I bet you’d like to become a policeman just to ride these bikes
We took a look into the past and present Police Force motorcycle inventory, sort of speak and we found quite some interesting machines. The Police garage includes superbikes like S1000RR, Panigale V4 R or even hoverbikes. Here’s a list of Police motorcycles we believe nobody wants to see in their rear-view mirrors.
Honda Africa Twin
Back in 2017, the Redondo Beach Police Department received two Roland Sands-modified Honda Africa Twins.
The motorcycles featured the RSD team rigging. Other features include an Öhlins FFHO 101 fork, Dunlop D908 Rally Raid tires and the full police equipment like a custom police wiring harness, a locking AR-15 gun mount, AltRider crash bars with a custom PA system, laser/radar gun mounts, a SoundOff Signal Blueprint LED police lighting kit, and level IV rifle plate armour.
Ducati Panigale V4 R
In December 2019, the Abu Dhabi Police, United Arab Emirates added eight Ducati Panigale V4 R motorcycles to its fleet. The superbikes were painted in the White and Blue colour scheme and the fairings feature the Abu Dhabi Police badge.
The V4 R superbikes are equipped with the 998cc 90° V4 making 221 hp @ 15,250 rpm and 112 Nm of torque at 11,500 rpm. All this power is controlled by a Bosch 6-axis inertial platform and electronics such as:
- Riding Modes
- Power Modes
- Bosch Cornering ABS EVO
- Ducati Traction Control EVO 2 (DTC)
- Ducati Wheelie Control EVO, (DWC)
- Ducati Power Launch (DPL)
- Ducati Quick Shift up/down EVO (DQS)
- Ducati Slide Control (DSC)
- Engine Brake Control EVO (EBC)
The Ducati Panigale V4 R features a pressurized Öhlins NPX 25-30 forks with manual adjustment and an Öhlins TTX 36 rear shock with manual adjustment. The superbike is also fitted with an Öhlins steering damper with manual adjustment.
The braking system is provided by two 330mm semi-floating discs with radially mounted Brembo Monobloc Stylema four-piston callipers at the front. On the rear, the superbike is fitted with a 245mm disc with a two-piston calliper.
Other features include carbon fibre winglets inspired from the MotoGP GP16 bike, a dry clutch, Marchesini forged aluminium wheels and a dry weight of 172 kg, enough to offer power to weight ratio of 1,28.
The Abu Dhabi Police Department’s garage also includes exotic cars like Lykan HyperSport, Audi R8, Lamborghini Huracan, Nissan GT-R and Bugatti Veyron.
Ducati Panigale V4
In 2018, the UK BikeSafe project had a delivery of a Ducati Panigale V4 in police livery from Ducati UK.
The superbike features a 1,103cc 90-degree V4 engine making 214 hp @ 13,000 rpm and 124 Nm of torque @ 10,000 rpm.
Other features include an Öhlins NIX30 fork, with electronic compression and rebound damping, and manual preload adjustment. On the rear, the superbike is fitted with an Öhlins TTX36 shock, with electronic compression and rebound damping, and manual preload adjustment.
The braking system was fitted with Brembo Stylema monoblock callipers and two 330mm discs for the front. On the rear, it’s equipped with a Brembo two-piston calliper and a 220mm disc.
The UK BikeSafe project was designed to reduce the number of motorcycle crashes on British roads. The task was to improve riding skills with the help of track days on the Silverstone track. So, with the help of Ducati UK and Police-led motorcycle project, BikeSafe, the Ducati Panigale V4 Police superbike was used for track days. Also, the goal was to increase hazard awareness.
In the UK, every day there are 60 serious motorcycle-related road traffic accidents. So, the goal was for the UK Police to use their professional riders and with the help of BikeSafe to help riders acknowledge riding conditions and skills using track days training programs.
BMW S 1000 RR
Back in 2015, the Long Beach BMW Motorcycles dealership provided the Police Department in California with a 2015 BMW S 1000 RR Police Edition superbike in honour of the National Police Week.
The bike features a 999cc inline-four making 199 hp. It’s also fitted with a black fairing design, with blue and red LED flags, a euro siren while the license plate holder features the official police emblem. The handlebars have the Long Beach logo.
The S 1000 RR was tested at the Auto Club Speedway in Pomona, California and the Police Edition model of the superbike was for promotional use only.
The Long Beach Police Department is not the only law force that had these superbikes. In the past, on social media, some photos show a BMW S 1000 RR model from the Sussex Police in Brighton, UK. Most likely, the superbike was also used for promotional use.
MV Agusta Rivale 800
In 2014, the Milan Police Department received MV Agusta Rivale 800 police-spec motorcycles from the Varese manufacturer. The bikes were used by a special Police Department to take care of situations that required a fast response.
The Rivale 800 models were painted in the colours of the Italian Police. The motorcycles received additional blue flashlights for the front and the rear. Also, they were fitted with a Police siren.
The supermoto-style bikes are equipped with an inline-three 798cc engine making 125 hp @ 12,000 rpm and 84 Nm of torque @ 8,600 rpm. The MV Agusta Rivale 800 has a dry weight of 178 kg.
Other features include Marzocchi forks and a Sachs rear monoshock. Also, the bikes can reach a top speed of 245 kph (152 mph).
S3 Scorpion hoverbike
This year, the Police Force in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, wants to use the S3 Scorpion hoverbike. The electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) hoverbikes could help to reach hard-to-access areas.
The hoverbike is fitted with electric ducted fans and propellers, and a lithium manganese nickel battery to help the machine for liftoff and flight.
Equipped with a lithium manganese nickel battery, the S3 Scorpion can fly between 10 to 25 minutes. The altitude level is limited for safety reasons to five meters (16 feet) above the ground and the top speed to 96 kph (60 mph).
The S3 Scorpion hoverbike doesn’t come cheap. The price tag is €140,000 ($150,000).
Indonesian policeman using BMW R1200GSA and K1600GT