American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 250 May 2020 | Page 14

Harley-Davidson Celebrates 50th Anniversary of XR750
The 2020 season marks the 50th year
since the debut of the XR750, a
motorcycle raced, wrenched on and
beloved among the American Flat
Track (AFT) paddock to this day. To
celebrate the anniversary, Harley-
Davidson Super Twins and Production
Twins bikes, along with the Harley-
Davidson Screamin’ Eagle/Vance &
Hines NHRA Pro Stock motorcycles,
will feature the historic color of Harley-
Davidson competition motorcycles, Jet
Fire Orange, along with team haulers,
uniforms and branded accessories.
"The XR750 is the winningest
motorcycle in AMA Pro Racing
motorcycle history," said Jon Bekefy,
General Manager of Brand Marketing
at Harley-Davidson, Inc. "Harley-
Davidson is taking its 50th anniversary
as a moment to reflect on the legacy
and individuals who have designed,
engineered, tuned and raced the
XR750 during its years of competition,
and to celebrate Harley-Davidson’s
2020 racing efforts.
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.
Using a Harley-Davidson Sportster-
based engine, the XR750 utilized
modified cast-iron heads and
cylinders, a magneto instead of a
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."
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.
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 750 cc
Harley-Davidson Revolution X V-Twin,
is based on the production engine
originally designed for the Harley-
Davidson Street 750 motorcycle.