Episode 12 of the Bore and Stoke podcast goes behind the scenes of Harley-Davidson’s factory MotoAmerica King of the Baggers racing effort. @anti_parallali describes visiting the program during a recent race weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park, after being selected as one of the few educational content creators invited to the event.

The visit focused on the engineering required to turn a street motorcycle into a competitive bagger race bike. Harley-Davidson engineers explained that more than 200 lb was removed from a stock Road Glide. Its original street weight was given as 830 lb, while the race bike was brought down to 620 lb, the series minimum weight limit.

Why the bags remain part of the equation

The aggressive weight reduction is not new. In previous seasons, teams had to add ballast to the saddlebags to remain compliant with the regulations. Today’s racing saddlebags are lightweight, quick-release shells designed primarily for aesthetic compliance with the category’s required appearance.

The bags also took on a more theatrical role after Kyle Wyman’s podium success. The team installed custom speakers directly into them to play victory music after the race. It is a small detail that reflects the category’s unusual balance: even after extensive race preparation, the bagger silhouette remains part of the motorcycle’s identity on the track.

The full interview with @anti_parallali is included in the relevant Bore and Stoke episode, offering a closer look at the technical work behind Harley-Davidson’s factory Road Glide race bike.