Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide 2025 — Specifications

Since the depths of miles, a stellar navigator's silhouette emerges. Tearing through the night, a luminous artifact appears like a spaceship escaped from a Spielberg film. We are not facing a third-type encounter but rather in the crosshairs of a latest-generation CVO Road Glide. Under the sky, the road rumbles, hammered by the Harley-Davidson M8 121 engine.

The Road Glide, in its haute couture definition, has disrupted the FLTR lineage. It confirms its luxury on the market with a substantial presence. The famous Milwaukee Eight engine gains a few dozen cm3 to become even larger, even fatter, always substantial in its dose of power to spread. Now, the largest series twin from the manufacturer announces 1977 cm3, or 121 cubic inches. That is enough to further assert the exceptional nature of the CVOs.

Even better, this Big Block incorporates the VVT variable valve timing system. This varies the valve timing over a 40° range, for even more torque. This technique already exists at Harley on the Pan America 1250, the Sportster 1250 and the Nightster 975, but it is the first time it has been used on an air-cooled engine from the MoCo.

The result is spectacular: this 121 VVT delivers a generous 183 Nm, or more than 18.6 mkg. This is a gain of more than 2 mkg, accompanied by a power output of 115 horsepower at 5,020 rpm. This engine opens a beautiful chapter in Harley's history. It is its strength in Europe; in its home, in the States, without the Euro5 standard, the M8 VVT 121 reaches 19.2 mkg. H-D specifies that the twin delivers 8% more torque and 9.5% more power than the M8 117. Like all Milwaukee Eights, it has 4 valves per cylinder. However, like on a handful of touring models, its cylinder heads are water-cooled. The system has been revised for the 121, as has the intake tract. Note also the higher compression ratio, a new camshaft, a larger injector body diameter, a 4-liter airbox to replace the Heavy Breather air filter (and attenuate intake noise) and new exhaust systems.

Surprises like this are numerous on the 121 Road Glide. To the point of disrupting the Harley community. It is no exaggeration to say that the famous “Shark Nose” headstock, specific to the Road Glide, has been transported into the future. Totally revised, it resembles the prow of a spaceship, with exceptional lighting. This design reduces turbulence at the helmet level by 60%. The entire headlight assembly benefits from extensive design and styling work, with a gaping and subversive light jaw. As if it wanted to put the Indian Challenger in its place.

The tank has been subtly redesigned, with a shoulder bevel and a taut surface. The capacity remains the same, with 6 gallons... pardon, 22.7 liters of fuel. The rear section is also refreshed, with wider flared saddlebags, a rear light and turn signals that disappear to integrate into the longitudinal visual bars, and ultimately a more substantial look. New controls have been installed - an obligation with the new multimedia system, and the need for optimized thumb navigation.

Like its Street Glide cousin, Harley has dared to heavily rework the style of an iconic model. But that's not all. In addition to propelling the mechanics and style towards a more muscular and modern dimension, the firm asserts a demanding desire to hold the road (in both senses of the term). The front end consists of an inverted 47 mm diameter fork where four-piston Brembo radial calipers are applied, themselves clamping 320 mm discs. The kind of hardware very comfortable on a sporty roadster, but very surprising on a large bagger approaching 400 kilos. The shock absorbers preferred to play on comfort, with 50% more travel. The weight is still a very relative figure on this kind of behemoth but there has been a significant effort to reduce weight. This CVO Road Glide loses 15.8 kilos compared to its predecessor.

H-D incorporates an infotainment system called Skyline, with a huge 312 mm / 12.3-inch screen. This represents 400% more screen surface than on the Boom Box GTS. No more needle gauges now - the TFT display shows everything, and manages everything. It offers 3 display themes (Cruise / Sport / Tour), is accompanied by a 4-speaker Rockford Fosgate Stage II sound system with 125 Watts per channel, manages WiFi, Bluetooth, the iOs interface and semi-compatibility with Android, the smartphone, voice recognition in a dozen languages, GPS navigation, radio, wireless audio headsets (if installed), etc.

The crew can appreciate the very high-end décor, the special parts added, the onboard electronics (composed of cruise control, traction control and residual torque control, tire pressure monitoring, linked braking, hill start assist and cornering ABS), a premium seat with quilting and embroidery and the superb combo spoke wheels. Revolution: there are also 5 Riding Modes. It is the first time that a Harley Tourer can compose its ride with this kind of co-pilot. The "Route", "Sport" or "Rain" partitions activate a specific combination for delivered power, engine braking, C-ABSet and C-TCS improved in cornering; the other 2 Modes are customizable (Custom A / Custom B).

Thus adorned, the CVO 121 Road Glide and Street Glide present themselves as a bridgehead for new emotions at Harley. This bagger wants to take you further than you think. And its style has already succeeded.

The different Riding Modes of the Harley-Davidson CVO 121 Road Glide:

-Route Mode: Designed for daily use, Route mode offers balanced performance. This mode offers less aggressive throttle response and less engine power in the mid-range than Sport mode, with a higher level of C-ABSet and C-TCS intervention. -Sport Mode: Sport mode can maximize the pilot's connection to the motorcycle. It can experience the full performance potential of the motorcycle directly and precisely, with full power and the fastest throttle response. C-TCS is set to its lowest level of intervention and engine braking is increased. -Rain Mode: Throttle response and power output are programmed to significantly limit acceleration rate, engine braking is limited and the highest levels of C-ABSet and C-TCS intervention are selected. -Custom Modes: To create a custom mode, the pilot uses the touchscreen to select their combined preferences for engine torque distribution characteristics, engine braking, throttle response and C-TCS and C-ABS intervention, in specific ranges.