Harley-Davidson CVO 1920 Road Glide FLTRXSE 2018 — Specifications

Can a motorcycle be both a work of art, a status symbol, and a raw sensation machine? With the 2018 CVO Road Glide, Harley-Davidson answers with a deafening V2. We are here in the holy of holies of Milwaukee, where the Custom Vehicle Operations take an already imposing base and transform it into an object of absolute desire, and often of discord. Because at over €41,000, you are not buying a simple means of transportation, but a statement.

Under the 22.7-liter tank beats a disproportionate heart: the Milwaukee-Eight boosted to 1923 cm³, the largest block ever machined by the brand at the time. The figures, 105 horsepower and 165.7 Nm of torque, seem almost modest on paper compared to some Japanese or European rivals. But these data tell nothing of the experience. The magic operates from 3500 rpm, where this torque monster presses you into the low seat (680 mm) and pulls the 401 kg fully fueled with disconcerting ease. It's a locomotive, not a rocket. The confessed maximum speed of 170 km/h is quickly reached, but the adrenaline lies in this constant surge, this visceral growl that vibrates every bolt of the steel double cradle.

Visually, this bagger embraces its dark side. The 21-inch front wheel, a factory first, and the flowing saddlebags give it an aggressive posture of a luxurious bad boy. It’s a Road Glide that has traded its traveler’s suit for an evening gown. Luxury is everywhere: in the quilted upholstery, in the Boom! Box 6.5 GT audio system with its 600 watts, and in these impeccable finishes that partly justify the ticket price. We are clearly in the category of object motorcycles, designed for those for whom the journey is as important as the destination.

But behind the ostentation, you have to deal with the beast. The weight is omnipresent, especially at low speed or for maneuvering in a parking lot. The suspension, although of quality, must manage a colossal mass. And let's admit it, at this price, we could expect more modern electronic equipment than those offered here. This CVO first speaks to the hardcore Harley traveler, the one who seeks the ultimate American sensation, the deep sound, and the monumental presence. It’s not a motorcycle to convince skeptics, but to fulfill the fantasies of the most faithful. It loudly proclaims that progress is not measured only by power or weight, but by the intensity of an emotion. An argument that, for some, is worth all the checkbooks.