Harley-Davidson CVO Tri Glide 2021 — Specifications

Imagine a machine that defies all classic motorcycle logic. With three wheels, weighing close to 600 kilos and powered by an engine that seems to have come from a locomotive, the Harley-Davidson CVO Tri Glide is not for the faint of heart. It occupies a niche where eccentricity meets absolute luxury, and its price of €53,890 is blatant proof of that. It’s not a motorcycle; it’s a statement, a declaration of style and means intended for those who consider the road a mobile living room.

The heart of this strange creature is a Milwaukee-Eight boosted to 1917 cc, that famous "117" that makes purists' hearts race. With 107 horsepower and a monumental torque of 169.5 Nm available from 3750 rpm, it’s not about pure speed but about sovereign propulsion. This V2 moves its imposing mass with quiet authority, like a luxury boat gliding on water. The announced top speed of 170 km/h seems almost incidental; the essence lies in this feeling of inexhaustible power and that characteristic rumble that fills the space. Compared to European trikes often more technical, Harley here plays on its historical strength: raw and identifiable emotion.

Harley has nevertheless equipped this colossus with modern technologies to manage its weight and width. The Reflex Defensive Rider Systems (RDRS) pack is essential, integrating adaptive ABS, traction control, and anti-dribble cornering assistance. On a machine this massive, these aids are welcome, especially for a rider discovering three-wheel driving. The suspension, derived from the Touring models, offers remarkable comfort but remains conventional. One slightly regrets the absence of semi-active damping, now common on European long-haul bikes, but Harley's compromise remains oriented towards sensation rather than surgical precision.

Where the CVO Tri Glide justifies its price and prestigious badge is in its level of finish and equipment. It is a mobile art gallery. Between the dual-treated paints, Tomahawk wheels, chrome accents, and "Kahuna" details, every element is scrutinized. The comfort is royal: heated seats, heated grips, a 300-watt sound system, and a Boom! Box GTS infotainment system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, GPS, and total connectivity. The storage compartments offer nearly 100 liters of capacity, transforming the trike into a true caravan. For the owner, the H-D Connect system even allows monitoring the machine via smartphone. It is a level of equipment that rivals a high-end car.

The audience for this machine is very specific. It will appeal to the Harley touring rider seeking ultimate comfort and distinction, or the convert to trikes desiring the most exclusive model. Its other, not negligible asset in France, is its B license: it opens the doors to three-wheel travel for those who do not have a motorcycle license. But it is a radical proposition. At this price, one expects a technical perfection that, in certain aspects such as the suspension, is not entirely up to par with the competition. It is less a performance machine than a mechanical work of art and a symbol of ostentatious freedom. It will not convince the devotee of lightness and precision, but it will offer its rider a unique travel experience, marked by the rumble of the V8 and a feeling of peaceful domination on the road.