7 Historical Facts About Harley-Davidson Police Motorcycles

1. The Early Days

When the police first got their hands on Harley-Davidson motorcycles for law enforcement service, they really made no changes from the model made for civilians. Mechanically the bikes were the same, but aesthetically they bore the paint jobs and markings of their respective law enforcement agencies. Harley was one of the few makers producing vehicles that could be relied upon to be durable and dependable when used all day every day. These early motorcycles didn't have the lights and sirens that many equate with an emergency vehicle today, but they did their jobs more than adequately, and grew to be respected as well as feared by law breakers.

2. Punishing Prohibition

At the time of prohibition (1920-1933), law enforcement had their hands full trying to catch bootleggers in hopped up cars running illegal hooch all over the country, and across the border from Canada. Many police forces were outmatched on their stock 61 cubic inch model J bikes by hopped up cars like the Ford V8. Even officers on the 74 cubic inch model JD Harley-Davidson, sometimes had a hard time catching bootleggers on modified Harley JDs of their own, rubbing salt in the wound!

3. Weathering the Depression

By the time of the stock market crash of 1929, Harley-Davidson had nearly cornered the market for police motorcycles and stood up for national traffic safety campaigns. By the closing of the 1920's, more than 3,000 police departments and government agencies were using Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Motorcycle police were most effective in traffic enforcement as the number of cars on the road increased and speed limits hardly existed. Bikes were more maneuverable and could more easily travel to places cars would get stuck in order to pursue or assist motorists. The three-wheel Servi-Car, with a large cargo box on the back big enough for the bulky police radios of the day, bowed in 1931 for traffic control and parking enforcement duties and stayed around with few changes for the next 41 years of service. 

4. Fabulous 50's

After the war, in the 1950's, hot rodding was in full effect, and street racing was a common occurrence. The iconic image of the motorcycle policeman sitting behind a roadside sign waiting for speedsters was born, as the stock police cars of the day were no match for a souped up jalopy. Many departments across the country created motorcycle squads to attempt to enforce speed limits and reduce the number of fatal motoring accidents that were on the rise. During this time, Indian also faded away, making Harley-Davidson the sole US motorcycle manufacturer and the bike of choice for most police departments across the country. A Panhead equipped 74 cubic inch police bike was still one of the faster vehicles on the road.

5. Choppers

What does law enforcement have to do with the choppers from Easy Rider? The bikes in the movie, and many other choppers and outlaw bikes in the 1960's, started out as beat up and worn out ex-police force Harley-Davidson Hydra Glides. The best place to get a low cost Harley-Davidson was at auctions of used city and county equipment. According to various sources, the Easy Rider bikes were 1949-52 74 cubic inch bikes, bought at auction for just $500 each.

6. Foreign Competition

As the 1960's stopped swinging, Harley faced increasing competition from bikes like the Honda CB750 Police, Moto Guzzi Eldorado Police, and others. The most successful challenger was the Kawasaki 900/1000 police bikes, as seen on hundreds of CHiPs reruns, which was even assembled in the USA. Still, Harley soldiered on with tough dependable bikes, that many motor cops preferred for their low speed maneuverability and all day comfort, even though they were slower and less adapt at high speed pursuit.

7. The Present

Harleys are still the most popular motorcycle being used by police departments across the entire United States, and now are armed with all the modern tech to deal with modern problems. Radios, GPS, flashing lights, sirens, great brakes, comfortable saddles, saddlebags that only require one hand to open, and powerful engines to keep up with contemporary traffic. Motorcycles are the ideal choice for an officer in a dense area not just for the quickness but also its maneuverability that lets a patrolman take an unconventional route if need be. 

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