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[YesItsLoaded]

http://www.policemag.com/Channel/Vehicles/News/2010/05/04/Kawasaki-Reenters-Police-Market-with-Concours-14-ABS-Police-Bike.aspx

May 4, 2010

Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A. has announced the availability of the Concours 14 ABS Police motorcycle to U.S. law enforcement agencies. Complete sales and support services are available through the company's network of more than 1,100 U.S. motorcycle dealers.

Kawasaki will provide post-sale warranty support as well as law enforcement maintenance personnel training. Police unit preparation will be handled through a partnership with Beaudry Motors Inc.

All units are delivered with a tighter turning radius and custom law enforcement equipment, including adjustable speedometer, a second wiring harness with 12 fused circuits, and a separate battery dedicated to the add-on electronics installed by Beaudry Motors Inc. An extensive selection of emergency equipment is also available.

The Concours 14 ABS offers:

• Optional high-performance Traction Control.

• High-performance ABS brake system.

• Quickest acceleration in the law enforcement class.

• Heavy-duty 41.5 amp alternator.

• 441-pound payload capacity.

• Removable saddle bags.

• Tough and durable clutch.

• Three-year unlimited mileage factory warranty.

• Fleet service staff training, plus the authorization to conduct non-warranty maintenance and repairs, on-site

• Purchasing agencies may also take their vehicles to any Kawasaki motorcycle dealer for regular maintenance, repairs, or warranty service.

The motorcycles retail for between $16,000 and $22,000 a piece, depending on equipment options ordered. A complete clutch system replacement—one of the most frequent police unit maintenance needs—costs less than $400 in parts and labor.

This represents a savings of several hundred dollars per occurrence and could mean a savings of thousands of dollars over the life of each vehicle, according to Kawasaki.

[BUBBLEHEAD]

American Law enforcement on rice burners, Whatever  .     BUY AMERICAN

[YesItsLoaded]

I agree - but as I posted here http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=45023.0 many of the largest motor departments in the country are turning to foreign manufacturers. Don't know if I blame the departments for wanting the best performance out of their shrinking budgets - the real shame is that HD has failed (so far) to step up and improve their product(s) in order to remain competitive.

[BUBBLEHEAD]

the real shame is that HD has failed (so far) to step up and improve their product(s) in order to remain competitive.

I can't argue that point at all.

I sometimes question why I still love them so much ?

[Sklywag]

I had a discussion a while back with two motor officers here in Reno.  One currently rides a HD the other is on a BMW.  The interesting things that the both agreed on were. 

In down town they both preferred the HD, better turning, better handling at very slow speed.  Both preferred the BMW for the more rural areas for it's quickness in moving out quickly to catch red lite & stop sign violations & any time spend crusing the streets where the speed limits were above 45mph.

[Ironhorse]

That ZX-14 is an AWESOME bike. Excellent choice for the PDs. Water cooled, multiplate wet clutch for heavy traffic, ABS, adjustable windscreen and more. I don't mind seeing cops on foreign made vehicles any more than I mind seeing them carry Berettas, Sig-Sauers, or Glocks.

[guppytrash]

That is a good lookin' Kawi.
 I too wish they would ride american, but I also appreciate them trying to be frugal.  Lets face it the HD shops service prices are maybe pricing  themselves out of this market along with the missing radiator. 

[Ironhorse]

That is a good lookin' Kawi.
 I too wish they would ride american, but I also appreciate them trying to be frugal.  Lets face it the HD shops service prices are maybe pricing  themselves out of this market along with the missing radiator. 

The key factor in Police Motors is dependability. The confidence that the bike will fire up when you hit that starter button. That and the ability to take the day to day abuse of enforcement riding. Imagine all the problems folks here complain about here on the site, magnified a thousause fold with patrol bikes. Don't get me wrong, I love my HD. It sounds nice, looks nice, rides great and turns heads. However I have four Kawasaki Police Bikes in my garage that have seen more miles and abuse than I would ever subject to a Harley and they fire right up and keep riding on. There is a reason most of the LAPD traffic divisions kept more than a handful of KZ1000s in the motorpool when they got the HD contract. They needed something for the guys to ride when the HDs were in the shop. I'll keep my old Ultra thank you. But if I was riding enforcement I'd ask for a KZ or BMW first.

Mark

[guppytrash]

That ZX-14 is an AWESOME bike. Excellent choice for the PDs. Water cooled, multiplate wet clutch for heavy traffic, ABS, adjustable windscreen and more. I don't mind seeing cops on foreign made vehicles any more than I mind seeing them carry Berettas, Sig-Sauers, or Glocks.
[/quote

Ironhorse

Really?  Not even a little bit?  I fully get it with the Kawasaki's, but I just can't picture a fleet of Kia's or Hyundai's or even Toyota's for cop cars.

There is no argument.  Water cooled engines are going to last better/longer than air cooled engines. 

How many years Ironhorse?  I am sure you can entertain for hours with some stories of the stuff you must see and deal with  on a daily basis.

Thanks for being on the other end when the rest of us are dialing 911.       

[skreminegul07]

I was recently talking to a motorcycle patrol officer in Cambridge, MA (Peoples Republic of Cambridge).  He rides the HD, but said when doing escort service in the hot summer, the HDs that usually lead, either break down or have to leave because of the heat and the BMWs end up dong most of the parade duty.  I also saw a BMW that messed with a pothole (we got them bad in yuppie cities) and had a mangled front fender. He said the HDs were better with bad roads.

[Ironhorse]

I fully get it with the Kawasaki's, but I just can't picture a fleet of Kia's or Hyundai's or even Toyota's for cop cars.


If you ever do see Kias or Hyundais in uniform they will be probably be parking enforcement or traffic control, but not patrol cars strictly for the fact that they don't meet police pursuit requirements, whatever that is. Out here in LA traffic control uses those old Dodge Neons. Those ultra compacts can't hold large unruly drunks cuffed in the back seat, have the HP and TQ to accellerate briskly on the freeway, or the size and weight to perform the PIT manuever. They also lack the trunk size to mount all the radios and carry tactical gear, let alone the overall size to carry five fully dressed officers. A lot of PDs are using the Dodge Charger or Chevy Malibu or Impala, but for the most part the traditional patrol car has been the Ford Crown Vic. I think Ford is now touting the Police Package SHO Taurus. Out here in LA some of the beach patrols use Toyota 4-Runners, but those are mostly beach specific. You probably won't see those out on the freeway. Even the lifeguards use Nissan trucks. I know for a while in the 70s and 80s, Arlington/Fall Church Virginia used to use Volvos. I don't know if they still do.

[grc]

OK, first and most important question - does this mean that Ponch and Jon are coming out of retirement? 


As much as I like to support American manufacturer's, Harley-Davidson makes it very hard to do so when they don't make any real effort to provide competitive performance or reliability.  All you have to consider is that a Police model Harley isn't really anything special compared to the bikes the general public buys, and it has all the same problems.  It's bad enough that we regular folks have to put up with the inconvenience, expense, and even safety implications of Harley's crappy engineering and quality; but expecting our law enforcement people to do so is more than my "buy American" sensibilities can justify.  IMHO, the only advantage H-D ever had was the low speed handling that was ideal for parade duty.  Unfortunately, these days that low speed handling advantage has been more than offset by the inability of the engine to handle low speed riding without melting down.  And when it comes to higher speed performance, Harley isn't even in the same league, much less the same game.


Jerry

[guppytrash]

OK, first and most important question - does this mean that Ponch and Jon are coming out of retirement? 


Jerry

[mr_magoo]

If it's a good product agency's will buy them.

[guppytrash]

I have reread this a couple of times now scratching my head.  
Are we a bunch of f--nin' idiots who spend 35k-40k on what we believe to be an inferior motorcycle?
 
Now I'm opeining this can of worms so I don't go down to my local rice dealer and trade my FLHTCUSE4 for a Goldwing or Concourse.  

Save me...why do we do it?

1. I know its NOT the wet multi-plate clutch.  Got it, had it for years
2. It's not the ABS. Got it.
3. Not the adjustable windshield.  Don't need it.
4. could be the missing performance
5. could be the missing radiator ( which could be the reason for the missing performance )
6. Not because of the light weight plastic.  I like my heavy smooth ride that doesn't blow around in the breeze and yet still handles good at slow speed.
7.
Save me I am running out of time!!!
Please keep the list going... please save me I don't wanna ride a bike named silverado or concourse or goldwing....HELP ME