Fire destroys Lake Oswego police motorcycle
LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. -- Investigators are trying to determine how a Lake Oswego police motorcycle caught fire on Sunday afternoon.
The fire started when a Lake Oswego police officer was on a traffic stop at the intersection of McVey Avenue and Laurel Street in Lake Oswego around noon on Sunday.
The officer heard a strange noise from his motorcycle. When he looked over to the bike, he saw flames coming from the front of it, according to Lake Oswego Deputy Fire Marshal Gert Zoutedijk.
The officer immediately grabbed the only two things he could from the bike -- the radar gun and saddle bags.
Lake Oswego firefighters arrived within two minutes of being alerted, but the bike was completely engulfed in flames.
Investigators have not determined an exact cause, but think the fuel in the gas tank contributed to the rapidly spreading flames.
"Investigators have not determined an exact cause, but think the fuel in the gas tank contributed to the rapidly spreading flames."
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These guys are good. I NEVER would have caught that.
 @RalphCramden lol, (*o*)
"Investigators have not determined an exact cause, but think the fuel in the gas tank contributed to the rapidly spreading flames."
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says Investigator O.So Obvious.
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Couldn't imagine how gasoline could make a fire worse..
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Ha ha...
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 @Caspertoo Probably an electrical issue.. ... Not a fan of motorcycle cops... sneaky.. Okay maybe I drive 5-6 miles over the speed limit.. ha!
That dog won't hunt.
Looks like a Beemer is no longer in working order. YIKES! Scary thought about this whole fire incident. Thank goodness the officer had great ears to hear the unusual sound that lead to this fire.Â
 @washcomom Not a Beemer, bike is a Honda ST1300PA.
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 @Woverine Gas tank looks wrong for a Honda ST1300. My husband owned one. Unless, they modified that totally and put their own on it.
 @Woverine @washcomom Oh... a Honda... so nothing of value was lost. *whistling*
 @washcomom ...also give credit to his eyes for not getting back on it.
 @str1ngb3nd3r Yep! And common sense!
Ghost Rider!
The rear wheel looks salvageable. Maybe they can make a unicycle for him?
 @Agent Sydney Bristow sassy... or was that saucy.. Sydney was/is hot!
"Â which resulted in the bike being deemed a total loss."
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calling it a "total loss"  is today's understatement  !Â
@bat54Â nah it'll make a hell of an anchor
 @bat54 No kidding! More like annihilation or obliteration!
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Glad he was not on it when that happened. I hope he did not give a ticket to the person he stopped. They saved him from having a burnt hotdog.
Dearly beloved, let us gather around and mourn the loss of this Police Unit, It has served well the Lake Oswego Police department it has saved them a great deal of gas as well...
Maybe it can be rebuilt, faster, better, make it into the 6 million dollar super police motorcycle with built in extenguisher to eliminate accidental fires, with Vulcan machine guns to eliminate "all threats" Super non Pucture Proof tires to boldly go over spike strips in case of human error, Let the Vulcan canons have laser sights, let the Thing talk, and drive its self. let the thing become all it can be, Bullet proof , Rocket grenade proof...
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Oh wait...never mind.. Police have a hard time keeping them selves in check with out the need for a rogue police bike going on a rampage.
Whoa...that is one "very deceased" motorcycle..!!! Â Â Glad no people were hurt; motorcycles can be replaced... Â
 @margay1 , I bet the engine still turns over.
I've got a feeling the officer is going to be on the hot seat over this one...
It needs a new seat.
Will this contribute to the nations bacon shortage?
Strange incident. What make was the motorcycle? Hope the officer was able to save his important papers. I wonder if the stopped traffic offender was let go with a warning.
@jpk Tom Collins is right. It's the police equipment upfit, not the motorcycle that started the fire. There's no motorcycle being sold in the USA that will spontaneously combust.  It's unheard of. Engineering is at least 20 years beyond that.Â
 @jpk that would be a good question as the same models owners might have as well.
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 @Tom dogboy Collins I'd have to agree with you.
 @lee986321  @Tom dogboy Collins Honda's are great bikes!
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 @DJK  @Tom dogboy Collins Aren't Hondas normally great bikes? I had a 55 untill my idiot brother left it out in the weather for it to get all mucked up.