Harley-Davidson CVO ROAD GLIDE ULTRA 1800 FLTR 2011 — Specifications

Who said a motorcycle weighing over 400 kilos couldn't have character? In 2011, Harley-Davidson threw a stone in the pond of grand touring motorcycles with this CVO Road Glide Ultra, a stage beast that fully embraces its status as a locomotive. Beneath its ship-like lines, it hides an engine that speaks volumes about its intentions: the mythical Screamin' Eagle V-Twin with 1803 cm3 displacement. With 148 Nm of torque available from 3500 rpm, this rumbling factory is eager to pull the imposing mass of the twin-cylinder, which is 430 kilos once the 22.7-liter tank is full. The announced power of 96 horsepower may make a track rider smile, but here, the important thing is elsewhere. It's a total feeling of movement, a mechanical authority that is experienced in the torque range, not on the tachometer.

Facing competition, often more technical and lighter, Harley sticks to its territory. It doesn't play in the same league as a BMW K 1600 or a Gold Wing, more aseptic and performant. No, the Road Glide Ultra is a unique experience, built around ritual and presence. Its fixed fairing, mounted on the frame and not on the fork, is a signature that divides. Purists see it as lighter steering and a more stable shield, the result of wind tunnel studies. For the rider, it is above all a unique silhouette, this double optic face that surveys the road with a cold arrogance. Comfort is treated as a religion: heated suspension seat, adjustable backrests, heated grips and a plethora of carefully arranged chrome, far from cheap glitter. It's a motorcycle that is admired when stopped as much as when ridden.

And speaking of riding it, it’s accepting a pact. Forget top speeds of 170 km/h and muscular braking, despite its two 300 mm front discs. Where a Yamaha FJR1300 would be nervous and precise, the Harley imposes its tempo, a majestic slowness that transforms every journey into a ceremony. The deep sound of the 45° V-Twin is the soundtrack to this journey, even if a quality Harman/Kardon audio system is there for those who prefer. The belt transmission is exceptionally smooth, perfectly in line with the spirit of this touring machine.

Who is this 37,000 euro monument for? Certainly not a beginner, nor a hurried touring rider. It's the connoisseur's motorcycle for whom the journey is a finality, a slow and constant roll. It is an object of passion, full of emotions and details to cherish, such as the electrically locking rigid saddlebags or the integrated navigation system. It has the defects of its qualities: heavy, not agile, thirsty. But for those seeking a presence, a sonic and visual identity unlike any other, the 2011 CVO Road Glide Ultra remains a pinnacle. A two-wheeled statement, brutal and refined, that reminds you with every start that you are not riding, you are navigating.