A bike built for the beach

Deepa Bharath

What does Newport Beach motor officer Gerry White like about his

black-and-white BMW motorcycle?

The windshield that goes up and down at the touch of a button? The

heated handlebars? The super-quiet engine?

All of the above, he’ll say.

The real question is what’s not to like about the new bikes.

“I definitely feel safe on this bike,” White said, raving over the

BMW’s front and rear anti-lock brakes.

White said he was more than happy to exchange his old Kawasaki for the

hip, high-tech speedster. And, he admits, he feels a lot “cooler” on it,

too.

“People look up when I ride this thing,” White said with a laugh.

While kids “wow” at the bike with wide-eyed admiration, others almost

expect something upscale from Newport Beach, he said.

“They go ‘Of course you have a cool bike. You’re Newport Beach P.D.’ ”

Newport Beach’s was the first police department in all of California

to switch to the sleek, German-made motorcycles -- even before the

California Highway Patrol, said Sgt. Mike McDermott.

The department leases 11 of the bikes from BMW in what police

officials call a “pretty sweet deal.”

The initial cost for each of the bikes was $17,400, but the buyback

option on the lease makes it economically feasible, said McDermott.

“These actually worked out cheaper than our old bikes,” he said.

BMW’s 1100RT-P is specially designed for police use. Officials said

the bike’s special features include the ABS braking system, an auxiliary

battery to power emergency lighting when necessary, and cooling fans to

prevent the engine from overheating.

But for officers like White, the Beemer’s benefits boil down to one

thing.

“At the end of the day, I don’t feel as tired,” he said. “It’s a nice

ride.”