Motor Brand Loyalty

We all get caught up in it.  No denying that.  Team Loyalty. Brand Loyalty.  I only drive X brand.  I only wear Y shoes.  When it comes to Motors, we all have our favorites.  And unless you work for one of those rare few departments that provide you a stipend to buy your own patrol bike, you often times have no say in what you ride.  And if you do you are guaranteed to generate hate from those who wanted you to go to the Harley.  Or the Beemer. Or to the Honda.  Or whoever has come out with the latest and greatest two wheeled Justice Machine.  I have my favorites, but I also have been doing this long enough to know that if I'm handed the keys to something that has two wheels, I am stoked to have it!  Because as a Wheel Man I prefer to patrol on two wheels.   My agency had a yearlong drought when our chief ordered us to park them (long story but suffice it to say if you think you are going to outsmart the brass to get whatever new whiz-bang added to your motors by saying its "safety related", guess what - there's a solution!)  And once we got the go-ahead to get back in the saddle I never looked back.  My department patrolled on Harleys forever.  In part to my prodding, we went to the BMW RT-P's 4 years ago. While we gained new fans and had many in the community complementing our choices, we simultaneously alienated many others who thought we should have remained loyal to the bar and shield.  

Is the new Shark Nose a terrible bike? Absolutely not! H-D hit it out of the park when they went to the Roadglide for a patrol bike!  They eliminated the dangerous high-speed wobble that the bat wing fairing Electraglide was notorious for and powered it with the awesome CVO inspired 121 cubic inch powerplant making sure no one gets away from the Two Wheeled Lawman!

Is the new RT-P 1300 the perfect bike?  Also no.  While it's an awesome platform to work from it has it's issues I don't love, especially that racket coming from the engine bay that is no equal to the velvet smooth 1250 on the previous generation.

The point is hand me the keys to either one, and watch my happy ass go out on patrol with zero regrets!!