This is getting to be...

[Dallara]

Now this is getting to be a bit of a trend...

First the Berlin Police Department, and the Police Department of Geneva, Switzerland:


http://www.wic.ch/clients/hostettler/yamaha/police/big/281U6968.jpg

http://www.wic.ch/clients/hostettler/yamaha/police/big/281U6981.jpg

http://www.wic.ch/clients/hostettler/yamaha/police/big/Flotte_mit_1.jpg





Swiss premiere: Yamaha motorcycles for the Swiss police in Geneva. On 7 December the official delivery of 17 new FJR1300A's took place. They were prepared and supplied by the Yamaha importer Hostettler AG, Sursee.



I guess some European Police departments are getting tired of paying the "Roundel Tax" for exorbitantly priced BMW's... like some of the rest of us.

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara - NACD)

[RiceBurner]

The FJR is supposed to be a damned good bike.

I do think BMW have shot themselves in the foot somewhat with the 1200 ranges, they're nowhere near as practical as they used to be.

[BobFV1]

Allan - thanks for the pics. Guess I won't be trying to outrun the Swiss police when I am at the Geneva air show this Spring! Good on them for selecting such a capable mount.

[Emoto]

It'll be interesting (assuming we ever find out) to see what the reliability record for the FJRs is when subjected to the kind of constant running and idling that police bikes get. I'm not saying the bike isn't reliable, but such service should show up any weak spots.

[DJ Down Under]

I wonder if they are the new auto's...:confused:

DJ

[DarthRider]

Gee, they coulda got Harley Dees...

Dave

[Dallara]

Nope, DJ... None are the "auto" AE's.

The new 2006 auto AE's don't like they'll be released anywhere in the world until June.

The bikes the Swiss cops got were 2005 ABS models, much like the ones the Berlin, Germany Polizei got last year. These are regular ol' clutch and shift engines.

Speaking of the new "auto" Yamaha FJR-1300-AE with the electronic shifting... Some unnamed sources within Yamaha are saying the AE has been a sales disaster, with very, VERY few actually being ordered. Apparently the orders are so low and sales so bad, worldwide, that the 2006 AE's may be the only ones ever produced. Man, that would make them truly rare and collectible if true.

From what I can gather Yamaha doesn't consider this as a complete disaster, though, as the electronic shift was actually developed for a myriad of reasons. Thye see it as someday being quite useful on the racetrack in some classes, and wanted to get it into production on some model to perhaps stave off sanctioning bodies outlawing the system if it first appeared on race bikes. Evidently it was also developed for a new Yamaha full-boat touring rig to be introduced sometime soon. It's wildly known that Honda is set to introduce a CVT transmission Gold Wing in the next year or so, and it appears that Yamaha wants to have their own unique "auto" transmission available on their touring boat to take a shot at Honda from the get-go. The new Yamaha touring machine may even hit the market before the CVT Honda Wing...

Oddly enough (and we'll have to see if Dean can confirm or refute this through his close sources...), in learning of this Yamaha "auto" tranny info it appears that BMW is developing its own unique electonically shifted "auto" gearbox for their new touring rig that is slated to replace the K1200LT. Interestingly enough, the source for this said that this new touring bike from BMW would actually be more of a complete *update* of the current LT, and that Beemer's touring model would continue to use a version of the current longitudinal, lay-down, "flying brick" style motor (rather than being based on the new K1200S/R mill) only with more displacement to beef up it's torque and horsepower ratings.

Let's just hope that BMW doesn't use pump-pressurized servo-assist for this application! :037:

Apparently BMW also has plans to offer this electro-gearbox on some sport bike models, as well.

I guess the M/C manufacturers want us to be riding auto-shift bikes... Whether we want to or not.

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara - NACD)

[supermotoC]

I could see BMW developing an SMG transmission for bikes - punch a button -SHIFT NOW, like the ///M cars. What would really be nice for the fat-boy armchair touring rigs would be a CVT (constantly variable tranny). I've driven an Audi with CVT, and it is amazingly smooth, and it's a point & shoot car. I would be surprised if Honda doesn't try this, as they have a CVT car currently.
Me? I prefer to be an active part of my riding, not a passenger. I believe ABS can save me when my skill cannot, but I don't want to be saved from fun or approaching the edge of danger (also fun), just imminent danger.

[arkline]

I understand that there are substantial discounts from manufacturers when selling bikes to police organizations. Harley-Davidson makes police bikes available to police organizations at very attractive prices. When you buy a fleet of essentially the same vehicle, you should expect and get very favorable pricing, no?

It must be the case that Yamaha underbid all other contenders for the right to supply these bikes. That could mean that the larger volume of Yamaha sales in Europe allows them to undercut the prices available from other manufacturers, whereas BMW just can't afford it any more.

With tongue firmly planted in cheek, I'll also mention that the Yamahas will prolly keep the rider warmer in the cooler air of Switzerland than another bike from another vendor. 'Cept for the Honda STs that is...

[BobFV1]

HPHIC speaks the truth - Yamaha has the best four-cylinder ass warmer on the market!

[Deans BMW]

Boy oh Boy, I have no visibility what so ever on any auto tranny developments within BMW.....also havent asked....but will start inquiring.

[socalrob]

Dallara,

Servo brakes on a full LT boat weighing 800 lbs, often riden with another 600 lbs of rider & gear, may actually make sense. That is a serious amount of mass to stop. I would suspect that the servo brakes would have much more feel on such a behemouth. Unless your complaining about the servo brakes on your Suburban too.:)