How Much Horsepower Does A Top Fuel Harley Have And How Fast Can It Go?

When you think about Harley-Davidson, the last thing that comes to mind is a stretched-out 1,000-plus horsepower beast dominating a Top Fuel track. Sure, a motorcycle company with as much reach as Harley wouldn't have any issues having a few of their bikes compete in such races. However, you wouldn't be wrong to conclude that most of their motorcycles think the beloved Road King and Road Glide, or the charismatic Dyna, are more suited for the endless open roads and sunny streets than a daunting strip of asphalt that makes up the Top Fuel track. But, while many Harleys do indeed have their own niches and would need out-of-this-world makeovers to compete in Top Fuel, it doesn't mean their design, especially when it comes to their engines, hasn't influenced a good chunk of the motorcycles zipping down the drag track at blinding speeds. 

Top Fuel has been around for decades. It's mostly like any other high-speed motorsport, except the two-wheeled machines here have unholy amounts of horsepower and gifted pilots ready to push them to their limit. Several motorcycles use either a two-cylinder or four-cylinder configuration for their engines, the former of which are known as Top Fuel Harleys, owing to the fact that their engines are heavily based on V-Twins Harley-Davidson spent the last century perfecting. Top Fuel Harleys are indeed fast, with most of them easily putting out 1,500 horsepower. Well, this begs the question: what makes them so different from regular bikes, and just how fast can they clear your everyday Top Fuel range?

The V-Twin engine has always been a marvel. Harley must've known how special the motor was as it tinkered with it over the years, presenting the likes of the Panhead, Knucklehead, and Shovelhead, engines that would set the stage for most modern V-Twins. While the two-cylinder motors fused to the speedsters at Top Fuel are more or less related to standard motorcycle V-Twins, their engine configuration, the fuel they use, and the absolutely staggering amounts of power they are able to churn out on the track are what sets them apart. These engines are painstakingly engineered specifically to burn 98 percent nitromethane, which, although unstable, offers more power than standard gasoline. 

Everything about Top Fuel Harley motorcycles is built to help the bike spear down the track as quickly as possible while minimizing drag. From their design, which features their iconic tube chassis, to the lightweight material used in their sturdy build and the mighty engines that give the motorcycles their commanding presence, every aspect ensures the pilot can clear the range in the shortest amount of time. It is not surprising, then, that these beasts can reach close to 250 mph, which allows them to clear a 1,320-foot drag strip in about 5 seconds. 

As a company heavily invested in everything motorcycles, it is only right that Harley-Davidson builds its own machines that come off the factory line ready to challenge the monsters at the dragstrip, right? Well, in 2006, Harley actually made a dragster, the VRXSE Screamin' Eagle V-Rod Destroyer, which actually counts among some of the most powerful V-Rods Harley has ever made. The Destroyer boasted a high-performance 79-cubic-inch Revolution V-Twin capable of pushing out 170 horsepower and 97 pound-feet of torque. It also came with unique features meant to make it stand out on the competitive drag racing scene, from forged pistons to a wheelie bar and a custom swingarm for the chassis. 

The Destroyer has only seen some 600 units released since its debut in 2006. Yes, it is a fast bike, especially when compared to other production motorcycles. However, if pitted against any of the 1,000-plus Top Fuel Harleys that exist today, it wouldn't stand a chance.