The very first police motorcycle was used in 1908. Since then, police departments have phased out units on horseback in favor of units on horses of the iron variety. Police fleets often include dual-sports and other specialty scoots, but the bulk of police motorcycles are large fully-dressed tourers that are ideal for long hours in the saddle. Harley-Davidson was the first manufacturer to sell bikes to law-enforcement, and for decades the Milwaukee-based moco was the only make utilized by police. Eventually police agencies began branching out elsewhere, purchasing Japanese and European bikes for their respective officers to patrol on.
As police motorcycles get older, departments sell them off to make room for newer bikes in the fleet. There are plenty of positives and negatives when it comes to buying an ex-police motorcycle. Often these ex-police bikes will be relatively high-mileage due to their frequent and ample daily use. These same machines are however surprisingly well maintained and usually have a lot of life left in them. The majority of these bikes are decked out with add-ons too, and best of all, ex-police bikes are markedly cheaper than one would normally pay for a used model of the same bike. Even more so for newer models.
There are currently 16 different recently retired police motorcycles currently being sold by the same person in Canoga Park (Southern California). There are models ranging from 2000 to 2011, all with various mileage and add-ons. There is one Kawasaki and one Harley-Davidson, but the rest are all BMW’s and Honda’s. All 16 bikes are being sold for less than $5,000 (with the exception of the Harley), and each machine has a clean title and comes with a 1000 mile, 30-day warranty. The writer/star/producer of the recent CHiPs remake – who purchased several ex-police BMW’s for the film – told me he was shocked by how these machines with over 150k miles on them worked flawlessly the entire time they were filming, despite some of them being used for wheelies, stoppies, and other generally abusive riding.
Your options:
2007 BMW R1200 RTP – $3,950
VIN: Wb10388087zt11446
odometer: 66,500 (supposedly freeway) miles
This 1200cc BMW has a six-speed transmission, heated grips, heated seats, electric windshield, adjustable seat height, run flat tires, and water proof BMW speakers.
2000 Kawasaki KZ1000P – $2,500
VIN: Jkakzcp28yb518410
odometer: 56,000 miles
This ex-California Highway Patrol KZ1000 recently had its oil, air and fuel-filters changed and its carbs rebuilt. It also includes a rear passenger seat and foot-pegs. The seller says they have “over 150 of these Kawasaki KZ1000 police specials available on the lot from the years 1995-2005 which is the last year of the assembly line.”
2009 Honda ST1300 Police – $3,500
VIN: JH2SC51749K600263
odometer: 74,641 miles
This Honda has an adjustable wind-shield, ABS, heated-grips, adjustable, run flat tires, and LED police lights, though the seller will replace these with clear or amber lights for selling this bike to a civilian.
2009 Honda ST1300 Police – $3,995
VIN: JH2SC51739K600027
odometer: 115,000 miles
This Honda has an adjustable wind-shield, ABS, heated-grips, adjustable, run flat tires, and LED police lights, though the seller will replace these with clear or amber lights for selling this bike to a civilian.
2007 Harley Davidson Police Electra Glide – $6,995
VIN: 1hd1fmm127y684721
odometer: 50,000 miles
This 103ci six-speed ex-police Harley comes with ABS, air-suspension, oil-cooler, and center-stand. The chrome on the engine is reportedly spotless and this example is said to not have any leaks or mechanic issues.
2007 BMW R1200 RTP – $3,995
VIN: WB103880X7ZT11948
odometer: 70,801 miles
This 1200cc BMW has a six-speed transmission, heated grips, heated seats, electric windshield, adjustable seat height, run flat tires, and water proof BMW speakers.
2009 BMW R1200 RTP – $4,500
VIN: WB10388097ZT12105
odometer: 82,098 miles
This 1200cc BMW has a six-speed transmission, heated grips, heated seats, electric windshield, adjustable seat height, run flat tires, and water proof BMW speakers.
2007 BMW R1200 RTP – $3,995
VIN: WB10388077ZT11793
odometer: 58,614 miles
This 1200cc BMW has a six-speed transmission, heated grips, heated seats, electric windshield, adjustable seat height, run flat tires, and water proof BMW speakers.
2007 BMW R1200 RTP – $2,995
VIN: WB10388047ZT11749
odometer: 130,515 miles
This 1200cc BMW has a six-speed transmission, heated grips, heated seats, electric windshield, adjustable seat height, run flat tires, and water proof BMW speakers.
2005 Honda ST1300 Police – $3,500
VIN: JH2SC51795M300281
odometer: 82,130 miles
This Honda has an adjustable wind-shield, ABS, heated-grips, adjustable, run flat tires, and LED police lights, though the seller will replace these with clear or amber lights for selling this bike to a civilian.
2005 Honda ST1300 Police – $3,995
VIN: JH2SC51745M300009
odometer: 108,381 miles
This Honda has an adjustable wind-shield, ABS, heated-grips, adjustable, run flat tires, and LED police lights, though the seller will replace these with clear or amber lights for selling this bike to a civilian.
2011 Honda ST1300 Police – $4,500
VIN: JH2SC5174BK700191
odometer: 83,671 miles
This newer-model Honda has an adjustable wind-shield, ABS, heated-grips, adjustable, run flat tires, and LED police lights, though the seller will replace these with clear or amber lights for selling this bike to a civilian.
2007 BMW R1200 RTP – $4,500
VIN: Wb10388087zt11446
odometer: 66,500 (reportedly freeway) miles
This 1200cc BMW has a six-speed transmission, heated grips, heated seats, electric windshield, adjustable seat height, run flat tires, and water proof BMW speakers.
2004 BMW RT1150 RTP – $3,500
VIN: WB10499A94ZE94252
odometer: 11,637 miles
This low-mileage, older model 1200cc BMW has a six-speed transmission, heated grips, heated seats, electric windshield, adjustable seat height, run flat tires, and water proof BMW speakers.
2003 BMW RT1150 RTP – $1,995
VIN: WB10499A04ZE92728
odometer: 114,000 miles
This high-mileage, older model 1200cc BMW has a six-speed transmission, heated grips, heated seats, electric windshield, adjustable seat height, run flat tires, and water proof BMW speakers.
There is also a 2005 BMW F650 GS Police Edition currently for sale for $6,995 in the same region. This F650’s Rotax single has only 6,838-miles on its odo, and it is decked out with heated-grips, ABS, skid-plate, crash-bars, chain-guard, mud-guards, center-stand, front light-bar and full police lights. It also had its oil and filter changed less than 1,000-miles ago, as well as having its brakes and chain serviced, and undergoing a full inspection which it seemingly passed.