Harley vs Honda Police Bikes
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,831
Likes: 15
From: Nomad
BIMC Stinger,
That's a good appraisal of the *real world* mission and capability of a motorcycle officer.
So for quicker-than-a-car acceleration, instant stopping, rapid turning....well, I would never brag that an HD has superior suspension or braking (or acceleration--but your point is well taken: it may be good enough).
Still the question remains: what advantage does an HD police bike have over the other common choices?
That's a good appraisal of the *real world* mission and capability of a motorcycle officer.
So for quicker-than-a-car acceleration, instant stopping, rapid turning....well, I would never brag that an HD has superior suspension or braking (or acceleration--but your point is well taken: it may be good enough).
Still the question remains: what advantage does an HD police bike have over the other common choices?
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
For many of the guys I spoke to it was comfort and reliability. Plus you can't find but probably two BMW bike dealers in Indiana....maybe four? As for the Honda: why not buy American? How can you buy some rising sun bike and slap an American flag on the side? LOL But seriously, why waste the money on a cheaper product you won't get your resale value out of it you can buy the Harley knowing the city/county/state will be able to get a little more out of it later.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,658
Likes: 33
For many of the guys I spoke to it was comfort and reliability. Plus you can't find but probably two BMW bike dealers in Indiana....maybe four? As for the Honda: why not buy American? How can you buy some rising sun bike and slap an American flag on the side? LOL But seriously, why waste the money on a cheaper product you won't get your resale value out of it you can buy the Harley knowing the city/county/state will be able to get a little more out of it later.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,831
Likes: 15
From: Nomad
Good points again, BIMC Stinger.
As a citizen, I'd rather see my local PD justify the value of their MC purchase in their mission capability rather than in resale. That's like saying the Air Force buys slower, less nimble fighters because they can get a better price when they sell them to Chile or something. Maintenance is an important cost, though. Not too many BMW dealers anywhere. Honda dealers are everywhere, though.
Rider/officer comfort is very important. DO PDs spend any time in customizing seats, bars, windshield heights, etc. for their MC officers?
As for American made.....I'm a citizen, patriot, veteran, and lifelong public servant. Most of my family share my loyalties. But, when my uncle was in a boating accident offshore, he didn't complain when the USCG helicopter that rescued him was made in France. It bears the flag and was chosen by the USCG because it was the best available for their mission.
As a citizen, I'd rather see my local PD justify the value of their MC purchase in their mission capability rather than in resale. That's like saying the Air Force buys slower, less nimble fighters because they can get a better price when they sell them to Chile or something. Maintenance is an important cost, though. Not too many BMW dealers anywhere. Honda dealers are everywhere, though.
Rider/officer comfort is very important. DO PDs spend any time in customizing seats, bars, windshield heights, etc. for their MC officers?
As for American made.....I'm a citizen, patriot, veteran, and lifelong public servant. Most of my family share my loyalties. But, when my uncle was in a boating accident offshore, he didn't complain when the USCG helicopter that rescued him was made in France. It bears the flag and was chosen by the USCG because it was the best available for their mission.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 786
Likes: 1
From: Sheridan, AR
For many of the guys I spoke to it was comfort and reliability. Plus you can't find but probably two BMW bike dealers in Indiana....maybe four? As for the Honda: why not buy American? How can you buy some rising sun bike and slap an American flag on the side? LOL But seriously, why waste the money on a cheaper product you won't get your resale value out of it you can buy the Harley knowing the city/county/state will be able to get a little more out of it later.
Last edited by 1Coastie; Mar 10, 2009 at 08:32 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
Everyone keeps screaming maintenance and I just don't see this difference. Honda dealership here charges almost as much as the Harley dealership for a service (and Honda charges more than Victory). We don't take ours to a dealership, that is where you go to get screwed over if you ask me! We take ours to a local independent shop where not only does he give us a break on our 8 electra's service prices, he knows how to actually fix something! Have you been to a dealer lately? Most of them only know one thing: plug it into the computer. We actually have a real mechanic working on ours which rocks. If I stick around here a few more years I am going to get it changed around where the general maintenance is done by our officers who know how to wrench. Hell, I know of at least a dozen of us that can change all the fluids.
I think this would be a great savings to our citizens don't you?
This local dealer in my city told me NOTHING was wrong with my bike last year before I left for a trip from here (Indiana) to Austin, TX. The next day I rode my bike out of town and made it about 50 miles before it broke down. The fancy computer couldn't seem to tell their "mechanics" why my voltage would drop and then come back up. They told me it was just a fluke and I probably had a wire lose so they "tightened" them. I was like WTF? So I had to have a different dealer pick up my bike and take it to Bud's in Evansvlle, IN where they fixed it in no time! Man I get sidetracked to easy....you know some people say I have ADD but I think...... oh look a kitty!
I think this would be a great savings to our citizens don't you?
This local dealer in my city told me NOTHING was wrong with my bike last year before I left for a trip from here (Indiana) to Austin, TX. The next day I rode my bike out of town and made it about 50 miles before it broke down. The fancy computer couldn't seem to tell their "mechanics" why my voltage would drop and then come back up. They told me it was just a fluke and I probably had a wire lose so they "tightened" them. I was like WTF? So I had to have a different dealer pick up my bike and take it to Bud's in Evansvlle, IN where they fixed it in no time! Man I get sidetracked to easy....you know some people say I have ADD but I think...... oh look a kitty!
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
I wont argue that the HD is adequate in most cases, so is the .38, how many officers do you know carrying one? I also wont argue about HD's reliability, but once again that can be compared to the .38 (much more reliable than any semi-auto). Resale value, American made, Tradition.... I'll give you those. Comfort... thats questionable when you start considering the heat factor. Youre right to be mentioning the Crown Vic and the Impala as low performance vehicles. Thats why so many departments are moving up to Chargers. Why would they do that if performance wasn't a factor? Bottom line the Charger is a better tool, so is the .40 cal, and in my opinion many, many other bikes..... Sorry HD
I know they just started making them for "police use" but I would wait another 3-4 years for them to fix everything thats wrong with the Charger before I bought one for police use.
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 786
Likes: 1
From: Sheridan, AR
Do you work in LE? The Charger looks neat and it goes fast, but who cares? It is not a full frame car and the brakes have SERIOUS issues! We have two Chargers in our traffic dept (and yes they gotta Hemi in them, LOL) and the brakes SUCK! We "borrowed" one of the traffic guys Chargers one night for DUI project and after 3 hours in it I wanted my Crown Vic. They need to go back to work on those.
I know they just started making them for "police use" but I would wait another 3-4 years for them to fix everything thats wrong with the Charger before I bought one for police use.
I know they just started making them for "police use" but I would wait another 3-4 years for them to fix everything thats wrong with the Charger before I bought one for police use.
I dont want to sound like a HD basher, I'm not, I love my bike. I just personally believe there are better tools for the job. If the public wants maximum performance, safety and efficiency out of me as an officer, then I perfer to use the best tools availible for the job.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 352
Likes: 2
From: Ohio
I like to know how they got there cost factor per mile on the Honda? Unless the honda only gets one oil change per 10,000 miles, where is it cheaper to run, they both need tires about the same time dont they?, does the honda get 3 or 4 times the gas mileage? Not to be a smartazz, I would just like to know. Most of the bikes are only kept from 1 to 3 years, atleast thats what they do around here.