What the "Boys in Blue" experience in "Motorcycle School"

My father was a Police Officer all his working life. Although he served many roles on the force over the duration of his carreer, he spent many days and months in the saddle of a Police Harley. As a kid, I really never got to see him "in action" on a Police scoot aside from riding in parades or doing escort duty, but he had some cool stories of high-speed pursuits, chasing bad guys on dirt bikes in local parks etc..........Riding those old Police Blue and White Harley's which would usually overheat on hot July parade days going 5KM per hour behind a marching band or a float from a local business. But he had some really great stories including how difficult it was to pass the Police Motorcycle training qualifications. He taught me how to ride motorcycles since I got my first one at age 5, taking me into sand pits, learning to "dismount" at speed without getting hurt etc. Based on this video, I now have a better appreciation from where Dad was coming from with some of his teaching. Although he is a frail version of the strapping Policeman I grew up with as he soon enters his 80's, I can only imagine how it felt back in the 1960's or 1970's on your Police scoot patrolling the streets of Calgary Alberta Canada on a warm summers day.

Here are a couple of Videos that give some insight into what our "Boys in Blue" need to master to qualify to sit in the saddle of a Police bike.

As you will see from the video, the moral of the story is:

1. A well-trained Police officer can make a big fat police bike dance like a ballerina.....but if you don't know what you are doing it can be like dancing with an elephant!

2. A Police Harley can jump and catch air!

3. Avoid purchasing a "used" police bike that lived it's life as a trainer bike! No matter how good the price is!

Training in short sleeve shirts?

One of our local Vancouver PD's does an annual "skills test challenge" take your bike along & they have cone courses set out, just the same as they use for training. Very similar to the courses in those videos. (sadly no cross country, sand traps etc)

They offer riding tips & tricks, & it's a great way to meet the motormen LEO's & talk with them about not only skills but also the problems we (& they) encounter on the roads. Many of them have a huge sense of humour! The day is a lot of fun & great for learning obstacle & slow (& sometimes not so slow) riding skills.

The first year I attended, two of the guys were demoing, lost concentration (a moment's indecision) & ended up colliding with each other. No-one hurt but good to see that even the pro's screw up occasionally.

I guess the short sleeves encourages them not to fall off! LOL

2 videos well worth the watch. I bet there are very few of us who would qualify to take the test, let alone pass it. 10 hours would be the teaching part, after that comes the training,, practice, practice and more practice. Eventually the rider and machine become one,,, what a plateau to get to!!!!

While I agree that the training is necessary and justifiable, not many of us would want to or could afford to subject our motorcycles to the kind of abuse those bikes go through while training officers. But when the taxpayers are doing the funding the sky is the limit.

My father was a Police Officer all his working life. Although he served many roles on the force over the duration of his carreer, he spent many days and months in the saddle of a Police Harley. As a kid, I really never got to see him "in action" on a Police scoot aside from riding in parades or doing escort duty, but he had some cool stories of high-speed pursuits, chasing bad guys on dirt bikes in local parks etc..........Riding those old Police Blue and White Harley's which would usually overheat on hot July parade days going 5KM per hour behind a marching band or a float from a local business. But he had some really great stories including how difficult it was to pass the Police Motorcycle training qualifications. He taught me how to ride motorcycles since I got my first one at age 5, taking me into sand pits, learning to "dismount" at speed without getting hurt etc. Based on this video, I now have a better appreciation from where Dad was coming from with some of his teaching. Although he is a frail version of the strapping Policeman I grew up with as he soon enters his 80's, I can only imagine how it felt back in the 1960's or 1970's on your Police scoot patrolling the streets of Calgary Alberta Canada on a warm summers day.

 

Here are a couple of Videos that give some insight into what our "Boys in Blue" need to master to qualify to sit in the saddle of a Police bike.

 

As you will see from the video, the moral of the story is:

 

1. A well-trained Police officer can make a big fat police bike dance like a ballerina.....but if you don't know what you are doing it can be like dancing with an elephant!

2. A Police Harley can jump and catch air!

3. Avoid purchasing a "used" police bike that lived it's life as a trainer bike! No matter how good the price is!

 

 

EXCELLENT THREAD/POST RIV = MADE MY DAY = THANK YOU!!!:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Indeed,, those officers really go thru the training!! I LOVED seeing the "trail riding" going on - IMHO, there is sooo much to learn by woods riding that is directly applicable to road riding.. And that sand pit = WAYYYY COOL!! Matter of fact,, years ago when our local HD shop was putting in their 1st training course I happen to stop by when I noticed what they were doing and the first thing I asked them was ="where's your sand pit?".. Looked at me like I was crazy:big-grin-emoticon:

:scared: your Father was a bike officer?? WAYYY WAYY COOL!! Brother,, the 3 of us HAVE to get together some time cause I would LOVE to hear some stories!! If you have time and he is willing,,, can you ask him if he remembers what he rode back in the day? By any chance did he start out on Pan Heads?? Tank shift/Foot clutch?? 60's it would have been Pan Bottom, Shovel Top ends cause I dont think they came out with the Cone Shovel till 70ish... I had a first year, non AMF Police FL for a while.. LOVED the bike!! WOWZY Riv,, I would LOVE to hear more and maybe even see a pic or two!! Be sure and tell your Dad THANK YOU for his service!!

P.S. = my Dad was an LEO too wayyy back then (not a bike officer though)!! Not sure but I always wondered if his 1st born son riding tearing the town up on his 1959 Sears Alstate was part of the reason that Dad got out of law enforcement:missingtooth: