Police motorbikes

[Primus1]

I’ve not seen a police motorcycle rider for ages, I used to see them all the time but I can’t recall the last time I saw one, they used to go about in twos and threes, have they stopped using them altogether?, the last time I saw any was on tv escorting the then prince Charles,s car on his trip back to London when the queen died…

[Bper]

They are too fat to get on them now, they prefer something more tasty and quieter like a rolls, Greggs sausage rolls 

Cut backs no doubt and they seem to be used mainly for escort work now. I'd better leave it at that.

[Mjolinor]

2 minutes ago, Bper said:

Cut backs no doubt and they seem to be used mainly for escort work now. I'd better leave it at that.

Christine Keeler type escort work?

[FROSTYBALLS]

Due to Birmingham Council's financial position, they've reinstated some mothballed bikes:

[Mjolinor]

"Velocette LE" in case you are wondering.

[Cyker]

They're like busses here; You won't see any for months then suddenly on day a whole gang of them will drive past!!  

They seem less useful down here since they can't filter easily due to the mass adoption of gigantic land barge SUVs and the bikes having such massive panniers on them  

[AndyN01]

IMHO simply down to "balancing (see what I did there 🙂) the books.

Anyone who has had the pleasure of spending time with them when they're "off duty" knows just how skilful these riders are.

Andy

[Bper]

11 hours ago, Cyker said:

They're like busses here; You won't see any for months then suddenly on day a whole gang of them will drive past!!  

They seem less useful down here since they can't filter easily due to the mass adoption of gigantic land barge SUVs and the bik byes having such massive panniers on them  

Gigantic Land Barge SUVs. Definitely describes the size of the police. SUV stands for Sandwiches Under Vest.😂

This picture shows the police rushing to a town centre when they heard Gregg's was doing a buy one get one free on its sausage rolls .😂

 

[Cyker]

Ooh what town?? Asking for a friend...

 

I do like their sausage rolls and various bake slices tho

Damnit now I'm hungry... is there a 24/7 Greggs somewhere...?

[Bper]

15 minutes ago, Cyker said:

Ooh what town?? Asking for a friend...

 

I do like their sausage rolls and various bake slices tho

Damnit now I'm hungry... is there a 24/7 Greggs somewhere...?

Well Gregg's did apply for permission to open their Leicester Square branch a few years ago but Westminster council turned it down as they had concerns about late night trouble.

Now if they applied again it would sail through as there would always be Police in the shop.😂

 

[Primus1]

I was called into work today and on my way home I passed a cafe that is used by bikers, among a few bikes were a couple of guys with high vis jackets sat on equally high vis liveried motorbikes, thinking I’d found a couple of police bikes I was surprised to see the riders had fire on the back of their jackets, I didn’t even know the fire service used motorbikes, I’ve no idea what they would be used for anybody know.?

[Rhymes with Paris]

Did the bike safe course with Lincolnshire police in 2003.

It was pretty good I thought, I had not considered before using the whole width of the road to ease the sharpness of bends.

Of course, visibility a long way in front is needed to use this technique.

Very good advice on safe braking too.

No reason not to use it while driving a car either.

The police officer was on an older police BMW bike presumably kept for this purpose, but still in full police livery, it was amazing how well the other drivers behaved not trying to cut up as usual.

He indicated from behind, the direction and turns to take, so a good eye in the mirrors was required, no radio contact as with CBTs and direct access with bike schools.

 

[Shared]

On 1/25/2024 at 11:57 AM, Bper said:

Gigantic Land Barge SUVs. Definitely describes the size of the police. SUV stands for Sandwiches Under Vest.😂

This picture shows the police rushing to a town centre when they heard Gregg's was doing a buy one get one free on its sausage rolls .😂

 

Well that made me chuckle, lots, Can we assume that CBT stands for Can't Button Tunic ? 

[Stopeter44]

8 hours ago, Rhymes with Paris said:

It was pretty good I thought, I had not considered before using the whole width of the road to ease the sharpness of bends.

I do that, and it is exactly from a Police motorcycle rider I learnt it, but only when I have a clear view front and back on empty road.

[Mjolinor]

As we are talking police motorbikes I must seize this opportunity to show off mine. 🙂

[Mojo1010]

Usually will hardly see them in winter for obvious reasons. 

[Cyker]

13 hours ago, Rhymes with Paris said:

It was pretty good I thought, I had not considered before using the whole width of the road to ease the sharpness of bends

I even do that in my Yaris!   

It's saved me a few times too, as that extra bit of visibility by going wide out for the turn was just enough to spot a stationary line of traffic and give me tiny bit of extra warning and time, which I'm sure was the difference between being able to brake firmly, but not so firmly the ABS went off, and also showing my brake lights to the car behind while I was still very much in view!

 

[flash22]

Ah you mean the racing line, correct speed into the bend, power out, and only put the power on when you are sure you do not need to take it off

we have a few bike cops around here on their fully kitted-out............................. pushbikes

they did have unmarked 450cc off-road bikes tho

[Roy124]

11 minutes ago, flash22 said:

Ah you mean the racing line, correct speed into the bend, power out, and only put the power on when you are sure you do not need to take it off

we have a few bike cops around here on their fully kitted-out............................. pushbikes

they did have unmarked 450cc off-road bikes tho

A friend's father passed on some tips.  Approaching a bend as the road 'closes' ease off the gas. As the road view 'opens' slowly apply the gas until you see the fully open road.

My first lesson on full road use was a Master at school almost 70 years ago.  He only had one leg.  We asked if this was a war injury.

"No, motor bike accident."

[Haliotis]

“Using the whole width of the road” is not, IMHO, a very safe tactic.  I have often been concerned, especially when towing a caravan, to have an oncoming motorcyclist approach me when he is taking a right hand bend and his wheels almost on the centre white line, making most of him and his machine technically on the wrong side of the road.  This is particularly bad on narrow country roads, when I have had to drive close to the centre line in order that the caravan does not ride up the verge.

[Roy124]

@Haliotis using the full width is only advisable when you can see through the whole bend.  My note about the bend closing and opening applies. 

As a bend opens so you can apply more power but you must not cut the apex until the road is fully open and your intended path is clear

[Rhymes with Paris]

36 minutes ago, Haliotis said:

Using the whole width of the road” is not, IMHO, a very safe tactic.

If there are other oncoming vehicles , possible over or undertaking vehicles behind,or no line of sight, then of course it isn't Albert.

It is meant for use on clear roads.

In the scenario that you described, the motorcyclist is riding dangerously, that is definitely not what is taught on the bike safe course.

[Rhymes with Paris]

14 hours ago, Shared said:

Can we assume that CBT stands for Can't Button Tunic ? 

Well for those who really don't know,it stands for compulsory basic training.

But for some of the pupils, candidates, baby bikers or whatever name you like to describe these fledgling motorcyclists, I would assume CBT to be an acronym for Complete ***** ******,in my experience teaching them.

Some however, were a delight to teach, actually listening instead of knowing everything, and of course this was in the days before ubiquitous smartphone use, I imagine that now the attention span is measured in milliseconds.

 

[Cyker]

I should clarify when I said I used the whole road, I just mean my lane, and not literally the whole road!   One of the many advantages of having a small car!

There aren't many places round here it'd be even remotely safe to use the actual whole road! (Although with some of the 4-lane sweeps I've seen cars do on the motorway, when they realize their exit is coming up and they're in lane 4 doing 80+mph, apparently not everyone agrees!  )

 

[Roy124]

Thinking the bike scenario through,  his right is your left.  Your road view CLOSES as you approach and you would be foolish to pull to your right to Open the view.  

You use the full width of the road to go close to the Apex.  On a right hander you are effectively straightening the road.