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Mark Hinchliffe·
Tips/trainingTips on laws
··10 Comments·1 min read

Police patrol with unmarked Hayabusa

Queensland Police Service unmarked Suzuki Hayabusa patrol bike - Ducati Panigale V4 busa covert
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You won’t know you’ve been caught by this Queensland Police Suzuki Hayabusa unmarked patrol bike until it’s too late.

It’s one of four unmarked police bikes. There are also two BMW R 1200 RS models, one blue and silver and the other black and grey. The fourth bike is allegedly a dark blue Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R.

Rider Sergeant Dave Nelson says he can scan a motorist’s speed up to 1km away.

“So I can see you before you see me and by the time you realise that I’m not just a normal motorcycle, but a police motorcyclist, it’s too late,” he says. 

Police say that in the past two months, the bike has not only caught speeding motorists, but also a lot of drivers texting and not wearing seat belts.

The bike also has cameras fitted to collect evidence.

The police certainly have an eye for a high-speed patrol vehicle.

Still a great bang-for-your-buck bargain at $19.290 (+ORC), the Hayabusa looks fast just standing still.

But the figures tell the full story: The Hayabusa is powered by a 1340cc, four-cylinder engine with 145kW of power @ 9500rpm and 155Nm of torque at 7200rpm which helps propel it to 100km/h from standstill in under three seconds with a governed top speed of 300km/h.

We wonder whether the police have de-restricted it, although we’re not sure why they would need to!

The bike is one of two unmarked patrols, according to a QPS spokesperson. The other is a former marked police bike, but the spokesperson said information about the model was not readily available.

It’s believed to be either a BMW R 1200 RT or Yamaha FJR 1300.

Queensland police
Queensland Police on a variety of marked bikes

Here is the QPS reply to our queries about the bike:

The QPS uses unmarked motorcycles as both an operational resource and to engage with motorcycle riders to discuss and promote road safety. Police regularly partner with the Department of Transport and Main Roads and RACQ to visit locations frequented by motorcyclists to promote road safety. It is intended that this approach will continue in the future.  Across Queensland, motorcycle safety is an important issue, with motorcyclists and pillion passengers accounting for a disproportionate number of serious injuries and fatalities. The QPS intends to expand the number of unmarked motorcycles in its fleet with a view of targeting road users doing the wrong thing and promoting road safety. The QPS is committed to enforcing road safety and often explores innovative ways of doing so.

So, we can expect to see more of these unmarked bikes in future – but not until it’s too late!

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Mark Hinchliffe
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10 Comments

  1. And so, the irrational obsession with speed control continues, increasing the frequency of road accidents and contributing to congestion. We now spend a lot of time checking our speedometers to make sure we aren’t a little over the limit, and checking our mirrors to make sure there is nobody too close behind us. It is distracting and makes us become tense and frustrated. Distracted, tense and frustrated drivers/riders make bad decisions, and bad decisions are the cause of most road accidents. Motorcyclists are particularly badly affected by this because in the past we used the performance and manoeuvrability of our bikes to get out of, and keep out of, potentially dangerous situations. It is time the authorities get real. Unfortunately, envy makes people behave irrationally. Those who don’t ride motorcycles don’t like it that our vehicles have some advantages over theirs. The authorities should have a look at what is happening in other countries, because what is happening here is just plain silly.

    1. 100% spot on. The best way to prove this is to ride past a sign saying; ‘Northern Territory’, and feel the sudden relief as you no longer have to constantly speedo-gaze. Its not about going faster, its about focussing on safety, like looking for errant animals and not patrol cars.

  2. Although speed was mentioned straight out of the box believe it or not for a change its not the primary purpose of this bike. It’s all the stuff that the cop needs to see up close and personal like texting and driving. In fact unless it’s quota day the officer riding this bike will probably not notice the minor speed infractions most people commit .
    The Hayabusa was commissioned a bit prior to Xmas it replaced a Kawasaki I think, so it was not the first unmarked bike and probably not the only one in use.

  3. Victorian Police already have plenty of unmarked bikes, including this one I snapped in early 2016. The officer was enjoying the harbour views at Docklands while having a lunch.

    Photo 1 of 3.

  5. Is that a camera or a bluetooth attached to the right side of his helmet? Whatever it is i hope it’s legal.

  6. Anyone can go to an electronic store and buy the lights and markings used on cop cars. This is the reason why cop cars must be plainly marked. If you are not under arrest you can legally do a runner on such a “false” cop cycle. This is entrapment at its legal best and bike riders must not fall for this. The qld police especially now perpetrate a police state. It will be a long time before I visit a place remarkable similar to North korea.

  8. I was stopped by this fella today. One of the nicest cops I’ve met. He was truly there to promote road safety. He could’ve made my day really horrible but instead I was able to continue riding.

    Keep up the good work sir and thanks for my reminder.

  9. I got pulled over by the BMW r1200 cop was an absolute jerk saying it’s up to my boss to give you a notice in the mail or not just scare taktics. He’s always around Ferny hills nebo/Glorious

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