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GREENSBORO - The Greensboro Police Department hopes to save more than half of the cost of operating the motorcycles in its fleet by switching from Harley-Davidson bikes to Hondas.

Two of the faster, sportier Honda ST1300P motorcycles were purchased this month, with more to follow as the older bikes are phased out, according to the police department.

In addition to costing less, the Honda motorcycles also will be better for high-speed work, said Sgt. J.R. Franks , supervisor of the traffic safety unit in the police department's Special Operations Division . The Harley-Davidsons were better suited for low-speed, in-town types of enforcement, Franks said.

Franks said other law enforcement agencies that use the Honda motorcycle have spent as little as 50 cents per mile driven. Greensboro spends about $1.16 per mile to buy and maintain each Harley-Davidson motorcycle in its fleet.

The purchase price of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, including special police equipment and paying for the labor to install lights, sirens, radar and other police equipment is $25,360 . A similarly-equipped, police-edition Honda ST1300 is about $20,530 , according to the police department.

The city has purchased two Honda motorcycles as part of a trial to see if Greensboro police will find the Hondas as useful as the Harley-Davidsons and if the Hondas truly save the department money in maintenance, Franks said. In two to six months, the department will do a cost analysis on the new bikes and if the analysis finds savings, the other Harley-Davidsons will be replaced, Franks said.

The Greensboro Police Department uses motorcycles daily for traffic enforcement and also to escort parades and funerals.

The Harley Davidson motorcycles taken out of service will be sold at a regularly-scheduled city equipment auction. The next auction is scheduled for April 5 at 1201 Coliseum Blvd. , according to the city.

Contact Sonja Elmquist at 373-7090 or sonja.elmquist@news-record.com