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The rumors are flying, is the THP looking? is Nashville PD looking? Who is? Who isn't? 

I hear Honda is really shaking some trees here. There seem to be more Hondas going into service in the South East as well as evaluation bike sightings in neighboring states. Nashville PD bought some of those ugly little Honda Ruckus scooters for downtown patrol. It makes sense, better maneuverability, at least they are Hondas...foot in the door so to speak.....must be quite a change from their Harley's to these. If they are good, perhaps some of the nice people with the deep pockets will get them a few ST-Ps.  I guess I am just surprised that with all the emphasis on state of the art patrol cars, communications, interoperability, connectivity and so forth, most departments are running obsolete V-twin designs which are not water-cooled, underpowered, noisy, expensive to maintain, have long down times and are not as fuel efficient as newer design systems such as the ST1300 or the BMW. 

At a local Honda dealership, Honda of Cool Springs, I snagged pictures of this ST1300P on public display. The city shown on the bike is very close to the dealership.  I do not know if the city is in negotiations for with HCS or not. The bike just happened to be mocked up for them as an evaluation bike.

Update 3/3/07

The folks at Honda of Cool Springs, (HCS), have been busy adding more lights and experimenting a little bit. Ronnie DeFrancisco, Government Sales Manager is heading up the pitch to local Law Enforcement here in Tennessee.  Sounds like Tennessee may become a test bed for Police Bike Development? Sweet. Can I have the left-overs? It seems Squad Fitters just bought one of the ST1300PAs to take home and play with. I am totally envious.

Anyway, on to the update.... A higher amperage battery has been added to the bike for obvious reasons and a new battery box was required to pull it off. I do not know where the procured the battery box.  Sorry, the brand name of the battery eludes me. While the standard battery would last 15 minutes with the alert lights on, this replacement should last 45 minutes with the lights on.

Dunlops are the OEM standard on the bike but I am hearing Police Departments out west are switching over to Bridgestones BT020 for increased mileage. OEM Bridgestones are a good all around performer according to many folks. Oh... is that my bike getting new tires?? I went with the BT020 Bridgestones. Which by the way are the version which are the coveted  "F" series. The actual part number is on my tire page...here.

After a weekend of riding on the Bridgestones, I can say right off the bat they are much quieter as well as smoother riding. In Tennessee we have  beautiful and moderately twisty roads which require a good all around tire compound. I ride on the conservative side. Which means I cruise and occasionally get " a little sporty". There are many choices out there as well as many different riding styles. I too, as others as well, like to get more than 10k miles out of a set of tires. I have heard individuals getting up to 15k miles out of their Bridgestone tires, so I will keep my fingers crossed.

29 OCT 07 - The BT020 has been replaced with the BT021 which is a dual compound. In short, a softer compound is used on the side of the tire and a harder compound is for higher mileage yielding from normal up right riding. I will have to wait until 2008 before I need another set. I got around 10k miles off the back tire and probably could have gone up to 11.5k on the front tire of the BT020's but I went new on both.

HCS will be installing front and rear Radar Units (Stalker or Genesis?) The rear unit would be placed just below the top box and in between the two Whelen 400 Series Super-LED PN# 300-440-31 Red heads. The front unit would be mounted on the crash bars.

They will also be adding the front crash bars as well as rear tip-over bars as well.

As you can see, 911EP's LS12 Heads have been deployed on the Squad Fitters Box. An additional LS12 has been added to the box behind the driver, facing forward. Stacked pairs of Whelen TIR3 with the RFLANG2B Optional, Black, Dual Surface Mount Flange on the front center cowling and a pair on the front left/right sides of the bike.  Two more of the Whelen 400 Series Super-LED PN# 400-440-05 heads are deployed forward facing above the mirrors.

It is my understanding that a new "trunk" is under development at Squad Fitters which will be specially designed for the ST1300 and its aerodynamic appetite. Who knows, perhaps it will be the trunk that we all wish we,  (all ST1300 riders), had on ours bikes which hasn't been made yet. Since the only trunks out there are either the European Topbox, which is way pricey, a Givi trunk or an EBAY special.  George, make a trunk for the non-duty world...pleeezzz... 60 liters would be nice..:) Most if not all of the equipment on the bike is from Squad Fitters.

Need a Squad Fitters Catalog? Download here --->

Manual for the Omega90 Amplifier Module

INSTALLATION / OPERATION U750-HON HONDA MOTORCYCLE OMEGA 90 PACKAGE manual.

Here is a video of the lights in action for you to review. One of the mechanics was kind enough to fire them up for me. Everyone in the Service Department is more than friendly, helpful and professional.

If you are curious about the Whelen LIN3 units look here and then at at the bottom of this page for a few quick little video clips.

The Squad Fitters Box, is a 6-point mounting lockable box. The 2 rear points are not used in this application, only the 2 front and 2 middle points. A fabricated a support bracket which resides under the "passenger seat cover cowl", to which the front two box points attach. Interesting concept. I have not discovered another ST1300 with a top box like this. Since LED heads are being used as opposed to strobes and their bulky power supplies, there is a good bit of space available inside the top box for additional storage. Perhaps for items you might normally wear on your belt or for general supplies such as a first aid kit.

I personally have never understood why a smart company hasn't come along and redesigned the Duty Belt to reposition the gun, cuff, clips, mace and so forth into a less "body gouging" configuration in the event of a get-off. Something like a fly-fishing vest, if you know what I mean.  An impact and abrasion resistant Duty Vest. I would hate to get off the bike at 60MPH and have those belt items digging into me. I won't even carry my cell phone on my hip while riding. Perhaps there already is such a thing.

Updated 3/26/07

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Here are the latest pictures of the bike as loaned to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

It is my understanding from Ronnie DeFrancisco, Government Sales Manager - Honda of Cool Springs, that the THP evaluator was very impressed with the bike. Now this wasn't some rookie testing the bike, this person is higher placed with in the organization with years of motoring experience. This person has studied up on the bike, researched, listened, heard the rumors which have persisted since 2003 and other than a few modification suggestions, found nothing wrong with the bike. No substance to any of the rumors, period. This is a critical point to be made and reinforced to the reading public and those in service. Dave Craig of the CoPD would agree whole heartedly as well as Dallas PD, SC Highway Patrol and others. These bikes may be all over the place round these parts. I think they would come in real handy on the Tail of the Dragon... hummm.. just need to get NCHP to get a couple and we are all set...:)

You can see all the additions to the bike, Stalker Radar both front and rear with the display unit solidly triple bolted to the dash, a couple of TIR3's or Bull LED units under the mirrors for side visibility, night stick holder as well.

Outstanding job Ronnie...

Make sure you check out the Presentation to Law Enforcement put on at the Marriot by HCS.

Other Agencies - ST1300s which are in Service around the USA.

01 OCT 07 - Ronnie has also added a video unit with remote activation capabilities, a lockable disk recording unit, located in the trunk as well as audio capabilities as well. Check that out here.