Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide ST 2024 — Specifications

When a Harley-Davidson wears a "Fast Johnny" sticker and presents itself with "Track Plus" modes, you realize that the era of wheezy big V-Twins is truly over. The CVO Road Glide ST, at nearly €48,000, is not just a chromed derivative. It's a declaration of war, a 380-kilo machine fully equipped that directly targets the heart of the King of the Baggers championship and the soft underbelly of overly tame touring baggers. With its Milwaukee-Eight 121 High Output 1977 cm³ twin-cylinder engine, it delivers figures that make the tarmac tremble: 126 horsepower at 5020 rpm and a monstrous torque of 196.6 Nm from 4000 rpm. This is the most powerful engine ever signed by the Milwaukee firm, a true workhorse that has little to do with the old muscle.

The magic happens thanks to a serious stroke polish. Redesigned intake to swallow 26% more air, Screamin' Eagle camshaft, carbon fiber and titanium exhaust shells... Harley has pulled out all the stops. The result? A motorcycle that breathes rage, with a redline raised to 5900 rpm and shortened gear ratios for more violent acceleration. Compared to an Indian Challenger Elite, the Harley focuses on atmosphere and raw sensation, while its rival plays the sophistication and turbo card. The target audience is no longer the relaxed traveler, but the wealthy track rider or the devotee of the endless straightaway who wants the most radical bagger on the market.

To channel this fury, the chassis has been massively upgraded. 47 mm Showa inverted fork, fully adjustable rear shocks, Brembo brakes at the front... we are in the realm of the great special series. The weight gain, however, is not anecdotal: 12 kilos lighter than the standard CVO thanks to generous use of carbon fiber (mudguard, console, seat cowl) and lightweight wheels. At a standstill, it remains a monument, but once launched, this Road Glide demonstrates surprising agility for its size, aided by the fixed fairing to the frame that frees the steering.

The 312 mm TFT screen and the 500-watt Rockford Fosgate sound system are a reminder that we are in the very high-end segment, but the most interesting thing is in the electronics. The six riding modes, including two dedicated to the track, allow you to dose braking assistance, traction control, and throttle response with surgical precision. "Track Plus" mode even disables the linked braking and allows generous rear wheel slip, a configuration clearly inherited from the circuits. It is a formidable tool for those who know how to use it, but an expensive gadget for those who will never leave "Road" mode.

Ultimately, this CVO Road Glide ST is a paradox beast. It costs a fortune, weighs half a ton, but it aims for the track. It is sumptuously finished, but it sports a brute look. It is the culmination of an American "bagger" culture, but it speaks the universal language of performance. It will not convince those seeking the smoothness of a high-torque engine; it is too extreme, too specialized. On the other hand, for the Harley customer who dreamed of a race bike with saddlebags, it is the ultimate, brutal, and uncompromising answer.