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[erniezap]

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10816169?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com

[FNGw/08SERK]

This is an alarming problem. I spoke at length about this with Major Carey (Florida Marine). He had some frightening data being as he is up close and personal with young Marines and Sailors. Maybe he will chime in here? I have long been concerned at the low cost of these bikes due to the increase in ease of accessibility to our younger brothers.

Just a question; would it make sense to increase the cost by increasing import taxes??  Can't believe I said that as I detest taxes (still waiting for another Boston Tea Party  ) but......... Whatdayathink??

[Screamin]

Sport bikes don't kill. Unfortunately it's most often us killing ourselves. IMHO the focus on education is very well placed.

[FNGw/08SERK]

Sport bikes don't kill. Unfortunately it's most often us killing ourselves. IMHO the focus on education is very well placed.

Sport bike don't kill, agreed. However there is very real data to suggest youth is a constant variable in the abuse of the rides!!! They are too cheap and accessible to a market (the young, dumb and full of.... crowd) not ready to handle that type of speed. And it is a very real problem. How do we lessen these deaths??

[hard10]

Sport bike don't kill, agreed. However there is very real data to suggest youth is a constant variable in the abuse of the rides!!! They are too cheap and accessible to a market (the young, dumb and full of.... crowd) not ready to handle that type of speed. And it is a very real problem. How do we lessen these deaths??

Howie, you've been here to Beaufort, SC. We have three Military Installations here in this small town. Every day I see one of these "young, dumb, filled" kids doing something stupid on a motorcycle. As you know, I own my own business and am therefore very against the government raising taxes or creating new laws. However, with that said, the law to obtain a motorcycle license in South Carolina MUST be changed! Anyone who can read and comprehend can pass a multiple choice test and obtain a permit to operate a motorcycle on the street from the hours of 6 am to 6 pm as long as they are accompanied by a "licensed driver".   Too often is the case where a person will go out and get his permit and never follow up to get a license. The permit is renewable every year. Now, I know that this may be good for the motorcycle industry that sells bikes, but... FL (and I only speak of them because of first hand knowledge) has just passed a law that requires anyone wanting to obtain a motorcycle license to take a MSF course. I'm not saying the the course will prevent anyone form having an accident, but at least they may learn the basic skills before they hit the road.

[Screamin]

Seems very reasonable to me H10.

[MIKEYTEE]

Howie, you've been here to Beaufort, SC. We have three Military Installations here in this small town. Every day I see one of these "young, dumb, filled" kids doing something stupid on a motorcycle. As you know, I own my own business and am therefore very against the government raising taxes or creating new laws. However, with that said, the law to obtain a motorcycle license in South Carolina MUST be changed! Anyone who can read and comprehend can pass a multiple choice test and obtain a permit to operate a motorcycle on the street from the hours of 6 am to 6 pm as long as they are accompanied by a "licensed driver".   Too often is the case where a person will go out and get his permit and never follow up to get a license. The permit is renewable every year. Now, I know that this may be good for the motorcycle industry that sells bikes, but... FL (and I only speak of them because of first hand knowledge) has just passed a law that requires anyone wanting to obtain a motorcycle license to take a MSF course. I'm not saying the the course will prevent anyone form having an accident, but at least they may learn the basic skills before they hit the road.

AJ,
I would like to see the state require a holder of a beginners permit to pass the riders test an obtain a full license within 1 year or have to take the riders course again to renew the permit. The additional cost of the extra courses mite make them get off their duffs and get the permanent license. I don't see how they can afford the insurance for those things.
Mike
 

[FLYNDYNA]

Howie, you've been here to Beaufort, SC. We have three Military Installations here in this small town. Every day I see one of these "young, dumb, filled" kids doing something stupid on a motorcycle. As you know, I own my own business and am therefore very against the government raising taxes or creating new laws. However, with that said, the law to obtain a motorcycle license in South Carolina MUST be changed! Anyone who can read and comprehend can pass a multiple choice test and obtain a permit to operate a motorcycle on the street from the hours of 6 am to 6 pm as long as they are accompanied by a "licensed driver".   Too often is the case where a person will go out and get his permit and never follow up to get a license. The permit is renewable every year. Now, I know that this may be good for the motorcycle industry that sells bikes, but... FL (and I only speak of them because of first hand knowledge) has just passed a law that requires anyone wanting to obtain a motorcycle license to take a MSF course. I'm not saying the the course will prevent anyone form having an accident, but at least they may learn the basic skills before they hit the road.

 I concur 100%. The skills test proves nothing. In fact, the law should be that you can not obtain any type of riding permit for these overpowered/superfast bikes without taking a motorcycle safety course. Perhaps they should be taken to an accident scene where a rider has crashed to give them a view of the possibilities? Just a thought...

[mike45]

About 2 years ago, the US Army Europe commander considered taking away the privilege to ride motorcycles in Europe.  Since we quite a number of motorcycle riders and many of them being senior officers, he reconsidered with one condition, that the units get more involved in training/mentoring new riders.  You are now required to be a member of your unit's motorcycle club and attendance at monthly meetings is mandatory.  If you are a new rider, you are assigned a mentor so you have someone that can watch out for you and try to keep you out of trouble.  We are required to take an MSF course at least every three years and my unit commander required everyone that redeployed from Iraq this fall to take another MSF course within the first 90 days and take a "check ride" with one of the three senior riders in the unit.  We also have to do a paper risk assessment to see who has to bless off on letting us ride.  If the risk is too high, the soldier gets evaluated by one of the MSF trained instructors we have in the unit. 

I have a few new soldiers that have inquired about getting a license and riding in europe...mostly guys that have never been on a bike.  My advice to them is to try to borrow a bike to take the basic riders MSF course or to spend the money and get a German license, which actually requires a considerable amount of time, effort, and cash.  I had one soldier go to German driving school and spent over $1000 to get his license, but he learned a lot more about riding than I did when I took my 25 question multiple guess test in Alabama and walked out with a license.

Bottom line, we are losing to many soldiers to stupid accidents and that includes motorcycles accidents.  I'm glad that my unit has taken a few necessary steps and even made owning a bike in Germany a little painful if it means that one of my guys doesn't go do something stupid.

 

[FLYNDYNA]

Mike45,

 Thank you for posting this information. I also thank you and your brethren for serving our country so bravely. It is sad to think of the tragic loss of someone who just didn't have the proper training to ride, but it sounds like your Euopean commander really has a good plan of action going! God bless you and keep you safe! Shiny side up!

[REGGAB]

About 2 years ago, the US Army Europe commander considered taking away the privilege to ride motorcycles in Europe.  Since we quite a number of motorcycle riders and many of them being senior officers, he reconsidered with one condition, that the units get more involved in training/mentoring new riders.  You are now required to be a member of your unit's motorcycle club and attendance at monthly meetings is mandatory.  If you are a new rider, you are assigned a mentor so you have someone that can watch out for you and try to keep you out of trouble.  We are required to take an MSF course at least every three years and my unit commander required everyone that redeployed from Iraq this fall to take another MSF course within the first 90 days and take a "check ride" with one of the three senior riders in the unit.  We also have to do a paper risk assessment to see who has to bless off on letting us ride.  If the risk is too high, the soldier gets evaluated by one of the MSF trained instructors we have in the unit. 

I have a few new soldiers that have inquired about getting a license and riding in europe...mostly guys that have never been on a bike.  My advice to them is to try to borrow a bike to take the basic riders MSF course or to spend the money and get a German license, which actually requires a considerable amount of time, effort, and cash.  I had one soldier go to German driving school and spent over $1000 to get his license, but he learned a lot more about riding than I did when I took my 25 question multiple guess test in Alabama and walked out with a license.

Bottom line, we are losing to many soldiers to stupid accidents and that includes motorcycles accidents.  I'm glad that my unit has taken a few necessary steps and even made owning a bike in Germany a little painful if it means that one of my guys doesn't go do something stupid.

 

You know.....we shoulda seen this coming, and in a perfect world, it would have been there all along for Servicemembers.  One thing that just irks the hell out of me is seeing our Soldiers serve bravely in combat............survive..........and come home and get themselves killed doing something stupid on 41-A.   

[cuthbertss]

About 2 years ago, the US Army Europe commander considered taking away the privilege to ride motorcycles in Europe.  Since we quite a number of motorcycle riders and many of them being senior officers, he reconsidered with one condition, that the units get more involved in training/mentoring new riders.  You are now required to be a member of your unit's motorcycle club and attendance at monthly meetings is mandatory.  If you are a new rider, you are assigned a mentor so you have someone that can watch out for you and try to keep you out of trouble.  We are required to take an MSF course at least every three years and my unit commander required everyone that redeployed from Iraq this fall to take another MSF course within the first 90 days and take a "check ride" with one of the three senior riders in the unit.  We also have to do a paper risk assessment to see who has to bless off on letting us ride.  If the risk is too high, the soldier gets evaluated by one of the MSF trained instructors we have in the unit. 

I have a few new soldiers that have inquired about getting a license and riding in europe...mostly guys that have never been on a bike.  My advice to them is to try to borrow a bike to take the basic riders MSF course or to spend the money and get a German license, which actually requires a considerable amount of time, effort, and cash.  I had one soldier go to German driving school and spent over $1000 to get his license, but he learned a lot more about riding than I did when I took my 25 question multiple guess test in Alabama and walked out with a license.

Bottom line, we are losing to many soldiers to stupid accidents and that includes motorcycles accidents.  I'm glad that my unit has taken a few necessary steps and even made owning a bike in Germany a little painful if it means that one of my guys doesn't go do something stupid.

 

amen Mike....  Very well said and done....... an excellent program that more CONUS units need to follow

[dewsjw]

Guys,  I work on a Navy base here in PA.  With 25 years riding experience I still had to take a MSF course before I could get a pass to ride my scooter on base...  I wonder if this applies to all military bases?

[RedDevil]

I know it does in the Navy and the Marine Corps bases. 

   

[FNGw/08SERK]

I know it does in the Navy and the Marine Corps bases. 

   

So these Sailors and Marines that are killing themselves on these crotch rockets are all required to attend MSF prior to operating on base??