[RANT] Military Sportbike Riders Course

[NAKID]

Submarine IDC is in Groton, CT. Surface IDC is in San Diego, CA, soon to be San Antonio, TX...

[CMDRDAVE]

Seriously? This thing is still an issue?
I mean, I realize you're in school. But they came out with this course LAST YEAR. There hasn't been one course in the last 70 some odd weeks you could make it to? Its ONE DAY.

Everybody's situation is different.  I was lucky enough to be on shore tour when it came out.  I could easily see where if I was on a boat I would legitimately be able to see where I may not be able to attend a scheduled course for over a year based on underway schedules and evolutions unless I had a VERY understanding command.

Personally, I am serious thoughts about NOT going to several track days next summer based on the implications on my command if I get hurt. 

[DRKWNG]

But....That would be against the CNO's policy which mandates ALL must attend these courses and ALL supervisors must allow the time off to complete these courses without reprisal.

There is always the "needs of the mission" clause that exempts any command/commander from any policy.

[Scotzman]

There is always the "needs of the mission" clause that exempts any command/commander from any policy.

You have to play the whole sea lawyer card with it. "I could be seriously hurt or killed by not having this course and I guess that's why your boss says I have to go to this course with in this time frame."

[DRKWNG]

Can't really play that card when you have been directed not to ride until/unless you have taken the course. 

[Monster Dave]

Ok, so the bottom line then is that this is what the govt is requiring and there's nothing that you can do about it. So suck it up, and deal with it - in the mean time, go waste some ammo or crash a Humvee or two...or in this case, do a curb check with a submarine. That'll show'em!!

[DRKWNG]

Ok, so the bottom line then is that this is what the govt is requiring and there's nothing that you can do about it. So suck it up, and deal with it.

Pretty much.  They always include "small print" to exclude themselves from having to abide by any requirement that is issued, but woe unto you if you try to find a way out of that same requirement, however logical your case may be.

[vw151]

Definitely not the motor. What "sport bike" manufactured in the last 10 years is aircooled?

Also, let's look at the 06 620, non adjustable forks, heavier than it's I-4 600 counterparts, small 2 pot brakes. What's left? The foot position?

What about the Aprilia RS50? Based on your specs, that's a sport bike that does 50-70mph with a whopping 6hp...

Yes, I would consider the 620 a sportbike and I would consider the RS50 a sport bike and the ninja 250 a sport bike.    I guess it is hard to define with hard limits on horsepower or adjustable/non adjustable suspension.  The 620 still has USD forks and a pretty sporty geometry.  It's just a lower end model.  The RS50 is very small and low hp but.....

I dunno people,  call them whatever you want.  If you didn't call the RS50 a sport bike what else would you call it anyway.  

Air cooled,  The GSXRs all used to be air cooled,  the ducati supersport runs the same motor as the monsters.  Several BMWs are air oil cooled that I would consider a sport bike.  

Maybe look at it like this.  Think about cars.  There is a pretty broad definition of what a sports car is.  The Lotus Elise is relatively low horsepower and lightweight.  Definitely a sports car.   My VW GTI or a Mazda Miata might be borderline as a sports car.  Something like the Chevy corvette is a sports car but borderline supercar.  ZR1 would probably fall into supercar category, Ferrari Enzo - supercar.  That's just it though, there are sport bikes, which is a broad range of "sporty" bikes.  Or bikes made to ride for sport or recreation and then there are superbikes which are still definitely in the sport bike category but are primarily geared towards nothing but competitive racing.  I'd say the superbikes from the I-4 600s up to the 1000s really are secondarily road vehicles and primarily race vehicles where as a ducati monster is a sporty motorcycle that does well on the street but is not out of place on the track.  

Anyway, then consider vehicles like the ford taurus or maybe a BMW 7 series.  The 7 series might be like a Kawi Concourse.  Has a lot of the cool parts from the ZX-14 but more made for touring.  

I dunno, it's just my take on things.  Trying to put all these bikes in a box to dispute them being sport bikes seems silly to me.  It just seems apparent to me based on the bikes intended design.  If it's something that is more made to carv corners than anything else, mostly I'd say it's a sport bike.  Sure there are exception like supermoto bikes but that's life.  If it's made to cover long distances primarily but also is fun to do some cornering in.  That might be a sport touring bike.  Having said that I supposed you could negate the Multistrada from the sport bike category but I still think it fits in on the borderline, same with the hypermotard but who knows.   To me, it's a ducati, it's made to corner and go fast and the other stuff is secondary.  That's just my take.  I would compare a ducati touring bike to something like the porsche panamera or the few and far between 4 door Ferrari's like the 412 or the 2+2 456.  

Either way, the monster is not primarily a touring bike and it's not a supermoto, it's a naked sport bike, like the SV650, SV1000 and the Aprilia Tueno or MV Brutale or KTM superduke or Triumph Speed/Street triple.   I don't see the point in differentiating the 620 from the S4Rs.  Although one has way more HP and better suspension the basic design of the bike and the way it rides is the same.  It's like the standard Lotus Elise vs. the Supercharged Exige.  One is sportier but they are both sports cars.  


As far as the military things go.  I think the biggest failure I've read is that classes are full and not convenient for everyone.  If you are going to heavy handedly require this class, it would be respectful to make it overly available.  

[Monster Dave]

Pretty much.  They always include "small print" to exclude themselves from having to abide by any requirement that is issued, but woe unto you if you try to find a way out of that same requirement, however logical your case may be.

I was just being direct and to the point. As I said in my first response to this thread - I totally sympathize.

[DRKWNG]

I was just being direct and to the point. As I said in my first response to this thread - I totally sympathize.

Me too.  Especially because I am one of the poor sods that gets caught up in all this crap.  lol

[MendoDave]

The Navy doesn't care if you like to ride motorcycles. They didn't issue you one in your sea bag did they? if I were you, I would be glad they didn't require you to take the course every 18 months or something like that. School will end sometime, just take the class then. You must have some leave time coming your way.

I bet when you get back to the command you could even get your shop supervisor (or whatever you sub guys call them) to give you a day off. Just say hey man can I take a day off to....? He would probably say yea. That way you don't have to route a special request form.

"I respectfully request with sugar on top, pretty please to get the day off"...  routed to the, Co, Xo, Cheif, LPO, command masterchief of a different command than yours, to Seamanjustgotmake the beast with two backsed, the base supply yeoman, president Obama, The CNO etc.


(Do they still use those?)

[Scotzman]

The Navy doesn't care if you like to ride motorcycles. They didn't issue you one in your sea bag did they? if I were you, I would be glad they didn't require you to take the course every 18 months or something like that. School will end sometime, just take the class then. You must have some leave time coming your way.

I bet when you get back to the command you could even get your shop supervisor (or whatever you sub guys call them) to give you a day off. Just say hey man can I take a day off to....? He would probably say yea. That way you don't have to route a special request form.

"I respectfully request with sugar on top, pretty please to get the day off"...  routed to the, Co, Xo, Cheif, LPO, command masterchief of a different command than yours, to Seamanjustgotmake the beast with two backsed, the base supply yeoman, president Obama, The CNO etc.


(Do they still use those?)

Yes, yes we do. Special request chits. Which are actually life savers, one day it's okay to have a day off, until that day comes and they don't remember giving you that day off.

[NAKID]

I bet when you get back to the command you could even get your shop supervisor (or whatever you sub guys call them) to give you a day off. Just say hey man can I take a day off to....? He would probably say yea. That way you don't have to route a special request form.

I won't have a "supervisor" per se. As the MDR, I will be the only enlisted department head and report directly to the Executive Officer.

As far as getting a day off when I want one? I make my own schedule. If I want to come in at 10, I will, but you'll be damn sure that I will get what needs to be done before I leave...