OK, This is Getting Silly
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,983
Likes: 2,144
From: Ohio
So I don't follow AFT, but lately hearing about Indian absolutely destroying the competition with their Scout based bike I did some light digging.
I did not know this, but turns out, laughably I might add, that HD's using the Street 750 as their AFT bike???
No wonder Indian is mopping the floor with them. At first I was surprised they weren't still using the XR750, but this may have been a step backwards.
I did not know this, but turns out, laughably I might add, that HD's using the Street 750 as their AFT bike???
No wonder Indian is mopping the floor with them. At first I was surprised they weren't still using the XR750, but this may have been a step backwards.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 1,494
From: Santa Barbara
HD teamed up with Porsche initially, then let it slide for 16 years. They could have jointly developed a successor to the VR 1000 and then asked Porsche how to stand up a real racing program.
If you read the articles put out by Porsche Development, they were justifiably proud of their contributions to the Revolution. HD's response was "Hey, we'll take it from here." Blown opportunity to continue the relationship.
If you read the articles put out by Porsche Development, they were justifiably proud of their contributions to the Revolution. HD's response was "Hey, we'll take it from here." Blown opportunity to continue the relationship.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,395
Likes: 364
From: Okmulgee
You look at those pictures and you see a HD AFT bike in all it's simple extreme glory until you look at the motor. The low end is junk,, tranny is way weak and the water cooling system is so weak it should have been air cooled. V&H can't do anything with it. They have admitted they can not make the motor competitive in anywhere close to it's current form. The motors are grenades. HD is hoping to take India and other parts of Asia by storm with that engine. There target of conquest??? Royal Enfield. Does HD really think people in India and developing Asian countries are going to give up on motorcycles they can fix with a hammer, pliers and a combo screw driver? So HD took a marketing motor and said we can race this thing. While the Scout power plant looks kind of like a stock Scout motor. It was engineered and designed as racing engine from the ground up. And HD has been trying to mutter foul over that and crying to the AMA and others. So even if HD admits they screwed up and the XR's come back with a bit more power and a bump in frame and suspension tech, keep good riders on them. Indian will turn up the wick a tad more and meet HD head on.
Banned
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 14,866
Likes: 31,162
From: Whiskey Falls, Texas
If you've been going to a place for years, and kinda feel like it's yours, you're top dog, and a younger dude comes along, faster, maybe a bit tougher, you don't whine and bitch. You don't ask the owner to kick him out. You figure out a way to kick his ***. Only way I can explain it. Harley needs to stop whining and bitching, making excuses, and start kicking *** again...
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,983
Likes: 2,144
From: Ohio
Reading some flat track forums that I belong to, Bill Werner (I hope you all know who that is, if you don't you have no business talking flat track 
) says the biggest issue right now is clutch failures and weird frame problems. He says he's never seen a frame like HD is using on a flat tracker.
) says the biggest issue right now is clutch failures and weird frame problems. He says he's never seen a frame like HD is using on a flat tracker.
Tourer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 428
Likes: 97
From: CA, USA
Losing races is not a problem as long as HD doesn't quit. So I am glad that HD is still there to fight. Losing is part of competition and all racers and manufacturers learn a lot from racing. I'd like to see HD produce different types of bikes and get into more races. Racing not only produces good shows, it's also a live R&D Lab for manufacturers.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,932
Likes: 32
From: Broomfield, CO
I'm riding tomorrow from Colorado to California for the Sacramento Mile being run on May 19th. When I lived in California we used to ride up for the Sac Mile every year, when the XR750 was competitive. I saw my 1st flat track race in 1973 and the XR750 ruled the track then, but the new Indian flat track motorcycle is "purpose built" unlike the modified Harley XG. Hopefully, Harley will take flat track racing seriously again and develop a new bike to compete with Indian. Indian even got Bryan Smith to leave Kawasaki, even though he won 6 straight Sacramento Miles on Kawasaki. Of course he won the Sacramento Mile last year for 7 straight wins, but this time on the Indian Scout FTR750.
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 485
Likes: 84
From: Quincy, Ca
You are right Harley needs to get into it !00%. They need to build a purpose built racer to run with the Indians. They need to do for themselves as well as their customers and fans. We all want to see "our" brand win.
kk
kk
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 784
Likes: 78
From: San Diego, CA
2021 Tuner
I installed an HD Ventilator, a decatted headpipe and Cobra 909 mufflers on my 2021 Road King FLHR and it runs great; no pops, pings, gurgles and way cooler. I've tried to make it decel pop, etc. and it won't. Ridden in 100 degree weather and not a single ping. Runs better than my 2018 RGS with a Stage 3 and FP3 (maybe not as fast, as it is only a 107, but smooth, cool, etc.).