Western Australian police say they have thwarted attempts by motorcycle clubs to engage in criminal activity.

Dozens of police officers in Perth have been trailing members of the Finks and Coffin Cheaters bikie gangs around the clock since Friday.

The Finks held their national run in Perth over the weekend.

Police have admitted that tens of thousands of dollars and hundreds of man hours have been spent on the operation in which no arrests were made or charges laid.

Assistant Police Commissioner Nick Anticich says the operation has not been a waste of resources.

"You've only got to do a bit of research to understand what these people do and get up to in terms of committing serious crimes, he said.

A spokesman for the Finks had earlier labelled the operation overkill and a waste of taxpayer money, but police maintain the scrutiny helped avert trouble.