S&S Cycle announces 2027 Performance Bagger Shootout
S&S Cycle is bringing five motorcycle builders together for a yearlong performance bagger competition in 2027, with each team developing a motorcycle powered by the company’s upcoming MK132HO engine.
The S&S Cycle Performance Bagger Shootout will feature builds from Hoban Brothers Racing, Lifestyle Cycles, Morse Speed, Suburban Motors and Tucker Speed. The project will showcase the company’s V-twin performance products while putting the finished motorcycles through a series of competitive events.
S&S Cycle Owner and Director Brett Smith said the project marks the company’s third annual project build following a nearly 15-year hiatus from the program.
Previous projects focused on showcasing different engine families through vintage and modern custom builds. The 2027 effort will take a different direction, emphasizing performance and grassroots racing, Smith said.
“We are pleased to be partnering with five competitors from Hoban Brothers Racing, Lifestyle Cycles, Morse Speed, Suburban Motors, and Tucker Speed as well as collaborating with the Bagger Racing League (BRL) for this unique project build,” Smith said.
The five motorcycles will be unveiled at Teddy Morse Harley-Davidson during Daytona Bike Week 2027. Following the unveiling, the bikes will travel with the S&S Cycle display rig to several industry events, including the Donnie Smith Show, Born Free and Sturgis.
The competition will include three performance challenges: a dyno shootout, a drag race and a timed lap competition scheduled to coincide with a Bagger Racing League event.
The project comes as performance baggers continue to draw attention across multiple forms of motorcycle competition, including road racing and drag racing.
“Everyone is talking about big power baggers, which is why the timing of this project couldn’t be better,” said Howard Kelly, S&S Cycle vice president of marketing in a news release. “I am really excited to see the bikes built, raced and maybe even made available for sale from the 2027 Performance Bagger Shootout.”
At the center of the project is S&S Cycle’s upcoming MK132HO engine, with additional details on the race-only MK132HO and MK132B HO configurations expected to be announced.
S&S says the engine is designed for competition and will be eligible for all Bagger Racing League classes, as well as the King of the Baggers (KOTB) series, which limits engine displacement to 131.95 cubic inches.
Additional competition dates, schedules and event details will be announced in the coming months.
