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Gone are the days when bikes didn’t necessarily have fuel gauges – they were meant to be used as simple tools, meant to do simple, utilitarian things. When they were meant to move people, armies, and businesses reliably and efficiently, being serviceable with the simplest of tools and resources. Today, it’s a different story – even smaller displacement motorcycles at 150cc come with traction control, quickshifter, LED screens, and the list goes on. Motorcycles these days can fall short of capturing the barebones’ attitude of the classics.
Add to that, if it’s a fast one, then it just makes the classic motorcycle look that much cooler. There’s something just great about having a motorcycle that just does a few things really, really well. In this list, we look at such examples across time from Harley-Davidson stables.
10 Badass Harley-Davidson Motorcycles For Ultimate Performance
Jump onboard as we take you through the most badass Harley-Davidson hogs packed with unbeatable performance.
Pulling data directly from manufacturers, historical records, reputable news sources, and reviewers, we’ve put together a list of the best performance-based, older Harley-Davidson models, ranked by top speed and power. Models on this list were arranged from the slowest to the fastest.
10 1983 Harley-Davidson Sportster XLX61
Top Speed: 98 MPH
The Harley-Davidson Sportster XLX 1000-61 is one of Harley’s most notable Sportsters, given the Sportster has been in production for a really long time. With its single seat, simple electric start (The kickstarter was removed from the Sportster in the 80s), adequate power and torque, along with manageable weight, the Sportster is a fun little Harley for quick sprints across town.
This bike is for anyone who wants to experience the absolute basics of motorcycling, in an engaging and simplistic way. The lower power output on this machine can be blamed on the emissions regulations of the time, forcing H-D to use lower compression for the Sportster’s V-twin.
1985 Harley-Davidson Sportster XLX61 Key Performance Numbers
|
Engine |
998cc, OHV, air-cooled, 2 valves per cylinder, V-twin |
|
Horsepower |
56 HP |
|
Torque |
55 lb-ft |
|
Weight |
538 lbs (Wet) |
|
0-60 MPH |
4.9 sec |
(Sourced from CycleWorld)
9 1984 Harley-Davidson FXRS Super Glide II
Top Speed: 100.7 MPH
The Super Glide was launched in 1981 as a sportier cruiser offering from H-D, claiming that the Super Glide II, also known as the FXRS – was built to separate “the men from the boys”, hinting at this motorcycle as being a complete and sound product offering. And it was, for the most part, offering nimble enough handling that could be suitable for city runabouts, and just as composed and relaxed on the highway.
1984 Harley-Davidson FXRS Super Glide II Key Performance Numbers
|
Engine |
1,337cc Evolution Engine, OHV, air-cooled V-twin |
|
Horsepower |
67 HP |
|
Torque |
66 lb-ft |
|
Weight |
640 lbs (Wet) |
(Sourced from Motorcycle Specs)
8 2000 Harley-Davidson FXSTB Night Train
Top Speed: 105.6 MPH
Harley-Davidson launched this cruiser as one of their successful models which remained true to their roots, offering a mix of Softail and bobber styling, and plenty of power and torque coming from a bigger TwinCam engine. Thanks to its long wheelbase and steep rake, the Night Train lived up to its name by being a low-slung, highly stable cruiser that preferred long sweeping turns as opposed to sudden directional changes.
2000 Harley-Davidson FXSTB Night Train Key Performance Numbers
|
Engine |
1,548cc, Twin-Cam, OHV V-twin |
|
Horsepower |
67 HP |
|
Torque |
92 lb-ft |
|
Weight |
682 lbs. (Wet) |
(Sourced from Motorcycle Specs)
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7 1990 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy
Top Speed: 105.6 MPH
The original Fat Boy was launched in the year 1990, powered by the Evolution 1340 motor, which was consequently upgraded with a host of other, better engines during the life of the Fat Boy. It was designed by Willie G. Davidson and Louie Netz, to be a very well-rounded Softail that could be ridden by a wide range of motorcyclists. With its solid cast disc wheels, iconic winged badge, fat tires, and Terminator fame, the Fat Boy is an iconic Softail that also packs enough punch regardless of the generation.
1990 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Key Performance Numbers
|
Engine |
1,337cc Evolution engine, OHV, air-cooled V-twin |
|
Horsepower |
67 HP |
|
Torque |
66 lb-ft |
|
Weight |
657 lbs (wet) |
(Sourced from Motorcycle Specs)
6 2005 Harley-Davidson FLSTFI 15th Anniversary Fat Boy
Top Speed: 105.6 MPH
chopperexchange.com
This special edition Fat Boy was launched in 2005 to celebrate the Fat Boy’s 15th year of successful production, as the name surely suggests, and this generation of the Fat Boy came with Harley’s Twin Cam 88 engine that was now producing much better power and torque figures. It was also generously appointed with lots of chrome, namely the signature disc wheels, shotgun exhaust, headlight and forks. The winged emblem is also finished in 24K gold plating, along with the air filter cleaner cover, timer cover, and ignition switch plate, which received subtle gold stripe details.
2005 Harley-Davidson FLSTFI 15th Anniversary Fat Boy Key Performance Numbers
|
Engine |
1,449cc, Twin-Cam 88, OHV V-twin |
|
Horsepower |
67 HP |
|
Torque |
86 lb-ft |
|
Weight |
714 lbs. (Wet) |
(Sourced from Motorcycle Specs)
5 1998 Harley-Davidson FXSTD Deuce
Top Speed: 109 MPH
The FXSTD is a traditionally styled Softail that also exudes a bit of the chopper vibe – thanks to the stretched front forks and tank, it is, overall, quite a pleasing and classic silhouette of a design. It was powered by H-D’s 1450 TwinCam engine that provided old-school, straightforward power and torque that was satisfactory to both riders, old and new alike. It did manage to sell well in its time, given its blend of modern-day ride quality, and styling that manages to walk a fine line between classic and experimental.
1998 Harley-Davidson FXSTD Deuce Key Performance Numbers
|
Engine |
1,449cc, Twin Cam 88, air-cooled 4-valve V-twin |
|
Horsepower |
67 HP |
|
Torque |
86 lb-ft |
|
Weight |
646 lbs (Dry) |
(Sourced from Motorcycle Specs)
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4 1972 Harley-Davidson XR750
Top Speed: 115 MPH
A truly legendary flat track racer that was notoriously successful in its racing career days, the XR 750 was created to meet the changing race regulations of 1968, allowing all manufacturers entering the AMA to participate with 750cc engines, regardless of the head design (OHV vs side-valve). Enter the XR 750, which initially suffered overheating issues due to the use of iron as a material.
The V-twin was re-developed using aluminum and unit construction, and the result was a formidable flat-track racer that dominated the AMA series for a long time. It also inspired H-D to make the highly limited XR-TT 750 road-racer.
1972 Harley-Davidson XR750 Key Performance Numbers
|
Engine |
748cc, air-cooled OHV V-twin |
|
Horsepower |
80-90 HP (Reported) |
|
Torque |
N/A lb-ft |
|
Weight |
314 lbs (Dry, est.) |
(Sourced from Motorcycle Specs)
3 2002 Harley-Davidson VRSC V-Rod
Top Speed: 130 MPH
The V-Rod was a revolutionary move by Harley-Davidson to create a sporty, cutting-edge cruiser by partnering with Porsche – the result was a motorcycle that proved to be iconic in H-D’s product development and served as a template for future sport-oriented models from H-D’s stable. Its liquid-cooled, Revolution engine was developed to be an all-new, road-biased engine that was initially based on the VR 1000 race bike, but comprehensively reworked with engineering input from Porsche. The frame was also a custom-developed component for this bike, adding to its unique and modern look and feel.
2002 Harley-Davidson VRSC V-Rod Key Performance Numbers
|
Engine |
1,449cc, TwinCam, air-cooled 4-valve V-twin |
|
Horsepower |
115 HP |
|
Torque |
74 lb-ft |
|
Weight |
615 lbs (Wet) |
|
0-60 MPH |
3.4 sec |
(Sourced from CycleWorld)
2 2006 Harley-Davidson VRXSE Screamin’ Eagle V-Rod Destroyer
Top Speed: 144 MPH
Built as a special project under Harley-Davidson’s ‘CVO’ (Custom Vehicle Operations) wing, the V-Rod Destroyer is something one would never expect to be offered by a company whose trump card is sedate and relaxed, mile-munchers. It was a heavily re-engineered drag bike that used the V-Rod as its base, adding forged pistons, a revised bore and stroke, high-flow cylinders, and an insane compression ratio of 14.5:1, extracting massive power and torque from the engine. All underpinned by specific components such as a lower frame, forks, custom shocks, struts, and tires, meant that the VRXSE could hit the quarter mile quite easily under the 10-second mark.
2006 Harley-Davidson VRXSE Screamin’ Eagle V-Rod Destroyer Key Performance Numbers
|
Engine |
1,300cc, Screamin’ Eagle, OHV V-twin |
|
Horsepower |
170 HP |
|
Torque |
100 lb-ft |
|
Weight |
682 lbs. (Wet) |
(Sourced from Motorcycle Specs)
10 Harley-Davidson Engines With Explosive Torque
Harley-Davidson’s big engines are famed for their distinctive rumble and massive torque.
1 1994 Harley-Davidson VR 1000
Top Speed: 165 MPH
The VR 1000 was one of Harley-Davidson’s many attempts at competing in professional racing, to be specific, the AMA. Its liquid-cooled V-twin engine was tweaked and tuned to produce 150 horsepower, paired to a twin-spar ALU frame akin to its Japanese competitors.
This motorcycle was one of H-D’s fastest-ever bikes that came out of its stables, and although it didn’t do too well despite running a significant racing career – because it was outdated compared to the rest of its competition when it was finally launched – it’s rare, special, and showed what H-D could do if they took the track a bit more seriously.
1994 Harley-Davidson VR 1000 Key Performance Numbers
|
Engine |
996cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 60-deg V-twin |
|
Horsepower |
150 HP |
|
Torque |
100 lb-ft |
|
Weight |
388 lbs |
|
Top Speed |
165 MPH |
(Sourced from Motorcycle Specs)
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