EICMA 2010: Harley Davidson VRXSE Screamin' Eagle V-Rod Destroyer

People in Europe are pretty much out of the loop when it comes to the Americans' racing hobbies. Across the ocean, almost an entire nation is mesmerized by what they all call fancy names like National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Pro-Stock Motorcycle, or NASCAR. Or, simply translated, high adrenaline, high-speed, spectacular collisions.

In this piece here however will talk a bit about NHRA, and a racing style which has come to be known both in Europe and in the US as drag-racing. A quarter mile run to happiness or a very, very painful wreck.

Harley Davidson, the bike maker which for decades has been synonymous with biking, had to take part in the NHRA Pro-Stock Motorcycle competition. After all, Harley was among the pioneers of motorcycle racing back in the beginning of the 20th century.

Currently, the bike maker is one of the key contenders for the fastest mile-runs on any given track. And it's all owed to some fine riding from some great bikers and to what Harley likes to call, in a very fancy, scary way, VRXSE Screamin' Eagle V-Rod Destroyer.

We can translate the above name into some very simple words: fast, terrifying, limited and, above all, illegal to ride on public roads. Power by a 1300cc Screamin' Eagle revolution engine (liquid-cooled revolution 60 degrees V-Twin), the bike develops 131.5 Nm at 7,600 rpm and is capable of some breathtaking acceleration (Harley says that if you buy one, you'll do the quarter mile in 6.991 seconds.)

The price of the dragster was set by Harley at $31,249.