The Harley Davidson KR750
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This site was originally dedicated to the Ironhead Sportster and all the race bikes based on it. I have since decided that the KR deserved a place here even though the KR is clearly a Flathead. The reasoning is simple. The model K Harley motorcycle was the one that started the Sportster line. It wasn't called a Sportster but it's the bike that the Sportster was based on. If you look closely at the two engines, Ironhead and K model, you can't miss the relationship. The K model (including the KR) is the father of the Sportster so I think it has earned a place here.
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1968 Harley Davidson KR lowboy flat tracker
This beautiful, rare example of the dominating KR flat track racer
was ridden to 4 Grand National and 1 TT win during the 1968 season by legendary dirt track
racer, Bart Markel. This motorcycle is the only remaining Bart Markel lowboy KR, the
others having been destroyed in a garage fire. The bike was restored by George Butler, a
former mechanic for Bart Markel.
This picture and info courtesy of the Allen Vintage
Motorcycle Museum
http://www.allenmuseum.com/
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Mert Lawill's 1968 dual carb KR DT
Courtesy of Steve Matz - Billings, Mt. MATZ1949@aol.com Thanks Steve!
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1965 KR - Sturgis 1966Courtesy of Steve Matz - Billings, Mt. MATZ1949@aol.com Thanks Steve!
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A matched pair of 67 KR's ridden by National #85 dirttrack racer Joe Messaros - Sturgis 1967
Courtesy of Steve Matz - Billings, Mt. MATZ1949@aol.com Thanks Steve!
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Tom McCormick putting oil in his 1965 KR - Sturgis, 1968
Courtesy of Steve Matz - Billings, Mt. MATZ1949@aol.com Thanks Steve!
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KR750-National #60, John Tibben. Circa 1968
Courtesy of Steve Matz - Billings, Mt. MATZ1949@aol.com Thanks Steve!
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1958 KRTT
Pictures sent in by "KBD"
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This beautifully restored 1958 KR is owned by former AMA National #57, Digger Helm. This is the same year bike that he rode while racing in the late 50's & the 60's. The bike was restored by Marsh Runyon of Fresno, Ca.
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This is the bike that Digger Helm actually rode. He bought
the bike from Monte Miller when Joe Leonard quit and went to USAC. This bike is now
in the Hall of Fame in Ohio. It has Joe's number on it because Digger had the last
of the bikes that Joe rode. (that's Marsh Runyon with the bike)
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Digger Helm on the #98 bike (shown above) back when he was racing
it as National #57. This picture was taken at the 1/2 mile track at Tulare, Ca. in
l963.
Pictures and info courtesy of Digger Helm . Thanks
Digger!
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This 1968 Vintage Factory KR belongs to one of the greatest mile track racers that ever rode for the HD factory team, Fred Nix. He won almost every national mile event after he became an official team member. He possibly could have set a record for career mile track wins but was unfortunately killed in an auto accident in 1969.
This was the last year for production due to the newly approved 750cc overhead rule. This particular KR is extremely rare as it is the only one I know of that had a complete 4130 chrome moly tubing frame. The traditional frame was cast. It is also the only year that Ceriani forks were STD equipment.
Picture and text courtesy of Steve Matz - Billings, Mt. MATZ1949@aol.com Thanks Steve!
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KRTT competing at an AHMRA RR event
Picture and text courtesy of Steve Matz - Billings, Mt. MATZ1949@aol.com Thanks Steve!
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Another KR competing in AHRMA dirt track racing
Courtesy of Steve Matz - Billings, Mt. MATZ1949@aol.com Thanks Steve!
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And yet another KRTT, this one with silencers, AHMRA
Courtesy of Steve Matz - Billings, Mt. MATZ1949@aol.com Thanks Steve!
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KRTT competing at Sears pointCourtesy of Steve Matz - Billings, Mt. MATZ1949@aol.com Thanks Steve!
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KR Engine drilled out like Swiss cheese to lighten it up.
Courtesy of Steve Matz - Billings, Mt. MATZ1949@aol.com Thanks Steve!
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This is one of the last complete KR engine assemblies you could buy from HD racing Dept. It was bought in October of 1969 and has every update the factory had on hand except for the Dual Tillotson Carbs which were mostly limited to the factory racing bikes.
Courtesy of Steve Matz - Billings, Mt. MATZ1949@aol.com Thanks Steve!
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Left side view of a KR engine with the Tillotson carb that was installed on late 1967 & 68 models. Prior to that all KR's used the old LINKERT MR4A carb. Also note the Magneto on this was a WICO used on early KR's and WR'S. Fairbanks-Morris Mags started appearing around 1956.
Courtesy of Steve Matz - Billings, Mt. MATZ1949@aol.com Thanks Steve!
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These are oil paintings done in 1969 of Bart Markel & Mert Lawwill aboard their KR's
(Note: You can see more of Mert Lawwill and his bikes on my XLR page)
Courtesy of Steve Matz - Billings, Mt. MATZ1949@aol.com Thanks Steve!
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Here's a pic of Brad Andres, HD CEO William H. Davidson, and Joe Leonard. Andres had just won the #1 plate for the 1955 Racing Season taking it from Leonard. The bike was a Sifton built KR. Back then the racers ran 21 inch front wheels on the mile tracks (verses the 19 inch) for better traction. Joe Leonard was a 3 time Grand National Champion who later became a successful race car driver.
Picture and text courtesy of Steve Matz - Billings, Mt. MATZ1949@aol.com Thanks Steve!
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This is a photo of Dick Mann, Roger Howk and Bart Markel at a reunion Dinner for VDTRA racers. Mann and Markel would have to be rated as 2 of the greatest dirt track racers of all time. Markel was a 3 time Grand National Champion and Official HD factory team racer for many years. Mann was a 2 time Grand National Champion.
Courtesy of Steve Matz - Billings, Mt. MATZ1949@aol.com Thanks Steve!
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Picture of Joe Leonard (left side) who is a 3 time AMA Grand National Champion #98 and Carroll Resweber who was a 4 time Grand National Champion. Both were HD factory team Members. 7 championships between these 2 Gentlemen, not too shabby. This picture was taken at the Houston Astrodome during a National Shorttrack race Some Years Back.
Courtesy of Steve Matz - Billings, Mt. MATZ1949@aol.com Thanks Steve!
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Joe Leonard was Inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.
His achievements include AMA Grand National Championships in 1954, 1956, and 1957.
In all, Leonard amassed 27 national wins split between the disciplines of TT, miles, half-miles and road racing.Leonard won the Daytona 200 twice, the Laconia Classic three times and the Peoria TT a remarkable seven times.
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I got this info on the AMA's website. To read the entire article go here:
http://www.amadirectlink.com/museum/halloffame/members/leonard/leonard.htm
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Vintage KR #94 spotted at Daytona in 2001
Courtesy of Steve Matz - Billings, Mt. MATZ1949@aol.com Thanks Steve!
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