Navy program stresses safety for motorcyclists

NORFOLK

At the signal, the 11 riders started their sport-style motorcycles with a chirp of their ignitions. Engines rumbling and ready, they stood by for instructions.

The first exercise Wednesday had them making their way around a large ellipse to warm up their tires, then easing into a weaving pattern to practice working their handlebars and looking through their turns.

The riders' immediate plan: to get better at riding the high-powered bikes, which originally were built for racing but are appearing increasingly on streets.

The Navy's goal: to keep the riders safe. The statistics are grim.

Since October, 32 sailors and Marines worldwide have died on motorcycles. Of those, 30 were riding sport bikes. The previous year, 66 percent of Navy motorcycle deaths and 78 percent of Marine motorcycle deaths were on sport bikes.

To bring down these sobering numbers, the Naval Safety Center joined forces last fall with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation to quickly develop a course that addressed the specific handling and speed challenges of these machines, which can reach 200 mph.

The one-day Military Sport Bike Rider Course rolled out at the beginning of June in Norfolk, San Diego and Mayport, Fla., as well as Japan and Europe. The goal is to train all 12,500 Navy and Marine sport bike riders by the end of this riding season.

The course is mandatory for any service member who owns a sport bike, and comes in addition to the basic rider course all uniformed and civilian Navy personnel are required to take. The Army has adopted similar training for its soldiers.

The course focuses on the two main causes of death riders face. The first involves a single-vehicle accident where the rider takes a turn too quickly and loses control of the bike. The second comes at intersections, when the unseen rider is hit by a car or truck.

In the first case, the issue is handling, said Don Borkoski, the safety center's motorcycle safety manager. The sport bike's higher center of gravity makes it more maneuverable, but also more dangerous because riders literally fall into their turns.

Riders handle the second case with a refresher in defensive driving. On Wednesday, they took turns starting from a standstill, advancing to second gear, then coming to a quick halt behind a car that had supposedly stopped suddenly in front of them.

They then checked their mirrors to find another imaginary car rushing up behind them, oblivious, and had to quickly pull out of the way to avoid getting hit.

Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Thompson, who was practicing on a 600cc Suzuki, said that, though he's been riding for four years, this type of true-to-life training is invaluable.

"Cars don't see you," he said. And with so many drivers talking or texting on their cell phones nowadays, he added, when they come up behind you, "all you hear is tires screeching."

For Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Greil, the goal was to improve his handling and braking skills.

Greil's wife rides a sport bike as well. His 600cc Suzuki features an airbrushed portrait of their son, Brandon, on its low windshield.

Brandon, who turns 3 next month, already has a toy motorcycle that he pushes himself around on. His parents plan to get him a battery-powered one next year.

Then, someday, his own motorcycle. It will most likely be a sport bike, Greil said.

"He does everything I do now..."

Matthew Jones, (757) 446-2949, matthew.jones@pilotonline.com