Sheriff switches motorcycle unit from Harleys to BMW
The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office is replacing Harleys with Beemers for its motorcycle unit that helps protect presidents.
Six BMW R 1250 RT-P motorcycles will be purchased for a total of $174,000 from BMW Motorcycles of Southeast Michigan in Plymouth to replace six Harley-Davidson because the BMW vehicles are safer, lighter, more maneuverable and more user friendly, said sheriff’s Commander Jason Abro.
The bikes are most notably used in motorcades for presidents, vice presidents and dignitaries when they arrive at Selfridge Air National Guard base for Detroit-area visits and receive their toughest test, Abro said.
He added the Harley-Davidsons “really can’t keep up anymore” to speeds exceeding 100 mph in motorcades.
“Our bikes are shaking, boxes are opening up,” Abro told the county Board of Commissioners at a recent committee meeting. “Our bikes are doing well in excess of 100 miles per hour in these motorcades, and our Harleys are just not keeping up.”
“The main reason for this is safety,” he added. “The BMW motorcycles far exceed the Harley-Davidson for safety. The BMW motorcycles are specifically built for law enforcement while the Harley can be purchased by any citizen.”
The Harleys were used in recent years during two visits by President Trump and one by President Biden when he was a candidate.
“We had massive issues with our bikes” during the last one, he said. “Deputies doing the motorcade came up to me and said that these (motorcycles) can’t keep up with the motorcade. They’re shaking terribly, and safety was becoming an issue.”
The motorcycle deputies train at Selfridge with the U.S. Secret Service, he said.
The bikes are also used for patrols and events, Abro said.
The features of the BMW police model “far exceed” those of the current fleet, which was purchased in 2012.
The BMW model has better torque, maneuverability and “precise handling,” he said. It also is better in stability, visibility, lighting and weight, and has reduced emissions, “ShiftCam technology” and increased fuel economy, he said. It allows the rider to carry weapons, including an AR rifle, computer and radio, he said. The BMW weighs 650 pounds with all accessories while the Harley weight 844 pounds without accessories, he explained.
“The Harleys look nice, they sound nice, but unfortunately they’re not the tool that we need for what we’re using them for,” he said.
The BMW police model has become increasingly popular as it is used at over 500 law enforcement agencies, including the California Highway Patrol. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office replaced its 22 Harley-Davidsons with BMWs, according to Abro.