ANSBACH, Germany (April 15, 2015) -- The temperature is rising and the ice and snow has melted. Trees are budding and flowers are starting to bloom. This means it's time to break your motorcycle out of winter storage. Two things you need to do before you begin to ride in earnest: Inspect your bike and take a motorcycle refresher training course.
Perform an inspection of your vehicle to ensure everything is as it should be. The T-CLOCS (T- Tires and Wheels; C- Controls; L- Lights; O- Oils; C- Chassis; and, S-Stands) motorcycle inspection checklist is available for download from IMCOM-Europe (refer to the "Related Links" section to the right of this article). Don't wait until warm weather beckons you to ride and you run the T-CLOCs inspection to find out your vehicle is not ready to ride.
The second thing, perhaps the most important, is to take a motorcycle refresher riding course. Luckily, for Soldiers, IMCOM-Europe offers free motorcycle safety courses under the Army Traffic Safety Training Program. If you are a Soldier, you only need to go online (refer to the "Related Links" section) and register for the next available training date that matches your skill set and motorcycle type, which meets your work and training schedule.
As a reminder, Soldiers must have a valid Motorcycle Safety Foundation completion card to ride a motorcycle. MSF completion cards expire every three years with one exception: The Experienced Rider or Military Sport Bike Rider course must be completed within 12 months of completing the Basic Rider Course. Check your wallet or purse to ensure your MSF completion card is valid before you ride.
On April 24, the Urlas Auto Skills Center, in conjunction with the Safety Office, will host a "Ready to Ride" event that will give motorcycle riders an opportunity to come out and hear some vital motorcycle tips from a certified motorcycle mechanic and motorcycle rider coach. Participants will be able to receive a "no penalty" bike inspection to identify any discrepancies that could warrant or contribute to a motorcycle crash. There will also be a host of motorcycle vendors available.
Also, as part of Motorcycle Safety Month in May, the USAG Ansbach Safety Office has scheduled a tentative motorcycle safety rally for May 15. More specific information will be released as soon as it is available.
For questions about motorcycle riding requirements or the Ready to Ride event, call the Urlas Auto Skills Center at DSN 467-3933 or 09802-83-3933 or the USAG Ansbach Safety Office at DSN 468-1670/7780 or 09802-83-1670/7780.
Related Links:
Team Ansbach: USAG Ansbach official blog site
USAG Ansbach official home page
Franconian News: USAG Ansbach's official news page
Motorcycle Safety Training Courses
USAG Ansbach official Twitter feed
USAG Ansbach official Facebook page
Social Sharing