There is something of a misconception that American motorcycles are so focused on making torque that they forget about horsepower entirely. The debate about which is actually more important is purely subjective and could go on for days, but one fact remains that there are most certainly some seriously fast American motorcycles on (or coming onto) the market. The most obvious candidates for this are the high-powered electric motorcycles currently being developed. But, both Indian and Harley-Davidson have produced a couple of surprising motorcycles that can actually take the fight to the establishment as well. There are also a few wild cards that may not even be on your radar.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites, including Indian and Harley-Davidson, as well as other authoritative sources. The motorcycles on this list are rated according to horsepower.
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10
Indian FTR Sport
Power: 120 Horsepower
Indian has sliced out a small niche market with the FTR. As it stands, this is the only naked bike made by one of the big American manufacturers. While a tad heavy compared to some of the Japanese and European models, it has a charm all of its own and capitalizes on buyers looking for an American flat-track racing aesthetic. It’s quite a lot cheaper than European-made V-twin naked bikes (we’re looking at you, KTM 1390 Super Duke R Evo).
Specifications
| Engine Type | V-Twin, liquid-cooled |
| Displacement | 1203cc |
| Max Torque | 87 LB-FT |
| Transmission | 6-speed |
| Weight | 522 lbs |
9
Harley-Davidson Sportster S
Power: 121 Horsepower
We can lament the fact that the Bronx could have so easily been here in the place of the Sportster S as much as we want. The fact remains that it is not. What we do get is an especially modern, especially fast Sportster. Its liquid-cooled V-twin laughs in the face of the old air-cooled engines and offers a totally unique riding experience.
Specifications
| Engine Type | V-Twin, liquid-cooled |
| Displacement | 1917cc |
| Max Torque | 1250cc |
| Transmission | 6-speed |
| Weight | 502 lbs |
8
Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide ST
Power: 127 Horsepower
What you’re looking at is the wildest Harley-Davidson bagger. Not only does it possess Harley’s biggest V-twin to date, but it does so in a High Output trim. The result is the highest power output for a Harley that’s not an adventure bike. The carbon fiber bits, special wheels, adjustable suspension, and race bike-inspired graphics elevate the package further.
Specifications
| Engine Type | V-Twin, air-cooled |
| Displacement | 1977cc |
| Max Torque | 145 LB-FT |
| Transmission | 6-speed |
| Weight | 838 lbs (wet) |
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7
Harley-Davidson Pan America Special
Power: 150 Horsepower
While an adventure bike might not be the first thing that comes to mind when talking about fast motorcycles, we really do live in a different kind of world today. The Pan America is by some margin the fastest Harley, and along with that powerful V-twin comes a long list of comfort features for those who want to tour at hyperspeed. There’s also a CVO version for all of you who want something top-shelf.
Specifications
| Engine Type | V-Twin, liquid-cooled |
| Displacement | 1250cc |
| Max Torque | 95 LB-FT |
| Transmission | 6-speed |
| Weight | 569 lbs |
6
Buell Super Cruiser*
Power: 175 Horsepower
Over the past year or so, there has been a lot of buzz around the Super Cruiser. The weight of expectation is now firmly set upon its shoulders, and we are already seeing a few cracks here and there, with inevitable changes being made to the pre-production model. We have a clearer picture of what the Super Cruiser will look like now, though, and we feel it still has the potential to really take the fight to the establishment in 2025.
Specifications
| Engine Type | V-Twin, liquid-cooled |
| Displacement | 1190cc |
| Max Torque | 101 LB-FT |
| Transmission | 6-speed |
| Weight | 450 lbs |
5
Lightning Strike R
Power: 180 Horsepower
Electric motorcycles are akin to high-stakes gambling, with companies folding one after the other, especially expensive superbike manufacturers like Lightning. Somehow, even with questionable financials and even more questionable build quality, the company remains active. It is pretty wild to think that this is the “low spec” version of the bike. The top-shelf model is in another league altogether, as you’ll see below.
Specifications
| Motor | Ultra Power Dense Axial Flux 380VDC liquid-cooled |
| Battery Capacity | 20 kWh |
| Max Torque | 120 LB-FT |
| Transmission | Automatic (direct drive) |
| Weight | N/A |
4
Buell Hammerhead
Power: 185 Horsepower
The original Buell 1125R was a truly revolutionary motorcycle. Determined not to let the effort that went into building it go to waste after Buell got shuttered in 2009, Erik Buell set up Erik Buell Racing (EBR) mostly just to sell an updated version of that bike in the form of the 1190RX. Unfortunately, that didn’t last too long either, but it got yet another name and is still available for purchase today. As you might imagine, being an older platform – mostly targeted at racing – it is a raw machine with only a handful of features. Yet there is a lot to go gaga over, including that 185-HP V-twin powerhouse.
Specifications
| Engine Type | V-Twin, liquid-cooled |
| Displacement | 1190cc |
| Max Torque | 102 LB-FT |
| Transmission | 6-speed |
| Weight | 419 lbs |
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3
Damon HyperSport
Power: 200 Horsepower
The HyperSport demands a premium, but not exactly that much more than other equally powerful ICE motorcycles. Until it gets out into the real world, it is hard to say exactly how effective the bike will be. Theoretical power delivery and range are always a touch optimistic, but even if it only delivers on 80 percent of its potential, it will still be an incredible, seriously futuristic motorcycle.
Specifications
| Motor | PMAC liquid-cooled motor |
| Battery Capacity | 20 kWh |
| Max Torque | 148 LB-FT |
| Transmission | Automatic (direct drive) |
| Weight | N/A |
2
Lightning LS-218
Power: 244 Horsepower
We honestly wish we could actually get more excited about the LS-218. It should already be a flag-bearer for electric motorcycles around the world. But in reality, it only serves to underscore the risk involved in purchasing a high-performance electric motorcycle. To date, this is an exclusive bike, and while highly capable, certainly not widely available or remotely affordable.
Specifications
| Motor | IPM liquid-cooled electric motor |
| Battery Capacity | 15 kWh |
| Max Torque | 220 LB-FT |
| Transmission | Automatic (direct drive) |
| Weight | 495 lbs |
1
MTT 420 RR
Power: 420 Horsepower
If the company offers to sell this to you – yes, it will offer, you don’t get to just go out and buy it – you will need to shell out around $250k. What you get in return is straight out of a cartoon: an actual jet-bike. Nothing quite compares to this crazy-fast creation. It needs a pretty long stretch of road (well, ideally a runway) to build up speed, but will essentially go as fast as you dare.
Specifications
| Engine Type | Rolls Royce-Allison Model 250 C20B gas turbine engine |
| Displacement | N/A |
| Max Torque | 500 LB-FT |
| Transmission | Automatic (two-speed) |
| Weight | 500 lbs |