Photo: BMW
BMW introduces a new medical vehicle fleet that comprises no less than four vehicles, but the one we're interested in is, naturally, the motorcycle. Seeing BMW choosing their top sport-touring R1200RT bike was only natural, as it represents the best bet when it comes to speed, agility and capability to carry medical gear.
It's nowhere near the first time when motorcycles are used for medical purposes, not even for BMW. The fact that bikes can reach the site of an emergency faster than any other vehicle was well documented a long time ago, and fleets of medical motorcycles can be found in many countries.
Authority bikes represent a good deal for any motorcycle manufacturer, provided their line-up is suitable for the purpose. Police, medical, or escort bikes from Honda, BMW, and even Harley-Davidson are a common sight.
Even more, the use of motorcycles for medical or health-related purposes extended to the civilian sector, involving volunteers, and the Blood Bikes community in the UK is only one of the heartening examples.
The new Medical Emergency BMW R1200RT is painted in Glacier Silver and sports the bright orange decals and reflective strips of the German health services, with Arzt (German for physician) on the windshield and Notarzt (German for Emergency Medical Unit) on the saddlebags.
The dual sidecases can accommodate 56 liters (2 cubic feet) of gear, and are protected by specifically designed crash bars. The R1200RT also comes with an auxiliary battery to make sure the equipment can operate for an extended period. Emergency lights and rotating beacons, as well as a public address system are also stock.
The curb weight of this emergency BMW R1200RT is 274 kg (604 lb) and the new liquid-cooled boxer 1,170cc engine delivers 125 hp @ 7,750 rpm and 125 Nm (92.2 lb-ft) of torque at 6,500 revs per minute.
BMW knows that what is good for fully-loaded two-up touring is also good for streaking through busy traffic, and the bike's maneuverability and top speed are crucial when providing medical assistance in an emergency. You could also look for similar machines that are decommissioned from the force and sold, they go pretty cheap.
Authority bikes represent a good deal for any motorcycle manufacturer, provided their line-up is suitable for the purpose. Police, medical, or escort bikes from Honda, BMW, and even Harley-Davidson are a common sight.
Even more, the use of motorcycles for medical or health-related purposes extended to the civilian sector, involving volunteers, and the Blood Bikes community in the UK is only one of the heartening examples.
The new Medical Emergency BMW R1200RT is painted in Glacier Silver and sports the bright orange decals and reflective strips of the German health services, with Arzt (German for physician) on the windshield and Notarzt (German for Emergency Medical Unit) on the saddlebags.
The dual sidecases can accommodate 56 liters (2 cubic feet) of gear, and are protected by specifically designed crash bars. The R1200RT also comes with an auxiliary battery to make sure the equipment can operate for an extended period. Emergency lights and rotating beacons, as well as a public address system are also stock.
The curb weight of this emergency BMW R1200RT is 274 kg (604 lb) and the new liquid-cooled boxer 1,170cc engine delivers 125 hp @ 7,750 rpm and 125 Nm (92.2 lb-ft) of torque at 6,500 revs per minute.
BMW knows that what is good for fully-loaded two-up touring is also good for streaking through busy traffic, and the bike's maneuverability and top speed are crucial when providing medical assistance in an emergency. You could also look for similar machines that are decommissioned from the force and sold, they go pretty cheap.
Google News