Top 10 Fastest Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ranked by Top Speed
TL;DR
- The Pan America 1250 Special is the fastest current-production Harley-Davidson at 141 mph, confirmed in real-world testing (TopSpeed, 2022).
- The Sportster S reaches 137-143 mph, making it the fastest Harley cruiser available new today.
- The discontinued FXDR 114 and V-Rod Muscle sit near the top at ~140 mph and 139 mph respectively; Harley never published official figures for either.
- The CVO Road Glide ST packs 127 hp from its Milwaukee-Eight 121 HO engine yet is electronically speed-limited to 110 mph from the factory.
- Harley-Davidson does not publish official top speed figures for most models; numbers here are drawn from independent road tests and named sources.
How These Rankings Were Determined
Harley-Davidson almost never publishes a top speed figure. What circulates online is a mix of GPS-confirmed runs, instrumented tests, forum data, and speculation that gets copy-pasted until it looks credible.
The hierarchy here: GPS-verified or instrumented test results first, named independent publications (TopSpeed, Ultimate Motorcycling, Autoevolution) second, manufacturer spec sheets for power and displacement where top speed isn’t confirmed. Figures that appear inflated or unverifiable are flagged. Both current-production models and recently discontinued machines are included, since the V-Rod and FXDR still move in the used market.
Fastest Harley-Davidson Motorcycles at a Glance
| Rank | Model | Engine | Est. Top Speed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pan America 1250 Special | Revolution Max 1250T, 150 hp | 141 mph | Current production |
| 2 | Sportster S | Revolution Max 1250T, 121 hp | 137-143 mph | Current production |
| 3 | FXDR 114 | Milwaukee-Eight 114, 90 hp | ~140 mph (estimated) | Discontinued 2020 |
| 4 | V-Rod Muscle (VRSCF) | Revolution 1247cc, 122 hp | 139 mph | Discontinued 2017 |
| 5 | V-Rod / Night Rod (VRSC) | Revolution 1131-1247cc, 115-125 hp | 137-144 mph | Discontinued 2017 |
| 6 | Low Rider S (2025+) | Milwaukee-Eight 117 H.O., 114 hp | ~125 mph (estimated) | Current production |
| 7 | Low Rider ST | Milwaukee-Eight 117 H.O., 114 hp | ~120-125 mph (estimated) | Current production |
| 8 | Breakout 117 | Milwaukee-Eight 117, 104 hp | ~120 mph (estimated) | Current production |
| 9 | CVO Road Glide ST | Milwaukee-Eight 121 H.O., 127 hp | 110 mph (ECU limited) | Current production |
| 10 | Nightster / LiveWire One | RevMax 975T / Electric | 107-115 mph | Current production |
1. Pan America 1250 Special – Fastest Harley-Davidson in Production
The Pan America 1250 Special is the fastest production Harley-Davidson available today. A real-world top speed run confirmed it at 141 mph (227 km/h) on flat ground (TopSpeed, 2022), a number backed by multiple independent tests.
The Revolution Max 1250T engine produces 150 horsepower at 9,000 rpm and 95 lb-ft of torque – the most powerful series-production Harley V-twin ever built. Peak power arrives high in the rev range and, combined with a wet weight around 540 lb, gives the Pan America a power-to-weight ratio the rest of the lineup can’t match. The 0-60 time clocks around 3.4 seconds (Viking Bags, 2025). The 2026 model starts at $19,999 MSRP.
2. Sportster S – Fastest New Harley Cruiser
The Sportster S is the fastest Harley-Davidson cruiser in current production, with independently tested top speeds from 137 mph (FastestLaps.com, 2024) to 143 mph (TopSpeed, 2023). The spread reflects real variables: rider weight, temperature, and run-in state.
It runs the Revolution Max 1250T tuned for street torque – 121 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and 93 lb-ft at 6,000 rpm. Variable valve timing lets it pull hard from low rpm through the top end. The 0-60 time is around 3.4 seconds. At 502 lb with a forward-leaning riding position, the Sportster S is not a beginner’s bike. The 2026 model starts at $15,999.
3. FXDR 114 – The Drag-Inspired Softail
The FXDR 114 is listed everywhere with a claimed top speed of 160 mph and a 0-60 of 2.5 seconds. Those numbers are almost certainly wrong. The Milwaukee-Eight 114 is an air-cooled pushrod V-twin that tops out around 6,500 rpm, and 90 horsepower in a 668 lb bike doesn’t reach 160 mph. HD Forum owners who’ve ridden the FXDR in stock trim say neither figure holds up – and Harley never published an official top speed for it.
A realistic estimate is 135-140 mph, consistent with what other Milwaukee-Eight machines achieve. It is genuinely quick in a straight line – low, relatively light for a Harley, and built with composite body panels. The FXDR 114 is discontinued; used examples typically sell for $14,000-$18,000.
4. V-Rod Muscle (VRSCF) – The Porsche-Powered Cruiser
The V-Rod Muscle is the fastest Harley to bear a traditional cruiser silhouette. Autoevolution lists its top speed at 139 mph from manufacturer specification data, consistent with independent tests. The VRSCF ran a 1,247cc liquid-cooled Revolution engine producing 122 hp at 8,250 rpm – co-developed with Porsche Engineering. Brembo triple-disc brakes and a 240mm rear tire rounded out the package.
Discontinued in 2017; used examples sell from $10,000 to $16,000.
5. V-Rod / Night Rod (VRSC Family)
The broader VRSC family – original V-Rod, Night Rod, and Street Rod – spans 137.6 to 144 mph across model years, per Wikipedia’s technical summary drawing on manufacturer and test data (Wikipedia, VRSC article). Early 1,131cc Revolution engines produced 115 hp; later 1,247cc versions pushed to 125 hp. The Night Rod Special (VRSCDX) and Street Rod (VRSCR) land at the upper end of that range. All VRSC models were discontinued after 2017. These are the bikes that proved Harley could produce something that ran with sport bikes from the dealer floor.
6. Low Rider S (2025+) – The Fastest Current Softail
The 2025-2026 Low Rider S is the performance head of Harley’s Softail lineup. It runs the Milwaukee-Eight 117 High Output engine in its most aggressive tune – 114 hp and 128 lb-ft of torque. Ultimate Motorcycling’s 2025 test noted the bike felt “planted at 100 mph, which it reaches effortlessly” (Ultimate Motorcycling, 2025). No instrumented top speed has been published, but the power output and 699 lb curb weight put the practical ceiling around 120-125 mph. Sport mode sharpens throttle response dramatically and pushes the torque peak earlier in the rev range. The 2026 Low Rider S starts at $19,499.
7. Low Rider ST
The Low Rider ST adds a frame-mounted FXRT-style fairing and factory saddlebags to the Low Rider S platform. For 2025, it received the same Milwaukee-Eight 117 H.O. upgrade – same four-valve heads, same performance cam. At 721 lb it’s slightly heavier than the Low Rider S, so estimated top speed runs the same 120-125 mph. What the ST does better at speed is stability: the fairing cuts wind load meaningfully, making triple-digit highway miles sustainable. It starts at $21,999 for 2026.
8. Breakout 117
The Breakout 117 is Harley’s factory chopper – long, low, and built around a 240mm rear tire and a Milwaukee-Eight 117 in Custom tune making 104 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque. TopSpeed puts the top speed at around 120 mph (TopSpeed, 2024), with a 2017 video of the previous-gen Breakout 114 reaching 124 mph supporting that range.
The wide rear tire and stretched geometry limit the top-end number. But 123 lb-ft of torque arriving at 3,000 rpm means this bike feels fast where most riders actually ride: between 40 and 80 mph. The 2025 Breakout 117 starts at $18,499.
9. CVO Road Glide ST – Most Powerful, Not the Fastest
The CVO Road Glide ST is Harley’s most powerful production motorcycle, with the Milwaukee-Eight 121 High Output making 127 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque (Cycle Trader, 2026). But it’s electronically speed-limited to 110 mph. Harley capped it there given the bike’s weight – over 800 lb fully loaded – and the stability demands that come with it at sustained high speed.
The 121 HO is a genuine piece of performance engineering: liquid-cooled heads, variable valve timing, a 5,900 rpm redline, and cam profiles derived from Harley’s King of the Baggers race program. It’s ferociously quick through corners and off freeway ramps. The speed limiter is real; the performance isn’t a bluff. Starting price runs $43,000-$45,000.
10. Nightster and LiveWire One
The Nightster runs Harley’s Revolution Max 975T – a 975cc DOHC liquid-cooled V-twin producing 90 hp and reaching around 107-110 mph (TopSpeed, 2023). That’s adequate for its role as Harley’s entry-level modern sport model, and its 481 lb weight and 27.1-inch seat height make it one of the more approachable Harleys to actually hustle through corners.
The LiveWire One is the fastest Harley off the line below 100 mph. Its electric motor delivers 86 lb-ft of torque from a dead stop and a 0-60 time of around 3 seconds (EagleLights, 2025). Top speed is 110 mph per Harley’s own spec data. The top end runs out quickly, but nothing else with a Harley badge accelerates like this in the first 40 mph.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Fastest Harley-Davidson Motorcycles
What is the fastest Harley-Davidson motorcycle you can buy new in 2026?
The Pan America 1250 Special is the fastest current-production Harley-Davidson, confirmed at 141 mph in real-world GPS testing (TopSpeed, 2022). Its Revolution Max 1250T engine produces 150 hp, and the 2026 MSRP of $19,999 makes it one of the better performance values in the lineup.
Does Harley-Davidson publish official top speed figures?
No. Harley-Davidson doesn’t publish top speed figures for most of its models. Numbers online come from independent tests, GPS-confirmed runs, European type-approval filings, or forum reports. Keep that in mind when you see suspiciously specific figures like “160.4 mph” – those almost certainly weren’t measured on a stock bike with verifiable methodology.
Is the FXDR 114 really 160 mph in stock form?
No – not credibly. The 160 mph and 2.5-second 0-60 figures are widely repeated but don’t hold up. The Milwaukee-Eight 114 is an air-cooled 90 hp pushrod V-twin with a 6,500 rpm ceiling. HD Forum owners who rode the FXDR stock say neither figure reflects reality. A realistic estimate is 135-140 mph – still fast for a Softail, just not the drag-strip record the headline implies.
Why is the CVO Road Glide ST speed-limited to 110 mph if it makes 127 hp?
Harley limits it electronically because it’s a full-dress touring bike over 800 lb. Sustained high speed with that fairing and weight creates handling demands the limiter avoids. The 127 hp and 145 lb-ft make it brutally quick to 100 mph; the cap prevents it going beyond 110.
What was the fastest Harley-Davidson ever built?
The Screamin’ Eagle V-Rod Destroyer was Harley’s purpose-built NHRA drag racing platform and was not street legal. It’s cited as having exceeded 165 mph in competition (EagleLights, 2025). For street-legal production models, the Pan America 1250 Special at 141 mph is the current benchmark.
Meta title: Top 10 Fastest Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ranked by Top Speed Meta description: The fastest Harley-Davidson is the Pan America 1250 Special at 141 mph. See every fast Harley ranked by top speed with engine specs and sourced data.
