Harley-Davidson CVO ROAD GLIDE CUSTOM 1800 FLTRXSE 2012 — Specifications

Who is a machine like this really aimed at, with its price approaching forty thousand euros and its aesthetics shouting louder than its exhaust? It’s clearly not for those who favor discretion or compromise. The 2012 CVO Road Glide Custom is the ultimate expression of Harley-Davidson’s in-house laboratory, Custom Vehicle Operations, and it embraces its role as a showpiece with an almost endearing arrogance.

Its heart beats with the Twin Cam 110, an 1803 cm3 V-twin engine delivering 96 horsepower and, above all, a monstrous torque of 148 Newton meters from 3500 rpm. These figures, in the world of large American cruisers, place the beast in the top tier, even if a Honda Valkyrie or a Yamaha V-Max of the era would give it a lesson in agility. But that’s not its battle. It wants to be a locomotive, a 383 kg block ready to roll that it moves with serene authority, thanks to this torque available from the first rpm. The steering, lightened by this Shark-nose fairing fixed to the frame and not the fork, remains surprisingly precise for a motorcycle of this size.

Everything here is about details and exclusivity. The Heavy Breather intake system, the wider molded rigid saddlebags, the nickel Skull tank, the 19 and 18-inch Custom Agitator wheels: each element is signed CVO. You are buying a one-of-a-kind piece produced in only 2100 copies. Comfort is king, with its two-piece seat and Wind Splitter bubble, while the 200-watt Harman/Kardon audio system and supplied engraved iPod nano take care of your ears. It’s a rolling lounge, a yacht on two wheels for the American traveler who wants to cover hundreds of kilometers in a vibrating and noisy armchair.

The braking, with its two four-piston calipers at the front, is correct without being sporty, perfectly in line with the motorcycle’s philosophy. The belt transmission is remarkably smooth. But let’s admit it, at this price, one could expect more advanced suspension than the classic telescopic fork and pneumatic shock absorbers. That’s the price to pay for authenticity, or at least what Harley-Davidson considers to be so.

Ultimately, this Road Glide Custom CVO is a passion object, an act of faith more than a simple means of transportation. It targets the collector, the true Harley enthusiast for whom every chrome detail is important, and for whom the CVO badge justifies the price. For others, those seeking pure performance, state-of-the-art comfort, or simply efficiency, there are a thousand other options. But none will make you feel like the boss of the road the same way, for better or for your wallet.