Harley-Davidson's Flat Track Racing Through the Years
We are Americans. We love to go fast. Racing is in our blood. Harley-Davidson, the most American of motorcycle companies has been racing since the earliest days.
Speed is one of the oldest American traditions.
Since the the first time two motorcycles showed up on a farm-tilled, roped-off section of earth over a century ago, riders wanted to see who could make it around the fastest. Young men loved to race then and flat track racing was born. It is considered the oldest form of organized motorcycle racing still around today.
History of AMA Pro Flat Track Racing
In the early 20th century, the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) was formed and in the early 1920's, Motorcycle Flat-Track Racing became a popular spectator sport. From then until now, Harley- Davidson has supported the sport and is the only motorcycle manufacture that supported the sport from its beginnings. Indian motorcycles were reluctant to come down off the board tracks, then let the sport (and the market) in the early 1950s. Luckily for racers and spectators, the Europeans showed up about the time Indian was leaving, and the Japanese got involved about 20 years later.
1954 AMA introduced the Grand National Championship
In 1954, the AMA introduced the Grand National Championship which included mile, 1/2-mile track, short track, TT, and road racing. In the 1950's, Indian went out of business, while Harley-Davidson grew to become top dog in the AMA racing world, with barely any factory competition to challenge them. Harley had multiple championships throughout the fifties, and up to the modern day. The British bikes gave them a run for their money, with BSA and Triumph winning a number of titles in the 1960s and 70s. From 1984-87 Honda build a special V-twin, unrelated to their street bikes, and won four years in a row, before losing interest.
The Golden Age (1952-69 Harley KR-750)
In 1952, Harley introduced the KR-750, a V-twin race bike which dominated flat track racing from 1952 through 1969. A flat head motor, based on the Model K street bikes, it had 45 cubic inches of fury. Even when the British came calling, the AMA gave Harley and other flat head motors a 250cc displacement advantage of the OHV design motors, to keep them competitive. In 1969, when that rule went away, Harley introduced the legendary XR-750, based on the OHV Sportster, only meaner, and angrier.
The Modern Day (1969-2016 Harley XR-750)
For more than 40 years, the Harley-Davidson XR-750 flat track bike was practically unbeatable (except those few years Honda tried in the 1980s). These bikes may look like the Sportster your girlfriend rides, but they share almost no parts. The frame is raked a lot steeper, and it is stiffer. You may also notice a lack of shocks out back, because it has had a monoshock since the 1980s. The Sportster based motors are making 75-100 horsepower, and plenty of torque, and on a mile track they will top out at near 140 mph. Maybe the biggest indication that this is no Sportster? They weigh about 300 lbs read to ride.
The Future (2017-?? Harley XG-750R)
Since Indian is seemingly back from the dead, and their Scout is a modern, water cooled, 4-valve per cylinder monster, Harley had to get with the times. Based on the Street 750, the new for 2017 XG-750R flat tracker should be their fastest yet. There have been some teething problems, as there always are with a new design, but These bikes already make more power than the old XR, and have more room to play with before valve float or catastrophic engine failure.
Modern Day AMA Pro Flat Track
In recent times, there has been a renewed passion for the sports of both road race and dirt track. For the 2017 season, new rule and a new schedule bring back some of the variety of the Grand National Championship. Now riders have to ride similar bikes for all events, no more switching to a lightweight single for short tracks and TTs. The other big change is that the TTs are back, which means left and right turns, and at least one jump, at speed, on a Harley twin. If you are interested in finding more about these events and ticket info, check out the AMA Events page here.
Ride on!
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