Harley-Davidson Bikes Take on KTM at the Drag Strip
A diverse group of Harley-Davidson models try their luck against a speedy KTM in the quarter mile.
Harley-Davidson motorcycles, despite their success in various types of motorsports, aren’t exactly known as speed demons from the factory. If you want to build a fast Harley, you can certainly do so. But expecting a stock Softail or even Sportster to outrun a factory race bike? Probably unlikely. And still, several different Harley-Davidson models hold their own against a KTM in this cool video.
If you aren’t familiar with KTM, everything you need to know is contained within their official motto – “Ready to Race.” They build motorcycles to compete in everything from the Dakar off-road rally to Supercross and endurance racing. Their bikes are simple, minimalist creations designed for one purpose, and one purpose only – to win races.
And the KTM bike in this video does just that, knocking down Harley after Harley. But not by much. In fact, every Harley that goes up against the KTM simply blows it away off the line. But each time, the KTM is able to catch up and pass them at the end. If this were an eighth-mile strip instead of a quarter-mile, we would likely see much different results.
Not bad for a bunch of cruisers. Obviously, we don’t know what, if any mods any of these bikes might carry. But we’d be willing to bet that a few upgrades on any of these Harleys would lead to a much different result. Most get beat by around a second, but a couple come within a few tenths of victory. Only to see the KTM flash by them at the finish line.
Obviously, Harley-Davidson doesn’t offer the fastest drag bike straight off the showroom floor. But we bet it’s much more comfy on the way to the strip!
Join the Ford Truck Enthusiasts forums now!
