Just saw the evening news here in Charlotte, NC. The Gastonia PD has accepted delivery of two Buells for street patrol. In the long run it will likely turn out to be a good deal because there are getting them on lease essentially for free - $1 per year per bike on a one year lease.
But, I've got to think the officers riding these things will be severely disappointed after a full shift or two. What do you guys think?
I have no idea how the Uly will hold up as a police bike, but from a comfort, durability, and performance standpoint, I don't see any problem. I've had mine two seasons (late April - early November) now and have put ~15,000 miles on it. I use it to commute during the week and for fun on the weekends. The only thing I've done to mine in two years is standard maintenance and tires. The exception is I had to replace a turn signal and clutch lever after I dropped it. That set me back about $50. I've dropped mine a couple of times and the hand guards, bags, and frame pucks take the brunt.
It has a little over 6" of travel and is a blast to ride on dirt roads. It has a fairly short wheel base of 54" and steep geometry which makes it really easy to drop into turns. The twin has lots of torque and plenty of HP for most situations. It is tall (31.5") and very comfortable for me (5'11"). It has a neutral seating position that is all-day comfortable. I consider the stock seat to be comfortable, but I have heard others complain about it. I've ridden it in all weather conditions. It gets a bit cold when the temps drop below 50, but good riding gear takes care of that. My only complaints, and they are really nit-picking, are the heat on your right thigh and the cooling fan that continues to run after you shut the bike off.
As I said, I can't begin to comment on its ability as a police bike, but I think it would be fine.