Harley’s King of the Baggers Factory Team Gets a Makeover
Harley’s factory-supported race bikes now match their street-legal counterparts
The King of the Baggers racing series has been around for several years and still enjoys an enduring popularity. HD Forums has posted about this unlikely class before, but to recap, KOTB pits heavily modified touring motorcycles against each other at famous race tracks across the U.S.A.
Dubbed “baggers” for their cargo hauling prowess, large motorcycles from both Harley-Davidson and Indian square-off, replete with fairings and hard luggage. At last weekend’s race — taking place May 31 to June 2, 2024 — fans witnessed something new on the track. Well, perhaps it wasn’t such a shock if they had already viewed the Motor Company’s teaser video.
The new livery is definitely more subdued
At the hollowed Road America track in Plymouth, Wisconsin, Harley’s factory KOTB racing team debuted two new liveries, complete with matching leathers for the riders. Instead of the more traditional reddish-orange and black paint scheme, the new colors are much more subdued and clearly designed to mimic their street-legal counterpart, the 2024 CVO Road Glide ST.
Kyle Wyman’s #33 bike is a surprisingly monotone Raven metallic, while James Rispoli’s #43 whip appears to match the Golden White Pearl of the street bike. Both racing machines feature the grey Screamin’ Eagle graphic that also graces the street version.
You can play King of the Baggers, for a price
Although they might look similar to stock CVO Road Glides, the race bikes do have some surprising modifications over the stockers. Front and center is a traditional 45-degree v-twin that makes an estimated 155 to 165 horsepower. Though Harley-Davidson is secretive about what exactly makes this motor tick, it’s good enough to propel these extra-large machines to a top speed of more than 180 miles per hour.
The race bikes also have a lightweight aluminum swingarm and bespoke suspension both front and rear. Still, the CVO Road Glide ST is no slouch either. It’s 121 cubic inch high-output Milwaukee-Eight engine cranks out 127 horsepower and 145 ft-lb of torque. If you’re interested in giving the KOTB racers a run for their money, 2024 models of the hot-rod Road Glide start at $42,999 — matching leather jacket not included.
Images: Harley-Davidson/YouTube