Purpose-built Police Motorcycle Info

[ideationEDGE]

Hello All,

Two years ago I worked with a group of designers to help develop many of the interior features of the Carbon Motors E7 purpose built police car. Carbon Motors

It was a fascinating experience to research the problems so many LEOs have with their current patrol vehicles. Our design team presented many solutions and some of those ideas have been implemented into the final car. The E7 will be in production 2012.

So I have a question. What do police officers that ride police motorcycles want? What are your main problems with your bike? Ergonomic issues? Equipment issues? I want to hear it all! Whats on your wish-list for the perfect police motorcycle?

Last year I started a product design company with 2 friends and we are planning on designing the police bike of the future. Thank you for help in researching this innovative design!

Stay safe,

William Woods
www.ideationEDGE.com

[MTRJOC]

10 sec. quarter mile

150mph top end

abs brakes

heated seat and grips

good storage capacity

adjustible seat and handlebars

all day comfort

MSRP <$15,000

[ideationEDGE]

good storage capacity

So what does your bike have to store on a daily basis?

[crass cop]

Make it fast, with a HIGH power storage, (battery), chicks gotta dig it, light in weight, 30 cal twin machine guns and an Electro Magnetic Pulse ray gun thingy would be good too.

I personally like the Harley look for wheels...BUT they continue to have problems and can vibrate apart...our units keep dying on traffic stops, (wont restart afterward)
Ive seen the carbon car and have heard some bad things about it, so do well with the bike!

[CruiserClass]

That's going to be a tough market to enter. Guys who ride are often much more dedicated to their brand of bike than guys are to their brand of car. Harley and BMW, especially, but all brands. You're going to be fighting a lot of tradition.

Unlike patrol cars, bikes often serve in a ceremonial roll as well. Drill teams, funeral escorts, etc. Tradition can be very important in those rolls, and esthetics are going to be a consideration.

[cajunguy]

You START with a Harley - - -

- - - and FINISH with a Harley.

What you do in between - - - hmmmmm, I'll have to put a little thought into it and get back to you.

"There's something undeniably right about a cop on a Harley!"


(Sorry, gang, just couldn't help myself.)



.

[ateamer]

Who is going to service this purpose-built motor, and where will the parts come from?

[7th District]

10 sec. quarter mile

150mph top end

abs brakes

heated seat and grips

good storage capacity

adjustible seat and handlebars

all day comfort

MSRP <$15,000

While they don't have a dedicated LE edition yet, IMHO the 2010 Concours 14 ABS currently comes closest (performance wise) to fitting your bill.

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/30october09_kawasaki2010concours14.htm

http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/kawasaki/2010-kawasaki-concours-14-abs-ar80297.html

[ateamer]

If the ergonomics are like the original Concours, it might not be that great for all-day patrol work. I had a Concours for 3-1/2 years. There was too much forward lean for riding all day long. If it had a more upright seating position like the BMW ST, it might be okay.

[SleepyCop]

You won't have much luck with most of the departments in the DFW area. Some of us are decommissioning our motorcycle units because Officer Lozada was killed in a motorcade for Clinton. Sad day.

-SC

[ideationEDGE]

That's going to be a tough market to enter. Guys who ride are often much more dedicated to their brand of bike than guys are to their brand of car. Harley and BMW, especially, but all brands. You're going to be fighting a lot of tradition.

Unlike patrol cars, bikes often serve in a ceremonial roll as well. Drill teams, funeral escorts, etc. Tradition can be very important in those rolls, and esthetics are going to be a consideration.

Your absolutely right. Aesthetics and brand loyalty are powerful forces within the motorcycle world. But fighting tradition is what I do for a living! As a product designer I produce detailed concepts to push the manufacturers forward, that's how we see the features you all use on modern bikes today. Its a trickle-down effect. Great concepts make great products.

In my opinion, cops today don't have near enough well designed and thought out products tailored to their occupation. That's why I put a lot of detailed user research in all the designs I create. If you start with cops in mind on a ground-up concept, you can push the utility of a police motorcycle above and beyond just performance and aesthetics. I believe there is so much room for innovation here.

So what are the main problems with your current police rides?

Thank you all for your responses! The more info I collect the more focused and accurate my design becomes.

[APDSgt]

Things for purpose built police motorcycle:

Comfort

Lots of storage - saddle bags, and rear compartment. Need to be able to hold rain gear, radar/laser, ticket books, in our dept (small printer and PDA), radio equipment, etc.. ability to securely hold a "long" gun (rifle or shotgun)

ABS brakes!!!

Engine cooling - able to "idle" for long periods without overheating

a really strong clutch/transmission

Comparably priced to other "police motorcycles"

[Highwaylaw]

H O G