Local Police force switches to Victory from HD

[Gary N.]

Just read this interesting article about the Windsor ON police force making the switch to Victory Police bikes at a $7000.00/bike savings. They are the first force in Canada to do this. Some of the comments are interesting too.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/story/2012/07/18/wdr-victory-harley-davidson-motorcycles-windsor.html

[KarlS]

Just came out yesterday that the Michigan State Police is changing from Harley to BMW. Comments made on this is quite interesting also and some are funny.

 

http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/07/why_michigan_state_police_move.html

[Black Owl]

:15_8_211[1]:Smart move IMHO.

A few years ago the Secret Service switch from HD to Yamaha's for presidential escort work. Unfortunately, Congress "forced" them to go back to HD citing the Buy America argument.

The "G" men were not happy about having to switch back....

[rickardracing]

That's because the Harley's can't make enough power to get out of their own way let alone catch a metric!

[ediddy]

People get me talking about harley being american made. That is an ignorant remark. They are assembled in the US but most of the parts are made in other countries.

[T.J.]

Just came out yesterday that the Michigan State Police is changing from Harley to BMW. Comments made on this is quite interesting also and some are funny.

 

http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/07/why_michigan_state_police_move.html

 

That is interesting.

 

Two weeks ago on I-75 in the Troy and Madison Heights area. The State boys were riding Blue Kawasaki Concours. The Michigan State Police Color. They had a speed trap going with a helicopter over head. Some were riding H.D.s but most were Kawasaki's. They were on the North and South bound lanes. Must have been close to 10 bikes in all.

[Power Trippin]

Well, as for me?............Lets see.........20 grand or more for a big vibrator on 2 wheels,...... or $1500 plus some other maintenance goodys just to keep my 83 venture in

tip top shape.

 

NO CONTEST.

 

I'll keep my smooth running, fire breathing V4, race machine!!!!!

[msshearin]

N.C.H.P has been on BMW'S for 10 years now more or less.

[BigBoyinMS]

I was surprised to see this in the town next door a few months ago...

http://www.victorypolicemotorcycles.com/images/big/bikesamples11.jpg

I think this is their first bike on the force.

 

That pic is on Victory's website.

[KarlS]

That's because the Harley's can't make enough power to get out of their own way let alone catch a metric!

 

 

 

From article:

The speed and acceleration figures were particularly telling. The BMW bike went from 1-100 mph in 10.75 seconds, while two Harley models pulled off the same feat in 21.28 and 31.6 seconds. The BMW reached a top speed of 131 mph, but the Harleys managed only 104 mph and 109 mph.

[Eddie]

It was just a money thing here in Michigan. HD doesnt need to cut anybody a deal. Their bikes will sell no matter how much they charge for them . I can say that Ive had mine well over 100 and it didnt take me nowhere near 30 seconds to get there.

[TDbiker]

Just read this interesting article about the Windsor ON police force making the switch to Victory Police bikes at a $7000.00/bike savings. They are the first force in Canada to do this. Some of the comments are interesting too.

 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/story/2012/07/18/wdr-victory-harley-davidson-motorcycles-windsor.html

 

This attitude alone is enough for me to never want to own a Harley (from the article above):

 

Ron Haskell, though, has been riding Harley-Davidson bikes for 45 years.

"If you don’t ride a Harley, you don’t ride a motorcycle," he said.

 

:stirthepot:

[dacheedah]

I would think the difference would be minimal and as a commander I would forbid my officers from going over lets say 80 or 90mph. Driving errors are so critical at high speed and the outcome is bad. Control and safety are very important. Most agencies limit their officers speed and the reasons for a pursuit must be felonious. Now the money in cost, maintenance and upkeep are reasons to purchase something more reliable. I know we had fleet software that tracks costs, recommends maintenance and identifies problem vehicles. When adding new cars to the fleet it wasn't always the oldest in the fleet that went away it was the most costly.

[djh3]

I remember back in the day when the CHiP's switched from the HD to the KZ1000. BIG uproar. But the bikes were quicker, more nimble and less maintenace required. Alot of forces have went the BMW route. I dont know how they got past the "cost" factor on that one though. The intial cost and if you ever had to do anything upkeep wise its high dollar. I think I seen a couple Concourse in the Miami Dade area also. Shoot I think Daytona Beach has some of the dual sport bikes for the beach region. LOL

I can definatly see some forces going to the Vic. Its solid and very dependable, hyd lifters bu-coo torque and will lope along at 20-30 mph too.

[Venturous Randy]

I can definatly see some forces going to the Vic. Its solid and very dependable, hyd lifters bu-coo torque and will lope along at 20-30 mph too.

 

And, its made in the USA!!!

RandyA

[Eddie]

Its funny how quick we are to bash an HD , but not one time did I read about any agency looking at a Venture for a police vehicle . (funny) I know its because they are to fast or some other dumb reason besides their just about 10 years behind on technology.

[Kirby]

Its funny how quick we are to bash an HD , but not one time did I read about any agency looking at a Venture for a police vehicle . (funny) I know its because they are to fast or some other dumb reason besides their just about 10 years behind on technology.

 

This is just one of the reasons for my buying the Venture. You don't see one every time you turn the corner. Even with the 10 year old technology, it's still the better bike to me.

[BigLenny]

Yeah, I thought the "if you don't ride a Harley, you don't ride a motorcycle" statement was pretty stupid too. The motorcycle world is filled with knuckle draggers like that who have the attitude that "if you don't ride what I ride, well you're just an idiot". These are the same people in the world that think their house is better than yours, their kids are better, their job is better, their vehicles are better, their..........is better. Stupid! I don't play the game. Hangin out with people like that is a bore to me. While there are plenty in the Harley ranks that have that attitude, there are tons that ride other brands too. I know of people who feel that way if you don't ride a BMW, or a Goldwing, or a sport bike, or an adventure bike. I've been in plenty of conversations when these people talked with their nose up like what they ride is superior. Ugh!

 

We're all motorcyclist. We ride different brands, shapes, colors, styles, but we're all motorcyclist. I like em all. If we all rode one brand it would be boring as hell. I love my Yamaha, but i love looking at other bikes too, and that includes Harleys. Heck, I took my grandson to a motocross race a couple weeks ago and loved it! But, I'm sure some of those motocrossers have the attitude if you don't ride on dirt, your not a motorcyclist. Lol.

 

And I don't wanna have an infantile conversation about "it" being made in America. Don't talk to me about your bike being "made in America" while you have a cell phone hanging on your hip that is made in another country, or while your watching your TV made by Samsung, LG, Sony, Insignia, Sanyo, etc. Or, looking at the screen on this computer that is mfg in a foreign country. If you have one thing in your life that you use on a regular basis that isn't made in America, and believe me, you do, then don't be harping on motorcycle riders that buy some other brand than Harley, or Victory. It kills your credibility.

 

Now, I'm gonna get off my soap box, and go get in my 2010 Ford F150 (which by the way, has a sizeable number of components in it that aren't made in this country) and take a ride to cool off. Lol.

[Eddie]

Yeah, I thought the "if you don't ride a Harley, you don't ride a motorcycle" statement was pretty stupid too. The motorcycle world is filled with knuckle draggers like that who have the attitude that "if you don't ride what I ride, well you're just an idiot". These are the same people in the world that think their house is better than yours, their kids are better, their job is better, their vehicles are better, their..........is better. Stupid! I don't play the game. Hangin out with people like that is a bore to me. While there are plenty in the Harley ranks that have that attitude, there are tons that ride other brands too. I know of people who feel that way if you don't ride a BMW, or a Goldwing, or a sport bike, or an adventure bike. I've been in plenty of conversations when these people talked with their nose up like what they ride is superior. Ugh!

 

We're all motorcyclist. We ride different brands, shapes, colors, styles, but we're all motorcyclist. I like em all. If we all rode one brand it would be boring as hell. I love my Yamaha, but i love looking at other bikes too, and that includes Harleys. Heck, I took my grandson to a motocross race a couple weeks ago and loved it! But, I'm sure some of those motocrossers have the attitude if you don't ride on dirt, your not a motorcyclist. Lol.

 

And I don't wanna have an infantile conversation about "it" being made in America. Don't talk to me about your bike being "made in America" while you have a cell phone hanging on your hip that is made in another country, or while your watching your TV made by Samsung, LG, Sony, Insignia, Sanyo, etc. Or, looking at the screen on this computer that is mfg in a foreign country. If you have one thing in your life that you use on a regular basis that isn't made in America, and believe me, you do, then don't be harping on motorcycle riders that buy some other brand than Harley, or Victory. It kills your credibility.

 

Now, I'm gonna get off my soap box, and go get in my 2010 Ford F150 (which by the way, has a sizeable number of components in it that aren't made in this country) and take a ride to cool off. Lol.

 

very well said, my thoughts to the tee.

[rickardracing]

Its funny how quick we are to bash an HD , but not one time did I read about any agency looking at a Venture for a police vehicle . (funny) I know its because they are to fast or some other dumb reason besides their just about 10 years behind on technology.

 

Personally, I DO think Harley builds a beautiful machine. BUT, they are overpriced, quality is suspect and I bash them because alot of the people that ride them have the attitude that unless your riding a Harley, your not riding a motorcycle. Alot of the HD boys here in Michigan will not wave to you as you pass. Metric riders do. They bring it on themselves. I personally could care less what law enforement rides. But as long as HD riders have that holyer than thou attitude, I will bash away. Don't care less who likes or dislikes it. I know that if I was in the market for new touring bike, it would be a Kawasaki.

[rickardracing]

Yeah, I thought the "if you don't ride a Harley, you don't ride a motorcycle" statement was pretty stupid too. The motorcycle world is filled with knuckle draggers like that who have the attitude that "if you don't ride what I ride, well you're just an idiot". These are the same people in the world that think their house is better than yours, their kids are better, their job is better, their vehicles are better, their..........is better. Stupid! I don't play the game. Hangin out with people like that is a bore to me. While there are plenty in the Harley ranks that have that attitude, there are tons that ride other brands too. I know of people who feel that way if you don't ride a BMW, or a Goldwing, or a sport bike, or an adventure bike. I've been in plenty of conversations when these people talked with their nose up like what they ride is superior. Ugh!

 

We're all motorcyclist. We ride different brands, shapes, colors, styles, but we're all motorcyclist. I like em all. If we all rode one brand it would be boring as hell. I love my Yamaha, but i love looking at other bikes too, and that includes Harleys. Heck, I took my grandson to a motocross race a couple weeks ago and loved it! But, I'm sure some of those motocrossers have the attitude if you don't ride on dirt, your not a motorcyclist. Lol.

 

And I don't wanna have an infantile conversation about "it" being made in America. Don't talk to me about your bike being "made in America" while you have a cell phone hanging on your hip that is made in another country, or while your watching your TV made by Samsung, LG, Sony, Insignia, Sanyo, etc. Or, looking at the screen on this computer that is mfg in a foreign country. If you have one thing in your life that you use on a regular basis that isn't made in America, and believe me, you do, then don't be harping on motorcycle riders that buy some other brand than Harley, or Victory. It kills your credibility.

 

Now, I'm gonna get off my soap box, and go get in my 2010 Ford F150 (which by the way, has a sizeable number of components in it that aren't made in this country) and take a ride to cool off. Lol.

 

Excellent response!