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BMW manufactured the largest number of police motorcycles in service worldwide—over 80,000. In the United States, however, use of the BMW motorcycle by authorities really has not occurred until recent years, largely stimulated by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). In 1997 the CHP selected the R1100RT-P as its duty motorcycle, supplanting its Kawasaki and Harley-Davidson motorcycles. It now operates over 800 R1100RT-P and R1150RT-P BMW motorcycles on the state's highways and interstates.
Click here to visit the police motorcycles page maintained by BMW Motorrad USA.
MSF RiderCoach and Police Officer John Pretti, Tallahassee, Florida, Police Dept.
Local police agencies, such as Tallahassee, have started to purchase BMWs. But the conversion to BMW has gone slowly because of the initial purchase price of an R1150RT-P compared to Kawasaki's KZ1000 and Harley-Davidson police motors. However, some departments have been selecting BMWs in spite of the higher initial price because of their superior life-cycle costs and reliability, as well as the officer safety provided by BMW's power-assisted, partially integrated anti-lock braking system (ABS). When BMW's ABS prevents an accident and keeps an officer out of the hospital, its higher initial purchase price becomes insignificant, if not welcome.
It has been estimated that 35% of police motorcycle crashes would not have occurred if the officer involved had been riding an ABS-equipped motorcycle!
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In December 2001, CHP Commissioner “Spike” Helmick noted that the Department [of Public Safety] has not lost an officer since BMW was first awarded a contract to provide motorcycles, and he added that the ABS brake system has reduced the number of injuries suffered in motorcycle-related accidents.
So why do other authorities continue to this day to purchase motorcycles without ABS brakes? Is not officer safety somewhere in their equations?
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Above: The German version of the R1150RT-P.
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What do motor officers themselves say about the BMW RT-P? Read that here!
Some of the major changes from the 2001 and earlier R1100RT-P to the 2002 R1150RT-P include a larger engine (1130cc, up from 1085cc), five more horsepower (95 instead of 90), greater torque (74 lb-ft instead of 69 lb-ft) a six-speed transmission, partially integrated power-assisted ABS brakes, fog lights, a stock tall windshield, hydraulic clutch, and a larger, 840-watt (formerly 700-watt) alternator.
The photo above shows Motor Officer Paul Spencer, of Addison, Texas, (right) and his riding partner, Marty Zielke (left), in front of an United States Marines FA-18D fighter jet. Perhaps they were going to have a drag race?
Above: Here is my “civilianized” 2004 R1150RT-P. It was used originally by BMW of North America to design and fit U. S. made parts for domestic police agencies. I have outfitted it with PIAA #510 15° spot driving lights above (they bolt right on with no fuss) and PIAA #1200 lights below, white saddlebag lids, dual-function Hyper-Lites, Cee Bailey windshield, locking sidestand, radio box soft bag, and other goodies not visible in this photograph. It is one fabulous motorcycle.
What state and local police departments in the United States are using BMW's RT-P motorcycles? Click here to find out!
Above: The 2002 R1150RT-P is on the left, and the 2002 R1150GS-P is on the right.
Below: U.S. version of R1150RT-P on the right, and German Polizei version on the left.
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BMW R1150RT-P additional standard equipment
The R1150RT-P includes standard equipment beyond that provided on the civilian R1150RT motorcycle:
- Solo seat only with a radio top box replacing the passenger seat.
- 840-watt alternator instead of civilian 700-watt alternator.
- Rear-drive gear ratio of 31:11 (civilian R1100/1150RT has 32:11 ratio but R1100/1150RS has 31:11 ratio).
- Auxiliary cooling fan for when engine is kept running when the motorcycle is stationary.
- Front and rear protection bars.
- A special speedometer accurate to ± 1 MPH.
- Two 12-volt accessory outlets (the civilian R1150RT comes with one).
- Rear-only emergency flasher system in addition to the 4-way system.
- Headlight on-and-off switch.
- Heated handgrips are standard.
- Tall BMW windshield is standard.
- Locking side stand.
- True-image rear-view mirrors.
- Auxiliary linked battery to provide power for long duty.
- BMW “City Case” saddle bags (smaller than the standard bags).
- Police equipment: siren, front and rear strobe lights, etc.
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BMW R1150RT-P Specifications
Engine
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| Type |
Air/oil-cooled 2-cylinder 4-stroke boxer engine |
| Valve train |
Cam in head, 4 per cylinder |
| Displacement |
1130 cc (69 in³) |
| Bore x Stroke |
101 x 70.5 mm |
| Horsepower rating |
95 bhp @ 7,250 rpm |
| Torque rating |
74 lb.-ft @ 5,500 rpm |
| Compression ratio |
11.3 : 1 |
| Cooling system |
Thermostatically controlled oil cooler, auxiliary fan driven |
| Valve actuation |
High Cam, chain driven |
| Catalytic converter |
Three-way computer controlled converter with oxygen sensor |
| Clutch |
180mm (7.09") single dry plate, hydraulic assist |
| Gearbox |
6-speed manual |
| Gear ratios |
1st - 2.05:1, 2nd - 1.60:1, 3rd - 1.27:1,
4th - 1.04:1, 5th - 0.90:1, 6th - 0.70:1 |
| Final drive ratio |
2.91 : 1 (31/11 rear-drive gear ratio, same as R1150RS)
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Electrical System
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| Engine management |
Bosch Motronic MA version 2.4 combined fuel/ignition control |
| Generator |
Three-phase alternator 14V, 60A, 840 watts |
| Batteries |
Two 12V 19 Ah (separate control for special vehicle equipment) |
Dimensions
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| Fuel tank capacity |
6.6 US gallons (25 liters) including 1 gallon (3.8 liter) reserve |
| Seat height |
Three position adjustable - 30.7", 31.5", 32.3" |
| Curb weight w/fuel & equipment |
695 lbs. or 315 kg. (with police emergency equipment) |
| GVWR |
1091 lbs. or 495 kg. |
Ergonomics
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| Front brake lever |
4-positions |
| Windshield |
Electronically adjustable / 22 degree angle (tall windshield standard) |
| Seat |
3-positions |
| Handlebars |
2-temperature heated handlebar grips |
Chassis
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| Frame |
Cast aluminum frame, engine as stressed member, tubular rear frame |
| Front wheel suspension |
BMW Telelever with leading link anti-dive design and 4.72" (1200 mm) travel |
| Rear wheel suspension |
BMW Paralever with gas shock absorber, adjustable rebound, progressive-rate spring and 5.31" (135 mm) of travel |
| Front wheel brake |
BMW EVO 4-piston calipers, 12.6" (320 mm) diameter rotors |
| Rear wheel brake |
Single 11.2" (285 mm) diameter rotor with twin-piston caliper |
| Anti-Lock System |
BMW partially integrated ABS with power assist |
| Wheels |
Tubeless tires on 5-spoke tempered cast alloy
wheels |
| Tires - front |
Cast alloy rim 127/80 - ZR 17 (tubeless), Dunlop D20S |
| Tires - rear |
Cast alloy rim 170/60 - ZR 17 (tubeless), Dunlop D20S |
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