MASTER SGT. KEVIN BUCKNER
Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment
Joint Force Headquarters
Colorado Army National Guard
Centennial, Colorado

It was a beautiful Colorado morning, and my wife and I planned to celebrate our wedding anniversary with a nice, long motorcycle ride. Colorado mornings are cool, so we ensured we had our helmets, gloves, boots and jackets for the trip. We started the day with a ride to breakfast. Over our meal, we talked about the route of travel and what we wanted to do for our special day.

We decided Estes Park would be our destination. We rode from Firestone down to Boulder and then proceeded up through the mountains on Highway 36 to Highway 7 to catch the beautiful mountainous views and wildlife on our way up. The Peak-to-Peak Highway is a popular ride and one of our favorite routes. Traffic was moving smoothly and the weather was gorgeous. It was a great day for a ride.

Once we reached Estes, we found a parking spot, downgraded our gear and then walked around downtown, enjoying the stores and restaurants our little mountain town destination had to offer. We noticed there was an art festival, so we decided to check it out. Following a visit to the historic Stanley Hotel, we figured it was about time to get back on the road and head down the mountain.

Before walking back to the bike, we contacted some friends and coordinated meeting them for dinner. The restaurant location changed our initial travel route, so we would now be taking Highway 34 down the mountain to Loveland. It was about 3 p.m., so Estes had become hot and crowded, and traffic was starting to get a little crazy. When we got to the bike, we decided it was too hot to wear our jackets and helmets. We knew the risks, but comfort seemed a little more important to us at the time.

We loaded the saddlebags, hopped on the bike and took off for the restaurant. The ride out of Estes was crowded and filled with other motorcycles and vehicles, so it took us about 20 minutes to get out of town. Traffic was slow-moving at first but started picking up a bit once we reached Highway 34. Everything was going smoothly.

About halfway down the mountain, there was hardly any traffic. I was coasting at the 35-mph speed limit when I came around a corner and saw a pickup truck stopped in the middle of the highway. What could I do? Brake? Run into the back of the truck? Drive into oncoming traffic?

I had no time to think, so I reacted to the situation by braking and downshifting. The brakes locked up and we fishtailed. I was able to regain control, but we repeated the process a of couple times until I had to put the bike down due to the death wobbles. Luckily, I was able to slow down to about 10 mph before dumping the bike. As soon as we hit the ground, I jumped up to check on my wife. Fortunately, all we sustained was some minor road rash, bumps and bruises — and a messed-up bike. We didn’t hit the vehicle, go into oncoming traffic or receive any major injuries. Luck was on our side.

With hindsight being 20/20, we looked back on our close call and realized the foolish mistake we made that day. Why did we choose comfort over safety? What were we thinking? What if the crash had been more severe? Since that day, we ensure safety is the number one factor in all of our rides, and personal protective equipment is a must. We haven’t ridden without our gear since and never will again.

FYI

Many Soldiers believe they do not have to wear a helmet if riding in a no-helmet state. This is not true. An approved helmet, along with other personal protective equipment (PPE), is required at all times for all Army military personnel operating or riding on a motorcycle, moped or ATV — on or off duty and on or off an installation. Additionally, Army civilian personnel are required to wear the same PPE when:

• On a military installation
• In a duty status (on and off an installation)
• Operating a DOD-owned motorcycle

Motorcycle jackets and pants constructed of abrasion-resistant materials such as leather, Kevlar or Cordura, as well as those that contain impact-absorbing padding, are strongly recommended. Riders are also encouraged to select PPE that incorporates fluorescent colors and retro-reflective material.

For more information on motorcycling safely — as well as regulations, riding tips, training information and products and tools — check out the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center’s PMV-2 page.