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Officers patrolling for agencies that purchased motorcycles from the 2009 model year will be riding one of six models. Harley-Davidson, which began producing police motorcycles in 1908, offers the Road King and Electra Glide (identical engine with sidecar mounting). BMW's R1200 RT-P is a favorite of the California Highway Patrol and Los Angles Sheriff's Department. The company also offers the G650. In 2007, Honda began producing its ST1300, a compact, performance bike. And H-D subsidiary Buell began producing a police version of its Ulysses sportbike in late 2008. Roads can't contain that bike, which has already been put to use by several rural departments.

In the words of one EVOC trainer, "Every officer wants the best vehicle they can get their hands on. Every department wants the most cost-effective fleet possible. Somewhere in between is probably the best place to be."

For almost 100 years American law enforcement officers have been riding motorcycles in the line of duty. Even before Chief August Vollmer, who is credited with organizing the first official Police Motorcycle Patrol in the United States with the Berkeley (Calif.) Police Department in 1911, law enforcement recognized the value of motorcycles.

The motorcycle police officer has been an American icon for more than half a century. But contrary to "CHiPs" fantasies, the job is not all glamour, and working a police shift on two wheels is just as tough, if not tougher, than working the same shift in a patrol car.