Police motorcycle (Honda ST1300) branded threat to safety by inquiry into officer's death

The Scotsman ^ | Sat 28 Apr 2007 | MICHAEL HOWIE

[martin_fierro]

Police motorcycle branded threat to safety by inquiry into officer's death

MICHAEL HOWIE HOME AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (mhowie@scotsman.com)

A POLICE motorcycle used by Scottish forces poses a "serious and continued" threat to riders' lives, a coroner has ruled.

Dr James Adeley yesterday said he intended to write to chief constables warning them of the "catastrophic result" which can occur with the Honda motorbike.

Dr Adeley was speaking at the conclusion of the inquest into the death of police motorcyclist David Shreeve, who was thrown from his bike while on a training exercise. The father of two, who worked for Merseyside Police, was crushed to death under a lorry after he fell from his Honda Pan European ST1300.

The Scotsman has learned that police riders in Scotland have been told not to exceed 100mph on the bikes amid concerns.

Merseyside Police withdrew all its models after the accident.

But there are still about 400 ST1300s in use across England and Wales while in Scotland a number of forces still use the bikes.

Strathclyde Police said it had 31 1300s in use. A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said its fleet of 12 ST1300s had been modified and individually risk-assessed since the death.

A police source said: "A speed limit of 100mph has been put on the bikes. It is something that forces are working with ACPOS [the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland] to address."

The inquest in Lancaster heard PC Shreeve lost control of his vehicle after it began to shake violently while travelling at high speed.

The phenomenon, known as high-speed weave, refers to a sideways snaking motion which can cause the rider difficulty steering and makes the bike uncontrollable.

Dr Adeley told how after the death several bikes of that particular model underwent comprehensive safety checks.

In one of the tests an examiner broke his leg and fractured both wrists after being thrown from the Honda, which experienced an identical high-speed weave.

PC Shreeve, 38, was travelling at about 110mph along the M58 motorway near Skelmersdale, Lancashire, on 9 November, 2005 when he crashed.

The inquest was told the problems affected only police models of the motorcycle, which has been specially fitted with heavy emergency and communications equipment. The extra kit altered the centre of gravity of the machines.

The ST1300 was released in the UK in March 2002 and the police specification model was delivered at the beginning of November that year. The first reports of high-speed weave problems were made by officers in January the following year.

A Honda spokeswoman said: "For Honda the safety of our riders is paramount. We will continue to liaise with the police in light of the coroner's verdict."

Meredydd Hughes, the head of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Uniformed Operations Business Area, said: "The death of any police officer while on duty is a tragedy, and on behalf of all our colleagues I offer my sympathy to his family, friends and colleagues."

Mr Hughes, also the Chief Constable of South Yorkshire, added: "Where officers have complied with ACPO guidelines and testing procedures, no-one has been killed or injured as a result of this issue.

"The ACPO committee will consider the coroner's comments and any new evidence presented to the inquest to consider what - if any - further measures need to be taken. As always, ACPO's primary consideration will be officer safety."

Paul Smith, the founder of road safety campaign group Safe Speed, said all police forces should withdraw the model until the problem is fixed. "There have been rumours about the safety of this bike in police circles for years now," he said.

"There have been various complaints and a couple of police officers have died. It would seem a sensible move to withdraw the bikes from service until they get to the bottom of the problem."

[BraveMan]

Wow! Seems like a few Hooligans remember that animal.

My two closest riding buddies and I each bought one back in 1975. We would race each other constantly . . .

The local highway had a long sweeping corner near the edge of town where I would practice my cornering prowess. The harder I took the corner, the more that Kawi would wiggle. I can remember flying by a couple on a Beemer R90 enroute to that corner one day. As I was heeled over in the corner with the bike sashaying away, that R90 went by me in the outside lane like I was standing still, two-up no less. That was a humbling experience for a young kid who thought his bike was King.

[blackie]

It has a high rating by most.

[blackie]

I it a tank-slapper.>:-}

[blackie]

Have you ordered one yet??

[uglybiker]

I still haven’t worn out my eye-talyun twin. ;-)

[uglybiker]

Here's Slim and his ride, and we let him hang around.

Yeah, but have you seen him on Saturday night?

[river rat]

That’s the beast alright....
It was NEVER meant for the curves or mountains - is was a straight away bike — I believe today they call it a “boulevard” or “Cafe racer”.....

The boxer 2 cylinder BMWs were a joy to ride, with their low center of gravity and drive shafts... We would get down on the beach, and track close enough to the water to stay in the “tight damp sand”, and ride for miles! Winding mountain roads were no problem - compared to other bikes of the era - but the twin carbs didn’t breath very well at altitude... The damned bikes behaved like they had asthma over 3,000 feet.

Can’t say much good about their damned brakes or suspension systems either in the 70’s — but none of them were as good as they are now...

I’m convinced that at least two of my former riding buds, would be alive today if we had today’s technology THEN....

[Cogadh na Sith]

I owned nothing but Hondas--including a 1983 CB1000 Custom, the one with 2 transmissions....

I just didn't like the ST1300. It's ungainly and looks like a can of smashed a-holes with the bags off. I'm telling you--when those "Independence Day" aliens show up, that's what they are going to be riding.

I went with the Yamaha FJR1300. Perfect for me. Perfect. I love it.

I might have to look at the Kawi Concourse 1400 when it comes out. There is really no such thing as too much power on a sport-touring highway bike.

[Poser]

“Maybe your tagline should be “Willing to fight for two-stroke oil”...”

Good thought. I use the stuff that smells like strawberries when it burns.

[martin_fierro]

It's ungainly and looks like a can of smashed a-holes with the bags off.

lol

I'm telling you--when those "Independence Day" aliens show up, that's what they are going to be riding.

LOL

[postaldave]

“The R75/5 was spec’d conservatively to make 109mph...
Were you carrying a lot of faring, bags and weight?”

lol, those specs are soooo wrong. i’m been working on these for several years and run the 5united.net and postaldave.com websites. some have claimed up to 95mph downhill with the wind to their back but i have yet to here anyone say they went 109.

there is the matter of the speedo. at 85mph most bikes will show between 95mph and 115mph. i’m betting that is where those numbers come from. the fact is those bing carbs will not let it get over redline so you can’t get up to those speeds.

sidenote: a set of delorto carbs and valve port job can easily get the engine to push over the 125mph mark but then it sucks the oil from the crankshaft and you blow the engine.

[blackie]

Yer bad!!

[blackie]

Good for you, those are made to last!

[Seruzawa]

Who cares? I quit buying Honda’s overpriced overrated bikes a long time ago.

[xarmydog]

I am surprised that your bike handled that way.They were a nice bike you could not beat the comfort.At the time I was building bikes,I was sucked into the Harley thing.Till they sold out.I had friends,one in particular.who was the head tool and die maker for Remington Arms.Harley was very cheap on some of the internals,IE:bearings and such.What he would do is go to work and put the specs into a computer,make the die and pump out 20 or so.Came in real handy on the old knucklheads and flatheads.Many of the components such as bearings were made of brass.Remember,I am working from memory.The bike you mentioned was the Kawasaki 3 cyl.,2 stroke.Yes,they were fast!When the first models came out,the frame could not handle the torque and they had to upgrade them.The 750 was a machine from hell.I lost a good friend on one.We referred to them as suicide machines,as if you were not an accomplished rider and bought one and had no respect for it’s capabilities,life expectancy was short.That would also apply to a rider with experience.If I remember right,the Govt.had a hand in seeing them removed from production.Some of the Harleys I built were the fastest on the road at the time,but I remember the frustration at being sucked up by those bikes!The bikes I see being built on TV,Orange County Choppers and the others,to me are crap.They may look good,but they are not built with safety in mind.Did you ever notice that is rarely mentioned?I didn’t think so.Bmw would be my choice of bike today.I have met people who have put over two hundred thousand miles on one.BMW awards you a certain small plaque to place on them.I think they give you one after the first 100,000 miles.Remember,I am quoting from memory.Over the course of time,I have lived in many northern states.WA.,NY.,Ohio,CT.If you ride to early in the spring,or to late in the fall,the salt wreaks havoc on them.especially the aluminum parts.I had a friend who I considered a Harley expert.We worked together during the off season disasembling,rebuilding,painting etc.He handled the mechanics and I did the painting and polishing.They looked like new when we were finished.Being limited in space,we could only do so many each year.Many guy’s would try and book a year in advance,but we did them on a first come,first serve basis.I believe I did explain some wobbly causes did i not?I don’t remember.One of the main causes was the oil in the tubes has to be as close to exact as you can possibly get.Many Harleys new or old were famous for the wobbles.Another problem would be if the front end had ever been tapped even the slightest.Tires are also a major factor.I do not believe in cheap tires,as you only have two!I saw many people with mis-matched tires and different tires are made for different reasons.I would just shake my head.Having tires makes a world of difference.Another thing i would notice is people junking up,IE:saddlebags and whatnot.All that is fine,but the weight needs to be balanced out.You can not have a six pack on one side and your leathers on the other!Well,I’ll let you go as I have typed your eyes off!I do body work for my trade.I am old school type,29 years now.I specialize in old stuff.It is harder but I take pleasure into turning junk into show stuff.Most body shops are now what i call replacement facilities!I live in West Texas.Later,Mark

[GoldCountryRedneck]

YOU PUT A VETTER ON A R90????? i am soooo telling the beemer police on you....

Nawwww. Back in the 70's it was THE hot long-range touring setup. Been all over the Western U.S. behind it, and I fared FAR better than my unfaired co-horts after some of those 500 mile days. For example, there was this hail storm once, and.... anyway, works for me to this day.

Old fart that I am now, I even appreciate that barn door out front more despite the aerodynamic foiblle.

I considered an RS fairing, but the protection and storage of the Vetter was far superior.

Craig Vetters' ranch isn't far from here, BTW. He sold the company to Bell (of helmet fame) and they never did much more with it. Luftmeister just flat stole the design....

[postaldave]

“Nawwww. Back in the 70’s it was THE hot long-range touring setup. Been all over the Western U.S. behind it, and I fared FAR better than my unfaired co-horts after some of those 500 mile days. For example, there was this hail storm once, and.... anyway, works for me to this day.”

i rode a 75/6 with a vetter in a spring GA rain once. i hung my head and shame and enjoyed the dry ride.(grin)

[Sensei Ern]

If that is the bike in question, maybe the biggest danger is getting his behind kicked by a bunch of Hell’s Angels because he makes the biker image look fruity.

[Sensei Ern]

It’s so hard to be taken seriously when you look like a powwer ranger.

[river rat]

I’m pushing the big 70, but every Spring I get the fever again ...
About 10 years ago, my sainted wife decided that enough of my old gang had been killed on bikes - that is was time for me to quit while still alive.....

The family thought that perhaps I had used up too many of my “lives” in my youthful “wild days”, then Vietnam followed by years flying all over the country and world on business — on top of nearly 45 years on and off of bikes.... Yep, I did have to lay a few down to avoid worse consequences...

I resisted until one particularly horrible and fatal accident scenario of an acquaintance REALLY shook me up.........It was BAD writ large......

Now — I see all the engineering improvements to frames, suspensions, brakes, power/weight ratios and the fever has returned...

Don’t know what I’ll do to get over it....
I’ve been fortunate to have ridden some good and some real lousy iron, and survived — BSAs, Triumphs, Snorton Nortons, Moto Guzzi, Kawasaki and BMW..

The BMW was by far the BEST...most reliable and trouble free.. It wasn’t the prettiest or fastest or coolest — but I ALWAYS got to where I was headed without taking out a tool kit.....

I’d LOVE to have just one more bike — but I’d need to hide it in a friend’s garage and not let anyone in our family or big mouthed circle of neighbors find out....