Is Harley-Davidson Leaving King of the Baggers? What It Means for Bagger Racing in 2027

Yes, Harley-Davidson is leaving King of the Baggers. On October 1, 2026, Harley announced it will end its factory racing team and official team support in MotoAmerica's King of the Baggers after the 2026 season. Starting in 2027, the Motor Company is putting its factory racing money into the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup, the Harley-only series it runs with MotoGP, the FIM and IRTA. Privateer teams can still race Road Glides in King of the Baggers, but the factory-backed Harley vs. Indian war that made the series must-watch TV is done, at least for now. Here's what happened, what it means, and why a lot of riders are ticked off about it.

What exactly did Harley-Davidson announce?

The short version: Harley is trading a domestic rivalry for a global stage. According to the announcement and coverage from MotoAmerica and Rider Magazine, the plan looks like this:

• Out: Factory participation and official team support in the Mission King of the Baggers Championship, effective after the 2026 season.
• In: The FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup, which Harley says will grow in 2027 with more teams, riders and races. Details are promised "in the coming months."
• Also in: More accessible grassroots racing across multiple disciplines. Harley hasn't spelled out what that means yet.
• Still allowed: Independent teams can keep racing Harleys in King of the Baggers, and Harley has said it will still back those teams with parts and bikes.

MotoAmerica did not exactly throw a going-away party. Its statement said it shares fans' disappointment, that getting the news "at such a late stage presents challenges," and that it's exploring all options to keep the class going.

Who won King of the Baggers, Harley or Indian?

Here's the gut punch. Since King of the Baggers became a full multi-round championship in 2021, the two American brands have split the titles dead even. It's the closest thing motorcycle racing has to a Ford vs. Chevy feud, and it's been going back and forth like a tennis match with big-inch V-twins.

Season	Championship Brand
2021	Harley-Davidson
2022	Indian Motorcycle
2023	Harley-Davidson
2024	Indian Motorcycle
2025	Harley-Davidson
2026	Indian Motorcycle (Hayden Gillim)
Total	Harley 3, Indian 3

Source: Rider Magazine, October 2026.

Harley's Kyle Wyman leaves as the winningest rider in the category's history with 27 victories. And he went out swinging: Wyman won Harley's final factory race at New Jersey Motorsports Park, beating the new champ, Indian's Hayden Gillim. That's a mic drop and a walk-off at the same time.

So the scoreboard reads 3 to 3, and one team just grabbed its ball and went home. Indian fans will call it a forfeit. Harley fans will say they're simply too big for the neighborhood. Both groups will argue about it at the gas station until spring.

Why is Harley leaving King of the Baggers?

Harley hasn't said "because we wanted to stop losing to Indian every other year," so we won't put words in their mouth. Based on what the company has said, the logic goes like this:

1. Bigger audience. The Bagger World Cup runs alongside MotoGP, which puts Road Glides in front of a worldwide crowd instead of mostly American race fans.
2. Its own series, its own spotlight. The World Cup is built around Harley machines only. As Rider Magazine pointed out, Harley doesn't have to beat Indian to win the headline there.
3. Product tie-in. Harley says the World Cup is a platform for testing performance tech, developing future bikes and building Screamin' Eagle performance parts you can actually buy.
4. Grassroots racing. The company says it wants more accessible racing for regular riders. If that turns into real support for local racers and dealers, that's a win. If it turns into a press release and a hat, less so.

From a spreadsheet point of view, it makes some sense. From a "we grew up on Harley vs. Indian" point of view, it stings like a wasp in your helmet at 70 mph.

Is King of the Baggers ending?

Not as of today. MotoAmerica says it's actively exploring options to keep the class alive, and Indian Motorcycle Racing has already confirmed Hayden Gillim and Troy Herfoss for 2027. Privateer Harley teams can still show up, and Harley says it will keep supplying bikes and parts to independents.

The big question is competition. A factory-backed team brings development money, engineering muscle and a reason for sponsors to care. Without it, Indian could end up racing against privateers who are fast but under-funded. That's still racing, but it's not the same heavyweight title fight.

What does this mean for everyday Harley riders?

For most of us, the bike in the garage doesn't change one bit. Your Road Glide still starts, still shakes at idle, and still makes non-riders jump in the Walmart parking lot. But here's what's worth watching:

• Performance parts: If the World Cup really feeds Screamin' Eagle development, the stuff that works on track could end up in the catalog.
• Where to watch: If you want to see factory Harleys race in 2027, you'll be watching the Bagger World Cup at MotoGP rounds, not MotoAmerica weekends here at home.
• Local racing: Keep an eye on your dealer for any grassroots racing programs Harley rolls out. That could be your shot at turning laps instead of watching them.
• Bragging rights: Indian riders now have a permanent "you left" card. Expect to hear it at every bike night through 2030.

Our take: Did Harley make the right call?

Look, we sell skull shirts, not race strategy. But we know bikers, and bikers love a good rivalry more than they love free coffee at a rally. King of the Baggers took the bikes people actually own, the big touring rigs built for two-up road trips, and turned them into fire-breathing race machines. That was the magic. Harley helped build that, won half the titles, and is now walking away with the score tied.

Going global isn't a crime. But the home crowd made Harley what it is, and a lot of riders feel like they just got left at the gas station while the group rode off. We hope the World Cup crushes it. We also hope Harley remembers who was standing at the fence at Laguna Seca and Road America cheering for orange and black.

FAQ: Harley-Davidson and King of the Baggers

When does Harley-Davidson leave King of the Baggers?

Harley's factory team and official team support end after the 2026 season. The announcement came October 1, 2026, and Harley's last factory race was the season finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park, which Kyle Wyman won.

What is the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup?

It's the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup, a Harley-only bagger racing series run in partnership with MotoGP, the FIM and IRTA. Harley says it will add more teams, riders and races in 2027.

Can Harleys still race in King of the Baggers?

Yes. Independent teams can still race Harley-Davidson motorcycles in King of the Baggers, and Harley has said it will continue supporting those teams with bikes and parts. There just won't be an official factory team.

Who has won the most King of the Baggers championships?

It's a tie. From 2021 to 2026, Harley-Davidson won three titles (2021, 2023, 2025) and Indian Motorcycle won three (2022, 2024, 2026). Harley's Kyle Wyman holds the record for most race wins in the class with 27.

Is King of the Baggers canceled for 2027?

No. As of late October 2026, MotoAmerica says it is exploring options to continue the class, and Indian has confirmed riders Hayden Gillim and Troy Herfoss for 2027.