Posted on Jun 3, 2021
Just curious does your military installation regardless of branch require their own specific license to ride a motorcycle?
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Outside of having to complete the motorcycle rider course and having your civilian motorcycle license/ endorsement.
Posted in these groups: 
Motorcycles
Motorcycles
Posted >1 y ago
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I did not ride when I was active duty, but since then, getting on a base on a motorcycle requires a MSF card, a license endorsement, plus PPE, long pants, helmet, boots, etc.
I have been on bases that required all those that wanted to start riding to take their course, which went a bit further than the MSF basic course. I assume that was because all the guys coming back from deployment were buying Crotch Rockets and hitting the wall on a regular basis.
I have been on bases that required all those that wanted to start riding to take their course, which went a bit further than the MSF basic course. I assume that was because all the guys coming back from deployment were buying Crotch Rockets and hitting the wall on a regular basis.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CPT (Join to see) - Riding with the Cagers is always dangerous. It's my opinion that even if you have taken some good riding courses, and I've taken two since I started back riding, you really don't get to be a reasonably competent rider until you get at least 5000 miles under your belt. The problem is that the young guys get overpowered bikes that can do the quarter in about 8 seconds and just don't have a clue about what to do if things go South.
Not to just pick on the young guys, in my age group the most fatalities are in that group that hasn't ridden in the last 40 years and then go buy a HD Electra Glide when they really need to start on a Honda 250 Rebel.
Not to just pick on the young guys, in my age group the most fatalities are in that group that hasn't ridden in the last 40 years and then go buy a HD Electra Glide when they really need to start on a Honda 250 Rebel.
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CPT (Join to see)
CPT Lawrence Cable - Rebel 250 is perfect first bike. I recommend any bike where the rider can get both feet on the ground while they learn. The less power the better, and even with a 250cc you can still flip yourself on your ass.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CPT (Join to see) - My wife still rides a 250 Virago, which is a V-twin and generates about a third more HP than the single piston thumpers. Fun bike, but it still goes fast enough to hurt you.
Anti lock brakes on a lot of the new bikes help a lot, although none of my present rides have them. I want to try one of Honda's DCT transmissions, I would think taking shifting out of the equation would reduce accidents a bit also.
Anti lock brakes on a lot of the new bikes help a lot, although none of my present rides have them. I want to try one of Honda's DCT transmissions, I would think taking shifting out of the equation would reduce accidents a bit also.
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CWO4 Tim Hecht
While in the Coast Guard I attended the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Instructor’s Course. I’ve also taken, as a participant, the Basic and Advanced MSF Safe Rider Courses. Although at one of my last commands I wasn’t an instructor; I had to brief the command on the death of an active duty member, killed when he rode into a 12” square concrete light pole. When I was told what killed him I was asked to offer my opinion as to why it happened. Witnesses said that when he struck the light pole he was going between 5 and 10 MPH. My first comments were that he was going too fast. He stopped at a stop sign, accelerated, and failed to make the turn into his lane striking the pole face first. He was wearing a helmet and all the other equipment; 1’ either side of the pole he would have been embarrassed but not killed. I explained to the command that when you’re driving a car and are taking a corner or turning from a stop the tendency is to try to power your way through the turn. For those of you who know (and if you ride a bike you need to know) in a turn or cornering and get in a jam power is your worst enemy - you will go straight; in this case sadly he probably panicked and applied more power and struck the pole. When the CHP sent the command the accident report it said basically the same thing I had told them. Sad story.
When I got my first bike in 1991 I went to the library and checked out a book on safe motorcycle riding. It was authorized by one of the founders of the MSF and created the Oklahoma State Motorcycle Safe Riding Program. On my first ride on the bike (a friend’s wife rode it home for me) I started at a stop sign to turn left accelerated too fast - and remembered “roll off the throttle!” First lesson reinforced by the ride!
To this day, almost 30 years of safe riding one thing from the MSF Instructor who taught the classroom part of the course still guides my riding. He held a pencil, vertically so the class could see it and said: “this is how big you look when you’re 50 feet behind the car in front of you!” I ride like no one can see me. One other piece of advise - and I have to remind myself every time I ride is to not stay focused on the idiot who almost ran me into the center median; because if I do - I’ll miss the one who runs me over.
One last comment regarding tractor trailers on the road; that sign on the back of the trailer that says if you can’t see my mirrors I can’t see you... well for 10-1/2 years I processed commercial vehicles crossing the border from Canada into the US. Many of the drivers crossed on a regular basis; I would in a jokingly but serious way would say that if you can’t see me in your rear view mirrors you better look again! There’s a reason I use my high beams during the day time!
When I got my first bike in 1991 I went to the library and checked out a book on safe motorcycle riding. It was authorized by one of the founders of the MSF and created the Oklahoma State Motorcycle Safe Riding Program. On my first ride on the bike (a friend’s wife rode it home for me) I started at a stop sign to turn left accelerated too fast - and remembered “roll off the throttle!” First lesson reinforced by the ride!
To this day, almost 30 years of safe riding one thing from the MSF Instructor who taught the classroom part of the course still guides my riding. He held a pencil, vertically so the class could see it and said: “this is how big you look when you’re 50 feet behind the car in front of you!” I ride like no one can see me. One other piece of advise - and I have to remind myself every time I ride is to not stay focused on the idiot who almost ran me into the center median; because if I do - I’ll miss the one who runs me over.
One last comment regarding tractor trailers on the road; that sign on the back of the trailer that says if you can’t see my mirrors I can’t see you... well for 10-1/2 years I processed commercial vehicles crossing the border from Canada into the US. Many of the drivers crossed on a regular basis; I would in a jokingly but serious way would say that if you can’t see me in your rear view mirrors you better look again! There’s a reason I use my high beams during the day time!
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I’m retired; 20 years now! The only base I ride my motorcycle on now is a monthly trip to BAMC San Antonio for prescription refills. I was a bit shocked - surprised more like it when a DOD Civilian Police Officer at the gate called me on the boots I was wearing while riding the bike on post last month. He told me I needed to wear over the ankle boots while riding on post. Every other Soldier, Airman, or DOD Civilian Officer says things like “Wow, nice bike” or “I didn’t know BMW made a bike like that!” It’s a 2021 BMW R18; 1802 cc, 91 hp, 116 ft lb of torque. It is the largest opposed piston twin engine BMW has ever put in a motorcycle. It has 3 power (torque) options; Rain for sandy or wet roads - least amount of torque when rolling on the throttle, Roll think like normal torque on acceleration, and finally Rock - hold on tight; let’s just say - Holy Toledo that’s a heck of a lot of power! The stock seat had to go in the box that my Corbin “Gunfighter” seat came in. My wife doesn’t want to ride on the back; and I don’t want the temptation when one of the lovely women I know what’s to go for a ride!
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Commands or Installations may have additional requirements but the basics are motor cycle license, Command endorsed Motorcycle Safety Course and all appropriate PPE. I have seen some Commands have additional requirements for Sport bikes as they contribute to majority of the motorcycle accidents in the Military community. I was on one base that even had a bike simulator course where they would place you in specific situations to allow for practical application. But I have not seen anywhere where they had their own licensing or credentialing program outside of motorcycle safety. I would cut through the rumors and go straight to the source at the Command level so you know what your requirements are.
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SFC (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see), command's can make regulations more strict, just not more lenient. You may have a CG or CoS who dislikes motorcycles. It happens.
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