Performance Road Glide is All About Function

Too Many Choices

The aftermarket options for building a Performance Bagger are almost unlimited. Once the realm of the DIYer, performance modified touring bikes are now a full-fledged industry. Sometimes too many choices can be overwhelming. Bit by the Performance Bagger bug, Keith McCoy had to tune out the almost endless options when he decided to modify his stock 2013 Road Glide.

All photos courtesy of Baggers | Don Kates

No Options

McCoy's search for a 'blank canvas' materialized one day at his local Harley-Davidson dealer. The brand new Road Glide had no ABS, cruise control, or alarm, just a radio. McCoy had found his 'bare bones' Road Glide with which to start his build. McCoy stated, “The damn thing showed up just like I wanted it, except it had the damn radio.”  

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Starting Point

At first McCoy's plan was to keep the Road Glide stock. “I wanted to have a bike I could take my lady on and my kids,” he said. It took about a year before the urge to build a Performance Bagger took hold. After some contemplation, McCoy decided to focus on what bothered him about the stock bike. 

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Heavy Handler

What bothered McCoy the most was the Road Glide's handling. “The bike was too heavy and didn’t handle the way I wanted.” With this as a starting point, he set out to resolve the issues. The overall weight of the Road Glide needed to be reduced along with proper front and rear suspension. Rounding out the need for a better ride is a Roland Sands Enzo seat.  

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Custom Öhlins

McCoy's search for performance suspension parts led him to Satya Kraus at Kraus Motor Company in Santa Rosa, California. For the ultimate in handling, McCoy wanted an Öhlins inverted frontend, but at the time Kraus did not make them for touring bikes. As McCoy stated, “Kraus was already making frontends for the Dyna. It was time to make one for the baggers. 

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Stop and Go

Bringing up the rear is a Trac Dynamics weight-saving aluminum swingarm paired with a set of Öhlins shocks. Beringer calipers and rotors, both front and rear, do an excellent job of stopping the big Bagger. Marchesini Corse rims are wrapped in Pirelli Night Dragons with a 110/90-19 out front, and applying the horses to the pavement in the back is a 180/60-19.

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Hot Rod Touch

The Stage 1, 103 Twin Cam is fed with an open K&N air filter, and exhaust gasses exit via a modified Two Brothers Racing exhaust. Distributing the engine's horsepower is an upgraded Baker Hydraulic clutch. Keeping the rear end legal is a stealthy Rizoma tail light. For some added flare, the stock black paintwork sports pinstriping by Schultz Designz. 

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Rider Function

Rider input is through a set of ProTaper handlebars with Beringer controls, and Motogadget gauges. A Kraus carbon fiber front fender contributes to the weight-saving efforts. McCoy's thinking was a bit 'outside of the box' back in 2013, but Performance Baggers have since become a blend of touring comfort mixed with precision handling, in go-fast packages — now that is functional design in practice.

>>Join the conversation about this performance Road Glide right here in Harley-Davidson Forums.

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