What model motorcycle do cops prefer to ride on duty?

The motorcycle cops where I live ride either Suzuki dirtbikes or Harley.I remember when I was young they used to ride Harley and Moto Guzzi. Then went to Kawasaki. Now back to Harley. Whats next, the Hayabusa?

It really depend on which side of the pond you live.In UK, I think most Police riders prefer the Pan European although some still like the BMW'R'and'K'series bikes in common with many Police Forces around the world. I did hear from a friend over there that a South Korean Cop was seen on a Harley!I have an old (1979) BMW R80 Police Bike and it still does the job. Lots of weather protection for the really crappy British weather and an almost bulletproof engine that just keeps chugging along.I think sometimes the people who choose the police bikes ( on either side of the pond) are more concerned with getting the best deal than getting the right bikes for the job.I always stop and have a good look round a parked police bike, whatever the badge. They have some kind of boyish attraction I guess.

The forest patrol used to chase us through the woods on Jawa CZs.Of course they never caught us LOL

The coppers in my burg ride Road Kings. Same with the cops in Cleveland. I seen a county sheriff on an Electraglide.

In Glendale California they prefer Harleys.

For U.S. police departments that purchase motorcycles, they are pretty much limited to brands that make a police bike and offer it for sale here. The choices are limited to Harley-Davidson (Road King&Electra Glide), Honda (ST1300), and BMW (1150RT). The old"CHiPs"Kawasaki KZ1000 is no longer made as of 2005, though you may still find the last few years of the model being used by departments.Officers that purchase their own to use on-duty (I am included in this category) generally prefer Harley-Davidsons. The reasons for this varies from tradition to cost factor and ease of hooking up all the lights and emergency equipment.The BMW is the most expensive to purchase (neighborhood of $18,000). Honda ST1300 is next (about $15,000), and Harley-Davidson generally the least expensive for officers ($14,000-$15,000 range depending on model and options)For many officers (and a few cities) that value comfort over anything else, they buy a Honda GoldWing and convert it for police use. I have also seen Kawaski Nomads and Suzuki Boulevard C90's converted to police bikes, but these are much more rare.You mentioned the Hayabusa. There is a state agency that sent officers through a special course and used the'Busa for highway patrol speed enforcement.

sorry to say, that like any other"business"law enforcement gets stuck with whatever brand of bike gets in at the lowest bid. Harley used to undercut the bids, losing money on police bikes just to get them out there, knowing that they would make money on service and parts. Now a days, with profit being the driving factor, it's just a matter of who is the lowest bid to provide the bikes. Harley has cornered the yuppie market, so why lose bucks selling for less money to the cops?

Randy C is on the right track. Don't know if they still do it, but HD for a long time would lease police bikes to some departments for as little as one dollar/year. I have a friend who rode a BMW until his department got a deal they couldn't refuse from HD. He rides it because he has to but would PREFER the Beemer.