Hi
I bought myself a Deauville motorcycle from the Oxford police auction.
It is a white one with 20,000 miles. Looks like it was well serviced.
Having done over 1000 miles and averaging 58mpg, it quite satisfactory. And although all the magazines say it is slow (with 55bhp), it is fast enough for me.
Because it is white and has chevrons at the back, it is quite amazing how drivers especially on the motorway seem to slow down with me about. And even more amazing, having noticed the worser drivers, they seem to drive quickly on the fast lane, and as they get closer (metres away) they start slowing down. No wonder they have so many dents - drive too fast, and don't look far ahead and don't take care.
Really brilliant bike - and great getting respect on the road. I don't know when I will get bored with it though?
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Years ago I had a CX500 (to ride to work!) with a big white Avon fairing. It had the same effect on the traffic around me.
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Greg, Sounds good and a bit lighter than a BMW. Pannier system looks very neat (on civilian version anyway).
Watch out for alarmed citizens braking hard to get out of your way. BIL has an ex police Commando Interpol and gets that occasionally.
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Speaking of police motorcyclists did anyone see yesterdays Tour de France in Belgium .
I had to laugh - they were cycling long straight concrete roads in pouring rain when the camera cut to a quick shot of a soaking motorbike gendarme trying to lift himself and his motorbike out of the very wide and wet roadside ditch......
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Our firm used to have an ex-police car-nothing obvious-just grommets in the roof where the sign had been and a calibrated speedo but the local police obviously knew it's number because I always got waves or headlight flashes from the local police vehicles.
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If the speedometer was calibrated, would it always stay in calibration? Does the police have an annual calibration test?
My dad only worries that some 'low life' drivers might run me off the road. But then I suppose this would happen in any vehicle with our enemies!
Oh, and the seat is also higher, giving me the ability to look further ahead (like a van really).
And my spreadsheets of fuel consumption showing a very sticky amount of fuel being used between fill ups. Similar to my dads old camry diesel with 270,000 miles on the clock - no matter how one drove it always returned the same MPG figure. I think this was more to do with the the fact it was a turbo diesel though!
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It had a round speedo in-not a std. one and still had record of speedo checks in the glove-box.If they stop someone for speeding using only the speedo in the car then the speedo must be checked within 24 hr.
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I bought myself a Deauville motorcycle from the Oxford police auction. I will get bored with it though?
When you do, you can swap it for one of these.....
tinyurl.com/2u8eco
VB
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Not sure how you mean that!
This is the bike on which a PC died recently and has been withdrawn from service by a number of forces.
Weaving seems to have been an issue from new.
Not surprised a number are now for sale.
BMW had a similar problem some years ago, largely tyre choice/pressure related IIRC.
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One of the claimed reasons for the instability was too much equipment carried right at the back of the bike.
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I think they sorted it out with the later Pans (something to do with the suspension I recall). But yes, the police carry heavy equipment and if it isn't balanced correctly, these things will happen. I suppose it would be the same with a car to some extent.
But in auction, they had nice low mileage ones (5 miles) for £6000. But as I don't have a garage, it would be silly to buy a bike like this with the weather and knocks it will get when parked up.
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Just to clarify its the Pan that was subject of handling issues and not the Deauville.
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& to clarify a bit further, the ones Force are selling have been retro-fitted original civvy spec Honda suspension, so as not to surprise anyone, once they reach a zillion MPH!!
VB
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