SuperBike Logo
BikesClothingAccessoriesRacingFeaturesIndustry NewsAdviceOffersShop
SuperBike

Harley take the war to Indian – once more

SUPER HOOLIGAN Part 5

“Back in 1903 or so, when Indian was the king of motorcycle manufacturers and Harley-Davidson was an upstart working out of a shed, an Indian rider met a Harley rider on the open road. They looked each other in the eye and chorused, ‘Bet mine’s faster,’ and set out to settle the issue. For the next 50 years the two manufacturers raced, fought, won, lost and traded insults.”

That’s the fitting intro to Allan Girdler’s excellent book, ‘The Harley-Davidson and Indian Wars,’ which details the battles between the two brands, that took place on the track and in the dealerships until 1939. 

Indian didn’t survive beyond WWII but the rivalry resumed when Indian Motorcycle, thanks to parent company Polaris was reborn – and went racing again – against Harley.

Indian have dominated American flat track with their FTR and, it was looking like they might do the same in Super Hooligan road racing until a rule tweak allowed Harley-Davidson’s Pan America adventure bike to compete on level terms on the asphalt.

Cory West on the Saddlemen Harley-Davidson. It’s based on the Pan America adventure bike

Two big teams are flying Harley colours in this year’s series. The Saddlemen Race Development Team consists of Cory West, Jake Lewis and Travis Wyman.  Saddlemen is an American company based in Long Beach, California, that specializes in motorcycle seats and luggage.

Cory West, Jake Lewis and Travis Wyman will race in Super Hooligan aboard stripped-down, highly modified, Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 motorcycles that will feature Saddlemen’s latest carbon-fibre racing bodywork.

Team Saddlemen’s bikes will use factory-developed racing parts from Harley-Davidson and Screamin’ Eagle, and the team’s sponsors and technical partners include Harley-Davidson, Screamin’ Eagle, Mission Foods, Drag Specialties, Motul, Darkhorse Motor Company, Bell Helmets, Barnett Clutches, Regina Chains, K&N Filters, Suicide Machine Company, NAMZ Custom Cycle Products, and 4SR.

Meanwhile Cody Wyman (#34) and Hayden Schultz (#49) both have made their Super Hooligan debut for Kyle Wyman Racing (KWR).

“Bagger and Hooligan racing have taken MotoAmerica by storm in recent years, and my goal in this programme is to expand on that and strengthen the Harley-Davidson Racing footprint within our series,” said Kyle Wyman, who competes full-time for the Harley-Davidson Factory Race Team in Mission King Of The Baggers. 

“Wyman and Schultz each bring unique experience to the team. Cody, making his Super Hooligan debut, currently serves as a test rider for the Harley-Davidson Factory Race Team. With numerous podium finishes and a championship in other MotoAmerica classes, Cody’s expertise promises a successful season.

Hayden Schultz, also making his Super Hooligans debut, will race a Harley-Davidson for the first time since the Vance & Hines/Harley-Davidson XR1200 series concluded in 2014. 

In the first round at Daytona in March, Indian FTR rider Tory Herfoss won the first race from another Indian rider, Tyler O’Hara and Cory West on Saddlemen’s Pan America. In race two, West came out on top from Saddlemen teammate Jake Lewis and KWR’s Cody Wyman making it an all-Harley podium. West leads the points on 41 while Herfoss, who was fifth in race two, is second on 36, with O’Hara, third overall.

Words by superbike.co.uk  Photos: KW Racing and Brian J. Nelson (MotoAmerica race action)

Harley take the war to Indian – once more | SuperBike