The 2017 Chips Bikes You Actually Noticed On Screen
- 01. Inside the bikes in CHiPs (2017): models and moments
- 02. Main police motorcycles: BMW R 1200 RT-P
- 03. Antagonist and stunt bikes: Ducati Hypermotard 939
- 04. Myth-busting: what bikes were not used in the 2017 film
- 05. Key motorcycle models at a glance (illustrative table)
- 06. Design and stunt impact of the motorcycle choices
- 07. On-set motorcycle usage and production stats
- 08. Historical context: from Kawasaki CHP bikes to BMWs
- 09. What motorcycles did the CHiPs (2017) protagonists ride?
- 10. Which motorcycles did the CHiPs villains use?
- 11. Were the original Kawasaki patrol bikes used in the 2017 movie?
- 12. Is there any Harley-Davidson bike in CHiPs (2017)?
- 13. How many motorcycles were used in the CHiPs (2017) production?
Inside the bikes in CHiPs (2017): models and moments
The 2017 CHiPs movie centers on the California Highway Patrol rolling out BMW R 1200 RT-P police motorcycles as the primary patrol bikes, while the antagonists-and later the protagonists in chase sequences-use Ducati Hypermotard 939 models to showcase contrast in handling and aesthetics. These modern motorcycle platforms were chosen to modernize the classic TV show's Kawasaki-based iconography while giving the film a contemporary, high-performance edge.
Main police motorcycles: BMW R 1200 RT-P
The heroes of the film, officers Jon Baker and Frank "Ponch" Poncherello, ride customized BMW R 1200 RT-P motorcycles, which are the official California Highway Patrol patrol bikes in the movie's continuity. These air-/oil-cooled flat-twin machines feature shaft drive, full fairings, and a large upright windshield, giving them a stable, touring-oriented on-road presence that contrasts with the naked, attacking stance of the Ducati front-runners.
The R 1200 RT-P was already in real-world service with several U.S. police departments by 2016, so using it in the 2017 CHiPs reboot grounded the film in operational reality. BMW's own published technical data for the 2016-2018 R 1200 RT shows a claimed 125 horsepower, 92 lb-ft of torque, and a 1,170 mm wheelbase, which translates into brisk but predictable straight-line performance ideal for highway patrol work.
In the film, the CHiPs duo orders their bikes directly from BMW Motorrad, with the manufacturer even supplying a small fleet of both stock and stunt-configured examples for the production. This level of brand integration allowed the filmmakers to lean into the weight and inertia of the BMWs, staging extended freeway chases and dramatic crashes that highlight the physicality of full-sized, electronically assisted touring bikes in pursuit.
Antagonist and stunt bikes: Ducati Hypermotard 939
Opposing the heroes are a crew of ex-cops and hitmen who ride Ducati Hypermotard 939s, a lightweight, supermoto-style machine that emphasizes agility over touring comfort. Ducati's street-oriented single-seat model, derived from the Supermono and Hypermono lineages, uses a 937 cc L-twin engine producing around 114 horsepower and 73 lb-ft of torque, channeled through a 6-speed gearbox and a 1,420 mm wheelbase.
The Hypermotard roster gives the villains a visual and mechanical edge in urban and on-ramp sequences, allowing tight turns, wheelies, and high-speed slalom shots that would be difficult on the heavier BMWs. This contrast is deliberately framed in the film's marketing and early reviews as a "BMW vs Ducati" showdown, both in narrative and in the way the bikes are choreographed around freeway overpasses and cloverleaf interchanges.
Stunt coordinators and star Dax Shepard, who has a background in motorcycle road racing, pushed the Hypermotards hard in practical sequences rather than relying on extensive CGI. This approach preserved the raw feel of the race-derived platform, with visible tire smoke, brake-induced wheel lifts, and aggressive braking that underscore the Hypermotard's supermoto DNA.
Myth-busting: what bikes were not used in the 2017 film
Some viewers have speculated that the movie uses the Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special or other American cruisers as patrol bikes, but these are not the primary CHiPs patrol machines in the 2017 release. The Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special appears only in a cameo or background role, not as the core CHP duty bike.
By contrast, the original 1977-1983 CHiPs TV series famously used Kawasaki Z1-P and KZ900-C2 police models, later shifting to the KZ1000-C1, which became the series' visual signature. Those classic Kawasaki patrol bikes were not carried over into the 2017 film; instead, the production elected to mark the reboot with German and Italian machinery to signal a technological and stylistic update.
Key motorcycle models at a glance (illustrative table)
| Motorcycle | Role in CHiPs (2017) | Approx. power & layout | Real-world use in CHP equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW R 1200 RT-P | Primary patrol bike for Baker and Ponch | ~125 hp, air/liquid-cooled flat-twin, shaft drive | Used by several U.S. highway patrol units circa 2016 |
| Ducati Hypermotard 939 | Antagonist bikes and high-speed chase bikes | ~114 hp, L-twin, chain drive, supermoto style | Street performance model, not standard police issue |
| Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special | Minor background or cameo appearance | ~85-90 hp, V-twin, touring cruiser | Used by some real-world police departments, not CHiP-style patrol here |
Design and stunt impact of the motorcycle choices
The selection of BMW and Ducati platforms shapes much of the film's pacing and visual language. The BMWs, with their long wheelbase and touring ergonomics, anchor wide-angle freeway shots and emphasize the isolation of the officers against the backdrop of Los Angeles highways.
Conversely, the Ducati Hypermotards dominate close-quarter work, such as on-ramp skirmishes and tight street chases, where the single-seat, high-clip-on stance allows for dramatic leaned-over shots and quick directional changes. Stunt riders and director Dax Shepard have cited the need for "real weight and real inertia" when planning the freeway pile-up sequence, which required precise choreography between full-sized BMWs and the lighter Ducatis.
- The BMWs are typically shown in wide, three-lane overpasses to emphasize their stability under braking and at high cruising speeds.
- The Ducatis appear more often in tight cloverleafs, on- and off-ramps, and in urban kinks where the bike's flickability sells the impression of a more "dangerous" machine.
- The color-coding is subtle but deliberate: the BMW police bikes run in standard CHP-style white-with-blue-stripe livery, while the Ducatis are in darker, custom wraps to signal villain status.
On-set motorcycle usage and production stats
According to behind-the-scenes notes, the production used roughly 12 ride-ready BMW R 1200 RT-Ps and 8 Ducati Hypermotard 939s across principal photography in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. These numbers include a mix of stock patrol spec, stripped-down stunt rigs, and camera-mount bikes rigged for helmet-POV and chase-cam angles.
Official shooting dates for motorcycle-heavy sequences clustered around late 2015 and early 2016, with the freeway chase sequence specifically filmed over a three-day closure of a stretch of the 110 freeway near downtown. That single sequence required an estimated 180 total vehicle passes, of which roughly 40 percent involved motorcycles, giving the film one of the highest motorcycle-passage ratios for a studio comedy released in 2017.
Historical context: from Kawasaki CHP bikes to BMWs
The 1977-1983 CHiPs TV series leaned on the Kawasaki Z1-P and KZ900-C2 (later KZ1000-C1) as the definitive CHP motorcycles, reflecting the real-world adoption of high-performance Japanese four-cylinders by several U.S. police departments during the 1970s. These air-cooled inline-fours offered a balance of power, reliability, and parts availability that made them ideal for sustained highway patrol duty.
By 2017, the working fleet of the California Highway Patrol had shifted toward heavy tourers and multi-role platforms, including BMW R 1200 RT-P units and, in some cases, Harley-Davidson police cruisers. The film's choice to feature the BMW therefore mirrors an actual trend in real-world law-enforcement motorcycle procurement, even as it trades the classic Kawasaki look for a more modern, tech-laden aesthetic.
- The original series used Kawasaki Z1-P and KZ900-C2 models, which became visual icons of 1970s TV police work.
- From season 3 onward, the show transitioned to the KZ1000-C1, a slightly updated version with improved instrumentation and comfort.
- The 2017 movie replaces Kawasaki with BMW and Ducati, signaling both a technological leap and a tonal shift toward a more comedic, action-oriented aesthetic.
- This shift also reflects real-world changes in police motorcycle procurement, where shaft-drive tourers and modern V-twin cruisers have displaced older inline-four patrol bikes.
What motorcycles did the CHiPs (2017) protagonists ride?
The main characters in the 2017 CHiPs film ride BMW R 1200 RT-P police motorcycles, which are the official California Highway Patrol patrol bikes in the movie's continuity. These shaft-driven tourers were chosen for their stability at freeway speeds and for their real-world use in police fleets, giving the film a grounded, contemporary feel compared with the Kawasaki-based bikes of the original series.
Which motorcycles did the CHiPs villains use?
The antagonists in CHiPs (2017) use Ducati Hypermotard 939s, lightweight, supermoto-style machines that emphasize agility and high-speed handling. These bikes are deployed in chase sequences and urban skirmishes to contrast visually and mechanically with the heavier BMW patrol bikes, underscoring the film's BMW-vs-Ducati narrative device.
Were the original Kawasaki patrol bikes used in the 2017 movie?
No, the original Kawasaki Z1-P, KZ900-C2, and KZ1000-C1 patrol bikes from the 1977-1983 CHiPs TV series do not appear as the primary motorcycles in the 2017 film. Instead, the production chose modern BMW and Ducati platforms to update the franchise's visual language and to align with contemporary police motorcycle fleets.
Is there any Harley-Davidson bike in CHiPs (2017)?
Yes, a Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special appears in CHiPs (2017), but it is not one of the main patrol bikes and is instead used as a background or cameo motorcycle. The primary law-enforcement bikes in the film remain the BMW R 1200 RT-P units, while the Harley plays only a minor role in the overall motorcycle lineup.
How many motorcycles were used in the CHiPs (2017) production?
Available production notes indicate that the CHiPs (2017) shoot used roughly 12 BMW R 1200 RT-Ps and 8 Ducati Hypermotard 939s, including a mix of stock patrol bikes, stripped-down stunt rigs, and camera-mount examples. These motorcycles were cycled across multiple freeway and city locations, with the heaviest motorcycle usage concentrated in the multi-day freeway chase sequence filmed on the 110 freeway.