CNN article

[bryant8]

I open CNN.com to see this as the leading article   

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/30/marine.motorcycles/index.html

[Dave R]

two years ago we helped orchestrate something cool with the help of a customer who is in the Navy and a local MSF instructor.  Our customer pulled into port in SD on the USS Abraham Lincoln, he jumped on a plane came home to Seattle and then rode back down on his 999R with the MSF instructor on his Monster.  When they got there they were allowed to load there bikes on to the ship !!  They even encouraged them to ride their bikes on deck !  Then the ship proceeded North to WA and during the trip the MSF dude gave a three day refresher course on M/C safety and body positioning on the two bikes !!  I saw a few photos, it was a very cool story and effort !

[calscrazy]

same prob when i was in. i know cory had to take a class though.

[Monster Dave]

same prob when i was in. i know cory had to take a class though.

I just read that article which reminded me of something that Lee Parks told me about 7 months ago about his Total Control courses. He told me that he was working with military bases across the country to get them to permit him to bring his Total Control courses to the bases rather than work as a satellite course that required interested individuals to leave their bases. He was really concerned about the fact that the military offers such large bonus's to people and as soon as they return from a tour abroad the first thing that many do is buy a motorcycle that is not suited for their abilities.

Has anyone heard if this has happened yet? I think that it's a great idea - I took the course and learned so much that it really amazed me!

[Popeye the Sailor]

I've seen examples of this locally.



These guys will tell you they've been to hell and back, and will be fine.

[Travman]

My favorite line in the article is the part about, "sport bikes that can reach speeds of well over 100 mph".  I'm imagining the Dr Evil voice for that line.

If there were 25 deaths in the Marine Corps last year, I wonder how many injuries. 

[SP3]

I open CNN.com to see this as the leading article   

Communist News Network.

[derby]

Communist News Network.

there's already a thread about this in politics... does this one need to go there too?

[SP3]

there's already a thread about this in politics... does this one need to go there too?

Don't know about that thread and don't care to look at it. I was a making a broad generalized comment/joke in reference to CNN's take on nearly every facet of life - not politics. Sorry if you didn't get it. Out.

[CMDRDAVE]

Has anyone heard if this has happened yet? I think that it's a great idea - I took the course and learned so much that it really amazed me!

I don't think it is what you are talking about but the Navy instituted a new "sportbike rider" course this summer.  It is required for all "sportbike"  riders before they can get base stickers.   No one could tell me what defined a "sportbike", and it was the same time I bought the 748, so I signed up.   It was actually a good course.  I thought it was better than the experienced rider course.  The classroom time  was so-so but the range time was really good.  Much more performance based, higher speeds, larger lean angles than the ERC.

There are several other new policies in the last year based off of the sudden increase in motorcycle deaths.  Required motorcycle mentor program, and additional classroom/self study training for all riders < 25 years old.  Sign page 13 stating that you understand all of the military requirements when riding a motorcycle.  Some times I feel like I am a criminal or in some sort of rehab program.

I understand that the brass is trying to fix this problem but how is a sailor supposed to learn correctly?  Lets say a new riders gets a new ninja 250cc and gets a waiver to get on base and take the required BRC (pre-req for SBRC).  He still can't ride to work, so what does he do?  Take the SBRC the next week.  This is NOT the class that we want these new riders in with out some experience.  We had 3 of these guys in my class, they really scared me.  Riding to and from work puts miles on, and therefore experience.  Otherwise the new rider is left with nights and weekends to practice, often with peer pressure they don't need.  The policy should give temp passes/stickers after the BRC to allow the new rider to ride for 6-12 months, then require the SBRC once the rider has some experience. 

Every time they come out with a new policy it seems clear that the person who developed it is not a motorcycle rider.

[supakpow2]

My favorite line in the article is the part about, "sport bikes that can reach speeds of well over 100 mph".  I'm imagining the Dr Evil voice for that line.

If there were 25 deaths in the Marine Corps last year, I wonder how many injuries. 

I was thinking "sport bikes that can reach speeds of well over 100 mph" in 4rd gear.

[jsanford]

I just read that article which reminded me of something that Lee Parks told me about 7 months ago about his Total Control courses. He told me that he was working with military bases across the country to get them to permit him to bring his Total Control courses to the bases rather than work as a satellite course that required interested individuals to leave their bases. He was really concerned about the fact that the military offers such large bonus's to people and as soon as they return from a tour abroad the first thing that many do is buy a motorcycle that is not suited for their abilities.

Has anyone heard if this has happened yet? I think that it's a great idea - I took the course and learned so much that it really amazed me!

I read in a motorcycle publication that a govenment-commissioned study of several advanced riding courses recommended the Lee Parks' curriculum, but that under industry pressure, the military decided to adopt a modified version of the MSF ERC instead.

[DoubleEagle]

I wonder if the war experience has something to do w, these kids being fearless or feeling like they have been through hell so now for some release.

The retuning soldiers may have a feeling of invinceability and coupled w, the feeling of exhileration leads them to be too bold or dieregard the fear factor that most of us use to keep ourselves alive on these two wheeled rockets.   Dolph

[Pedro-bot]

Oh my gosh, that's terrible.

[Takster]

I wonder if the war experience has something to do w, these kids being fearless or feeling like they have been through hell so now for some release.

The retuning soldiers may have a feeling of invinceability and coupled w, the feeling of exhileration leads them to be too bold or dieregard the fear factor that most of us use to keep ourselves alive on these two wheeled rockets.   Dolph

I think that the argument could also be made that it takes a certain type of person to enlist into a job where you're basically trained to kill people.  That certain type of person, if given the opportunity, would potentially be more likely to ride at dangerous speeds or be willing to engage in higher-risk behaviors.  ..Just a thought.