Flashback Friday: 2009 Racing Dyna Built for Sturgis by Ward Performance
This black Dyna was the ire of many back in 2017 when it destroyed opponents at various drag strips.
Drag Racing Dyna
Most custom Harley-Davidson bikes are built with at least one purpose in mind. Whether it be showing off at the local cruise night or communicating a theme through visual clues. But this Harley Dyna, built by Ward Performance, was built for something completely different - dominating the drag strip during the 2017 Sturgis Rally.
Photo courtesy of Shooters Images
History of Success
Rick Ward, the owner of Ward Performance, has been drag racing his entire life. And his shop has been building and machining race-winning engines and cylinder heads for nearly 30 years. So it made perfect sense for Ward to build a bike specifically to show off these wares. And what better place to do so than at the world's most famous Harley rally?
Photo courtesy of Shooters Images
>>Join the conversation about the Ward Performance Dyna right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!
Looks Can Be Deceiving
Perhaps the coolest thing about this Dyna is that it looks almost stock. But that, coupled with the monotone appearance, hides the monster that lurks within. Unlike most Harley folks, Ward likes to keep his bikes simple and understated in the looks department. But in the case of this Dyna, the only stock parts left are the tank and the frame.
Photo courtesy of Shooters Images
>>Join the conversation about the Ward Performance Dyna right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!
Tailored Lightweight Contender
Ward first measured and fitted the bike to his own frame, then designed all the new parts using computer software. All the new bits were then machined from aluminum, then test fitted and altered if needed for a perfect fit. Everything from the foot pegs to the oil pan has been modified in some way. With the alloy parts, carbon fiber wheels, and lightweight brakes, total weight is down to a svelte 545 pounds.
Photo courtesy of Shooters Images
>>Join the conversation about the Ward Performance Dyna right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!
The Beast Within
As you might imagine, the engine received just as much, if not more attention as the body. The CNC ported heads were designed and milled in-house, a process that took many hours to perfect. The bottom end is a Harley Twin Cam, with S & S cylinders and 124 cubic inches of displacement, breathing through a 64mm Screamin' Eagle throttle body. After some tuning, horsepower currently tops 160, though Ward plans to add nitrous to the equation in the near future. Couple that with a fully dialed in racing suspension, and we're guessing this unique Dyna will surprise more than a few onlookers at the local drags. You can see more specs and pictures over on Hot Bike.
Photo courtesy of Shooters Images
>>Join the conversation about the Ward Performance Dyna right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!
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