8 Versys 650s will be LTO’s official patrol bikes
In the past few years, we are unlikely to see an officer from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) riding a ‘hagad’ – a Filipino colloquial term for patrol motorcycles used by law enforcers. Hagad means pursuer or chaser, as in chasing a traffic offender or a criminal who’s running from officers of the law.
Usually, LTO law enforcers are on a Mitsubishi Adventure AUV or on a Mitsubishi Strada pick up. Now, we will see LTO personnel from the Law Enforcement Service (LES) riding their big bikes to uphold the law.
Yesterday, 8 motorcycles from the ongoing procurement initiative under the leadership of LTO Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza II has arrived. These are Kawasaki Versys 650 motorcycles that are modified with sirens, blinkers, crash guards and panniers for patrol use.
These new units are set to significantly enhance the agency’s capacity to address road safety concerns, enforce traffic regulations, and improve overall field responsiveness, further strengthening the LTO’s commitment to providing efficient and effective service to the public.
Capable hagad
For those who are not familiar, a Kawasaki Versys 650 is a robust and capable middleweight sport tourer, churning out 70 ps of power and 61 nm of torque from its parallel twin engine. The Versys 650 has a top speed of about 190 kilometers per hour in its stock form.
