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[YesItsLoaded]

http://www.policemag.com/Blog/Vehicles/Story/2010/01/LAPD-Switches-To-BMW-Bikes-For-Motor-Patrol.aspx

January 07, 2010

LAPD Selects BMW For Motor Patrol
The agency's fleet of 427 has primarily relied on Harley-Davidson Electra Glide cruisers.
by Paul Clinton -

-------------------

The Los Angeles Police Department became the third large California LE agency—along with the Los Angeles County Sheriff and California Highway Patrol—to select the BMW R1200 RT-P as its primary motor unit.

The department is now taking delivery of the last of the 100 R1200 RT-P 2009 sport touring motorcycles, and will shift away from the Harley-Davidson cruisers that have been a staple of one of the nation's largest motor patrol units. The department had previously purchased 14 BMW R1150s, the earlier generation of the current R1200.

Prior to making the move (from 2005 to 2008, H-D Electra Glides made 60% of the fleet), the department analyzed maintenance costs, polled its motor officers and tested each of the currently available bikes from BMW, H-D and Honda. The department declined to consider Honda's ST1300, because the tires don't meet the CHP's run-flat protocol.

"The maintenance [costs] of the 2005 to 2008 [Harley Davidson] motors were higher than expected and the reliability was less than expected," Larry Tagawa, commanding officer of LAPD's motor transport division, tells POLICE Magazine in an e-mail. "However, LAPD leased five each [of the] 2009 Harleys, which are working out substantially better in terms of maintenance and reliability."

The BMW motor units were ordered with tire pressure monitoring, anti-lock brakes with traction control, and heated hand grips.

A Long Beach BMW dealership is outfitting the bikes, which will also be further customized in the LAPD vehicle workshop. Mounts will be added to accommodate batons and shotguns with side-folding stocks.

BMW uses "bead retention" tires that allow an officer to safely continue riding the bike with a flat tire. The tire's bead (the inner portion of the sidewall) won't slip outside the lip of the wheel, according to BMW.

"The BMWs were selected after a number of factors were reviewed and evaluated such as total life cycle cost, reliability based on our 2003 [model] year R1150 RT-P motors, 39-month warranty, manufacturer's technical support, and input from our officers," Tagawa added.

"The BMWs are expensive to buy and maintain, but I feel that they will hold up to the rigors of LAPD police work," said LAPD motor officer Randy Fontyn.

The workhorse Harleys do provide departments a sturdy, affordable option. They cost an average of $1,495 less than the BMWs, according to the fleet report.

Harley-Davidson counts about 5,000 police motorcycles in service with agencies in Denver, Las Vegas, Tampa, Indianapolis and Milwaukee.

BMW won the motorcycle contract, in part, because the company's North American division allows the LAPD to make small repairs in its own workshops and obtain reimbursements for warranty repairs, said Frank Stevens, BMW's authority program manager.

The arrangement allows the department to make these "sublet repairs" without needing to deliver the bikes to the BMW dealership. LAPD technicians have completed BMW's motorcycle maintenance training.

When departments choose a bike for motor patrol, the decision is primarily driven by fleet budgeting issues that include both the initial outlay, as well as ongoing maintenance costs.

[49445CVO]

Wow, what a blow to H-D.  It is really to sad to see this happen.  I guess there goes another couple hundred bike sales.  Too bad that H-D could not work something out with them to keep a contract.

[Wrongway]

In my many conversations with Motor Officers here in L.A. and Las Vegas, they hate the Harleys....Run too hot, heavy, poor braking, down time, etc. Law Enforcement can't afford these things, wake up MOCO, your loosing it.

[2harleys]

Just one more "STAB IN THE BACK" for the american made workers.

[Sierramadre]

That's a drag.  And symptomatic of Harley's issues.  I still don't like going to a foreign manufacturer.

[tazmun]

Just one more "STAB IN THE BACK" for the american made workers.

Blame the MOCO, they have been sitting on their butts way too long. They should
build a special bike for law enforcement, say lighter, maybe with the the 1125R
engine? Wait, a sport tourer from the MOCO, nah never happen!

[Ed45]

Blame the MOCO, they have been sitting on their butts way too long. They should
build a special bike for law enforcement, say lighter, maybe with the the 1125R
engine? Wait, a sport tourer from the MOCO, nah never happen!

Or, a V Rod variiant that would beat the pants off those Beemers; now that would be cool.

[Chains]

HD needs to take the V Rod and build it into a special police bike option.  Complete with fairing, bags and lights, it will eat the BMW's up.  Hard to blame BMW when corporate HD is napping.

[smkymtnboy]

  L.A P.D. should buy the harleys no matter what. Or we when they have the problems they historically have had thru the years we should just abandon them. fair is fair right guys. love to here comments on this both sides. keep it civil though

[CVOTequila]

Jeez..has this country just just given up on pride and keeping money in this country instead of sending it overseas?!!!!!

[tazmun]

Jeez..has this country just just given up on pride and keeping money in this country instead of sending it overseas?!!!!!

  If the MOCO would listen, and maybe THINK outside the box, (generation x,y, and z)
 they might not be in as much trouble as they are now. They started the V-Rod, and
 really haven't did much to it. Lets just work on making the twin cam HOTTER!
 I read all the time from those on this site, "get it home & redo it". X,Y, and Z
 just want to get on and go! Not rebuild it.

[smkymtnboy]

 i wish the politicans and law enforcements would listen and get on with it also not re-do the system just let us live with the one we have.

[YesItsLoaded]

It's hard to imagine any governmental agency choosing another countries product over an American one - especially with an American law enforcement agency, but law enforcement agencies do it all the time with no uproar or protest when they purchase their firearms (Glock's and Sig's and H&K's).

I may not like it too, but there's nothing more uniquely American than capitalism - you make a 'better' product and sell it at a better price, you win.

Just a shame that it appears that HD doesn't use resources like this board to drive it's R&D - couldn't think of a better more knowledgeable group of people to give practical, real-world suggestions on how to improve the product line. After all, we're the target customers - give us what we want and we'll buy it all day long.

[tazmun]

It's hard to imagine any governmental agency choosing another countries product over an American one - especially with an American law enforcement agency, but law enforcement agencies do it all the time with no uproar or protest when they purchase their firearms (Glock's and Sig's and H&K's).

I may not like it too, but there's nothing more uniquely American than capitalism - you make a 'better' product and sell it at a better price, you win.

Just a shame that it appears that HD doesn't use resources like this board to drive it's R&D - couldn't think of a better more knowledgeable group of people to give practical, real-world suggestions on how to improve the product line. After all, we're the target customers - give us what we want and we'll buy it all day long.

I couldn't have said it better!

[VaEagle]

Ah the good old days, when it was just Supply and Demand driving the market.  

If Harley could just listen to it's customers and make what they want, that would be great but they also have to comply with federal laws for safety, noise and air pollution etc.
The other manufacturers also have to comply with the federal laws but they aren't "trapped" in the nostalgia/traditionalist mode with their customer base. (The air cooled V-twin motor with trademark sound.)

As far as made in America, A Harley has many parts from foreign manufacturers. I read somewhere that 35% of the parts come from other manufacturers such as Brembo for brakes and Showa (Honda subsidiary) for suspension parts etc. Yes the parent company is American and I guess in the long run the profits go to the MOCO and the American stockholders.

Think of the daily usages for police bikes and you can see that they are used alot in urban areas with stop and go traffic, they also idle alot. As we all know not the ideal conditions for an air cooled V-Twin.
Police use is better served by a water cooled and even shaft drive bike with less maintenance since they are ridden hard.
Maybe the V-rod could be used but from what I have read the bike is small and revs high with not as much low end torque but lot's of high speed HP. Not sure if it could be geared or tuned for heavy loads of a police bike and at lower speeds for normal use. Police bikes are discouraged from participating in pursuits in many jurisdictions and if a police car joins the pursuit the police bike backs off if possible.

Tradition is nice but  it does at times hamper progress (not for change sake) but to make the job go better. When dependability and officer safety is at stake traditional thinking such as "it has worked for the last 50 years so why change"  or "buy American" is not a good thing.
I remember articles and even a thread on this site a couple of years ago about lawsuits against Harley for high speed wobbles on the Electraglides and officers getting hurt. Maybe the agencies were looking for a safer bike for their officers?