Photograph Credit score: Brian J Nelson
Final month, I used to be in Minnesota with Indian Motorbike for my first King of the Baggers race. Now I’ll be trustworthy, previous to this expertise I didn’t even know such a sequence existed. However after spending a weekend with the Indian Motorbike race group at Brainerd Raceway and attending to expertise it firsthand, I’m completely hooked!
So what precisely is the King of the Baggers, you is likely to be questioning? Because the identify suggests, it’s a racing sequence.. for bagger bikes. Loopy, proper? Sure, whenever you consider motorbike racing, you consider superbikes that may do 200mph. However this sequence options massive, heavy baggers, which often have comfortable seats, a wind-deflecting fairing to scale back drag, V-twin engines, and gentle saddlebags or inflexible compartments that maintain quite a lot of stuff for lengthy rides. These bikes had been constructed for cruising, not racing.
In KOTB, groups take on a regular basis cruisers, stripping them down and constructing them again up higher than ever. They then hit a few of America’s most well-known racetracks, with a gaggle of severely aggressive riders pushing these frankenbikes to absolutely the limits. And the outcomes are fairly wonderful. I imply, when’s the final time that you just noticed a bagger going 180mph+ on the straights and leaning 50º in a flip?! You must see it to consider it.
Photograph Credit score: Brian J Nelson
Naturally, my first query was “Who got here up with this loopy thought of racing baggers?!” Because it seems, it was the brainchild of Rob Buydos (of Drag Specialties and Components Limitless), and after presenting the concept to MotoAmerica and later displaying video of a bagger going round a racetrack, they signed off on it, with an inaugural King of the Baggers race held on the iconic Laguna Seca in 2020.
It was initially thought that each one the baggers operating could be Harley-Davidsons. However S&S Cycle had been working behind closed doorways with Indian Motorbike to arrange a Challenger (ridden by Tyler O’Hara), together with one other Indian constructed by Roland Sands Design. Thus bringing the age-old rivalry between these two iconic motorbike manufacturers to life on the monitor, a real David versus Goliath story. Ultimately, the victory was claimed by Tyler O’Hara on his Indian.
Whereas the King Of The Baggers was speculated to be a single show-event, it really disrupted the motorsports world, going viral in a rush and garnering 9.6 million views throughout social media. So naturally they expanded upon it, with a three-race season in 2021, an excellent larger seven-race season in 2022, and 7 races for 2023, held at a number of the most well-known racetracks within the nation. Whereas there is likely to be plans to develop with one or two extra races sooner or later, proper now groups are pleased with the present schedule.
Photograph Credit score: Brian J Nelson
A part of the draw about bagger racing is that these are manufacturing facility bikes, and you may construct a equally performing bike of your personal, supplied you will have deep pockets. The Indian Challenger RR bike that Tyler O’Hara received the 2022 sequence with took the already stout PowerPlus engine on the Indian Challenger road bike and amped it up with customized S&S camshafts, 112 CID massive bore cylinder/piston package, CNC ported cylinder heads, S&S air consumption w/78MM throttle physique, billet adjustable rocker arms and a throaty S&S 2-1 race exhaust.
With 17″ race rims mixed with Dunlop race tires, Hayes rear caliper and twin Brembo M4 entrance caliper breaks all rested below Ohlins FGR250 entrance forks, this allowed for aggressive knee dragging cornering and responsive dealing with in all circumstances. Extra modifications embrace TTX Ohlins rear shock, S&S chain drive conversion, S&S computerized chain tensioner, and S&S billet clutch cowl above the customized stomach pan.
Rounding issues out are a hard and fast fairing with an aero windshield, Maxx totally adjustable ECM, an AIM DL2 information logger sprint, and S&S fairing mount, together with a Saddleman raised seat, S&S rear set foot controls, adjustable handlebars, and a quickshifter package. (Be mindful, components and settings change on these bikes weekly, as they’re really studying as they go and making small adjustments on the fly)
Photograph Credit score: Brian J Nelson
Most individuals received’t really go and construct a bagger racer of their very own, however it’s fairly thrilling to trip a Challenger road bike and see a model of that very same bike tearing it up on the racetrack. It additionally performs into that complete “Win on Sunday, Promote on Monday” mentality, doubtlessly bringing new clients to the model who may not have been driving their bikes beforehand.
However that doesn’t imply bagger racing received’t bolster the aftermarket for V-twin bikes, as folks look to improve their rides and squeeze out somewhat extra efficiency and such. And that was actually a part of the motivation behind King of the Baggers initially.
“These races are dynamic platforms to showcase the efficiency capabilities of our baggers,” stated Gary Grey, Vice President – Racing, Expertise and Service for Indian Motorbike.
Photograph Credit score: Brian J Nelson
The races themselves are quite a lot of enjoyable. In contrast to conventional auto racing which spans tons of of laps (and hours upon hours), bagger races are actually fast, with most races operating quarter-hour or much less. Most occasions, riders received’t even pit. Over the course of the weekend, there was a observe, two qualifiers, and two races. As well as, there was a 3-lap Problem, which was fairly neat.
Do the mathematics, and that’s not a ton of time on the monitor. That’s nice for these folks streaming the race from dwelling, because it’s not an enormous time dedication in any respect. However in the event you’re attending the race in particular person, there’s much more which you could see and do, even in the event you’re “simply right here for the baggers.”
Very similar to with NASCAR, many individuals convey RVs or campers and make a full weekend out of it, with loads of actions to maintain them occupied. At this race, MotoAmerica had six lessons of street racing – Superbikes, Supersport, Inventory 1000, Junior Cup, King of the Baggers & Royal Enfield Girls’s Construct.Practice.Race. Additionally they had a stunt present, bike present, mud truck racing, bikes & snowmobiles dragstrip racing, freestyle snowmobiles on the pond, reside music, and even a petting zoo. And loads of Mission Meals samples. ?
Photograph Credit score: Brian J Nelson
In case you had been rooting for the Indian Racing group this weekend, it was a little bit of a combined bag. Tyler O’Hara got here out swinging, topping the sphere of 16 riders within the first qualifier Friday afternoon. However because of the moist circumstances, his report lap time of 1:53:543 wouldn’t maintain up the subsequent day when it was dry and sunny. The next day on the second qualifier, he ended up in third place, just some tons of of a second behind Fong and Gillim at 1:36.592.
Whereas Tyler O’Hara took an early lead appeared like a certain factor within the first race, a mechanical failure with just some laps to go pressured him to depart the race. The next day (after the group wrenched away on his bike properly into the evening), Tyler rode arduous however simply couldn’t catch Gillim, coming in third place. However it wasn’t a complete loss for him, as he did handle to win the three-lap Problem dash-for-cash earlier on Saturday, pocketing $5,000 within the course of.
Mechanic failures are simply a part of the deal, as these bikes are basically prototypes, and issues can and can break, typically on the most inopportune occasions. As you may think about, the spirits within the pits went from joyous elation to somber silence in a matter of seconds when O’Hara’s bike failed and he went off-track.
Photograph Credit score: Brian J Nelson
Harley Davison versus Indian is certainly one of America’s oldest rivalries, with Indian based in 1901 and Harley based in 1903. Whereas Indian fell on arduous occasions after World Battle II and shut down in 1953, they got here again in 2011, placing out some nice bikes and getting again into racing.
Now to face off towards their bigger, extra well-funded rival at King of the Baggers and are available out victorious (with Tyler O’Hara profitable the KOTB title in each 2020 & 2022), it’s a little bit of a Cinderella story. However HD isn’t giving making issues simple, proving to be very aggressive and holding Indian on their toes. It’s a enjoyable battle to observe play out.
Tyler O’Hara is an unbelievable rider, and his technical information and insights from his huge racing expertise have confirmed to be invaluable on this sequence. Whereas he’s ridden every kind of bikes all through his profession, he genuinely loves bagger racing, and watching him make these bikes do issues they by no means ought to be capable to do is absolutely one thing else.
If you wish to take a look at a King of the Baggers race, there are a variety of how to take action, each reside and delayed programming. MotoAmerica Reside+ ($$) might be probably the most complete protection (qualifying, races, interviews, behind the scenes stuff), however there’s additionally reside protection on MAVTV, MTRSPT1, and YouTube. As well as, there’s one-hour delayed programming on FOX, or a one-week delay program on FOX Sports activities One.
But when a race is coming to a metropolis close to you, there’s no higher technique to expertise bagger racing at its best. Together with your ticket, you get full entry to the whole lot – The race paddock is open, so all of riders are accessible. You may stroll over and watch the mechanics engaged on the baggers. And there are the entire different races and festivities happening as properly. And the individuals are nice, motorbike fans simply having an excellent time. What extra might you ask for?
An enormous due to Indian Motorbike, MotoAmerica, and everybody else who helped make my first King of the Baggers race such an epic expertise. I’m completely hooked now, and I can’t look ahead to the subsequent one!
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