Firebikers. Beat that for a cool job!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10716414
The coolest job in the world
[align=center]
'Trike force': Traffic police say 'ello 'ello 'ello to their new 110mph three-wheeler[/align]
Forget Z-Cars, Panda Cars and Gene Hunt's Quattro. The latest lawman's runabout is this quirky-looking Can-Am Spyder trike. Sussex Police are the first constabulary in the country to try the £16,000 roadster.
Made by Canadian manufacturer BRP, best known for their snowmobiles and quad-bikes, the three-wheeled vehicle only has a top speed of 125mph but it hits 60mph in a supercar-quick 4.5 seconds.
Enlarge Let's Roll: Pc John Lawson taking the new Police trike for a spin around the means streets of Chichester
The Can-Am Spyder is driven by toothed belt and has a 5-speed gearbox. It boasts ABS brakes, traction control and a 'fly-by-wire' system called called 'Stability Control'. The system constantly checks the the steering, acceleration and speed and adjusts the trike's power so that it can't spin out of control.
TECH SPECS
* Cost - between £16,639 and £20,939
* Engine - Rotax 991 V-twin: Fuel-injected 998cc engine mounted behind front wheels in steel Y-shaped frame.
* Capable of 100 hp and 80 ft-lbs of torque
speed - top speed limited to 125mph
* Acceleration - 0-60 in 4.5 seconds
* Electric windscreen - can be adjusted up or down to suit driver
* Front wheels - 14x5 inch aluminium wheels shod in Kanda rubber
* Back wheel - 15x7 inch shod in Kanda rubber
* Transmission - manual or semi-automatic
* Gears - five speed manual or semi-automatic gear box, plus electronic reverse
* Exhaust - two into one with catalytic converter
* Suspension - double A-arm set up with integrated roll bar. Twin gas-charged shock absorbers at front, solo hydraulic shock absorber at rear, offering 5.67 inches of travel at each end.
* Brakes - foot actuated integrated hydraulic three-wheeled braking system, with ABS
* Handlebars - heated driver and passenger grips
* Storage - front bonnet, boot, right and left cargo storage, plus glove box. Total 33 gallons storage space.
Adrian Yeomans, manager of Collison Recreational Limited, the company which supplied a pair of Spyders to Sussex police for the trial, said they appealed to officers because they were much safer than traditional motorbikes and could be ridden with a car driving licence. 'With the unusual design of two wheels at the front, they are just far superior than ordinary motorbikes for safety,'' he said. 'In terms of stability, when you go around a corner on one of these it is virtually impossible to flip them or fall off. 'Motorcycles are brilliant fun, but all it takes is for the rider to hit a wet patch or a bit of oil and you are off. That doesn't happen with these machines, but because they are open air you get all the thrill of being on a bike without the danger. We've never had someone got out for a test ride on one of them that hasn't loved it.'
Mr Yeomans said the firm, which has sold 20 of the new Spyders in just 10 months, was also trialling the trikes with ambulance services for use as paramedic fast response vehicles. 'So far the feedback from the police officers who've been driving them has been very positive,' he said. 'They have all loved them. The trikes certainly turn heads - everyone from six to 60 stops to look when the police drive down the street on them. Because they are three-wheeled you also don't need a motorbike licence to ride them, so that also appealed to the police because it meant officers with plain car driving licences could also try them out.'
The Mail's James Martin reviewed an earlier model of the Spyder in 2008, and was largely favourable. However, he pointed out: 'The fun stopped when I hit central London, of course. Usually that’s where a bike comes into its own, as you weave in and out of the traffic to beat the jams. But on this machine, there are no gaps big enough. You’re stuck with the rest of the commuters, fuming away at every red light.'
Sergeant Tony Crisp of Sussex Police said: 'These machines are being used to help police officers engage with motorcyclists and young drivers who are most at risk when it comes to accidents on the roads. People are intrigued by them and stop to ask officers about them, at which point we can talk to them about road safety.'
-------------------
Cops shouldn't be allowed to enjoy their work this much!
'Trike force': Traffic police say 'ello 'ello 'ello to their new 110mph three-wheeler[/align]
Forget Z-Cars, Panda Cars and Gene Hunt's Quattro. The latest lawman's runabout is this quirky-looking Can-Am Spyder trike. Sussex Police are the first constabulary in the country to try the £16,000 roadster.
Made by Canadian manufacturer BRP, best known for their snowmobiles and quad-bikes, the three-wheeled vehicle only has a top speed of 125mph but it hits 60mph in a supercar-quick 4.5 seconds.
Enlarge Let's Roll: Pc John Lawson taking the new Police trike for a spin around the means streets of Chichester
The Can-Am Spyder is driven by toothed belt and has a 5-speed gearbox. It boasts ABS brakes, traction control and a 'fly-by-wire' system called called 'Stability Control'. The system constantly checks the the steering, acceleration and speed and adjusts the trike's power so that it can't spin out of control.
TECH SPECS
* Cost - between £16,639 and £20,939
* Engine - Rotax 991 V-twin: Fuel-injected 998cc engine mounted behind front wheels in steel Y-shaped frame.
* Capable of 100 hp and 80 ft-lbs of torque
speed - top speed limited to 125mph
* Acceleration - 0-60 in 4.5 seconds
* Electric windscreen - can be adjusted up or down to suit driver
* Front wheels - 14x5 inch aluminium wheels shod in Kanda rubber
* Back wheel - 15x7 inch shod in Kanda rubber
* Transmission - manual or semi-automatic
* Gears - five speed manual or semi-automatic gear box, plus electronic reverse
* Exhaust - two into one with catalytic converter
* Suspension - double A-arm set up with integrated roll bar. Twin gas-charged shock absorbers at front, solo hydraulic shock absorber at rear, offering 5.67 inches of travel at each end.
* Brakes - foot actuated integrated hydraulic three-wheeled braking system, with ABS
* Handlebars - heated driver and passenger grips
* Storage - front bonnet, boot, right and left cargo storage, plus glove box. Total 33 gallons storage space.
Adrian Yeomans, manager of Collison Recreational Limited, the company which supplied a pair of Spyders to Sussex police for the trial, said they appealed to officers because they were much safer than traditional motorbikes and could be ridden with a car driving licence. 'With the unusual design of two wheels at the front, they are just far superior than ordinary motorbikes for safety,'' he said. 'In terms of stability, when you go around a corner on one of these it is virtually impossible to flip them or fall off. 'Motorcycles are brilliant fun, but all it takes is for the rider to hit a wet patch or a bit of oil and you are off. That doesn't happen with these machines, but because they are open air you get all the thrill of being on a bike without the danger. We've never had someone got out for a test ride on one of them that hasn't loved it.'
Mr Yeomans said the firm, which has sold 20 of the new Spyders in just 10 months, was also trialling the trikes with ambulance services for use as paramedic fast response vehicles. 'So far the feedback from the police officers who've been driving them has been very positive,' he said. 'They have all loved them. The trikes certainly turn heads - everyone from six to 60 stops to look when the police drive down the street on them. Because they are three-wheeled you also don't need a motorbike licence to ride them, so that also appealed to the police because it meant officers with plain car driving licences could also try them out.'
The Mail's James Martin reviewed an earlier model of the Spyder in 2008, and was largely favourable. However, he pointed out: 'The fun stopped when I hit central London, of course. Usually that’s where a bike comes into its own, as you weave in and out of the traffic to beat the jams. But on this machine, there are no gaps big enough. You’re stuck with the rest of the commuters, fuming away at every red light.'
Sergeant Tony Crisp of Sussex Police said: 'These machines are being used to help police officers engage with motorcyclists and young drivers who are most at risk when it comes to accidents on the roads. People are intrigued by them and stop to ask officers about them, at which point we can talk to them about road safety.'
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Cops shouldn't be allowed to enjoy their work this much!
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