I’ve heard about European Police driving all sorts of sporty machinery: Porsches, BMW M Series, MGs, but this is the first time I’ve seen them utilizing an Alpine 110. Of course; it makes sense, as the word chauvinism is French in origin. And the Alpine A110 was fast enough to catch most cars of the time: its tuned Renault R16 engine made some 125hp, enough to propel the low and light “French Porsche” to 130 mph (210 kmh). But I see the chauvinism doesn’t apply to the motorcycle.
Why is the siren on the motorcycle pointed at the rider ?
Can’t stop laughing!!
It’s not.
That’s a loudspeaker for the two-way radio.
Picture Peter Sellers riding the bike.
That Alpine is one of the few French cars I can get on board with. That sucker is HOT.
That’s a stunning vehicle from that angle, really does look like it’s going 100mph when it’s standing still.
Whereas any Beemer bike of that vintage looks like it’s standing still when it’s going 100mph…
Of course the cop is riding a BMW – there are no better police bikes made, even going to back the 60’s and the /2 that the gendarme is riding. And that still hold true today. The neighboring county sheriff’s department has both BMW and Harley bikes. The Harley’s are used for parade duty. The BMW’s do the real work, are more comfortable and less tiring to ride, and their maintenance costs are lower.
The Sheriff’s Deptt. hasn’t heard of Kawasaki?
The Gendarmerie’s choice of German motorcycles did arouse some nationalist ire in France. Consequently during the mid 70s somebody tooled up a large motorcycle powered by a Citroen GS engine (basically a more elegant Amazonas) and sold a small batch to the French government for use as presidential limo escorts.
These days the French probably use Honda ST1300s which are slowly replacing the BMWs that replaced the Kawasakis in Oregon.
Wikipedia yields a nice FJR1300 picture:
Paul,
More French police exotics in this TV report clip: a Citroën SM allegedly good for 240 km/h a DS “électronique”, probably meaning a 23 IE and two Alpines.
Also, if you have any experience of the French traffic police, it’s hilarious as the guys shown are really archetypal French cops, mustache, typewriter and all.
Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2JL9IQ7bUg
I’m curious on the location of the photo. Judging by the highway direction signs in the background, which shows signs directing motorists to either Paris or Lyon, my guess is that it’s on the RN7, which is the main motorway between Paris and Lyon.