Kick-start summer fun with motorcycle safety Published April 9, 2008 By Tech. Sgt. Shawn Malcolm 341st Space Wing Safety Office NCOIC 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 Wing Safety at 731-6726 and get signed up, the schedule is attached. 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 diagram attached explains what is required and please take note, the requirements have changed. Effective April 15, 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 (brightly colored jackets and/or reflective belts no longer meet the requirement for Malmstrom AFB), long pants and over the ankle shoes. 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? 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. No vest? Sorry you can't ride on base. No excuses. Date, Students, Stand-bys May 10-11, 15, 3 May 31-June 1, 16, 3 June 7-8 ,18 ,3 June 14-15, 18, 3 June 21-22, 12, 2 June 28-29, 18, 3 July 12-13, 6, 2 July 19-20, 6, 2 July 26-27, 6, 2 August 2-3, 6, 2 August 9-10, 6, 2 August 23-24, 18, 3 September 6-7, 6, 2 September 13-14, 6, 2 September 20-21, 18, 3 September 27-28, 18, 3 For any and all questions on Motorcycle Rider Safety Courses and or Motorcycle Safety questions, please call Mr. Nathe at 731-6726.