Baggers

[faffi]

Anybody watch the Bagger MotoGP support race yesterday? These behemoths are surprisingly fast, just 12 seconds off MotoGP per lap, and on par with Moto3. In fact, they are not that far off the speed of a 30 year old genuine GP bike. I am impressed.

[DoubleGuzzi]

Radical!
Paraphrasing for Trekkies: It's a bagger but not as we know it, Jim

[faffi]

For those wanting more insight in the bikes, this video brings quite a bit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiB3hk_DghI&pp=ygUTY3ljbGUgd29ybGQgYmFnZ2Vycw%3D%3D

[Swedemoto]

I really like watching the baggers! I find it just as exciting to watch as GP if not more!

[TN Mark]

The Bagger racing is the only racing I’ve watched since it started.

[MG_rider]

Single wheel drive NASCAR.  Nothing wrong with that, although I'd like to see Indian stay involved.   630 lbs, 200 HP!

[Scott Carpenter]

Its a one make series I believe, at the GP support races are. I would find it more appealing if it as open to all makes. I wonder how fast one of those 6 cylinder BMWs could be made to go?

[TN Mark]

Agree. The ‘rules’ always seem to favor Harley, whatever category they participate in.

An ‘open’ baggers series would of course very likely favor the BMW K1600 bagger.

The problem with a truly open, run what ya brung, race series is it wouldn’t be at all competitive.

At the same time, Indian vs. Harley: H-D makes a 131” and Indian tops out at 112”. It’s amazing how computer are. For sure, technology matters.

[SIR REAL ED]

For those wanting more insight in the bikes, this video brings quite a bit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiB3hk_DghI&pp=ygUTY3ljbGUgd29ybGQgYmFnZ2Vycw%3D%3D

interesting!  There is a nice tidbit of information at the 33 minute mark.

I remember reading years ago that while riding a motorcycle, both of your eyes should always be horizontal.

[Travlr]

Here's a fun video speculating on a Moto Guzzi Bagger racer.  Perhaps using the MGX-21 platform?

Mike

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-swJLMAAoGw

[Moparnut72]

The video focused on the V100 but I would suspect the rules do not allow OHC's thus the MGX having a pushrod engine would fit the rules. But I think the series requires an entry to be based on a currently produced platform.Rules for this series will be slanted towards American Iron specifically HD. I don't think HD was too thrilled when Indian put some rain on their parade.
kk

[turboguzzi]

Here's a fun video speculating on a Moto Guzzi Bagger racer.  Perhaps using the MGX-21 platform?

Mike

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-swJLMAAoGw

Well, another AI made click bait video, and on top, the whole plot rotates around a single "picture" / sketch from Obedan Bezzi, a well known designer in italy. 

He produces dozens of imaginary bikes for his fun, not even one reaches production. 

As we say in Italy "Boh" which means more or less, oh well.... 

https://oberdanbezzi.artstation.com/projects/1xOeZq?album_id=754343

https://oberdanbezzi.artstation.com/

With all due respect, if only 9 people showed up to race at the texas motogp Baggers, seems like not so much interest from teams, sponsors and racers?

Even the MotoAmerica King of the Baggers at Daytona had just 11 participants,  so even in USA there doesnt seem to be a lot of appreciation.

I grew up on americans dominating 500gp racing, wouold love to see them coming back on the scene, but i cant see how this series can produce new talent at world level.

[Scott Carpenter]

I hadn't quite realised how few were on the grid at Daytona. 11???

[TN Mark]

Here's a fun video speculating on a Moto Guzzi Bagger racer.  Perhaps using the MGX-21 platform?

Mike

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-swJLMAAoGw

Yup, more click bait nonsense. Right along with the 2026 Moto Guzzi Eldorado and California Tourer.

Truth is, a V120, 1200cc Moto Guzzi wouldn't be competitive in a single lap of an actual Baggers race against the 131" (2147cc) Harley or the 112" (1835cc) Indian.

Sadly, the 'rules' only allow these two American manufacturers.

The money it takes to put these two brands on the track has to be monumental. I greatly enjoy watching these bikes but I knew, that racing series would quicken the end of Indian at Polaris. There was simply no way for Polaris to recoup the money it took to keep a couple of factory bikes on the track. Especially combined with their poor Marketing and the state of 'big' bike sales in the US and around the world.


 

[PilotJet]

The Moto America Baggers series has been drawing in a lot more fans to Moto America than they used to. The baggers took over the Harley XR1200 series that ran for quite a few years. I was a huge fan of that class since I had one and was able to put a few high performance mods on my street bike that were available, due to the racing series.

I saw them race in NJ with Moto America quite a few years back. I Love Moto America but it is a shame that they dont draw more fans. I was impressed by the turnout they had at the MotoGP races at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas. GO APRILLIA!!

Moto America and MotoGP used to share that weekend at the Texas track but they dont race there together any more. The baggers must have come as a special event. Motogp used to race 3 tracks here in the US on their schedule. Laguna Seca was my favorite track for MotoGP but they only race the 1 Texas event now.

I think the baggers are fun to watch. I saw a couple of them at the Loudon Classic a few years back .... racin for prize money. There's many riders in that series that also race the superbikes.

[bad Chad]

They are fun to watch. 

But I would like to see something a bit more authentic.   The problem I have is they are SOOOO far far from stock, it's absurd to call them Baggers.  The only thing they have in common with what we can buy is the bags!   

I'm not up on Bubba racing, but NASCAR no longer has much anything to do with "stock car", and that's what this is.

I think it's good for motorcycling in general, but it's highly dysfunctional.    ehh.

[turboguzzi]

the whole Baggers thing is such an odditiy, the BASE bike that "you can buy", is north to 100K $, imagine the cost after its been prepared for racing, how many teams are going to pocket that?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/billroberson/2025/03/05/harley-davidson-to-build-just-131-110000-153-horsepower-rr-tourers/

Wannt authentic racing?  Super Hooligans.

Serious looking bikes, 2 secs a lap fast than Baggers @ Daytona for a fraction of the cost, wild to watch, 40 starters....

watch both races, tell me what looks more fun...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWzpwvS0kDM&t

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmH1He8yvgI

[PilotJet]

They Both Are Awesome if you ask me!! Killer finish on the Hooligans race. I love all 2 wheel racin ... and sidecars as well

[ridingron]

It looked like the racers and their support crews out numbered the fans in the stands.

[turboguzzi]

It looked like the racers and their support crews out numbered the fans in the stands.

Sad state of affairs indeed, but i think its almost like that for the main SBK race too. Daytona is made for NASCAR crowds, not motorcycle racing crowds.

F1 attracts to COTA 100,000 spectators for race day i hear,

MotoGP? less than 40,000.

BTW, super hooligans is a class that the V100 could participate, there are HD Pan America and BMW R9T there already.