China Traffic Police - Safety Training

A different kind of ride report

From time to time I act as instructor for the BMW Motorrad China Importer, giving basic safety training to several traffic police units in China.
All this is not a performance training, but focusing on safety. It shall also help the riders to get used to the bigger, more powerful and heavy bikes.

The bikes are solely used for VIP guiding, not for regular traffic law enforcement.

Not only that we had good progress, we also had loads of fun together. Aside from that, I got a bit of an inside view of traffic police in China.



http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0901023016.jpg
Authority version of BMW R1200RT


Ride safe

Andy

Nanning, Guangxi, China - May 31st, 2008

Nanning Police have a fleet of 6 BMW R1200RT authority version bikes, delivered in 2008.

This training was held in an afternoon and next day morning session. Pretty good since we spent some time together during dinner and throughout the evening.


Highlights:
Very warm reception, excellent organization
Met with Chief of Traffic Police and other high ranked Traffic Police Officials :icon10:

Thank you guys for the nice reception, cooperation and great hospitality! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0531150253.jpg
Welcome

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0531151049.jpg
Folks on their machines

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0531151654.jpg
A bit of Physics explained

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0531153534.jpg
Team leader

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0531161016.jpg
Also 125cc bikes were participating :scooter:

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0531162413.jpg
Andy on the Police bike :naughty:

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0531181553.jpg
Recovering a bike

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0531233648.jpg
Group Photo


Rubber Down, Thumbs :thumbsup:

Andy

Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China - June 13th, 2008

Jiangyin Police didn't have the bikes delivered at the time of training, so the importer brought a general version of the BMW R1200RT.

The training site wasn't that perfect, a dead end public road, surrounded with dozens of bystanders.
Since we had only one big bike available, progress was slow but at least they got to know the big bike a bit.


http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0613091001.jpg
Introduction

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0613091357.jpg
Warm up exercises :riding:

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0613095922.jpg
That 125cc seems a little small for me :lol8:

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0613135435.jpg
Going round in circles

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0613141544.jpg
Team leader on the RT

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0613155940.jpg
Group photo


Andy

They sure don't have much in the way of riding gear do they?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jim

They sure don't have much in the way of riding gear do they?

---

Some had, some didn't, but eventually they will all have suitable gear.

Andy

Wuxi, Jiangsu, China - June 14th, 2008
Bikes haven't been delivered at the time of training, so we had to use the importer's street version of the R1200RT.

Wuxi welcomed us with bad weather, which made things not easy and the photographer mostly seeking shelter in the car :lol8:, not too many pictures therefore.

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0614090546.jpg
The obligatory welcome speech

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0614134333.jpg
Basic exercises

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0614134429.jpg
Balancing exercise

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0614134511.jpg
More balancing

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0614161315.jpg
Group picture


Andy

Shanghai, China - June 16th, 2008

Police have a fleet of over 60 BMW's (R850RT and R1150RT) for some years already and it was mainly about a training for new riders.

Everything was very Shanghai style, so some pics only.

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0616144055.jpg

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0616144525.jpg

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0616144723.jpg

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0616153214.jpg

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0617092855.jpg

You look very unimpressed with a police 125cc chopper! :lol8:

Why don't they buy safety gear before they get the bikes? :confused1:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ZMC888

You look very unimpressed with a police 125cc chopper! :lol8:

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I was actually very impressed - that one can ride this thing at all :lol8:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ZMC888

Why don't they buy safety gear before they get the bikes? :confused1:

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It seems they have nothing suitable available from their armory, and have to look around elsewhere for riding gear which fits their dress code.
They wear some army stuff (knee and elbow protectors) under their uniforms but still missing proper boots.
Could we make some business there ? :icon10:

Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China - September 3rd, 2008

After they got their 8 BMW R1200RT authority version bikes handed over, head of traffic police suggested to hold another training session, so here we are, back to Jiangyin.

Highlights:
Dinner with chief of PSB and chief of Traffic Police
Nice training areas; automobile training area for driving license test and an unopened but completely finished expressway)

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0903221326.jpg
Line up

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0904030144.jpg
Group leader

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0904043854.jpg
Braking exercise on the unopened expressway

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0905032738.jpg
Andy on the Police bike

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0905042949.jpg
The mandatory group picture

Andy,

What an awesome and unique experience! I think more of this story should be told! Hmmmm...

CC

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CrazyCarl

Andy,

What an awesome and unique experience! I think more of this story should be told! Hmmmm...

CC

---

It surely is an experience one can't make every day :icon10:

I have one more to come from last week in Guangzhou, with probably more to tell, later this year.

Can't follow the Hmmmm... though :confused1:

Looks like a lot of fun Andy.......

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0905032738.jpg

:lol8: :lol8: :lol8:

But seriously... very interesting to see your experience with the boys in blue. :thumbsup:

Do any of these guys ride big bikes when they are not working? Do they have a lot of interest and enthusiasm for motorcycles in general?

Thanks for the report!

Cheers!
ChinaV

Andy,

Thanks for the photos and story. This is what I like most about this web site. Not only do I find interesting cycle related stories and information, I get glimpses into everyday life in China that I wouldn't find elsewhere.

Dan K.
Black Hawk, CO

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ChinaV

Looks like a lot of fun Andy.......

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0905032738.jpg

:lol8: :lol8: :lol8:

But seriously... very interesting to see your experience with the boys in blue. :thumbsup:

Do any of these guys ride big bikes when they are not working? Do they have a lot of interest and enthusiasm for motorcycles in general?

Thanks for the report!

Cheers!
ChinaV

---

I was a bit tired of posing for the photographers and cameramen from some local media.:lol8:

I don't think that they are riding big bikes in their time off duty, but they are interested in many motorcycle related topics.

Guangzhou, Guangdong, China - March 11th to 12th, 2009

Their fleet consists of BMW R1150RT authority version, Honda 1100ST and Honda 1300ST (ABS)

Mostly very skilled riders, particularly well in slow speed handling, well trained, very disciplined and some with good English. Very friendly officers and professional event organization.


http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0311150457.jpg
The welcome speech

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0311150532.jpg
Participants

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0311152035.jpg
Getting ready

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0311165322.jpg
Officer in action :thumbsup:

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0312084236.jpg
The fleet

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0312090432.jpg
Warming up

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0312113919.jpg
The http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...smiley-bmw.gif crew :icon10:

http://photos.imageevent.com/chinabi...0312094327.jpg
The group picture


Highlights
The training ground, the Apron of the old Guangzhou airport. Having been there dozens of times on a plane made it a special location.
I had the opportunity to ride the Honda bikes :rolleyes1:

Thanks for everything guys !

Andy,

What's your opinion of the ST vs RT?

Dan K.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DanKearney

Andy,

What's your opinion of the ST vs RT?

Dan K.

---

Dan,

That's a difficult one. I have quite some experience with the RT's, whereas I rode the ST's only briefly.

Here my 2 cents from what I experienced:

The 1300ST is the heaviest of all 3 - it makes it a hard job to put it on the center stand. The 1100ST and the RT are similar in weight, with the center stand of the RT being better engineered. (This was what they wanted me to test)

In slow corners they all handle pretty much the same, as you bring them easy in and out of corners. From the acceleration point, I think the 1100ST was performing best, the RT a little weaker and the 1300ST seemed lame due to it's weight.

The RTs are equipped with full integral ABS, the 1300ST with ABS and the 1100ST without. They wanted me to compare ABS performance of the RT with the 1300ST.
The ST's ABS let's the front wheel lock up before it begins to work and the rear is rattling all through the braking. Under 40 kph, the front starts to lock up frequently.
BMW brakes are clearly the better ones, with the ABS working very smooth. It took 25% less distance to stop from 220 kph :eekers:

Thanks Andy,

I rode the 1100ST a few years ago and thought it was a good handler. I didn't realize that the 1300 outweighed the RT. It's a bit surprising that the Honda ABS seems so rudimentary. BMW has had 3 generations of ABS on the bikes, so I expect it to be good, but it sounds much, much better than the Honda's.

Is this your profession in China?

Cheers,

Dan K.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DanKearney

Thanks Andy,

I rode the 1100ST a few years ago and thought it was a good handler. I didn't realize that the 1300 outweighed the RT. It's a bit surprising that the Honda ABS seems so rudimentary. BMW has had 3 generations of ABS on the bikes, so I expect it to be good, but it sounds much, much better than the Honda's.

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All three bikes actually handle very similar, and yes, the BMW ABS seems to work much better.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DanKearney

Is this your profession in China?

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No it's not - yet :icon10:. I'm doing this from time to time whenever BMW needs hold a training.

wickedly Jealous..... I manage a bike shop in shanghai and don't have nearly the fun you seem to have....

Good job, nice report. Interesting to see that the local police are using bigger bikes for enforcement(i understand now only VIP service).

I guess out running the police will soon be impossible:icon10:

Traffic safety is one of the most important issue as there are so many accidents happening over the world and lots of death happening around the world. If you wants to be secure of that you have to follow all traffic rules.

No 'Zukis? What a shame!

Are these all exclusively used for VIP escort? I guess the big heads want something that matches their Mercs?

Beijing's drivers are often paid little attention to the green crosswalk signs. You should not believe that you can cross the road, just because you have a crosswalk green. The majority of the drivers of pedestrians get out of their way, even if the pedestrians have legitimate rights.