From Factory to Patrol: Modding My 2023 Police Harley-Davidson

In this article, I’ll give you a detailed walkaround of my newly issued 2023 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide police bike. After getting it fully equipped with police-specific gear, it's now officially in service. I’ll walk you through how we, as a department, decided to set up our police motorcycles, highlighting some of the specialty equipment used. While some features come factory-ready from Harley-Davidson, many others are department-specific or added by third-party vendors. Let’s dive into the details.

Factory Equipment: What Comes Standard?

When you purchase the Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Police Edition, it’s essentially a regular civilian Electra Glide model with additional features designed for law enforcement. Here’s what comes out of the factory:

• Red and Blue Emergency Lights: These are integrated into the front of the bike and come pre-installed from Harley.
• Windshield Light Bar: Located behind the windshield, this light bar is factory-installed and can be seen along the dashboard area.
• Blocked Wind Buffeting Vent: Due to the installation of the light bar, the vent in the fairing gets partially blocked, but a small plate allows some airflow to come through.

Emergency Lights and Siren System

A key difference between police bikes and civilian models is the added emergency lighting and siren system:

• Emergency Light Controls: There's a dedicated red button on the right control cluster to activate front and rear lights.
• Siren System: The bike comes equipped with a siren on the crash bars has additional buttons on the left control cluster for controlling siren tones (like Yelp and Wail) as well as a public address (PA) system for giving commands through a helmet microphone.

Communication Systems

Police communication is essential, and here’s how we have our communication systems set up:

• Helmet Radio Integration: A Bluetooth system connects the helmet microphone to the onboard radio, allowing seamless communication with dispatch while riding.
• Siren PA and Radio Buttons: The PA system is activated with a red button on the left control cluster while a separate button allows for radio communication.

Custom Department Setup

Many features are customized based on our agency’s needs. Here are some notable modifications we’ve made:

• Stalker Radar System: We installed a radar system with front and rear antennas to monitor vehicle speeds. The radar display is mounted on the dashboard, and additional controls are mounted onto the handlebars.
• Windshield: I opted for a 12-inch Harley OEM windshield with a darker tint, providing good wind deflection without obstructing my view.

Law Abiding Biker™ Products

In addition to police-specific features, I’ve equipped my bike with several products donated from the Law Abiding Biker™ Store

• Biker Gripper Cell Phone Mount: The strongest, sleekest motorcycle cell phone mount available. It’s perfect for quick access, even in the most demanding environments. It’s tested on police courses and proven to hold phones securely, even when the bike is dropped.
• Ciro Cup Holder: For those long shifts or rides in hot weather, hydration is key. This cup holder ensures I always have my water or coffee within reach.
• Adjustable PSR Levers: These allow for customized grip and omfort and they are adjustable for ultimate feel and control.
• Armor Tail Light: This LED tail light, available from the Law Abiding Biker™ Store, is programmable with a smartphone app, offering various patterns to catch the attention of other motorists.
• Fang Signal Inserts: Replace stock halogen bulbs with these LED inserts for both front and rear signals, available in red or amber, depending on your preference.
• Ciro Filler Panel Lights: Fill those ugly voids in the rear of your bike with LED lighting. 
• More products mentioned in the video below

Why a tractor seat?

Tractor Seat: This seat is designed to provide a more aggressive riding position, perfect for police work. While it’s not ideal for long-distance touring, it’s excellent for quick maneuvers during daily activities. 

Mounting and Dismounting

One commonly asked question is about how we mount and dismount our bikes. Here’s why we do it the way we do:

• Mounting and Dismounting Technique: Instead of swinging a leg over the bike, police officers typically pull through the bike, getting off on and off the right side. This is for safety reasons, especially when stopped on the roadside to get out of traffic. If the kickstand isn’t properly down or the bike tips, it falls away from you rather than on you.

Emergency Lighting and Custom Lighting Options

One of the first things you'll notice on a police motorcycle is the advanced lighting system. Our recent build features LED emergency lighting on the trunk, rear, and front, all of which are highly customizable to fit your agency’s needs. When it comes to safety, visibility is key, especially when you're out on the road every day.

• Custom Trunk Lighting: Additional emergency lighting kit was installed on the trunk by the dealership to increase visibility.

Whether you're using the bike for patrols or emergency situations, having customizable lighting that can change patterns and colors is essential for ensuring you’re seen by other drivers.

Trunk Modifications for Storage and Technology

One of the biggest upgrades we made was replacing the smaller police trunk from older models with a standard-size Tour Pack. This larger trunk offers much more space for essential equipment and is easier to organize.

• Back Rest and Slider Rail: The larger trunk allowed us to install a backrest, offering comfort for longer rides. A slider rail was added, making the backrest adjustable depending on rider height and preference.
• Computer Docking Station: We added a custom-built computer dock inside the trunk, allowing the laptop to dock securely for use at traffic stops. The dock tilts, improving visibility and access to the laptop screen and keyboard.
• Printer and Scanner: A thermal printer and scanner were also integrated, allowing officers to print tickets or reports right from the bike.

We also worked with a local vendor to install a steel mounting plate to organize and secure the technology, including a modem for internet access, ensuring the bike is fully equipped for modern law enforcement duties.

Battery and Power Management

Due to the high power demands of the lighting, computer, and communication systems, an additional battery was installed in the trunk. The system is designed to charge both batteries, ensuring that the bike remains fully operational without draining the main battery.

• Dual Battery System: The additional battery is connected to the main battery, charging off the bike's system to ensure that all tech and lights function properly.

Saddlebag Storage Solutions From The Law Abiding Biker Store

Organization is crucial when you’re on the road all day, which is why we installed Lid Tether Pouches in the saddlebags. These pouches replace the factory tethers and add valuable storage space for keys, registration papers, charging cords, and other small items.

• Single and Double Pouch Saddlebag Lid Tether Replacement Options: Depending on your needs, we offer single or double pouches to maximize saddlebag storage space, keeping everything neat and easily accessible.

These modifications are available through the Law Abiding Biker™ Store, and they make a huge difference in keeping the bike organized and gear easy to access during your shift.

Communication and GPS Equipment

To stay connected with dispatch and other units, we equipped the bike with high-tech communication gear, including a Bluetooth helmet system that integrates with the motorcycle's radio system.

• Radio Antenna: A standard radio antenna connects to the communication system, ensuring reliable contact with dispatch.
• GPS Tracking Unit: The bike is equipped with a GPS unit to track its location, providing real-time updates to dispatch and allowing the rider to see the position of other units.

Engine Performance Upgrades

One of the most exciting aspects of this build was getting the green light for some performance upgrades. We installed a Stage One Kit, including a Screamin' Eagle high-flow intake and exhaust system, to improve airflow and enhance performance.

• Screamin' Eagle Intake and Exhaust: Although we used OEM Harley-Davidson parts, the upgrades significantly improved the bike's performance, making it sound better and increase power. 
• EFI Remapping and Tuning: After installing the intake and exhaust, we remapped the Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) using the Screamin' Eagle tuner. While not our first choice, it got the job done. In the future, we’d recommend the Vance & Hines Fuelpak 4 tuner, available in our store, for superior performance and ease of use.

Comfort and Safety Mods

Comfort is key, especially for officers spending long hours in the saddle. The addition of adjustable levers and an extended brake pedal greatly improved both comfort and safety.

• Adjustable Levers: The PSR Anthem Pro Adjustable Levers offer maximum customization, allowing you to find the perfect adjustment for both the clutch and brake.
• Extended Brake Pedal: This is one of the most important safety mods we made. The extended brake pedal is ergonomically designed, putting your foot in the ideal position for emergency braking, making it quicker and easier to stop when needed.

These upgrades ensure that officers can ride comfortably and react swiftly in high-stress situations, significantly improving rider safety.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Keeping your bike looking sharp and running smoothly is a top priority. We use two main products, available in the Law Abiding Biker™ Store, to keep our police fleet spotless:

• Bugslide: This waterless cleaner is perfect for everyday use. It cleans, polishes, and leaves a protective coating, making it easier to keep the bike clean.
• Bike Brite: For deeper cleans, especially after riding through rain or mud, Bike Brite Wet Wash melts away grime and dirt. Bike Brite products are ideal for cleaning and detailing the entire bike. 

Both of these cleaners are affordable and highly effective, keeping your bike looking like new without breaking the bank.

Conclusion

Every police department has its own setup for their motorcycles, but there are also many similarities nationwide.  The additions we’ve made help make our bikes more functional for daily use in law enforcement. I hope this walkaround has answered your questions.