History Of Harley Davidson Police Motorcycles

History Of Harley Davidson Police Motorcycles
The very first Harley-Davidson police motorcycle was delivered to the Detroit Police Department in 1908. Right from the beginning, police departments recognized the tactical advantage provided by these maneuverable motorcycles, along with Harley Davidson’s stellar reputation for reliability. Harley-Davidson has maintained the 100 plus year relationship with law enforcement as well as military agencies through innovation and technological excellence.
When the first Harley Davidson police motorcycle was sold, the United States was a much different place. There were only 144 miles of paved roads in the entire country so Harley’s off-road prowess was one of their main draws. They were also faster and handled better than the horse and the automobile. Those distinct advantages made the motorcycle a natural choice for patrolling the mostly rural United States.
The first police models were much like civilian bikes, but with different paint and markings. It would be a great many years before options like flashing lights and sirens would be possible. Still, they gave the police enough of an advantage that they were able to successfully perform their duties without the need of specialized equipment.
That changed in 1920 when the US entered the Prohibition Era. Bootleggers were able to buy the newest Harley Davidson bikes, a newer and faster model than the ones the police used. Automobile sales began to skyrocket in the 1920’s, with 13 million cars hitting U.S. roads by 1923, up 162,500 percent since the first Model T rolled out in 1908.