Rumor Has it

[makinne]

I heard a rumor that the California Highway Patrol was going to all BMW's for their motorcycle patrol? Anyone have anything on this.

Thanks!!

[RaffyK]

They have had R100RT-P and R1150RT-P for several years now. There was an issue with the contract last year. They may have opted to stay with BMWs.

[makinne]

Answered my own question:) They use the 1100RT.

[makinne]

They have had R100RT-P and R1150RT-P for several years now. There was an issue with the contract last year. They may have opted to stay with BMWs.


Thank you sir!!!!

[BUGKILLER]

Many of the local police departments in southern California are going to BMW for the cop bikes as well.

[mikerd400]

The CHP has been using BMWs since 1998. We now use the 1150 RT-P. BMW had the contract, but it was taken away about 9 months ago. Someone in the state (not the CHP), but most likely the Governor, wanted Harley's. Testing began, and even though HD failed the testing, but they were given the contract any ways. HD was given numerous attempts, but their bike never passed. So, BMW got the contract again, thank god. The CHP will be getting the new 1200 RT-P

[Tallyho]

I have read the HD could never hit the 100mph requirement. Had also heard CHP motorcops quietly looking to go back to cruisers if HD ended up with the contract. That's great for the CHP. God knows how many have been saved by the ABS alone.

Question, Mike. Slight hijack. With all the emphasis on safe riding with CHP motors, I am surprised to see some many in shirtsleeves riding down the freeway. What's your take on this?

[dshealey]

The CHP has been using BMWs since 1998. We now use the 1150 RT-P. BMW had the contract, but it was taken away about 9 months ago. Someone in the state (not the CHP), but most likely the Governor, wanted Harley's. Testing began, and even though HD failed the testing, but they were given the contract any ways. HD was given numerous attempts, but their bike never passed. So, BMW got the contract again, thank god. The CHP will be getting the new 1200 RT-P

Phew! That was close! Thank God for cooler heads finally taking over and making the specifications rule.

When will the new 1200s start showing up?

It will be interesting to see how they stack up against the 1150s.

[lnowell]

I have read the HD could never hit the 100mph requirement. Had also heard CHP motorcops quietly looking to go back to cruisers if HD ended up with the contract. That's great for the CHP. God knows how many have been saved by the ABS alone.

Question, Mike. Slight hijack. With all the emphasis on safe riding with CHP motors, I am surprised to see some many in shirtsleeves riding down the freeway. What's your take on this?

There was an article or mention of the CA / Harley thing in the OTL awhile back (I think). It said the Harley could not maintain the required 90 MPH (or could not reach it) without modification to the fuel delivery system - which if done - would make the bike fail the CA emission standard. It went on to state (I think) that the ABS system added to the Harley was from an auto and took up one entire side case. BUT STILL the Harley was being pushed as the bike of choice. Glad to hear it did not work out that way.

[LTsaddledance]

[QUOTE=lnowell]There was an article or mention of the CA / Harley thing in the OTL awhile back (I think). It said the Harley could not maintain the required 90 MPH (or could not reach it) without modification to the fuel delivery system - which if done - would make the bike fail the CA emission standard. [QUOTE]

Somethin don't sound right there. The police Harley's couldn't maintain (or reach) 90mph?
My 98 Road King Police model will do 90 with no problem. Newer ones can't?
Maybe with California emmision requirements tho....still, I'd like to see the article.

[jamesgoodchild]

Someone in the state (not the CHP), but most likely the Governor, wanted Harley's.

Well what did you all expect from the terminator? Arnold made the HD Fat Boy famous in '91 with T2 and if the old memory banks are working, increased a lot of sales for HD with the cool scenes of him and John Connor racing down the waterways, flipping a pump action shotgun single handed and blasting the T2 in the semi.

There was even some talk with T3 that Arnold would do the same for Indian - boost their sagging sales by showing off on the Chief. Didn't work that well.

[Keith]

San Diego PD is on the BMW also. Same story... lots of political heat to pick the harley but thankfully no go.

You're right about the automotive abs system harley tried to jack together. They actually used a 4 way splitter marked RF, LF, RR, LR and simply plugged two outlets! :rolleyes:

The Motor Officers let it be known that if stuck with harleys they'd do their best to trash 'em till they ran out of bikes.

They've seen first hand the number of injuries real ABS has prevented.

[mikerd400]

I have read the HD could never hit the 100mph requirement. Had also heard CHP motorcops quietly looking to go back to cruisers if HD ended up with the contract. That's great for the CHP. God knows how many have been saved by the ABS alone.

Question, Mike. Slight hijack. With all the emphasis on safe riding with CHP motors, I am surprised to see some many in shirtsleeves riding down the freeway. What's your take on this?


I heard that the Harley, fully loaded with all the police equip, reached 96 mph. The CHP requires at least 100 mph. The HD ABS is from the Hyundai cars. I'm about to get on a motor, and if the CHP went with HD, I would not get on one. Nothing against HD, but for highway (speed) use, not a good handling machine. Works great for city cops, but chasing speed on a cruiser really sucks. They're not meant for speed.

Regarding the protective clothing, or lack there of. We have two choices for jackets, our blue jacket or the thick leather jacket. Some members wanted to go the flip up helmets, but upper management does not like the look. I'm so glad they care about our safety. Most motor accidents are slow speed, so not too many cases of road rash that I have seen. Motor school is really about slow speed bike handling; avoiding the car that pulls out in front of you, etc.

[tkramer]

In accordance with new California state CHP standards, all motorcycle officers are to be issued one muzzle-loading flint-lock pistol and new state-of-the-art communications in the form of wireless Morse code transmitters. (Homing pigeons will be carried in the topcase for sending more lengthy communiques).

If the state of California was serious about switching to the "all-American" brand, why didn't they investigate the V-Rod as a platform? It, At least, has a chance of tracking down the scofflaw in a '73 Pinto.


The CHP has been using BMWs since 1998. We now use the 1150 RT-P. BMW had the contract, but it was taken away about 9 months ago. Someone in the state (not the CHP), but most likely the Governor, wanted Harley's. Testing began, and even though HD failed the testing, but they were given the contract any ways. HD was given numerous attempts, but their bike never passed. So, BMW got the contract again, thank god. The CHP will be getting the new 1200 RT-P

[KBandit]

If the state of California was serious about switching to the "all-American" brand, why didn't they investigate the V-Rod as a platform? It, At least, has a chance of tracking down the scofflaw in a '73 Pinto.

i don't think the nationality of the manufacturer is even a factor. i would guess they look at reliability, performance and resale value. that last factor works in harley's favor but i don't think the others do.

[BillyOmaha]

i don't think the nationality of the manufacturer is even a factor. i would guess they look at reliability, performance and resale value. that last factor works in harley's favor but i don't think the others do.Howdy Gerhard,

In California that is probably true nowadays, but here (http://www.auburnalabama.org/finance/bid_invitations/10282005Motorcycle.htm) is a recent bid request sheet for Alabama. Quite amusing, in a sad sort of way :(

I remember that in the late 60's and early '70's the CHP used to specify their requirements such that Dodge, and only Dodge, would meet all of them, i.e. 440 cubic inch displacement, gear ratios, etc..

.

[KBandit]

Howdy Gerhard,

In California that is probably true nowadays, but here (http://www.auburnalabama.org/finance/bid_invitations/10282005Motorcycle.htm) is a recent bid request sheet for Alabama. Quite amusing, in a sad sort of way :(

I remember that in the late 60's and early '70's the CHP used to specify their requirements such that Dodge, and only Dodge, would meet all of them, i.e. 440 cubic inch displacement, gear ratios, etc..

well i'll be.

a friend of mine who used to be a motor cop said he would ONLY ride harleys because the throttle back in the day was not spring loaded, allowing him to fire his revolver without backing off the throttle.

[ksailor]

tkramer new state-of-the-art communications in the form of wireless Morse code transmitters.

Have one in the truck _._ .._ _ _ ..._ _ _._

Strictly CW catch me on 40M (7.050Mhz 0600 EDT).

Working on a Rock Mite for the LT next. CW/Motorcycle Mobile!!

[motorman587]

I would like to add to the short sleeve, flip up helmets safety for motor cops. I believe every motor cop will agree that we believe in safety. Full leathers and full face helmet will always be the safest gear. However next time you get gas in the 100 degree I want you to leave your gear on. Then find a sunny spot in the road, parking lot. Get and off your motorcycle about 10 times. Walk about 20 to 30 feet. Use a clip board and write a letter and get back on the motor. My point is that is what a motor officer does. He just does not ride from A to B, but issues citations. We understand about our safety and agree that we should wear full face, full leathers, however this is no piratical in what we do.

[tkramer]

I agree. I don't think a motor officer with beads of sweat dripping off of his nose while writing up a citation is an acceptable proposition,( Kind of smears the ink on the top sheet ). It's also not just a matter of getting on/off the bike repeatedly. The amount of stress and tension associated with each stop elevates the heart rate and body temp: "Is this some sociopath with a handgun?".

I've also seen moto cops bark out warnings to numbnutz cagers and peds while mounted on their rides. Something you can't do with a full-face hat.

I would like to add to the short sleeve, flip up helmets safety for motor cops. I believe every motor cop will agree that we believe in safety. Full leathers and full face helmet will always be the safest gear. However next time you get gas in the 100 degree I want you to leave your gear on. Then find a sunny spot in the road, parking lot. Get and off your motorcycle about 10 times. Walk about 20 to 30 feet. Use a clip board and write a letter and get back on the motor. My point is that is what a motor officer does. He just does not ride from A to B, but issues citations. We understand about our safety and agree that we should wear full face, full leathers, however this is no piratical in what we do.

[mneblett]

i don't think the nationality of the manufacturer is even a factor. i would guess they look at reliability, performance and resale value. that last factor works in harley's favor but i don't think the others do.Don't kid yourself for a second -- the nationality of the manufacturer was the *primary* driving force behind this (the Governator rides a what?? ;)). Granted, there was no mention of nationality in the RFP, but that doesn't mean there was a lot of pressure to adjust the "purely technical" specifications to help HD secure the contract. If this had been solely a technical issue, the RFP and evaluation would have been short; but the yells and rants (read political pressure) to go back to HD were so loud (audible even out here on the Right Coast) that the CHP had to bend over backwards to ensure HD had a "fair chance." Kudos to the CHP for holding out and not compromising the standards so their people get the *best* equipment, regardless of maker.

[HornHonker]

I don't think they have settled this yet ?