Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Windhoek City Police’s traffic department recently acquired dual-purpose KTM 890 Adventure motorcycles.
Superintendent Simon Petersen says training officers to ride these bikes was necessary because he will soon retire, and those left behind must be able to handle a motorcycle and in turn train their colleagues to do the same.
“It is easier to handle a motorbike in heavy traffic, especially in the central business district (CBD) as traffic is often bumper to bumper and it is easier to contain traffic-related offences in the CBD,” Petersen says.
He says the KTMs will ensure the mobility of officers as they often have to withdraw from an incident once they encounter gravel roads.
The bikes are designed and built for all road conditions, Petersen says.
The training involves both theoretical and practical sessions hosted by Shane Levy from KTM Namibia.
A theoretical session hosted at the Tony Rust Race Track outside Windhoek was to explain to the involved traffic officers what to expect when riding a motorbike in different conditions when carrying out their duties.
The officers were also taught various manoeuvres on their motorbikes, ranging from slow riding to balancing on two wheels, high-speed riding and applying brakes to avoid incidents.
They were also taught how to pick up their bikes and how to get back on to carry on with their duties in case they fall.
Levy says as bikes only have two wheels and staying upright therefore depends on the rider’s skills.
He describes the KTM bike as an intermediate bike due to its dual purpose of being an adventure and street bike at the same time.
The bicycles are said to be relatively light too.
Superintendent Simon Petersen says training officers to ride these bikes was necessary because he will soon retire, and those left behind must be able to handle a motorcycle and in turn train their colleagues to do the same.
“It is easier to handle a motorbike in heavy traffic, especially in the central business district (CBD) as traffic is often bumper to bumper and it is easier to contain traffic-related offences in the CBD,” Petersen says.
He says the KTMs will ensure the mobility of officers as they often have to withdraw from an incident once they encounter gravel roads.
The bikes are designed and built for all road conditions, Petersen says.
The training involves both theoretical and practical sessions hosted by Shane Levy from KTM Namibia.
A theoretical session hosted at the Tony Rust Race Track outside Windhoek was to explain to the involved traffic officers what to expect when riding a motorbike in different conditions when carrying out their duties.
The officers were also taught various manoeuvres on their motorbikes, ranging from slow riding to balancing on two wheels, high-speed riding and applying brakes to avoid incidents.
They were also taught how to pick up their bikes and how to get back on to carry on with their duties in case they fall.
Levy says as bikes only have two wheels and staying upright therefore depends on the rider’s skills.
He describes the KTM bike as an intermediate bike due to its dual purpose of being an adventure and street bike at the same time.
The bicycles are said to be relatively light too.
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