Top 10 Quickest Harleys of All Time! (0 - 60 mph)

Intro

If what you want most out of a bike is blistering acceleration, chances are that you are not looking at Harley-Davidsons. Harleys are simply not known for being the quickest accelerating bikes on the market. A Harley is more known for having iconic style, and a riding culture that is second to none. But that doesn’t mean that Harleys are slow. Not by a long shot. There are some really quick Harleys out there. And we are not talking about just drag bikes, but regular road going bikes that can out accelerate many high-end sports cars.

We took a look back through Harley-Davidson history and pulled the 10 quickest to 60 mph all time. As you know acceleration times can vary based on several conditions, but we tried to pull our data from the same sources in order to get the most consistent times possible. If you want a quick Harley, continue reading to see which models will feed your need for speed.

10. 2017 – 2024 Road King Special (4.1 Seconds)

For those that think there are no quick Harleys, consider that the SLOWEST bike on our list hits 60 mph in just a tick over 4 seconds. That is some decent speed, especially when you consider that this is an 800-pound Grand American Touring bike. Moving all that mass is a Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine that cranks out 95 horsepower. So, if you want to cruise across the country or sprint to 60 mph the Road King Special will do either.

9. 2022 – 2024 Lowrider S (4.0 Seconds)

This Cruiser bike weighs about 150 pounds less than the Road King Special, and starting with the 2022 model year, the Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-Twin makes even more power. Horsepower is 103 and torque is 125 foot-pounds. The result is a bike that is just a hair quicker with a 4-second flat 0 to 60 mph time. This Softail bike is comfortable carving up a backroad but can also launch you from a standstill.

8. 2017 – 2022 Softail Slim S (3.9 Seconds)

With the Softail Slim S we move into the world of sub-4 second to 60 mph bikes. Being “Slim” certainly helps with speed. Although the bike does still weigh over 700 pounds, it is equipped with a powerful Twin Cam 110B engine that is good for 109 foot-pounds of torque. Yes, the big engine can generate some heat in stop and go traffic. But once that stop and go becomes all go, the Softail Slim S will launch you to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds.

7. 2023 – 2024 Nightster Special (3.9 Seconds)

The Nightster Special is the first sport bike on our list. As such, it is quite a bit lighter than the other models we have listed so far. Topped off with fluids the bike is still less than 500 pounds. The DOHC, liquid-cooled, Revolution Max 975T engine makes 72 pound-feet of torque. That is significantly less than the other bikes listed so far, but that light weight makes up for the lack of grunt. With a 3.9-second sprint to 60 mph, this bike can put a few sports cars in its mirrors.  

6. 2009 – 2017 V-Rod Muscle (3.7 Seconds)

With the V-Rod Muscle you no longer have to say that this bike is quick for a Harley. It's quick, full stop. 3.7 seconds to 60 mph is nothing to sneeze at. Harley-Davidson worked with Porsche to develop the Revolution engine, and Porsche knows a thing or two about going fast. That engine makes 122 horsepower and 86 pound-feet of torque. And thanks to the 67-inch wheelbase the bike looks big but, at right around 650 pounds, it's just a middleweight. The 240 mm rear tire helps put the power down to the ground. Twist the throttle from a standstill, hold on, and you will be travelling 60 mph fast than you read that sentence.

5. 2002 – 2008 V-Rod (3.5 Seconds)

This is the oldest bike on our list and the fact that it still cracks the top 5 is fascinating. That Porsche-designed V-Twin makes a healthy 115 horsepower. With a 0 to 60 mph times of just 3.5 seconds the V-Rod is just about as quick to 60 mph as a Porsche 911 Turbo from the same era. This bike changed the way the public perceived Harley-Davidson performance.

4. 2021 – 2024 Sportster S (3.4 Seconds)

The H-D Sportster legacy began way back in 1957. However, it was 2021 when the Sportster S rolled onto the scene and brought some serious performance. This powerful bike packs a Revolution Max 1250T engine with 121 horsepower and 93 foot-pounds of torque. That is enough twist to get you and the bike to 60 in a scant 3.4 seconds. And while H-D refers to this as a sport bike, think of it more like a muscle car in the motorcycle world. It can handle fine, but it is really about the power, the beefy tires, and the attitude.  

3. 2021 – 2024 Pan America 1250 Special (3.4 Seconds)

This bike just doesn’t look like it would be that quick. It's an adventure bike. A bike that you can take off-road and tackle some trails with. But it packs a secret. A Revolution Max 1250 engine with a whopping 150 horsepower and 95 pound-feet of torque. So, if you are on the pavement and you want to see what this baby can do, hold on. Because in just 3.4 seconds you will find yourself going 60 mph. On a bike that, based on looks alone, you would think would be the slowest on our list.

2. 2021 - 2024 LiveWire One (3.0 Seconds)

Some will argue that the LiveWire One is not a real Harley. But LiveWire is a standalone company that is a Harley-Davidson brand. And even though it is an electric bike, it still is a real Harley. And it is a real quick Harley. The Revelation powertrain is provided by Harley-Davidson and it produces 100 horsepower and 86 foot-pounds of torque. And that torque hits immediately. As a result, this bike reaches 60 mph in just 3 seconds flat. It isn’t loud, but it is quick.

1. 2019 – 2020 FXDR 114 (2.5 Seconds)

And the quickest accelerating Harley by far is the FXDR 114 with a blistering time of just 2.5 seconds. Sadly, its time in the H-D lineup was just as quick as it was only around for two model years. This powerful cruising bike used the 114 cubic-inch Milwaukee-Eight engine that generated an impressive 119 pound-feet of torque. This bike has the performance to back up its aggressive looks. If you want the quickest H-D ever, this is your bike.

Images: Harley-Davidson; Harley-Davidson Forums