Harley-Davidson CVO 1870 STREET GLIDE FLHXSE 2017 — Specifications

Who said that a Harley-Davidson, especially in CVO trim, had to be a retro exercise in style and somewhat cumbersome? With this 2017 Street Glide, the Motor Co. seems to have finally heard the murmurs, now cries, of those who wanted a motorcycle capable of covering distances without torturing the back and wrists. The central argument here isn't the monstrous torque of the Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-Twin, although its 164.8 Nm from 3250 rpm is a muscular statement of intent, but rather the hidden revolution beneath the chrome: the chassis and the suspension.

The days of air-adjustable rear shocks are gone. Well, we can say that. The arrival of 49 mm Showa SDBV forks and emulsion shocks at the rear marks a pragmatic turning point. Gone is the hand pump and approximate adjustments, replaced by a simple knob. It's an obvious progress for the motorcycle world in general, but for Harley, it's almost a cultural revolution. The promise of consistency over time, of a preload stability that doesn't falter, radically changes the game for the long-distance touring rider. On a beast weighing nearly 400 kg fully fueled, this firmer and more predictable seat is a blessing.

Let's talk about this mass. At €39,550, the CVO customer isn't just buying a motorcycle; they are acquiring a status, impeccable finish, and that engine that pulses with a unique authority. The 102 horsepower won't intimidate a BMW K 1600 B, but they are enough to propel the whole thing to honorable top speeds around 170 km/h, with that torrential surge at mid-range that is the signature of the brand. That's where the paradox of this machine lies. It is technically rooted in its time with this precise six-speed gearbox and this double 300 mm disc braking system, but its soul remains deeply retro, centered on sensation and spectacle much more than on brute performance.

Who is the target audience? It's clearly not the young license holder or the aspiring track rider. It's the seasoned touring rider, the assumed Americanophile who wants the ultimate in cruising. For whom the journey is a ritual, and who accepts the weight and bulk as the price to pay for the feeling of being at the controls of a living locomotive. Faced with an Indian Roadmaster, more focused on high-tech comfort, or a Honda Gold Wing, a true four-wheeled sedan on two wheels, the Street Glide CVO focuses on attitude and tradition, but with a welcome touch of modernity.

So, is it the ultimate touring machine? No, if we are looking for pure efficiency. But it is undoubtedly one of the most accomplished and capable Harleys ever produced to devour asphalt. It proves that the brand can evolve without denying its DNA, by bringing simple and effective technical solutions to historical weaknesses. A small step for technology, a giant leap for the Harley rider.