2003 Raleigh F500 Police Patrol / Mountain Bike Photos
 

I figure that putting together a permanent page on my website might be a good way for people who might be interested to find/view photos of this bike (2003 Raleigh F500 Police Edition Patrol Bike). I know I had a pretty tough time finding good photos of the Raleigh F500 when I was first looking into the bike and considering buying a used one. I'll attach one image in this message, but there are a couple of dozen more on a dedicated page on my website (as linked here for anyone who might be interested).

http://www.ruscelli.com/biking_raleigh_f500.htm

Here's one for starters (the others will be out there for posterity sake, in case someone in a future generation wonders what the heck a Raleigh F500 Police Edition Patrol Bike was . . . :) ):

Unfortunately, mine doesn't have the "Police" decal on the side. :(

http://www.ruscelli.com/images/Biking/070815-004a.JPG

I've been wondering since at least 2004. Thanks for clarifying.

Speaking of obsessions...

The cops around here are a little more 'core:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...2/DSC03437.jpg

You're welcome, junkyard.

Yeah, I did quite a bit of searching for a couple of evenings trying to find more on the F500, but there wasn't much to be found other than some scattered references and a couple of reviews. (At least, not much that I could find quickly and easily via Google.) And it doesn't help that Cannondale has an F500 as well... ;)

And yeah...if you actually posted a question about it here back in 2004 I probably ended up reading the thread as part of my research. But even here the F500 never seems to have been mentioned much.

I finally found out that the F500 and the M80 are pretty similar (somewhat equivalent?), but I think the components of the F500 are perhaps a bit more robust in general than those of the M80 (seems that way, in any case -- but again I'm working with limited knowledge of both, so I don't know for sure).

So, where's his shotgun scabbard w/quick release, hmmmm? :p

Do the cops not worry about endcaps because of the bullet proof vests? Or is it just another sign of their hardcoredness?

Hardcore to the maxxx. Lock on grips combined with thick walled dh bars preclude the chance of a core sample anyway.

Here's his hardtail:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...DSC02506-1.jpg

and an action shot:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/53881de3.jpg

Cool stuff, gastro.

(Note to Self: Never run from the hardcore action bike cops in gastro's neck of the woods.)

Oh no the Po-Lice! HIDE!

I like the chainstay protector on the P-2, It's definately not that of a Poughsieur

What happens when you ride off the trail or on a trail marked not for bikes.

Heh, it's great riding street with him - security guards and campus police tend to deflate when he flashes his badge.

Is the only real difference between that Raleigh police model and a standard Raleigh hardtail the fact that it's white?

Also is that a cut-up tire wrapped around the P2's chainstay? What does it do? I assume it keeps the chain from scratching the frame, but I couldn't think of an instance that it would be possible.

Sorry for the noob questions.

It's so your chain doesnt chip and scratch the frame. It also reduces noise.

On the colors, as far as I know this model was available in white or black ("Brite White" or "Stealth Black").

As to other differences, I don't know if there really are any other than what I think is the individual police department's ability to perhaps special order the bikes with certain specific components that might not be seen in that same combination with a more . . . "off the shelf" bike. (At least, that's the impression I have of how they're handled or how they might be handled. And I could be wrong about that. Maybe each year's model is what it is and that's that...)

It seems like the philosophy behind the police bikes is to make a bike that provides a strong and reasonably priced balance of durability, options, and usability under the conditions that most bike patrol officers might use them. Some of the options might even vary depending on the geographic location and needs specific to various locations (tires, for instance).

The only other difference I see is the tear gas launcher that's built in to the handlebar extensions -- that just doesn't seem at all "stock" to me. :eek:

But I do have an out-of-control gang of 6-year-olds on my block that I'm anxious to try that out on (for research purposes only).

:p

This all reminds me of that one kid that posted the 'night rider' video... He rode a huffy 'police bike'... it was unfortunatly retired from the police force because the bike simply went too fast and officers kept getting hurt from the insane speeds, according to night rider.

chasing some thugs downhill I see

Wow, that guy is like half man half animal.

and a quarter police

What do you mean unfortunatley? Dude, you could totally go narc with that bike then.

Bust them local kids smokin cheeb on the trail

They would probably 'make you' pretty easily though. the reflectors, 2 foot long bar ends, riser stem and XL dork disc all reek of 'Narc'

I was thinking more in terms of theft deterrent. Who'd steal a bike with "POLICE" on the side? ;)

Well, OK, maybe there are a few who would... :p

Yeah, I could do the Alec Baldwin Miami Blues thing... except for the parts about stealing a detective's dentures or getting my fingers chopped off in a pawn shop. :eek:

necro-post!

I live in Bellevue, and the police here all ride around on Epic Experts. I'm jealous.

... is it really that wrong to steal from the police?

Jeez! Nice place to be a police officer... ;)

Our cops are lazy, they ride bmw motorcycles.