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That course isn't specifically required, but at least for the Navy; we are going to have to take either the brc, erc or the new sbrc ( great, another acronym...like we were running short ) every three years. The military asked MSF to design a course for sportbikes since so many of them were involved in accidents.
There’s no doubt about it. Sport bikes are sexy. They are sleek and colorful and built for speed. For Sailors and Marines, many of whom are naturally attracted to an adrenaline rush, this is a huge selling point. However, these same features make riding sport bikes much different than handling cruisers or touring bikes. Mishap statistics show it’s important to take these differences into account. That’s why the Naval Safety Center partnered with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation to create the Military Sport Bike Course specifically for sport bike riders.
“These bikes come with engines that are 600, 800, 900cc or even higher,” said Dale Wisnieski, a motorcycle safety specialist at the Naval Safety Center. He also explained that these bikes have engines tuned for racing, are made of advanced lightweight material, and are highly maneuverable.
While they may be more maneuverable, they do ride differently than cruisers or other types of motorcycles. That’s why this new training is so crucial
“This course will teach cornering, braking and swerving, and other things necessary to get the most out of your sport bike,” Wisnieski said. “Also, it gives insight on rider behaviors and perception.”
Fleet concentration areas such as Norfolk, San Diego, and many other locations will begin teaching the course June 1, 2008, and it will expand rapidly thereafter. The course includes classroom time as well as practical experience out on the range. The aggressive approach is due to the fact that so many Sailors and Marines are buying these machines without much riding experience.
“It’s common for someone who has never been on a motorcycle of any type to fall for peer pressure or advertising pitches and buy a very expensive, very powerful bike,” Wisnieski said. “If you buy one, sign up for this course immediately.”
Statistics show that the increased number of sport bikes on the road has had an effect on mishap rates. The rise in sport bike popularity corresponds to a rise in motorcycle fatalities. In 2007, a majority of fatalities involved sport bikes, and as of the first half of fiscal year 2008, 100 percent of fatalities in the Navy occurred on sport bikes. The Naval Safety Center believes this new course geared specifically to sport bikes will help reverse this disturbing trend by giving riders valuable experience.
Many sport bike riders are young and haven’t been riding long, but this isn’t universally true. Aviation Electrician’s Mate Senior Chief (AW) Calvin Stone, a 37-year-old who has ridden motorcycles off and on for more than 15 years, recently purchased a sport bike.
“I love the fact that it’s so much lighter and more responsive than a larger bike, plus, who doesn’t like the speed when merging onto the highway or passing slower traffic?” he said.
Speed is the number one reason Sailors and Marines give when opting for sport bikes. ET3 Kevin Jordan, who rides a Kawasaki ZZR600, admits that’s why he bought one, even though he’d never ridden before.
Since purchasing his bike, Jordan has done the smart thing and taken riding courses. He said he’s always looking for ways to be a smarter motorcyclist and plans to take the Military Sport Bike Course as soon as it’s available.
The course will teach riders how to comfortably handle these high-performance machines, but Stone also recommends that those with a need for speed find appropriate venues.
“Take it to the track. There are many available where you can go for the day and ride fast in a controlled environment.
The Naval Safety Center also recommends track days, but Don Borkoski, another motorcycle safety specialist, said many Sailors and Marines are buying bikes faster than those ridden by some racers.
“The typical racetrack bike is 600cc. The average Sailor is buying one that’s 1000cc or above. These bikes are great and can be a lot of fun, as long as you maintain awareness of the consequences of that kind of speed,” he said.
And ultimately, speed comes from your throttle hand. The responsibility lies with the rider, not the machine. Naval Safety Center motorcycle specialists like Wisnieski and Borkoski emphasize that they do not want to discourage Sailors and Marines from riding these types of bikes as long as they are trained.
“This isn’t your grandfather’s motorcycle safety course,” Wisnieski said. “This is exciting. The fleet asked for it because sport bikes are the bikes that they’re buying and riding. We listened and designed the training specifically for them and their needs. We really believe this is going to go a long way toward improving the success rates for sport bike riders, keeping them on the road and out of the hospitals or morgues.”
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"Our Country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right; but right or wrong, our country!" - Stephen Decatur (1779-1820)
Ignore my last post, I just got the word that it is mandatory for sport bike riders. Though we will still have to repeat BRC every three years.
Quote:
R 281724Z MAY 08 PSN 690112I19
FM COMNAVSAFECEN NORFOLK VA
TO ALSAFE
ZEN/NT/OU=DOD/OU=NAVY/OU=ADDRESS LISTS(UC)/CN=AL ALSAFE(UC) BT UNCLAS QQQQ
SUBJ: MILITARY SPORT BIKE RIDER COURSE
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALSAFE 030/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/COMNAVSAFECEN/00/MAY//
SUBJ/MILITARY SPORT BIKE RIDER COURSE//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THERE IS A DISTURBING TREND AMONG MOTORCYCLE RIDERS IN THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2006, 66 PERCENT OF NAVY AND 78 PERCENT OF MARINE CORPS MOTORCYCLE FATALITIES OCCURRED ON SPORT BIKES. THESE BIKES DIFFER FROM THE FAMILIAR CRUISER BIKES IN THAT THEY ARE ENGINEERED FOR RACING, PROMOTED FOR THEIR SPEED AND APPEAL MAINLY TO YOUNGER RIDERS. TO DATE IN FISCAL YEAR 2008, 25 OF THE 27 SAILORS AND MARINES WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED ON MOTORCYCLES WERE RIDING SPORT BIKES.
PAGE 02 RUCOMFB6180 UNCLAS
2. WE ARE FACED WITH A UNIQUE CHALLENGE DUE TO THE STRUCTURE OF OUR FORCE. SIXTY-TWO PERCENT OF ALL SAILORS AND 80 PERCENT OF OUR MARINES ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 30. THESE SAME SAILORS AND MARINES ARE ALSO INCREASINGLY PURCHASING SPORT BIKES.
3. TO ADDRESS THIS CHALLENGE, THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MOTORCYCLE SAFETY FOUNDATION DEVELOPED THE MILITARY SPORT BIKE RIDER COURSE (MSRC). THIS COURSE IS DESIGNED TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE UNIQUE HANDLING AND SPEED CHARACTERISTICS OF SPORT BIKES AND THE ASSOCIATED HAZARDS WHEN OPERATING THE MOTORCYCLE ON OUR NATION'S ROADWAYS. COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE IS MANDATORY FOR ALL NAVY AND MARINE CORPS SPORT BIKE RIDERS.
4. ON 1 JUNE 2008, THE MSRC WILL BE AVAILABLE IN PRIORITY FLEET CONCENTRATION AREAS THROUGH LOCAL BASE AND STATION SAFETY OFFICES. INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATIONS BEGAN IN APRIL AND WILL CONTINUE AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE UNTIL ALL BASES AND STATIONS HAVE AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF INSTRUCTORS TO MEET REQUIREMENTS.
5. COMMANDING OFFICERS AND SAFETY OFFICERS SHOULD CONTACT THEIR BASE OR STATION SAFETY OFFICE FOR COURSE AVAILABILITY AND ENSURE ALL SPORT BIKE RIDERS COMPLETE THIS TRAINING AS SOON AS PAGE 03 RUCOMFB6180 UNCLAS POSSIBLE. THIS COURSE WAS DEVELOPED SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR SAILORS AND MARINES AND GIVES THEM ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO BE SUCCESSFUL SPORT BIKE MOTORCYCLISTS.
At least it looks like theyre putting a positive spin on it, rather than blaming more training on irresponsible "bullet-bike" riders. When I was in the Air Force back in the early 90s, there was an 18 yr old kid in my unit that totalled three (THREE) CBR600's in a course of 4 months (I have no idea who his insurance company was, but I'm sure they would have cancelled his policy after the second wreck); the last time, he had an underage civilian girl on the back and I heard she ended up in a coma. A few guys tried riding with him, but said he was just fearless and rode way over his head. Someone like that would have greatly benefitted from the SBRC.
Both Total Control (through Cape Fox) and the MSF are competing to provide the military's advanced rider training product. It's been interesting to watch.
Word on the street is that MIC lobbyists are on the case for the MSF. That's what they think this thing is worth.
I wonder if the course will have sportbikes for you to use. The MSF BRC on the base I went to had a few bikes to use, a Buell Blast, a few Yamaha dual sports, I can't remember what else. But if they had sportbikes at the SBRC and servicemembers were advised to attend before they went and bought an SS, there would be the potential to save a lot of grief.
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i'm going to bet no, they are not going to offer sportbikes for these classes. i think it is geared for the ones who already have them.
__________________
"Our Country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right; but right or wrong, our country!" - Stephen Decatur (1779-1820)
i'm going to bet no, they are not going to offer sportbikes for these classes. i think it is geared for the ones who already have them.
Correct.
DOD funded Total Control is not as far away as you think. If you have any avenue for expressing your interest in this, now is the time. If you know a way to promote interest in the military community, it'd be great if you could share it.
I can't say a whole lot about this, but I can say that a big expression of interest from the ranks would have a big impact right about now.
New Sportbike MSF Military Requirement
