The new BMW R 1200 RT to win back the administrations

BMW, which was stung until 2007 the market of administration motorcycles (police, customs and gendarmerie) by Yamaha and its formidable 1300 FJR, presented at the Milipol Show its new vacuum cleaner to cops: the R 1200 RT Administration… Explanations.

BMW, which until 2007 lost the French market for administration motorcycles (police, gendarmerie and customs) to Yamaha and its remarkable 1300 FJR, presented its new R1200RT Administration at the Milipol Show in Paris, including "ergonomics have been adapted to the requirements of the security forces"and who benefits from"staffing adapted to the needs of the practice".

The Administration version of the large German road uses the same "large 27 liter tank"than that of the" civilian "version and the same"first report short" who "ensures a serene behavior without the slightest jerk up to step speed during escorts", assures BMW.

On the other hand, for "withstand the significant constraints associated with the specific use of administrations, the motorcycle is equipped with a specially adapted spring / shock absorber combination", specifies the manufacturer.

Another "privilege" granted to official motorcyclists: "the pannier cases have their cover at the top and can be opened without a key, with just one hand and without having to get up from the saddle". A new speedometer."highly precise"and two digital displays further allow"freeze the current speed on one of the two displays by simply pressing a button".

"With this equipment, to which many others can be added, security forces around the world will be able to work with even greater efficiency from March 2006.", boastful BMW which sold its first" administrative "motorcycle in 1928 with an R 24 of 12 hp."Since the transfer of motorcycle production from Munich to Berlin in 1969, more than 100,000 motorcycles have been delivered to administrations in 146 countries"including France, Germany, Spain and Great Britain, specifies the manufacturer who, in addition to the new R 1200 RT, currently offers administrations the F 650 GS, the R 850 R, the R 850 RT and the R 1150 RT.

"An incident of course"

"We lost this market for French administration motorcycles for a simple reason which is linked to our industrial calendar.", explains the director of BMW Motorrad France interviewed by Moto-Net:"at the beginning of July 2004, when prototypes had to be presented to respond to the call for tenders launched in June, only the R 1150 RT was available because the civilian version of the new 1200 was only presented for the first time on December 3, 2004 in Bologna. However, the Administration version has just been unveiled at the Milipol Fair. It takes us about a year to present an Administration version, because everything is done for the whole world in our unique factory in Berlin, unlike other manufacturers who make the modifications at the national branch level.".

The 1150 RT of the quasi "historical operator", the only one available at the time of the call for tenders, therefore did not present all the technological advances that could benefit from the new Yamaha 1300 FJR, remarkable in terms of comfort and efficiency (read our).

"The call for tenders of June 2004 for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 concerned 600 motorcycles at least and 1800 at most", continues Jean-Michel Cavret."This means that the three ministries involved – interior, defense and economy – can order between 600 and 1,800 motorcycles over this three-year period. If we put the average at 1200 motorcycles in total, that only represents 400 motorcycles per year".

"It’s a mishap on our part", recognizes the boss of BMW Motorrad France,"which also shows that administrations are not bound hand and foot with a brand, as we have sometimes heard: they are entirely free to choose the motorcycles they want! It’s a historical anecdote because at the same time, our sales of civilian motorcycles are doing well: in 2005, which is already a historic year for BMW, we should approach the 8,000 motorcycles sold in France against 4,426 in 2000. !"(read).

"The rolling stock of administrative motorcycles in France currently represents 7,000 BMWs", also recalls Jean-Michel Cavret who"hopes to win back the market for administration motorcycles in 2008, because the R 1200 RT is truly the best tool in the world for administrations !"

"A long term job"

On the Yamaha side, it is specified that the contract represents "around 300 motorcycles per year: FJR 1300 and some TDM 900 screen printed". Suffice to say a drop of water for the leader on the French market, which has registered"nearly 40,000 units last year in France".

The diapasons brand has also provided the French administration since 1999 (security services, unmarked motorcycles) as well as training schools (read): FZ6, 250 TTR, 900 TDM and XT 660 X (read).

"Winning this call for tenders with the Administration was a long process that began in 1999."Yamaha told Moto-Net:"today we keep a position of challenger and we will do our best to meet the demands of the Administration and keep this market"… May the best win !

Eric MICHEL

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