Harley-Davidson Celebrates XR750 50th Anniversary

Gen-XR

Between 1972 and 2008 the Harley-Davidson XR750 conquered more dirt than Genghis Khan. It turns 50 this year and H-D pays homage to it at the track.

harley-davidson xr750
Born in 1970 with the advent of the new AMA Racing equivalency formula, the XR750 was created by Harley-Davidson’s Race Team Manager Dick O’Brian and team to replace the highly successful outgoing KR750.

harley-davidson xr750
The XR750 was raced, wrenched on, and beloved among the American Flat Track (AFT) paddock, even to this day. This year, Harley-Davidson Super Twins and Production Twins bikes and the Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines NHRA Pro Stock motorcycles feature the historic color of Harley-Davidson competition motorcycles, Jet Fire Orange, just like the XR750 of old. So do the team haulers, uniforms, and branded accessories.

Using a Harley-Davidson Sportster-based engine, the XR750 utilized modified cast-iron heads and cylinders, a magneto instead of generator, and improved oiling. In 1972 a new, more powerful all-aluminum alloy XR750 engine was introduced.
The perfected machine dominated flat track racing for decades to come. Between 1972 and 2008, the XR750 would go on to win 28 of 37 AMA Grand National Championships. The XR750 racked up more wins than any other motorcycle in AMA racing history and earned the description of being the “most successful race bike of all time.”
xr750 evel knievel
In addition, the XR750 became a cultural icon with legendary stuntman Evel Knievel at the handlebars. Evel Knievel began jumping an XR750 at the height of his career from 1970 to 1976, and alongside the exploits of the racing versions of the XR750 inspired a generation to ride.

Who, as we all know, kinda made a name for himself at that time.

For 2020, the Harley-Davidson Factory Flat Track team will continue to field Harley-Davidson’s production-based tradition for factory flat track campaigns. The updated Harley-Davidson XG750R flat tracker, powered by the liquid-cooled, fuel-injected and race-tuned 750cc Harley-Davidson Revolution X V-Twin is based on the production engine originally designed for the Harley-Davidson Street 750 motorcycle.
The Harley-Davidson Factory Flat Track Team will compete on the entire 18-event AFT SuperTwins schedule in 2020. The series kicks off on March 14 with the Daytona TT at Daytona International Speedway.

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