Why is Harley-Davidson THE choice for a Police Motorcycle?

[HEMI®Dart]

I remember being in Pittsburgh in the late 70s and seeing the P. D. had Harley trikes. The back had a large box on it. For stuffing perps into??

I started laughing when I read this. I would like to see one if somebody can dig up a picture. Google images didn't come back with anything. :-laf

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Lots of great info in the thread I never knew. Very, very interesting. Thanks for the replies!

 

[Shovelhead]

I started laughing when I read this. I would like to see one if somebody can dig up a picture. Google images didn't come back with anything. :-laf

They were called the Servicar, example shown here

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They still used that Flathead motor until they were discontinued in (I beleive) the mid 70s.

 

[AMink]

I see BMW's and HD's around Reno for the different agencies. Most have more than one kind. I read somewhere (Motorcycle mag?) years ago that when CHP went from HD to Kawasaki, the officers didn't like the Kawis because the forks would bend when they pushed stalled cars off the road. The HD's didn't bend! Sounds like the Kawis need a Buckstop!

 

[GFritsch]

I see BMW's and HD's around Reno for the different agencies. Most have more than one kind. I read somewhere (Motorcycle mag?) years ago that when CHP went from HD to Kawasaki, the officers didn't like the Kawis because the forks would bend when they pushed stalled cars off the road. The HD's didn't bend! Sounds like the Kawis need a Buckstop!

I bet that is something the manufacturers didn't consider when designing the forks. :-laf

 

[BigPapa]

As stated before, the main reason Harley is so popular with PD's is the resale. Most bids, all I've seen, have a clause which requires that the dealer will buy back the bikes after a certain amount of time or mileage. With the bike market the way it is, the resale value of a Harley vs. everything else doesn't leave much of an option. The selling dealer has to consider this when making a bid. This is changing, though, with used Harley values dropping. Also, HD offers huge incentives for service on the bikes. You have to admit that all the PD's out there running Harley's helps their sales.



The old Kaw's are not offered anymore. The BMW's are very nice but also VERY expensive. Honda is finally coming on the market with their ST line. As of last year you could still get their ST1100 in police configuration but they're going strictly to the ST1300 this year. The problem with them right now is the availability of equipment available for them. They come with a lot of the controls for the sirens, lights, and radio on them and, leave it to Honda , they have created problems with the controls integrating with the other equipment. This is changing, slowly, so look for more Honda's out there pretty soon.



Scott

 

[NPloysa]

I know some European countries and some American cities use the F650GS dualsport for their bikes. Look in my link for photos. My Dakar is a taller version with a few extras that the standard GS doesn't have but you get the idea.



I saw some recently but can't remember where... Maybe Manitou Springs, Colorado...



Nick

 

[Todd T]

We were speaking with a Las Vegas PD bike cop last week and he told us they keep them (HD's) for 60K miles. He was a supervisor and didnt ride as much as the regular patrolman and said his should last about four years. He bought some chrome items and decked it out a bit and said he would just pull them off prior to turning it in. I seem to remember him saying they had or used to have some Goldwings too.

 

[BigPapa]

What's up Todd. How's the Rhino?



The TN Highway Patrol had three 1100 Goldwings that they built themselves. They served them well. Until Honda came out with their ST1100P they wouldn't stand behind any of their bikes that were used for police work.



A local Suzuki dealer used Suzuki GS1100's as a platform to build a bike for the Davidson County Metro Police. He had retired from the Metro Police maintenance department before he bought the Suzuki store and he was bound and determined to keep them off Harley's. It cost him his business.



Scott

 

[bmoeller]

Saw in the paper our town just got 2 new motorcycles. They are HD's.

Did they buy them, or were they stolen bikes that were recovered? :-laf

 

[NVR FNSH]

CHP currently uses BMW K bikes but H-D won the contract for the new bikes. Up until recently H-D didn't have ABS so H-D wasn't even considered by CHP. H-D was supposed to provide test bikes to CHP sometime this past spring/summer but I don't know if H-D was able to do so. Most officers I know strongly prefer the BMW to the H-D. I've seen BMW F-650s and Suzuki DR400Z's used for dual sport/off-road patrol around here.



Brian

 

[Bloomy]

Disclaimer: I am 100% anti Harley Davidson Motorcycles. With that said, there was a show on Discovery (or something similar) that took a look at the NYPD and their bike division. All H-D at the time. Reasons they stated were confort, size, ability to maneuver and handle at slower speeds (not too many high speed chases) and a few others. Personally I would take the BMW or my Tiger over any H-D (read disclaimer), but as many others have said the bottom line is the bottom line.



Thomas

 

[GFritsch]

Disclaimer: I am 100% anti Harley Davidson Motorcycles. With that said, there was a show on Discovery (or something similar) that took a look at the NYPD and their bike division. All H-D at the time. Reasons they stated were confort, size, ability to maneuver and handle at slower speeds (not too many high speed chases) and a few others. Personally I would take the BMW or my Tiger over any H-D (read disclaimer), but as many others have said the bottom line is the bottom line.



Thomas

You hit the head on the nail as far as comfort. I can ride my harley all day. When I watch the guys on the BMW's with bent legs I can understand the cops I have talked to preferring the bigger bike. I have no doubt that the BMW will accelerate faster, stop faster, and corner faster. BMW bikes are well made bikes designed as a compromise of comfort and agility. Harley is a cruiser type of bike designed for comfort and style.



As another noted I know some guys that upgrade their bikes with chrome add ons, exhaust etc. I could definately see being a cop if I could ride on nice days and get paid. Oh well a little late for me at 40.



Greg



I am not anti any bike. I think it's important for all of us to speak with one voice and fight for our rights together.

 

[lschultz]

In Austin I seen them riding Harley's, BMW's and Kaw's. Freind of mine that use to be a cop started on a Guzzi he said they had a lot of problems with the Guzzi.

 

[RustyJC]

R-Series (air/oil cooled boxer) BMW R1200 RT-P (P for Police).



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Rusty

 

[BigPapa]

I'd say it'll take a tall, lanky fella to get his leg over that radio box. :-laf



Those Germans can sure make a nice bike, though.



Scott

 

[Champane Flight]

Fine , but..

I have ridden Motoguzzi, BMW, and Ducati. The Motoguzzi was a tad smoother, the beamer handled better than the MG, but the Ducati just plain outran and outperformed everything... . Felt like it was part of you...









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[UP N MTNS]

Local SD around here rides the BMW's and Honda ST1300's,and they are all wearing full face helments now



Highway patrol is riding BMW's... .

 

[TowPro]

I'd say it'll take a tall, lanky fella to get his leg over that radio box. :-laf



Those Germans can sure make a nice bike, though.



Scott

I was at a bike "get to gether" a couple months ago with my Beamer. Some guys were walking around looking at all the shined up HD's. I was listening to them as they walked past my Beamer, a younger rider said "why are the BMW's always dirty".

The older rider answered "The one thing I can tell you about BMW riders is they are a group that really "ride" there bikes". He continued to tell the kid "most BMW riders ride more miles in a year then your average HD gets on it in a life time!" It made me proud to be standing behind my dirty 87 K100RS with low miles (only 50K miles). And I only put 4K miles on it in the first 2 months I owned it!

 

[RustyJC]

Back to the original question (i. e. , Why is Harley-Davidson THE choice for a Police Motorcycle), that may be true for the United States, but BMW claims market leadership for Authority motorcycles (BMW's term for Police motorcycles) on a worldwide basis with over 80,000 in service.



Rusty