No doubt about it, something is definitely going on inside the Motor Company and I like it. Take a look at this new liquid cooled flat tracker, the XG750R. That is just a great looking bike! No excuse necessary, if appearance alone won races, this would be on the podium right now. I love it.
Of course, it's a brand new bike and it takes a lot more than looks to win, but it seems Harley is investing their resources with the intent of attracting younger customers to the Harley Davidson brand. Put something like this out an a dirt track and get the young guys fired up. The engine is a modified version of the 750cc Revolution X™ V-Twin engine designed for the Harley-Davidson Street® 750. Vance & Hines put this machine together so we're likely looking at a bike that will evolve into a winner.
If the introduction of the Roadster wasn't enough to make you think there's some fresh thinking inside Harley, this should be enough to convince you. Maybe some engineers went rogue, maybe they retired some managers, I don't know what happened, but the Motor Company is showing signs of life. Whatever it is, they need to keep it up.
Press release follows:
NEXT GENERATION, LIQUID-COOLED HARLEY-DAVIDSON XG750R FLAT TRACKER BREAKS COVER AT AMA PRO SPRINGFIELD MILE
MILWAUKEE (May 26, 2016) – A new-generation Harley-Davidson® flat-track motorcycle is ready to race. The Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® Factory Team is unleashing the XG750R, its first all-new flat track race bike in 44 years, to battle in fierce, adrenaline-filled competition on dirt ovals across the U.S. The XG750R will make its official competition debut Sunday, May 29, at the AMA Pro Flat Track Springfield Mile in Illinois.
Powered by the fuel-injected, liquid-cooled Harley-Davidson Revolution X™ V-Twin engine, the XG750R will be raced by Factory Team rider Davis Fisher on the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines flat track series. The new XG750R motorcycle is strictly for race competition and will not be offered for sale at this time.
The new flat tracker is powered by the 750cc Revolution X™ V-Twin engine designed for the Harley-Davidson Street® 750, a motorcycle built for maximum urban maneuverability with rebellious Dark Custom™ attitude. Tuned for the track, this modified Revolution X engine will power the new XG750R as it fights to be first to the finish line.
The race-modified Revolution X engine and a racing frame for the XG750R were developed by Vance & Hines Motorsports. Vance & Hines also is the partner for the factory Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle®/Vance & Hines drag racing program where V-Rod® motorcycles have won eight of the past 12 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle drag racing championships.
“After decades of flat-track racing success behind the Harley-Davidson XR750 flat track motorcycle, we knew it was time to develop the next-generation Harley-Davidson to compete in one of the best spectator racing sports out there today,” said Kris Schoonover, Harley-Davidson racing manager.
Fisher, in his first season racing with the Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Factory Team and a rookie in the GNC1 series, will be the first racer aboard the XG750R. The 18-year-old racer from Warren, Ore., won the 2015 AMA Pro GNC2 championship.
“We wanted a young rider with plenty of raw ability for the XG750R program, and Davis proved himself in the GNC2 class,” said Schoonover. “We are excited to have the opportunity to bring an emerging talent like Davis up to the GNC1 series to develop the new bike alongside an experienced champion like Brad Baker.”
Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Factory Team rider Brad Baker, 23 years old and the 2013 AMA Pro Grand National Champion, will continue to race aboard the proven Harley-Davidson XR750 motorcycle while Fisher races the XG750R through its developmental stage.
“The XG750R has shown great potential in testing and the first few races this season,” said Schoonover. “But as with any new racing motorcycle, there will be work to do. We’re excited to continue testing the XG750R in real world competition, and as we make our way through the season, we will evaluate the performance of the bike and our factory riders to see if Baker might switch to the new bike.”
Check Harley-Davidson.com for a full listing of this season’s races; also follow Harley-Davidson on Facebook for racing updates.
Be sure to also check out Baker and Fisher competing next week, June 2, during the ESPN X Games Austin Harley-Davidson® Flat-Track Racing event. In its second year as an X Games medaled event, Harley-Davidson Flat-Track Racing will feature top motorcycle racers from around the world going head-to-head on the challenging Circuit of the Americas half-mile chasing an X Games gold medal.
Charles Bourgois says
Something is definately going on in the HD kingdom. I sure hope it continues. Now, lets take the revolution engine punch it out to 1000 or 1200 cc’s and we might get 100 to 120 hp and drop it in a XR1200 type chassis. Don’t be scared big brother, if you build it they will come.
Paul Y says
They already do have that engine, it’s in the V-Rod. Unfortunately, Willy G added excessive finning and styling to make the package look bigger so it filled the visual space in the chassis, adding a lot of weight to the engine/transmission package.
Restore the engine to it’s original form from the VR1000 race bike and that would be fantastic in a modern Sportster . It would also be something to move onto from the Street 500/750 rather than changing brands to get more performance.
Gregg Hodge says
I love the old school Harley Davidson race bikes that I watched winning races (ok they won flat track) while growing from childhood into grayhood, lol. The Harley’s I am referencing are the iconic air cooled 750 flat trackers, the NHRA pro stocker ‘Buels’, and other Harley race bikes like the top fueler drag racers. The love for the old iron is there for the street bikes too, which means air cooled only V-twins. But the motor company has wisely realized change is not a bad thing! I grudgingly agree, so as much as I love the dirt track 750 XRs I welcome the new OHC water cooled 750 flat track race bikes with open arms. Why? Racing improves the breed, and I am sure HD will use its racing experience to build better street bikes. Hopefully HD will one day produce a true sport bike with over 150 rwhp and a frame etc to match. After the sport bike is built is it too much to wish for a true world beater super bike? That will take an engine that produces 200 or more hp and racing engineered frame and suspension. But this latest dirt tracker is showing me Harley is still in the hunt like a big dog, and its racing program will bring good things to our street bikes. Still I hope they keep the air cooled Sportster (with improvements, 100 to 110 hp should be an achievable goal) at least ten or so years?
Bob says
I want to see how this engine does in racing. Will it stay together? Will it put out? Will it require too many special parts made of billet unobtanium?
I bought an XR1000 back in ’83 – HD promised all sorts of things for it – they quickly lost interest in supporting it. The good news is that was over 30 years ago – I hope they don’t repeat the same mistakes.
Paul Crowe says
Just added a few more photos and the last photo shows the tank up close. Click on it to see it enlarged. That looks to me to be showroom quality, not what you would expect from your average race bike. Makes you wonder what they have to do to put this on the road, not very much I imagine. All of the obvious, of course, lights, fenders, mirrors, etc., but if you saw this in a Harley dealer, wouldn’t that be a refreshing change? What do they have up their sleeve?
Lostboy says
…..and a front brake.
Hugo says
Hi Paul,
I also thought the same, the bodywork looks really professionally made (by a designer) and production ready. The stance is really good so it seems we will see something on the road because normally racebikes are not so “well” made and styled/designed…
Lostboy says
If I’m going to lust over a factory “performance” Harley Davidson, I’m doing it for an XLCR.
todd says
We thought things were advancing in the cruiser manufacturer ranks when Victory introduced Project 156. All that came of that hype was a huge disappointment when it came time to put it on the street.
Nortley says
Too pretty to put in the dirt, too mean looking not to.
Meehawl says
It would be infuriating if this never became accessible to Joseph Publicivich, but I suppose HD’s marketing dept realises that all it takes is one svelte honey to stroll in to the pub and all the previously regularly ridden local girls start looking like the wheezy bloaters they always were.
Wave says
If they’re not offering it for sale, is this any different that the bike in your previous article from 2014?
http://thekneeslider.com/harley-davidson-street-750-flat-tracker/
Paul Crowe says
First iteration of the flat tracker versus a more developed and ready for prime time racer would be my view.
It’s not for sale for the street, but for racers?
PD says
Another work of art from Vane and Hines. With liquid cooling, fuel injection, right weight, frame geometry, and power delivery they will get it to work. The old XRs are close to Bryan Smiths Kawasaki. This could be the boost the HD riders need especially on the mile tracks.
Ross Munro says
Judging by how hard Davis Fisher had to ride to make it out of his semi last week at the Sacramento Mile and how far he was back in the field during the main event I’d have to say that they have a lot more work to do. It’s down on horsepower by a fair margin. Not taking anything away from Davis he rode his heart out.
Notice that Brad Baker will continue to ride his XR750 until the XG750R is up to speed.
I wish them nothing but success with the new platform. Any new race engine goes thru teething – development problems – parts break or fail along the way until one arrives at a truly competitive package.
John Ulrich says
I believe H-D had this in the planning stages for a long time and the reason behind the Revolution-X motor was a modern replacement for the long in the tooth XR motor. Watch for Polaris to develop flat track racers based on the Octane/Scout motors. Then I think we’ll see a new golden age of flat track racing – real racing with more makes than ever filling the grid’s.
Wave says
I’m pretty sure that racing is irrelevant compared to the amount of money they can make selling cheap Indian-made bikes in India and Europe. If it was designed to be a racing engine from the ground up, I doubt they would have made the street version so slow. Why not have it rev to 10,000rpm?
The Suzuki SV650 was making more power from a smaller engine back in 1999.
Concinnity says
These Harley guys are really on to it aren’t they?
Twenty years after John Britten showed us his 60 degree ohc watercooled vee twin, H-D have copied him.
What could be next? Carbon fibre? Two overhead cams?
John says
Paul, could you check into rumors I’ve heard of a new Big Twin? What I heard is in September a 107cu in, 4 valve per cylinder, pushrod, liquid cooled and balance shaft motor. Heads and cylinders finned. New crank and valve train design too.
Tyler says
While I would love to see this bike hit the streets, that engine is nothing to brag about. Its nice, its smooth, for a small cruiser its fine, but for anything with sporting pretensions it needs some massaging. With an updated chassis, though (anything would be better than what the Street models are rolling with) it could be a fun ride. I am eager to watch the X-Games flat track broadcast from Austin tomorrow, and am excited about the coverage FT racing is starting to get. Maybe hipsters are good for something after all.
pollok says
Not for me. HD Dirt rings are marketing rings, nothing else. cheers.
Robert says
Is this yahoo news where old news gets recycled to fill space? Over a year ago I posted some photos of these bikes on KLRWorld.
Harley got caught doping the tires of the old XR750 because it can’t compete anymore without a little help on the side. Harley got away with the cheat but now everyone is on to them and cheating won’t work anymore. Now they have to compete and this is all they have to work with.
Bob says
Is this where tired broken record sounding trolls go when they’ve run out of names to post under at Cycle World?
steve w says
Time fixes many things. Give some time to this and they can probably be made to compete. Harley made some mistakes on the V Rod so I’m guessing they probably had plans like this for the beginning. On the V rod they really never planned the cases for larger displacement. Maybe on this platform they have more room to play if future street version are to be projected. So give a race team some time to develop and bring the RPM and Tq. numbers up to speed. Why shouldn’t there be potential? On dirt you can only put so many ponies to use anyway so I’d guess they can get there.
Tostada says
Ugh, looks like a 1980’s Yamaha Radian.
infadel macgee says
Looks like a Honda shadow engine , made in India . So Gupta Davidson . And you HD riders have the gall to comment about ” jap bikes ” ?
MrDefo says
And now Indian has a flat tracker, this is getting interesting.
molokov says
” That is just a great looking bike! ” Really, may be for US. Tastes and colors..
Bicho says
Even for the whole world,is the best looking option they produced,by far! It is the only harley that is designed to be ridden fast,into,thru,and out of bends……………..a true motorcycle,not your average ironcow………and im from europe……..