Even though its upper management is in turmoil, Harley-Davidson is still trying to bring good news for its enthusiasts. The latest one comes from the world of racing, where the Motor Company has joined hands with MotoGP. Yes, you will now see special 200-horsepower American baggers in the same paddock as your favorite MotoGP racers. Here’s what you need to know.
Harley-Davidson Has A New Global Racing Championship To Run Alongside MotoGP
Although known for its bulky, torque-loaded cruisers and tourers, Harley-Davidson has always had keen interest in racing. Earlier, it was all about dirt racing with the winningest American machine–the XR750–and in recent times, it has been all about bagger racing. So post its impressive run in MotoAmerica, H-D will now have a 6-round global championship in tandem with MotoGP.
While the exact calendar will come later, we do know there will be two races each round for a total of 12 races for the year. These will be at select European and North American tracks. While we don’t know the European tracks, the American round will happen at the Circuit Of The Americas, Texas (aka COTA). As for the participants, there will be six to eight teams, each with two riders.
Harley-Davidson CEO Jochen Zeitz said:
This is a bold new step for Harley-Davidson’s global racing ambitions. Harley-Davidson has been pioneering performance on and off the road since our beginnings over 120 years ago. Most recently, we’ve showcased performance through our racing at the MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers series and through performance-differentiated products such as our new CVO RR motorcycle and our CVO Road Glide ST. We’ve seen how performance has resonated with riders and fans, and we know that they’re keen for more.
Each Team Will Run Factory-Spec Harley-Davidson Road Glide Race Bikes
The weapon of choice for Harley-Davidson’s global racing championship is the factory-spec Road Glide race bike, identical to the King Of The Baggers race bike. This is essentially a souped-up CVO Road Glide, with an army of performance upgrades. Most notably, the engine is said to boast over 200 horsepower and 180 pound-feet while weighing under 620 pounds. For reference, the road-going CVO Road Glide ST bike has 127 horsepower and 145 pound-feet.
To make matters sweeter, you get other upgrades such as:
- Race-spec Ohlins suspension
- Racing wheels
- Carbon fiber bodywork (including saddlebags)
- Brembo GP4 brakes
- Full-system Screamin’ Eagle race exhaust and ECU
Harley-Davidson Road Glide Race Bike
|
Engine |
~2,150cc V-twin |
|
Power |
~200 HP |
|
Torque |
~180 LB-FT |
|
Transmission |
Six-speed |
|
Top speed |
~186 MPH |
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