| Author | Message | ||
     Xl_cheese |
This is encouraging that action is being taken. http://www.motorcycle.com/how-to/military-pushing- for-rider-safety-88193.html It's unfortunate that the statistics for riders in the military are what they are. | ||
| Ceo79 |
Ah yes I remember the "101 Critical Days of Summer" briefings. I know it was mandatory when I was in the AF to get this training if you wanted to ride, which was a good thing. My only problem was that there were not enough classes, but hopefully they fixed this or will fix it. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I'm a civilian DoD employee, but I took the new Military Sportbike Rider Course last week. It's one of the requirements recently instituted. It was good to see a bunch of young military guys in the class who apparently take riding seriously. BTW- there were two other Buells in the class besides mind (an 1125CR and a XB12XT) and one of the instructors also rides a Uly. | ||
| Chrisrogers3 |
When I was in the army paid for me to do the basic rider course and the advanced rider course. Being young and dumb at the time I figured I knew all there was to know about riding....boy was I wrong lol. Those classes are worth every last penny someone has to pay for them. I almost wish I was still in to get free "refresher" classes every year! | ||
| Firebolt32 |
 On Jan. 15, the Pentagon for the first time hosted representatives from Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Suzuki in a meeting with its top safety chiefs. None of the above! I think it's a good idea. Sure you got guys flying at warp speeds, driving billion dollar technology so they may think that little ol bike aint squat. But they had to take training courses and classes to drive them pricey pieces of machinery so why not the bike? | ||
| Ourdee |
I almost wish I was still in to get free "refresher" classes every year! One State south of you. Illinois will let you take the course for free. It's where some of the license money goes. | ||
| Cudajohn |
Is it any surprise the Buell rider has the steepest lean goin? | ||
| Ceo79 |
Ourdee, the class isn't really free. You have to pay $20 to register, but that's still cheap. The only problem is getting in one (I use to live there). | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
My command is looking into sponsoring track days for all the riders. We'll be doing a few fundraisers to pay for track instructors, corner workers, track use, and suit rentals. This on top of three different safety courses that are available  I think the focus on bike safety is great! In a no-helmet state it seems like not many riders care about wearing the gear or learning and practicing the skills. | ||
| Talloyd519 |
I just took the BRC class here at Schofield Barracks, HI. The Army pays for it and with the certificate I can go get my license with no road test, can't beat it! And I signed up one week before taking the class, they do two classes a week here, a lot of people ride bikes in HI for obvious reasons. | ||
| Ourdee |
Ourdee, the class isn't really free. You have to pay $20 to register, but that's still cheap. The only problem is getting in one (I use to live there). I took it last year. The $20.00 is refundable, just fill out the paper at the end of the course. Getting in is easy, just show up at the beginning of the Friday class. People register all the time and don't show. If you are a walk-in, you don't have to put $20 down. I volunteered the $20 to the program. It only costs you $3.00 if you preregister online because the $20 is a refundable deposit. I took some flak from the newbees about attending when I didn't have to. I already had my license, the rest of the class was there to get theirs. I rode to class every day and they were stuck in cages. The TW200 was a lot of fun. Instructors checked to make sure I wasn't dragging the pegs. I did ace the written and the driving tests. Even relearned a couple of things. My comment was that if you could not pass the test at the DMV/BMV you should not be riding anyway. I had the TW in third gear for the figure eight box. | ||
| Xbniner |
I took the intermediate course yesterday in Bloomington, IL. It's the same as the basic but more condensed and they require slightly more out of you. I took it with several friends who ride and my dad who has been riding since before I was born. We all learned something and even had fun. I was so impressed with the whole class that at the end I let them keep my $20. The more people who can take that class the better. | ||
| Ourdee |
Xbiner, on their bikes or your own? | ||
| Cudajohn |
At my base you get a temp pass for your bike during the days of the class. You ride your own in. PKforbes87, you say your at Tinker? Where is there a place for track days? I am from Shawnee, stationed in MS now. | ||
| Ceo79 |
Cuda, where in MS are you stationed? I'm from the Gulfport/Biloxi area and will be there in July. | ||
| Cudajohn |
Ceo79, I am stationed at Stennis Space Center, last exit before LA. Are you a Seabee? | ||
| Sketchy |
Stationed on Guam and they offer the Motorcycle Safety Course as well as the SportBike Course as well now. They take it very seriously and as a Military Harley-Davidson Dealer as well I can tell you we always make sure our riders are taking every and any course offered. Rock Hard, Ride Safe! | ||
| Ceo79 |
Stennis, huh, didn't know there where military there. No, I'm not a Seabee, but I did some time in the AF. I'm from Gulfport though. I'll try to get up with you when I'm back down there. Maybe we can ride. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
Cuda - hallet motor speedway is the only track I know of in this whole flat state  . It's in jennings.. Somewhere close to tulsa I think.. Haven't been there yet myself. My roomate drives his twin turbo 300zx there occasionally and says its a pretty nice track. Lots of variety in turn radii and a few slight elevation changes. Shawnee.. That's southeast of okc isn't it? | ||
| Cudajohn |
I was deployed to Guam once upon a time and saw more bike accidents there than anywhere. They said it was something about the coral getting om the road and when it rains it is super slick. Ceo79, there is a few small Navy commands out there. I live in Bay St. Louis and hopefully in the next few months I will get an XB again so I can get my knees in the breeze. Forbes, I have heard about the track in the NE part of the state. If you want a good weekend trip I thing the best thing for you seeing some twisties is down in SE OK. There is a small "mountain" range and plenty of nice road. Around Tahlequa in Eastern OK isn't bad either. Shawnee is about 35 minutes East of Tinker on I-40. Alot of the people where I grew up work at Tinker AFB as DoD employees. |
