Full Disclosure – this bike is currently in Australia. We’re hoping someone will bring it back to the states. Back in 1988, Harley decided to try their hand at knocking off Ducati from their perch atop AMA Superbike. Unfortunately, what would have been top notch technology when the bike was supposed to have been released (in 1991) was well behind the curve when it actually started racing (in 1994). Homologation requirements resulted in the Harley-Davidson VR1000, of which only 50 were sold.
Nifty fact of the day – the VR1000 did not share a single part with any existing Harley. HD outsourced a lot of parts to help develop their attempt at a world-beater, but kept it all within the good ol’ USA. Roush developed the engine, Pesnke took care of the suspension, and Wilwood handled the brakes.
But what was truly unique about this bike was how they handled homologation. AMA rules do not specify where a bike has to be road legal, just that a minimum of 50 copies have to be produced. As American emissions laws were impossibly strict for a true race bike, HD sold all 50 bikes in…Poland. Feel free to go back and reread that. HD just threw on a headlight, turn signals, and mirrors, and called it a day. For $49,490, Polish riders got a 135 horsepower, 400 pound racebike that had a lovely split-personality paint job. One stripe of white split halves of black and orange.
This specific Harley-Davidson VR1000 looks to be in immaculate condition. The seller doesn’t seem to go into much detail for exactly that reason, but to be frank, anyone who’s going to fork over the money required to own this bike is going to have a serious PPI done anyway.
Find this Harley-Davidson VR1000 for sale here at Raider Motorsports for…wait for it…$74,990 in Coffs Harbour, Australia.
