CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
A new policy starting Feb. 1 will require all military members who operate sport bikes, to complete the Sport Bike Riders Course prior to riding their bikes on or off base.
Charleston is the first base in Air Mobility Command to make the SBRC mandatory but the rest of AMC is following suit.
After Feb. 1, all riders will have 30 days after arrival on station or purchase of a new sport bike to complete this course. Airmen who are deployed during this time will have 30 days upon returning to station, including reconstitution leave, to complete the SBRC.
In the past year and a half, the 437th Safety Office has investigated three fatalities in the Charleston area; all involving sport bikes. Representatives from safety remarked that mishap investigation after mishap investigation, they have found sport bike riders consistently had single vehicle mishap wrecks where they failed to negotiate a turn that was fully within the capabilities of the motorcycle.
"Sport bikes have tons of power, get-up and go, and the latest, greatest technology but quite honestly, 99.9 percent of the guys on them do not have the capabilities and skills to use the technology and power that the bike has," said Stuart Wyatt, 437th Airlift Wing chief of ground safety. "We are looking to give riders the skills, not to go faster, but to use their bikes potential to get them out of trouble if need be."
Riders will be placed in classes based on skill level. Prior to taking the SBRC, sport bike riders will have to complete a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course. However, successful completion of the Experienced Riders Course or the Basic Riders Course will also meet this requirement.
"What we're hoping to do, is give riders the ability to see, recognize the hazard and avoid the hazard by throwing the bike down properly into a lean, avoiding the danger and getting back up safely," said Mr. Wyatt.
This reason for making the SBRC a requirement is to address sport bike safety and teach riders proper avoidance in emergency situations. Riders learn to ride and lean the bike properly, make evasive maneuvers, and learn correct body positioning and cornering capabilities. They also go over proper suspension set-up for riders' bikes.
Sport touring, adventure sport and naked sport bikes all fall under the category of sport bikes for this policy. Sport bike riders who upgrade to a larger sport bike of 200cc or more will have to retake the course within 30 days of purchase. Civilians, contractors, retirees and dependents are not required to complete the SBRC, but they may take the course if space is available.
Commanders were instructed to ensure that riders are scheduled to complete these courses during normal duty hours and civilian and military members will not be charged leave for attendance.
"We've trained a total of 93 people through this course since July 2007 and we haven't received a single negative comment from any of the riders," said Mr. Wyatt.
The wing safety office is the primary point of contact for motorcycle training. For more information or for class placement, call 963-5601.