The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) introduced 21-inch (350cc) racing in 1925. The small-capacity category quickly gained traction, with Indian and Excelsior fighting for board and dirt track supremacy. It’s safe to say that Harley-Davidson immediately felt left out, joining the new class just one year later, in 1926, with its iconic “Peashooter” racer.
Designated as AA and BA variants, the race models set out to dominate the competition. Thanks to its overhead-valve (OHV) configuration and vestigial exhaust system, the racing Peashooter gained 50 percent more power than its production counterpart. That extra oomph equated to a 30-mph advantage and a nearly 100-mph top speed. Oh, by the way, Harley maximized the bike’s velocity by foregoing brakes.
