Question about reliability (No- not a joke)

I had the chance to ride over to Westoc- a great trip and great event.

While I in the area, I got talking to a moto officer on a BMW. What he said really surprised me. He said that in about 2010 or 2011 their Department had tried ST's, but found them unreliable. They were always in the shop for "oil leaks or water leaks"- among other problems.

Because the bikes were not able to meet the demands of Pollice work, the Department sold them off and then went a couple of years before getting more bikes. This time the BMW.

This really floored me. IN fact, I considered suggesting that someone in their maintenance department might have a relative who worked for BMW.

I was just wanting to throw that out for comments. My bike is not a "high miler" with only 82,000, but with the exception of having to chase down some leaking hose clamps, I've never heard anything about fleet wide reliability.

Thoughts?

I find that very, very hard to believe.....

Unless someone was at it, as you say......

Could just a easily been someone that was filling their oil to the 'correct' height in the glass while the bike was on the center stand rather than an intentional foul up.

Just because you heard it from a police officer does not make it the truth. I call B.S.

Redfish said:

Just because you heard it from a police officer does not make it the truth. I call B.S.

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Definitely has a smell of somethin or another, I am suspecting a few motor officers were using means of persuasion that might be found "unethical"

this might shed a little light :

http://www.slideshare.net/mobile/hbhonda/traffic-program-evaluation-powerpoint

Doesn't pass the smell test.

Interesting...when I'm in South Carolina, all I see are ST1300's as police bikes.

Thanks for the information. I was kind of shocked- but didn't want to argue. It appears that everything is pretty well as I thought it was.

I honestly think he was relaying information he thought accurate- probably something going on in the shop. Who knows?

I wonder if the 36 month unlimited mileage warranty applies on police models. It is my own opinion that many ST1300 water pump replacements are actually just leaking fittings that snugging the clamps would take care of.

While in Colorado Springs getting my leaky fork seal replaced I had the opportunity to talk to one of the salesmen at Rocky Mountain Cycles and we were discussing the ST and the police version of it and their main maintenance issue was the alternator going out from long periods of idling while using their radar guns.

DaveH said:

While in Colorado Springs getting my leaky fork seal replaced I had the opportunity to talk to one of the salesmen at Rocky Mountain Cycles and we were discussing the ST and the police version of it and their main maintenance issue was the alternator going out from long periods of idling while using their radar guns.

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CSPD got rid of their ST's because HD made them a deal they couldn't refuse and the "brass" in the motor officer division wanted HD's. Also, CSPD did not use Rocky Mtn Cycles for service.

Rider33 said:

this might shed a little light :

http://www.slideshare.net/mobile/hbhonda/traffic-program-evaluation-powerpoint

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Interesting presentation, but I think the police departments should invest in training on how to properly use a clutch!

I think any brand of vehicles used by law enforcement get some of the most extreme conditions placed on them as they are used very hard and sit and idle for long periods.

California Highway Patrol just switched from BMW to Harley's for their motorbikes for cost reasons.

970mike said:

California Highway Patrol just switched from BMW to Harley's for their motorbikes for cost reasons.

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LOL. Now there is no reason to fear if you are being chased my a California Highway Patrol officer on a motorcycle.

jonjonboo said:

Definitely has a smell of somethin or another, I am suspecting a few motor officers were using means of persuasion that might be found "unethical"

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A Honda Police Bike cost $24K??!!

bmcdonau said:

A Honda Police Bike cost $24K??!!

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I'm sure the stock St1300P is not that much, but when you add the costs of the wiring, lights siren, etc.... I can see it go up.

As for oil leaks, I would say someone was over filling them. Coolant leaks....yeap, I know that issue! 4:

Since putting on the Gates thermoclamps, the '04 hasn't had a coolant leak that I have smelled yet!

SupraSabre said:

Since putting on the Gates thermoclamps, the '04 hasn't had a coolant leak that I have smelled yet!

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Which clamp did you install specifically? Gates sells two types of constant tensions clamps; one is installed with a heat gun and the second looks like a ordinary hose clamp that uses a spring behind the screw.

Our local moto-cops personally own Harleys. Guess where the city purchasing people get their input on which bikes to buy. Sounds like you talked to a BMW lover. Or at least someone involved is.

mcthorogood said:

Which clamp did you install specifically? Gates sells two types of constant tensions clamps; one is installed with a heat gun and the second looks like a ordinary hose clamp that uses a spring behind the screw.

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These are the heatgun applied type. My son Justin did his bike a while back and is still having a coolant leak free bike!

replacing-all-hoses-and-clamps