Police will trial the new FLHTP Electra Glide motorcycles over the next 12 months, with an eye to replacing their current fleet of Yamaha 1300cc motorcycles.

The bikes are geared to allow the rider to travel at walking pace, making them a perfect fit for ACT police who are often required for ceremonial and motorcade duties in addition to their usual road and highway patrol responsibilities.

ACT Policing Superintendent Mark Colbran said that over the next 12 months ACT police would assess the bikes on a range of criteria, including whether the ceremonial capabilities would limit the bike's performance at high speeds.

''We do have a lot of ceremonial duties to do here in Canberra, but the early indications from our riders are that there won't be much of a trade-off,'' he said.

The Harley-Davidsons, which have been provided to ACT Policing free of charge, are designed specifically for police use.

There are about 7500 of the motorcycles operating in police forces across the United States, Canada, South America and Europe, but currently no jurisdiction in Australia uses the bikes.

But Harley-Davidson is confident it can break into the Australian police motorcycle market.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/a-new-harley-gang-is-in-town/1967178.aspx