Harley-Davidson Road Glide 131R – The Bagger Beast Built for the Track

Purwakarta Online - Harley-Davidson has rewritten the rules of performance with the Road Glide 131R, a race-prepped bagger motorcycle competing in the MotoAmerica King of the Baggers series. Despite its touring-bike appearance, this machine is packed with serious racing credentials.

Harley Davidson 131 Performance Crate Engine (Harley Davidson)

Technical Specifications
Engine: 131 cubic-inch (2,151cc) Milwaukee-Eight 131R air-cooled V-Twin

Power: Approx. 150 horsepower, over 150 lb-ft torque at the rear wheel

Weight: Around 631 lbs (286 kg) in race trim

Wheelbase: 65 inches for maximum high-speed stability

Chassis: Custom CNC-machined trellis swingarm (reduced from 400 lbs billet to just 18 lbs)

Electronics: Stock ECU during races, AIM MXS 1.2 data logger for testing purposes

King of Baggers (Harley Davidson)

On-Track Performance
Even with its large footprint, the Road Glide 131R surprises with agility and cornering ability. With a seat height that allows for aggressive lean angles and high footpeg clearance (18.8 inches from the ground), the bike feels stable and responsive—defying expectations of what a bagger can do on a race track.

Engineering Innovations
To solve cooling challenges for its air-cooled engine, Harley’s race engineers added larger fins on the cylinder heads and a custom rear airflow duct. The use of ultra-light components like the CNC aluminum swingarm also helps to offset the naturally heavy touring platform.

Bagger MotoGP (MotoGP)

Conclusion
The Harley-Davidson Road Glide 131R represents a bold leap into performance racing. By combining unmistakable Harley character with track-ready engineering, this machine proves that baggers can be both stylish and seriously fast.***