Harley-Davidson CVO 1800 LIMITED FLHTKSE 2015 — Specifications

Do you think Harley-Davidson had already given its best with the Electra Glide Ultra Limited? The CVO department proves to us, however, that luxury on two wheels can still be raised a notch. This CVO 1800 Limited FLHTKSE is the empress of the Touring range, a flagship where every detail is designed to enhance prestige and extravagance.

The technical foundation is that of the Rushmore project, already very accomplished. We find the Batwing fairing with its central air intake, the BOOM! 6.5 GT interface with touchscreen, GPS and high-power audio system, the ABS braking system coupled with Reflex, the Daymaker headlights, the integrated saddlebags and the improved top case. The list of standard equipment is long: cruise control, heated grips, centralized saddlebag locking… But the CVO goes further. It benefits from the largest engine in the house, the 110 ci of 1803 cm3. This V-twin delivers 98 horsepower and a torque of 154.9 Nm, made even more accessible by the cylinder head liquid cooling. The transmission is a six-speed gearbox driven by a belt. On the road, this mechanical system offers remarkable punch, even at low revs, propelling the 433 kg fully fueled with quiet authority.

What really distinguishes this machine is its level of finish and its exclusives. The Thunderblade paint is applied and hand-enhanced. The seat is heated, with independent controls for the rider and passenger. The Slicer chrome wheels, the LED lights, the specific brake pedal and gear lever, the additional footrests… each element is chosen from the catalog of high-end Harley-Davidson accessories. The BOOM! system offers here additional functions, such as a GPS with 3D mapping and a 16 GB integrated jukebox. The price of 40,500 euros is in the image of this profusion: totally unreasonable, but consistent with the collector's item status that this CVO claims.

This motorcycle is not for everyone. It explicitly targets the wealthy collector, the globetrotter who does not conceive of travel without absolute comfort and visible prestige. Compared to a standard Electra Glide Ultra Limited, it offers a more powerful engine and a plethora of exclusive equipment. Faced with European competitors, such as certain BMW Touring models or the Moto Guzzi California, it plays on a different register: ostentation, American tradition and extreme personalization. Its strengths are its omnipresent comfort, its charismatic engine and its image. Its weaknesses? Its weight, its price and limited agility that restricts it to major roads. The CVO 1800 Limited is less a motorcycle than a statement, the demonstration that Harley-Davidson can produce the ultimate touring machine, for those who have no limit.