BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) \u2014 If you want speed, agility, and mobility while patrolling the streets \u2014 there\u2019s nothing quite like a motorcycle.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re on a motorcycle, one of the things we preach is we don\u2019t wait in line. That\u2019s why you always see us going between your guys\u2019 cars,\u201d Justin Enns of the Bakersfield Police Department said.<\/p>\n
On patrol are Harley Davidson Electric Glide motorcycles. With up to 105 horsepower, this bike can speed well over 100 miles per hour. BPD tries to get about 50,000 miles out of each bike.<\/p>\n
Officer Adam Clayton says that isn\u2019t hard.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe use them for surface streets, we use them for city streets, we use them for the freeways, Westside Parkway and [Highway] 99. They\u2019re capable to do all of it,\u201d Clayton said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe actually do some what they\u2019re not designed to do and do some dirt training as well to get into little dirt roads and into some areas that you typically wouldn\u2019t think that a Harley would go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bakersfield PD has 16 of these models ranging from 2019-2024. However, a new competitor is coming to the fleet: The BMW 1300.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve ridden the Harley my whole career,\u201d Clayton said. \u201cWe\u2019ve had them since I started on bikes and I\u2019ve tested the BMW. They have their both have their pluses and minuses. I can\u2019t say which one necessarily is my favorite, but the Beemer or the BMW is a little bit quicker, a little bit more agile, more nimble, where the Harley\u2019s comfortable to be on for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bakersfield police and the California Highway Patrol teamed up at the test track to put these bikes to the test. The quick turns and rapid acceleration these bikes ramp up on the track.<\/p>\n
While the Harley has a lower RPM engine with more torque, the BMW is lighter weight and can accelerate with more ease \u2014 a \u201czippier\u201d bike if you will. The Highway Patrol currently uses these, with BPD now testing these BMWs for their own fleet.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we drop them, they\u2019re significantly quicker, they stop better, they handle better. There\u2019s a little more technology in them as far as some of the law enforcement functions and stuff that would benefit us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clayton says the plan is to let these Harleys age out of service, which takes about 5 years. After that, more of these BMWs will take their place for major highways and surface streets.<\/p>\n
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