Kick-start summer fun with motorcycle safety

  • Published
  • By Kelly Nathe
  • 341st Space Wing Safety Office traffic safety manager
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Spring is here! Get your bike and let's go for a ride. Winter was not that long ago and there is still a lot of gravel and sand still on the road that can make things slippery. There is still the potential for snow and ice in the shady, tree-covered areas, not to mention the passes. These are a few of the things you need to keep in mind if you ride a motorcycle early this season.

When you pull your bike out for the first time after the long winter hibernation, you need to look for many things. Check your tires. Make sure they are not low on air or dry rotted. Check your lights also. Look at the headlight, high and low beams, tail and brake lights, and be sure the turn signals work. Check the horn as well. You also want to look at the mechanical side of the bike too. If you don't feel comfortable with the mechanical part, take it to a motorcycle shop to get it checked out by the pros. Many of the motorcycle dealerships will do a "walk around" on your bike and look for any problems at no charge.

Your first ride should be something conservative, not a 500-mile marathon trip. Something shorter until you get your motorcycle skills back is more appropriate. You do have motorcycle skills right? Have you taken the MSF course? If not, call your unit safety representative and get signed up.

During the motorcycle safety class, riders are required to wear protective clothing. The Air Force makes riders wear it, too. Active-duty personnel have to wear the gear both on- and off-duty, on- and off-base. Civilians cannot ride on base if they aren't wearing all the proper gear.

The following items are required to be worn: Helmet (DOT approved, SNELL preferred), eye protection, full fingered gloves, long sleeves (preferably a leather type motorcycle jacket), a high visibility and reflective vest or brightly colored jackets, long pants and over the ankle boots.

You can do a quick 4-point check. Do I have a helmet on? What about eye protection? How about the high visibility/reflective vest or jacket? Is all my skin covered below my neck? If you can't answer YES to these four questions, fix them before you ride.

Security Forces will enforce this new policy stringently. Non- compliant? Sorry, you can't ride on base. No excuses.


Date, Students, Stand-bys

April 24-25, 8, 4

May 1-2, 7,4
May 8-9, 12, 4
May 15-16, 12, 4
May 22-23, 12, 4

June 5-6 ,12 ,4
June 12-13, 12, 4
June 19-20, 12, 4
June 26, 6, 2 for Experienced Rider course and 6, 2 for Sport Bike course

July 10-11, 12, 2
July 17-18, 12, 2
July 24-25, 12, 2
July 31, Aug. 1, 12, 2

August 7-8, 12, 2
August 17-18, 12, 2
August 24-25, 12, 3
August 28, 6, 2 Experienced Rider course and 6,2 for Sport Bike course

September 11-12, 12, 2
September 18-19, 12, 2
September 25-26, 12, 2

For any and all questions on Motorcycle Rider Safety Courses and or Motorcycle Safety questions, please call Mr. Nathe at 731-6726.

Sidebar information:

Classes will be held in the Health and Wellness Center, building 1145, room 101. Classes start promptly at 8 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. All classes run two days. The course is mandatory for all beginners and a permit is not required. All personal protective equipment is required. Motorcycles and helmets are provided. All students will be held accountable for being on time and completing the class. Late cancellations and no-shows will result in unit commander action and the individual will be billed the price of the course, $120, from the course provider, MSU Northern.