Sport bike class comes to McChord

  • Published
  • By Tyler Hemstreet
  • Staff writer
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  In a move aimed at teaching Airmen how to become safer motorcyclists, base officials are offering a class that caters specifically to sport bike riders. One of the first bases in Air Mobility Command to offer a sport bike class, the course here mixes classroom time with hands-on instruction. 

The class is designed to give both beginner and experienced sport bike riders a chance to discover what their limits are when it comes to riding, said assistant chief of safety Capt. Jason Morrison, 62nd Airlift Wing. 

"Some of the focus of the course is to put riders into situations to help them build their confidence in their bike and their own riding skills," said Captain Morrison, an experienced sport bike rider who also took the course. 

The classroom discussion focused on riders paying close attention to their bike's tires, suspension and overall maintenance before hitting the road each day. 

"Making sure the suspension is tuned correctly is a big deal when it comes to cornering," said co-instructor Master Sgt. Mark Gilbertson, 373rd Training Squadron, Detachment 12. 

Riders put their learning to the test on the course, practicing shifting their weight on the bike upon entering a corner, Sergeant Gilbertson said. 

"We're teaching guys to get a little bit off the seat and get their center of gravity down," he said. Riders spent a solid portion of the class out on the track learning to work with their bikes. The flightline offered the perfect setting for safe riding conditions. 

"If you go anywhere off the line, you're not going to hit anything for quite a while," Captain Morrison said. 

"The real goal is keeping our guys safe out on the roads," Sergeant Gilbertson said. "By the end of the day, I think everyone was a better rider." 

The preliminary plan for the class is to have it every other week, with space for six to 10 riders per class, Captain Morrison said. That could change once more instructors get trained, he said.