Bagger racing is here to stay, at least for the next little while, and Harley-Davidson is injecting a bit of that go-fast attitude into its factory custom lineup with the new Apex paint scheme for touring models.
H-D debuted the new paint scheme at Sturgis, and says it carries on a legacy built at hill climbs, enduros, flat tracks and of course the new MotoAmerica King of the Baggers series.
“Apex factory custom paint gives riders the opportunity to express the thrill of speed and competition on the bodywork of their bagger,” Brad Richards, H-D’s VP of Design and Creative Director – Motorcycles said in a press release. “This paint scheme communicates velocity and forward momentum with lines and colors inspired by Harley-Davidson competition motorcycles.”
The Apex paint scheme has a graphic that’s supposed to mimic the tank shape of the XR750 flat tracker, the most successful race bike Harley-Davidson ever made (maybe the most successful race bike in history—certainly in American history, at least.
Harley-Davidson’s presser says “On models with a fairing the graphic sweeps back to align with the tank graphic and leads with an angle that suggests speed. The lines on the front fender connect visually to those on the side covers and saddlebags, creating a flowing effect. When viewed in profile, the motorcycle appears to be in motion.” The Apex livery starts with Vivid Black base paint, and Gauntlet Gray and Jet Fire Orange accents (that’s the same orange that H-D used for the XR750 race bikes). The paint is applied at Harley-Davidson’s York and Tomahawk plants, and will be available for the rest of 2023 for the Road King Special, the Street Glide Special, the Ultra Limited, the Road Glide Limited and the Road Glide Special.
Harley-Davidson will also offer factory Tour-Pak luggage carriers that are painted to match this paint scheme.
