Harley-Davidson CVO 1980 Road Glide 2023 — Specifications

What does a motorcycle look like when it costs the equivalent of a well-equipped small German sedan? The 2023 CVO Road Glide provides an answer as massive as its price: nearly €46,000 for an experience that aims to be the ultimate expression of the American bagger. You don't buy a simple means of transport here, but a passion object, a rolling monument that weighs, fully fueled, close to 400 kilos. It's the kind of machine that commands respect before you've even turned the key.

And speaking of that key. It now awakens the largest V-twin ever produced in series by the Milwaukee firm: an 1977 cm³ M8, boosted by variable valve timing (VVT). The numbers are there to impress: 182.4 Nm of torque available from 3500 rpm, and 115 horsepower. In the world of big twins, this is a delivery of brute force, a wave of thrust that sticks you to the seat back without ever faltering. Compared to the previous 117 M8, the gain is tangible, especially in the low and mid ranges where this engine spreads its power with a bewildering authority. Harley even dared to graft a modern technology, cylinder head liquid cooling, onto its air-cooled block, proof that evolution is underway, even among the traditionalists.

But this CVO is not just a muscle beast. It also wants to hold the road, and that's where the surprises come in. Who would have thought of seeing an inverted 47 mm telehydraulic fork and Brembo radial monoblock calipers on a Harley bagger? The commitment is clear: this Road Glide seeks to seduce the demanding touring rider who also likes to tuck his knee into mountain passes. The frame, the rolling chassis and the five riding modes (Road, Sport, Rain and two customisable) outline a motorcycle much more versatile than its ancestors. It even loses nearly 16 kilos, a notable effort on such a mass. It's not a sportbike, but it dialogues with the asphalt with an unprecedented precision in the range.

The cockpit, for its part, resolutely plunges into the 21st century. Farewell to analog gauges, make way for a 12.3-inch panoramic TFT screen, the Skyline system. It centralizes everything: navigation, music via a high-end sound system, and the motorcycle's settings. It's a fluid and complete interface, even if some purists will miss the charm of dancing needles. The overall style has been deeply revisited, with a famous "Shark Nose" more sharp, aggressive, and light signature lights that give this machine a spaceship-like nocturnal presence. It's a bold bet, far from the classic lines, which clearly aims at the Indian Challenger.

So, who is this luxury beast for? Certainly not for a beginner, nor for the rider on a tight budget. The CVO 121 Road Glide is aimed at the seasoned touring rider, the lover of transcontinental road trips who can afford the ultimate in comfort, technology and presence. It's a motorcycle that swallows highways like a club chair, impresses when parked, and can even surprise you in the mountains. Its exorbitant price is its main drawback, but it also buys exclusivity and a CVO level of finish that remains unique. It does not forget its American cruiser roots, but firmly pulls them towards the future. A very, very expensive future.