Harley-Davidson Nuremberg Gets Homologation Of Jim’s 131″ Racing Motor For Legal Use On All European Roads

Harley-Davidson Nuremberg gets Europe Street Legal Homologation For Jim’s 131″Racing Motor. A very big deal for European bikers on a continent where motorcycle regulations are extremely tough with very few authorized stock modifications, much less than in the USA. The Harley-Davidson & Buell Nuremberg dealer in Bavaria, Germany, succeeded in fighting European Economic Community (EEC) red tape, not  a small or cheap endeavor… Power hungry European Harley riders are going to rush to this dealership, for now the only location where they can swap their stock Harley motor for this Jim’s European version.

And to prove the gain in performance under such displacement, Nuremberg Harley dealer owner Fritz Jonak equipped a Harley FLHX Street Glide and FXD Fat Bob with the 131″ Jim’s motor, then organized a race against a 427 cubic inch Shelby Mustang GT (the one made famous by Steve McQueen in the movie “Bullit”.) You guessed the result. Advantaged by weight, both motorcycles easily smoked the Mustang over and over. Apart from a slightly modified stock primary and gearbox and the use of a KessTech exhaust, both stock Harley were able to handle the extra horsepower without any issue.

This street legal 131“ race engine fits into all stock and after market frames with plenty of room for all “in-frame“ service work. It features the same stroke as Jim‘s 120“ at 4 ½“, but carries a larger bore diameter of 4 5/16“.

A TV crew immortalized the races and I will run the English video version in my website as soon as available. Harley-Davidson Of Nuremberg. (photography copyright  Horst Roesler)

15 Responses to “Harley-Davidson Nuremberg Gets Homologation Of Jim’s 131″ Racing Motor For Legal Use On All European Roads”


  1. 1 Doc Jul 31st, 2012 at 11:04 am

    That 131″ v-twin sounds like freiheit (freedom)! Ride hard Europe…

  2. 2 Jasper Jul 31st, 2012 at 11:24 am

    Lucky europeans.

  3. 3 BobS Jul 31st, 2012 at 11:26 am

    Would be nice if they published a dyno graph…

  4. 4 Doug Jul 31st, 2012 at 12:04 pm

    Fantastic news. Thank you HD NÜRNBERG.

    In a few short days, there will be a bike at the AMD that is suitable for this engine to take on the New mustang on a road course too, not just the strip.

  5. 5 alansharp Jul 31st, 2012 at 12:53 pm

    what’s the H/P yes a dyno graph would be great, 128HP ???.

  6. 6 alansharp Jul 31st, 2012 at 12:54 pm

    o yes how much, ???

  7. 7 Vintage Twin Jul 31st, 2012 at 12:58 pm

    Don’t ever buy a used bike that a German has owned. Never seen a used one at any dealership when the both header pipes are bight blue for wringing the snot out of them.

    131 cu. inches should give you that extra top-end snap when your passing a couple of stacked slow trucks threading through the Alps to Cortina. Wheeee!

  8. 8 Chris Jul 31st, 2012 at 1:41 pm

    Does the Jim’s 131″ use a Timken main bearing and does it come with any warranty? These concerns are both weaknesses of the Jim’s 120 as, if I’m not mistaken, it has neither.

  9. 9 Blackmax Jul 31st, 2012 at 2:21 pm

    That’s great! For Europe ????
    The engine is available here, so why not use it as stock in your ‘heavy” bikes
    (Street, Ekectra & Road Glides) instead of the aniemic 103????

  10. 10 C. Curtis Jul 31st, 2012 at 3:01 pm

    Blackmax. Jim 131″ Racing Engine street legal in the USA? Check first your info.

  11. 11 Rick Lossner Aug 1st, 2012 at 6:55 am

    Big Deal? Haven’t these been avail in the US since ’09? 120″, 131″ and now 135″? One year factory warranty , 130HP ( 131″ )

    “street legal” .. guess some of the folks live in the wrong part of the country ? 🙂

  12. 12 Sam Burns Aug 1st, 2012 at 9:25 am

    Chris,
    Jim’s engines come with a Timken left side bearing come with a one year warranty.

  13. 13 Blackmax Aug 1st, 2012 at 2:23 pm

    Thanks Rick …
    Saw one at the V=Twin Expo
    120, 121, 131, 135ci from various sources/manufacturers
    Might say they’re for Racing only but take a look in any biker, choppers and/or baggers rag, there are PLENTY of them out on the street
    No replacement for displacement !!!!

  14. 14 BadHabit Aug 1st, 2012 at 6:24 pm

    The Bullitt Mustang had a 390…….427 was never offered in a mustang….428 and 429 only…..

  15. 15 David Aug 1st, 2012 at 9:28 pm

    Yeah .. The Bullitt Mustang was a Highland Green 1968 fastback GT with a 390 and 4 speed. There were a few(very few) 1967 Shelbys that came with a 427 sideoiler with 2 x 4’s.

    SSDD;David

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Cyril Huze