California CHP will soon be riding HD again..OR NOT 10/25/06

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Locopez · #1 Unread post by **Locopez** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:55 am

To all; did you know that the California CHP is going back to riding Harley Davidsons. They will be Road Kings. And the Dealership in Santa Cruz got the 1st years contract to sell to the state. Say bye bye to the BMWs.

TechTMW · #2 Unread post by **TechTMW** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 10:28 am

Which BMW's are they using currently?

Locopez · #3 Unread post by **Locopez** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 10:36 am

I am not good with BMWs...I think the 1100 st? Like I said not very good... maybe the rt?

Heimdall Einherjar · Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:24 pm

Those Road Kings gotta be ugliest things I've seen.
And with those pigs with their open-face helmets and mustaches, the look is complete.

TechTMW · #5 Unread post by **TechTMW** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:43 pm

Wonder why they swapped ... Anyway, I'll take the used beemers off their hands!

jmillheiser · Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:02 pm

most likely too many of the "buy american or else" types complained about the cops riding bimmers.

so the cops will go back to riding bikes that cant catch a lot of cages much less squids on sportbikes.

High_Side · #7 Unread post by **High_Side** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 1:24 am

The Harleys are actually great bikes for slow speed manouvering with the low reving engines and gobs of torque. This makes them ideal for getting in and around tight spaces in the cities.....which is the entire reason for having bikes in the first place.....
As for the cops who ride them: Here in Calgary they have to go through rigorous training and testing to "make the team". The guys who land the assignment know how to ride.

TechTMW · #8 Unread post by **TechTMW** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 1:56 am

It's interesting that Harley and BMW are the 2 brands most used by police forces (at least in the countries I've lived in) BMW probably has more cop bikes out there than Harley because I'm kinda doubting that police forces outside of NA use them (But i could be wrong)

I wonder what it is about these bikes that makes them desirable for police forces. Durability maybe?

Gummiente · #9 Unread post by **Gummiente** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 2:26 pm

High_Side wrote:As for the cops who ride them: Here in Calgary they have to go through rigorous training and testing to "make the team". The guys who land the assignment know how to ride.

Back in '86-'90 when I was in the Army and stationed in Calgary, the Calgary police would use part of our training area for their bike courses. The route they took to get there had them ride past the shop I worked in, it was quite a sight to look up and see 20 police Harleys rumble by in formation - heading right for the dirt trails!

Gummiente · Sun Apr 16, 2006 2:32 pm

TechBMW wrote:I wonder what it is about these bikes that makes them desirable for police forces. Durability maybe?

More likely their cost. I'll bet that Harley's bid came in cheaper than BMW's and the beancounters went with the HD mostly for that reason. But as High Side mentioned, they are great for low speed manouevers and their robust construction and extra thick sidewalls on the Dunlop Police tires can handle a lot of abuse. I've seen both the Toronto Police Winged Wheels precision riding team and the OPP Golden Helmets in action on these bikes, you would not believe what they can make them do!

Oh, and for those who think any squid on a sportbike can now outrun the CHP... well that might be true, but NOBODY can outrun a police radio and a police helicopter.