Sport bike accidents on rise; base offers AMC course

Capt. James Hodges, a sport bike safety instructor from the 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, evaluates a sport bike rider’s ability to make an “emergency” turn, Sept. 18, 2009, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The captain is among four volunteer Airmen recently certified to instruct the sport bike course here. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jessica Lockoski)

Sport bike accidents on rise; base offers AMC course

According to Air Mobility Command safety experts, as the popularity of sport bikes grows among Airmen, so does the number of injuries and fatalities. McConnell Airmen are required to wear a helmet, eye protection, a long-sleeved upper garment, long pants, sturdy, over-the-ankle footwear and full-fingered gloves when riding sport bikes or motorcycles. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jessica Lockoski)

Sport bike accidents on rise; base offers AMC course

Tech. Sgt. Brian Evans, center, explains to Airmen certified to teach a sport bike course the key elements to look for when instructing students, Sept. 18, 2009, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. Sergeant Evans, Air Mobility Command’s chief sport bike safety instructor, visited McConnell from the 60th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif. and certified Airmen to instruct a sport bike specific course, now mandatory for active-duty riders in AMC. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jessica Lockoski)

Sport bike accidents on rise; base offers AMC course

Air Mobility Command Airmen riding sport bikes are required to attend a command-specific sport bike course. At McConnell, riders attend a five-day class to help them become more confident and competent while maneuvering their bikes. For more information, call wing safety at 316-759-3216. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jessica Lockoski)

Sport bike accidents on rise; base offers AMC course

Sport bike safety instructors evaluate Airmen riding through a sport bike course, Sept. 18, 2009, in a parking-lot at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The course is designed to teach riders to properly negotiating turns, accelerate, use throttle control and brake their bikes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jessica Lockoski)

Sport bike accidents on rise; base offers AMC course

Published Sept. 24, 2009
By Master Sgt. Christopher Wuerthner
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- The combination of sport bikes and servicemembers is killing Airmen.

So far in 2009, 17 Airmen died in accidents involving two-wheeled vehicles. Eighty-two percent of those Airmen were riding sport bikes, a type of motorcycle know for its speed and eye-catching design.

The reason the combination is deadly comes down to one word: inexperience.

"The biggest problem we are having right now is people who are untrained," said Tech Sgt. Brian Evans, chief instructor of the sport bike safety course. Sergeant Evans, from Travis Air Force Base, Cala., travels to Air Mobility Command bases and certifies instructors to teach sports bike courses at their local wings.

The Air Force has provided motorcycle safety training to Airmen for a while, but the high percentage of accidents involving sports bikes prompted AMC to create a sports bike safety course in 2007.

One area instructors focus on during the course is the differences between cruisers and sport bikes.

"Riding a cruiser is like sitting on your couch," said Sergeant Evans. "You can't just jump from a cruiser straight up to a sport bike and feel comfortable. A sport bike obviously has more power. It's lighter in weight, the braking system on it is bigger, and it's a more of an aggressive riding style."

Statistically, the aggressive style attracts 18- to 24-year-olds who comprise a majority of sport bike riders and are at the highest risk for injuries and death, said the sergeant. Instructors try to get their students to bring a safety attitude to riding a sport bike.

"(From) when I started this program initially, to this point, I've seen a huge change in attitude," said Sergeant Evans. "People are making wiser decisions, not hot dogging as much."

The statistics confirm Sergeant Evans' observation. In 2006, the year before AMC started the course, there were 39 motorcycle mishaps across the Air Force. In 2008, a year after the course began, there were 18.

The course has another beneficial effect, this one to the rider's wallet. Taking the sport bike safety course can, depending a rider's insurance company, lower premiums. And, the sport bike safety course is free.

Seventeen dead Airmen are proof; the street does not always forgive mistakes.