The oddity that is taking motorcycle racing by storm

On Sunday of the MotoAmerica races being held at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta recently, I was standing on the bridge over the front straight as the competitors in the final race, King of the Baggers, began to roll out of the pits and grid up. I looked out past turn 12 towards the main entrance/exit, and only a few vehicles were filing out, following the Superbikes Race 2 completion. The large crowds were, for the most part, staying for the Baggers race.

A guy standing next to me on the bridge, wearing a black patch-filled biker vest and a Harley-Davidson cap, commented, “The best race is about to begin! I came here specifically for this race today. Why would anyone want to leave now?!” Clearly most folks in attendance agreed with him. Everywhere around the track, for both the Saturday and Sunday races of this class, fans were pressed against the fences, to both see and feel this most remarkable category of motorcycle racing. And they were not disappointed.

Indian Wrecking Crew Loris Baz leading the pack in Race 1 at Road Atlanta. Photo by Brian J. Nelson/MotoAmerica.

What is it with this phenomenon known as the “King of the Baggers” competition? What’s the attraction, the draw of this oddity in motorcycle racing? Where did it come from, and how did it get so popular? It attracts fans from across the spectrum, racers from around the globe, and has grown from being a single exhibition race several years ago to a premier event at nearly every MotoAmerica race round each season.

Even MotoGP featured a KofB race recently to showcase the class. It’s taking the motorcycle racing world by storm. What is going on here?

The field deep diving through turns 10a and 10b at Road Atlanta. Photo by Brian J. Nelson/MotoAmerica.

About ten years ago, I was visiting the shop of my friend Kevin Baxter of Pro Twin Performance. Kevin is one of the country’s premier V-Twin engine builders and tuners, as well as a custom bike builder in his own right. Discussing motorcycle customization trends, Kevin observed, “I think the next wave in customizing is already taking place in Southern California. It’s called ‘Performance Baggers’, and mark my words, it will make its way across the country over the next few years.“ That was prophetic.

In the years since, both Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle have produced hopped-up bagger models with high performance engines, more aerodynamic fairing, and abbreviated hard cases in the rear. It has indeed become the new wave in motorcycle customizing, and with or without fairings and hard bags, it has fueled the rise in performance V-Twins in general. ARCH Motorcycles, Buell, and notable names like Roland Sands Design all build cruisers/tourers rolling on high-performance V-Twin mills.

Performance has become the new V-Twin cruiser/tourer trend. Could Buell, ARCH and others join the racing? Photo by Buell.

So it shouldn’t be surprising that there is now a race class in MotoAmerica exclusively for this. First run as a single exhibition race at Laguna Seca in October 2020, the event was so popular with fans, that additional races were added for the next year. Very quickly, both of the American brands fronted factory and factory-supported teams, and a new race class was born. Not to mention a renewed rivalry between the two long-time adversaries.

Jeff Nasi, senior VP of Sales & Marketing for MotoAmerica, informed us, “King of the Baggers has, of course, been of great benefit to MotoAmerica. Not just in increased attendance and viewer quantity, but also in breadth of fan types.” Which leads to another observation- KotB racing has attracted the American cruiser segment of riders, bringing them to race weekends to see these amazing motorcycles and riders in action. Case in point, the aforementioned fan I chatted with on the bridge at Road Atlanta.

Indian and Harley performance baggers heeling over into the famed Corkscrew at Laguna Seca. Who would have imagined that a few years ago? Photo by Brian J. Nelson/MotoAmerica.

The class has garnered the attention of professional racers from around the globe as well. Former MotoGP rider Loris Baz of France, reigning 2024 KotB champion Troy Herfoss from Australia, Cameron Petersen from South Africa, and Max Flinders from England all compete alongside their American counterparts in the series, further fueling the popularity of the class abroad as well as stateside.

Who would have thought, 8 to 10 years ago, that a race class featuring large, heavyweight, thundering tourer motorcycles, with huge fairings and hard bags still attached, would become this wildly popular phenomenon in American motorcycle racing? Not even my friend Kevin could’ve predicted that. But here we are, and race fans can’t get enough.

Factory Indian Motorcycle Racing Loris Baz (76) leading Harley-Davidson Factory Racing Kyle Wyman (33) down the front straight in Saturday’s race 1. Baz took the win Saturday, Wyman won Sunday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson/MotoAmerica.

It’s understandable, as well. Standing track side during their races, you don’t just hear the deep, deafening roar as they fly past, you feel the concussion in your chest. It becomes addicting. I honestly don’t prefer heavy cruisers and baggers for my personal riding, but being track side when they race is an absolute visceral thrill. I love the scream and speed of the Supersport and Superbike races, and I enjoy the noise, dirt and grit of flat track racing, but I have to be up against the fence, as close as possible, when those King of the Baggers riders blast past.

I asked Max Flinders, whose Thrashed Bike Racing team has platooned both an Indian Challenger and a Harley Road Glide in the series over the years, what he thinks of the handling capabilities of these massive street-to-track machines. He observed, “The bikes are so purpose-built these days for racing, they honestly almost feel as nimble as a Supersport bike. They dive through corners so easily, and accelerate really hard. They really are a thrill to ride.”

Max Flinders (88) on his Thrashed Bike Racing Indian Challenger last season. Max is the only rider in the series whose team has raced both Indians and Harleys. The team is running a Harley Road Glide this season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson/MotoAmerica.

I took my late father to one of their early races several years ago. Even in his late 70s then, you couldn’t smack the smile off Dad’s face standing along the fence at Road Atlanta, as the riders dove their bikes through turns 10a and 10b before accelerating up the hill to roar under the bridge then back down the other side for the front straight. He leaned over at one point and shouted in my ear, “I can’t believe they can lean those massive bikes over so far in corners, then wheelie them when they get upright. That’s crazy!” Yes it is, Pop.

We highly recommend you find a MotoAmerica race near you, and enjoy a weekend at the track. And when the daily Superbike races are over, hang around for the King of the Baggers races that follow. Find a place along the fence somewhere, and prepare to be blown away. Maybe literally. You’ll see what we mean. It’s addictive.

Rob

*Top photo by Brian J. Nelson/MotoAmerica

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