[Really tired with politics; time for a change. – BZ]
Remember the lads from CHiPs, ol’ Ponch and Jon? Those boys never pulled their guns, if you recall, and they glorified the quintessential Kwakker authority motor, the KZ1000P. I learned how to ride cop bikes on one, and sparked many floorboards on them:
However, in the CHiPs show, Ponch and Jon actually rode the predecessor 1000C, which had no fairing and only a clear windshield:
Kawasaki stopped production of their KZ1000P in 2005. The CHP stopped purchasing the Kwakker in the early 80s and bought, for a time, the Harley-Davidson FXRP with the then-new Evolution engine. This bike was lighter and handled better than the previous cop hogs –trust me on this one. Except for the standard HD mirror/butt vibe (shaken, not stirred), cops liked the FXRP overall.
From that point, however, BMW owned the CHP authority motor market, first with the R1100RTP back in 1997 (see a great article here), the 1150 and now the R1200RTP.
BMWs, for me, were pretty tall. The 2009+ R1200RTP only got taller for my, ahem, limited inseam.
I’ve ridden the Honda ST 1300P and PA authority motors, and they were sweet indeed; easy wheelie material in first and second and so on. Mucho fastero than BMW-o. Kinda scary for the fat guy. Makes Hardley-Ablesons look like the dead chunks of iron they are.
To this point, the Honda STP has not overwhelmed the authority motor market; certainly, some Fornicalia agencies have them. But they are not endemic.
That said, will BMW continue to “own” the authority motor market in the US and Fornicalia? Perhaps not so much. On the horizon: Kawasaki’s new Concours 14 ABS Police:
Kawasakis were the innovative favorites for years. They appear to be gunning again, big time, for their once-owned market.
Recent testing by the Michigan State Police revealed that the Kawasaki 14P bested BMW (despite the fact that Kawasaki riders were told by the reps not to rev past 8K), and completely embarrassed Hardley-Ableson’s so-called “Road King” and the Electra Glide, beating them up and taking their lunch money.
News now indicates that CHP did in fact award the bid for its two-year, 336-bike contract to Kawasaki for the 14P with ABS.
You’d best familiarize yourself with what the face of a Kawasaki 14P looks like from the front because, now that CHP ordered these bad boys, many other agencies will too.
BZ
I used to love watching Chips!!
I am not knowledgeable about bikes in general but my favorite is the Ducati 1198. Sweet ride, well, I would hope so, since I probably will never get to ride one.
Leticia: get a bike and make it your own. Choose what you want when you want. In a few years, motors will be not only shuttled aside but purposely ignored.
Enjoy your free wind and your freedom and your joy and your smiles and your motors whilst you can.
BZ
And, Leticia, let it be known that MANY consider Ducatis to be VERY cool!!
BZ
And let me tell you:
There is a MASSIVE difference between ABS and non-ABS motors.
Further, ABS is mixed in with so-called “blended braking.”
It is MORE important than ever to know what YOUR motor features and what it will/can and cannot do when you apply right handbrake, right footbrake.
What KIND of braking/ABS systems does YOUR bike embrace?
You had best KNOW the difference!
BZ
The Kows were/are interesting beasts in police trim! Massive power, good top end (faster than most officers EVER want to go) and pretty safe… God Bless those Motor Officers who get out there every day!
Eons ago when I was a Deputy one of our adjacent communities used the Ponch/Jon Kawasaki. My memory is that Kawasaki had tweaked the engine on the Police versions and they were so powerful they released them early on with the restriction that the bikes would be returned to Kawasaki at the end of their term of service.
Is that a valid recollection?
If the new Kaws are better than the STP’s, I may have to take a look at one in the near future.
Thanks for this BZ.
Oh, these bikes today. Heavy sigh.
Greybeard: unfortunately, no, at least in Fornicalia. Many an old Kwakker got sold or auctioned. CHP auctions their vehicles. What you WOULD do, if you knew an officer, is spot the car or bike you wanted and have that officer write it up for stuff before it got deadlined; you know, new brakes, new skins, like that. Then you found out the auction number and bid on it.
The new Carbon, IF it actually goes into production, WILL be like that; it won’t be sold to the public but instead will be bought back by the factory.
DM: you’re gonna die. Do you know I’m looking at a Triumph Rocket III Cruiser??
BZ
Down here in my zip code the Kawasaki dealer is literally right down the street from the Triumph dealer.
I’ll help you look at stickers.
I just had my K serviced and the tires updated to the Metzeler Interacts.
Woo Hoo!
Advice take. Now how to save up for one? If there is a will there is a way.
DM: woo-hoo indeed!
Leticia: if you want one, go get one. But one of the most important things is to physically throw a leg over numerous seats in order to determine level of comfort. Riding position is very important in terms of the TYPE of bike you wish to purchase. My days of cafe racers are over, so therefore I’m looking for bikes with much more erect and vertical riding positions.
If you’d care for more specific advice, e-mail me.
BZ
This is my favorite post of yours this year so far – but you probably knew that . . . . I’ve owned Suzukis, Kawis, Hondas, and Yahmahas and loved them all – the hardest decision for me when I retire from this rock will be what my “retirement bike” will be . . . . . I rode my bike today, 30 degrees, little spots of ice on the road here and there, grinning from ear to ear!
Steve: sorry for the delay in response, but I’m assuming you’re already doing the Kawi Dance on Unalaska. I’ve always admired your blog and, further, your wonderful photographs. The Kawasaki you have is the perfect bike for the area, I suspect. If I can find a good publisher, I’m going to make my own BZ 2012 calendar but, unlike yours, it will be about trains. I published my own custom calendars for five years but then gave it up when they became so expensive.
I think, finally, technology is to the point where I can create a CD and give it to a printer for a calendar.
If I go there this year, I’ll make sure I give you one.
BZ