environment for returning soldiers to "get their fix."
Again, we didn't have as high a participation as we wanted. But those that came left very happy, appreciative, and I hope better riders.
ILuvSports3585
New member
The problem is not that the death toll on motorcycles is up. The real problem is that today it's so easy to buy a motorcycle that anyone with a pen in handy can just go buy one with no money down and $69 dollars a month. Never ridden before in their lives, no license but since motorcycles look cool, they decide to buy one. And I am talking about all these people that think that a motorcycle stops when you slam on the brakes just like a car. These people are the Larger percentage of people that die on motorcycles and give the rest of our parents and wifes or husbands sleepless nights when we go out riding. something has to be done.
There is now a mandated MSF Sport Bike Riders Course that all U.S.Navy and U.S.Marines are required to take... The people that I have talked to that have taken it say they cover a few other things like looking thru a turn, trail braking, but they don't get the chance to try it at anything above the posted base speed limit... For us experienced riders its a bit difficult to practice those things at a slow speed...
Let's face it... They are not buying sport bikes to ride them slow...!!!
What really needs to happen is this... The military needs to step up to the plate and educate the riders with real world training... For example: A close friend of mine at the pentagon (former marine) informed me that the Marines are looking at TADing some Marines to take the Keith Code Instructors course so they can pass along the training to the troops...!!!
I say it's about fucking time...!!! Now if all of the other branches of service would follow suit we might actually get somwwhere...
RAD
Let's face it... They are not buying sport bikes to ride them slow...!!!
What really needs to happen is this... The military needs to step up to the plate and educate the riders with real world training... For example: A close friend of mine at the pentagon (former marine) informed me that the Marines are looking at TADing some Marines to take the Keith Code Instructors course so they can pass along the training to the troops...!!!
I say it's about fucking time...!!! Now if all of the other branches of service would follow suit we might actually get somwwhere...
RAD
bANd gEeK!!
New member
The post I have been stationed at all required riders to re-take the MSF Advanced course every three years or upon re-deployment from overseas. I was pissed about it when I got home from my last deployment. I just wanted to jump on my bike and ride but knew if something happended I would be screwed. I went back to the course, for the fourth time, and was happy I did in the end despite it raining all day and freezing my ass off. We didn't do anything over 30mph, but it got me comfortable on the bike again. We did a lot of slow speed manuvers, u-turns, and emergency braking. By the end of the day I was getting warned about my speed when going through the cornering stations. They didn't like the stand up wheelie I ripped off between stations but there weren't any cops on the airfield we were on. The guy running the course cool about it but said he didn't want people to think it was ok since there were some guys who obviously on bikes they had no business being on in the class. Yes I used to be a squid!
God is my Judge
New member
I remember getting released from Pendleton/Oceanside in '71, taking my back pay and heading up to LA. Bought a 650 Tiger and a $10 BUCO and $3 for 6 bungee cords to strap the seabag on with. Rode it home to Chicago in October.
Every one is going to be young and stupid at some point whether they go in the military or not. The biggest difference now is the performance of the equipment. Having been a dealer for 14 years the most effective thing I recall was to limit the weight and HP in combination with mandatory safety equipment. Took a lot of extra time in the sales process and lost some business along the way but that first year can especially tough to get through. Overall it paid off though a far higher repeat rate - not just one bike a year later but longer term true enthusiasts.
The other key opportunity to address this issue was brought up here and is something we didn't have "back in the day" and that's track days. What an incredible opportunity to learn and probe your limits while improving your skills.
Every one is going to be young and stupid at some point whether they go in the military or not. The biggest difference now is the performance of the equipment. Having been a dealer for 14 years the most effective thing I recall was to limit the weight and HP in combination with mandatory safety equipment. Took a lot of extra time in the sales process and lost some business along the way but that first year can especially tough to get through. Overall it paid off though a far higher repeat rate - not just one bike a year later but longer term true enthusiasts.
The other key opportunity to address this issue was brought up here and is something we didn't have "back in the day" and that's track days. What an incredible opportunity to learn and probe your limits while improving your skills.
Pony.Girl15
New member
Cecil I couldn't agree more...I thought of myself as a pretty good rider until I had the opportunity of being coached by folks that are expert riders. I followed the coach around the track to learn how to pick the right line and how to prepare for the cornering. The coach also followed to watch me and to give me advice.
What a great way to get to learn what your equipment can do for you and to learn to trust it.
What a great way to get to learn what your equipment can do for you and to learn to trust it.