First Impression: 2011 Harley-Davidson CVOs

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Sep 20, 2010 ... three FL-based CVOs utilize the Harley-Davidson Touring chas- sis with its .... Convertible's steering head must still be manually locked via.
First Impression 2011 Harley-Davidson CVOs Where Ultra meets ultra-expensive

by Scott Rousseau photos by Riles & Nelson

lence in the cockpit. For maximum touring capability, the rear of the CVO Road Glide Ultra features hard saddlebags and Harley’s full-size Deluxe Tour-Pak with an Air Wing Tour-Pack rack, same as the CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide. Of course, what would a full-dress Harley be without a monster stereo system? The CVO Road Glide Ultra delivers in the form of a 40W-perchannel Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio system with Harley’s new BOOM! (no kidding) speakers. Along with AM/FM, CB/intercom and XM Satellite capability, it’s also fully iPod compatible, and Harley even throws in a special 8GB iPod Nano with an etched Bar & Shield logo. The iPod docking station is located in the right saddlebag, but handlebar-mounted switches make it easy to select tunes while you’re on the road. On the navigation front, the CVO Road Glide Ultra features a Road Tech Zumo 660 GPS navigation system that interfaces with the stereo to provide voice-prompted driving directions. The Zumo system no longer requires CDs for downloading of CVO Road Glide Ultra new maps. Owners can now download current maps at the touch of a dash-mounted button. Delphi ABS (the brake hardware is still made by Brembo) and OW IN ITS 13th year, Harley-Davidson’s Custom Vehicle cruise control are standard equipment on the CVO Road Glide Operations division continues to build exclusive motorUltra, as is Harley’s proprietary Smart Security System with cycles to target customers willing to pay steep prices for remote-control key fob that cuts the ignition and locks down the the privilege of owning a Harley that is a cut above a standard proTour-Pak and saddlebags when the rider is more than 6' away duction machine. How steep? Consider that the 2011 CVO Soffrom the vehicle. tail Convertible’s MSRP of $29,599 is nearly $5000 more than Harley-Davidson engineers have also attempted to further what Harley’s regular-production touring flagship, the Electra improve ergonomics by fitting the CVO Road Glide Ultra with a Glide Ultra Limited, cost in 2010! new, heated seat with separate controls for the rider and passenWhat Harley-Davidson offers this so-called “Alpha” customer ger and a redesigned seat pan that is narrower in the thigh area, in return for his or her considerable investment, however, are making it easier for inseam-challenged riders to reach the ground. limited-edition, high-end custom motorcycles that bristle with Extra passenger comfort was also a priority, so Harley engineers stunning paint, eye-catching polished surfaces and feature the added two “springboard-style” support rails that run lengthwise cutting edge in Harley-Davidson’s technology, some of which down the chassis under the passenger seat to better isolate the eventually finds its way onto H-D’s production models. Like last passenger from the road. The passenger backrest now features year, all CVOs are powered by Harley-Davidson’s sequential adjustable lumbar support, too. port fuel-injected Screamin’ Eagle 110 cid V-twin engine rated But paint, fit and finish are what really make the CVOs stand at 115 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4000 rpm (or 110 lb.-ft. @ 3000 rpm for out at first glance, and the Road Glide Ultra comes with a full the dual counterbalanced “B-engined” models). All feature complement of shiny bits from Harley’s Rumble Collection line Harley’s 6-speed Cruise Drive overdrive transmissions, and the of aftermarket accessories, including rider and passenger footthree FL-based CVOs utilize the Harley-Davidson Touring chasboard inserts, shifter pegs, brake pedal, highway pegs, saddlesis with its more torsionally rigid single-spar backbone and larger, bag latch covers and heated hand grips. Diamond-cut trim inserts stiffer swingarm, introduced for the 2009 model year. for the CB pod, Screamin’ Eagle 110 intake, and Tour-Pak lid further enhance the Road Glide Ultra’s custom look. CVO Road Glide Ultra The CVO Road Glide Ultra is available in three custom color New for 2011, the FLTRUSE CVO Road Glide Ultra gives combos: Rio Red/Black Ember with Quartzite Graphics; Charcoal customers the option of a full-dresser CVO with Harley’s disSlate/Black Twilight with Quartzite Graphics, and Frosted tinctive “shark nose” frame-mounted fairing, which reappears Ivory/Vintage Gold with Quartzite Graphics. All three schemes with the addition of a 16" tall windscreen. First introduced on are offset by a Granite powdercoat powertrain. MSRP is a whopthe Tour Glide in 1980, the frame-mounted fairing has long been ping $35,999, and production will be limited to approximately renowned for making the FL chassis’ steering feel lighter when 3000 units. compared to the Dean and Stan Wixom-designed, fork-mounted “Batwing” fairing found on Electra Glide models. On the flip side, Harley customers have complained that the frame-mounted CVO Street Glide fairing allows too much air to flow upward through the opening In its second year as a CVO, Harley’s FLHXSE2 CVO Street around the triple clamps, compromising wind protection. Harley Glide returns with one major new trick up its sleeve, a 19.0", 7has finally addressed the situation on the CVO Road Glide Ultra, spoke Agitator front wheel—the largest hoop ever used on a which uses wind-tunnel-tested wind deflectors to reduce turbuHarley-Davidson bagger—solely to enhance its hot rod custom

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looks. Wheel width remains the same at 3.50", and CVO Street Glide the Street Glide’s rear wheel is unchanged, measuring 5.00" x 18". Surprisingly enough, its tires remain bias-plies rather than radials—a Dunlop D408F 130/60-B19 M/C 61H front and a Dunlop D407 180/55-B18 M/C 80H rear—as Harley engineers avoided having to retune the suspension to compensate for the lower-profile front tire. Like the Road Glide Ultra and the Ultra Classic Electra Glide CVOs, the Street Glide’s floating 300mm Brembo brakes also come standard with a Delphi-designed ABS system. The rest of the Street Glide’s updates are cos- The CVO Street Glide now wears a 19” front wheel, the largest ever used on metic. For instance, its 6.0-gal., side-fill fuel tank a Harley bagger. The Kryptonite/Black Diamond paint scheme is eye-catching. features a new flush-mount cap and a new low-proMSRP for the 2011 CVO Street Glide is $32,499. Production file console for a sleeker appearance. That theme carries over to will be limited to 3700 units. its new low-profile “bucket” seat, which features snakeskin leather inserts. The fairing, however, receives a new 7" smoked windscreen that is taller than the unit on last year’s CVO Street CVO Softail Convertible Glide. Four different color combinations are available in 2011: Also in its second year as a CVO, the FLSTSE2 CVO SoftBlack Diamond with Crimson Tag Graphics; Autumn Haze and ail Convertible is designed to quickly morph from a custom Antique Gunstock; Black Diamond and Inferno Orange; and cruiser to a touring machine in seconds, thanks to its detachKryptonite and Black Diamond. Harley claims that the various able fairing, leather saddlebags, passenger pillion and backrest. paint schemes are complemented by a specific engine color and For 2011, however, the Convertible offers even more touring finish, wheel finish, tank console finish, muffler end-cap style amenities, including a new Delphi-manufactured ABS sysand inner fairing color, but the Kryptonite and Black Diamond tem, a cruise control that’s integrated with the Convertible’s finish is arguably the most exclusive, featuring a wrinkle-black Electronic Throttle Control fly-by-wire system and an engine finish and gloss black outer primary cover, rocker box, iPod/MP3-compatible audio system. rocker cover, air cleaner cover, cam cover, and transmission side While the cruise control unit functions the same as on and top covers. Of course, CVO Street Glide retains the extended Harley’s FL models, the Convertible’s brand-new Delphi-mansaddlebags with stop-tail-turn LED lights that are “frenched ufactured ABS system is unique to the Softail family (Harley in”—a popular postwar-era custom hot rod car trick that makes officials let it slip well in advance of the production model for a cleaner look—and lowered rear suspension with dial-adjust launch that ABS will be offered as an option on all Softails in hydraulic preload. 2011 as well). Unlike the single two-channel system modulator on FLs, the Softail system uses two single-channel modulators. The front modulator is hidden between the front and rear headlight covers, and the rear modulator is hidden between the transmission and the mudflap on the front of the rear fender. Housed in the fairing, which can be removed just as quickly as last year’s model, the audio unit features a 20W-per-channel amplifier that powers a pair of integrated two-way speakers. It has on/off and volume control, but it does not allow the rider to scroll through menus or playlists, nor can it charge the iPod or MP3 player on the fly like the FL CVOs can. The CVO Softail Convertible features a completely keyless ignition. Similar to the touring CVOs, the key fob arms the system when the rider is more than 6' from the motorcycle, but the Convertible’s steering head must still be manually locked via Harley’s ubiquitous barrel key. Harley engineers also increased the capacity of the Convertible’s leather-covered saddlebags, CVO Softail Convertible which are also lockable, and the styling of the bags has been enhanced with the addition of alligator-style inserts that match those found on the seat and on the backrest. Other styling changes include a chromed, welded “mini-ape” handlebar that is internally wired for a sleeker appearance. Three color combos are available: Scarlet Red Pearl/Dark Slate Pearl with Metal Grind Graphics; Midnight Sky/Candy Cobalt with Blue Ice Graphics; and Maple Metallic/Roman Gold with Burnished Copper Graphics. The frame, swingarm, oil tank and frame inserts are all color-matched. MSRP is $29,599, and production will be limited to 2400 units.

CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide The CVO Softail Convertible now sports ABS, cruise control, an iPod/MP3 audio system and “mini-ape” handlebars.

Despite the clear intrusion on its turf by the Road Glide Ultra, the FLHTCUSE6 Ultra Classic Electra Glide is still claimed by Visit us at WWW.MCNEWS.COM



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First Impression which is supposed to lower engine temperatures. Even so, our experience with all three CVO FLs was that the rear exhaust pipe got so hot that it burned holes in the textile riding pants we were wearing when they came into slight contact with the pipe’s heat shield. We can’t imagine that this would be a desirable quality for someone ponying up over $30,000 for a motorcycle, limitededition or not. To be fair, we experienced neither issue on the CVO Softail Convertible, whose twin chain-driven counterbalancers effectively calm the Screamin’ Eagle 110’s tremors and whose more open rear section allows the heat to escape more effectively. Notably, we also experienced more buffeting on the stubby windscreens fitted to the CVO Street Glide and the CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide than we did on the CVO Road Glide Ultra or the CVO Softail Convertible. The fairing and 16" windscreen on the Road Glide Ultra are effective at directing air over and around the rider’s upper torso, and the new wind deflectors enhance the riding experience by blocking the air that would Riding Impression blow upward through the Harley-Davidson’s 2011 opening between the bottom CVO press launch took place in the scenic Sierra CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide of the fairing and the front fender. The CVO Softail Nevada mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe on The CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide is the most expensive Harley avail- Convertible’s windscreen is the Northern Cal/Nevada able. It’s also the most exclusive. Only 1500 are slated for production. only marginally higher than the Street Glide’s or the Ultra border. With miles of twisty Classic Electra Glide’s, but because the rider sits lower in the Conroads enveloped by breathtaking forest scenery, the area seemed vertible’s chassis (its 24.4" seat is the second lowest in the entire Hthe ideal place in which to shake down Harley’s A-list machines. D line-up, behind the Sportster Low), wind is directed overhead, Unfortunately, there was a fair amount of road construction takalthough we heard some taller testers on our route complain of heling place along our 160-mile route, and the lengthy delays this met buffeting from the CVO Softail Convertible. imposed exposed two serious shortcomings on the FL-based All four CVOs handle about the same as their regular productourers: vibration and heat. tion counterparts, and that includes the CVO Street Glide, with its Harley-Davidson’s Screamin’ Eagle 110-cid (1803cc) V-twin new 19" front wheel. Despite the larger hoop, we noticed no presents an incredibly muscular persona. Its undersquare 101.6mm major difference in its steering precision when compared to the bore and 111.3mm stroke create sufficient torque to cleanly accelother two CVO FL models. Handling is typical Harley-Davidson, erate the 933-lb. CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide or the even heavslow and sure-footed so long as the pace isn’t rushed. ier 943-lb. CVO Road Glide Ultra. Its fuel injection is precise, its Suspension action on all four machines is good enough for throttle response is excellent, its clutch and shifting action are the task at hand, even though there’s more quality than quantity. smooth, and its signature rumble is sure to be music to any Harley The CVO Road Glide Ultra and CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide fan’s ears, especially when the motor is turning over smoothly at both have just 4.6" up front and 3" in the rear, while the CVO 2400 rpm at indicated 65 mph in sixth gear. Street Glide has even less rear travel, a mere 2"! Despite its long However, in traffic is where the fun stops and the discomfort and low appearance, the CVO Softail Convertible has more susstarts. The Screamin’ Eagle 110’s increased stroke shakes hard pension travel than the FLs—4.6" up front and 3.3" out back. enough to seriously challenge the latest FL chassis’ rubber-mount vibration damping system. While idling, we noticed a considerable amount of unwelcome shake in the handlebars and fairings on the Bottom Line FL CVO models, which actually reminded us more of the old, Other than a little extra punch (and a lot of unwelcome engine solid-mounted, Evolution-powered Softails than touring bikes. It heat) from the Screamin’ Eagle 110 V-twin, the truth is that only reinforced our belief that the 110’s minor increase in torque Harley’s CVOs offer little in the way of added performance. and horsepower over the previous Screamin’ Eagle 103-cid engine However, if you’re the type of American cruiser or touring isn’t a good tradeoff for the 103’s smoother engine character. fanatic that appreciates limited-edition factory-built machinery Worse yet, all three CVO FL’s can become uncomfortably hot and you’re willing to spend big bucks for it, Harley-Davidson in traffic, and the heat is especially noticeable on the underside of has you covered. The CVOs already offer the exclusivity of the the rider’s right thigh. Harley-Davidson engineers have attempted thundering Screamin’ Eagle 110, which cannot be had any other to address the heat issue by developing a system that cuts fuel and way than by purchasing a CVO, and their stunning looks and spark from the rear cylinder when the engine is at idle for a unique styling cues certainly add to their attraction. So, what’s specified length of time, effectively turning it into an air pump in your wallet?

Harley-Davidson to be the epitome of touring luxury and performance. Returning for its sixth year in the CVO line-up, the Ultra Classic features the same technological advancements as the CVO Road Glide Ultra, including the new audio and navigation systems (sans the CVO Road Glide Ultra’s BOOM! Speakers), spring board-suspended heated seat, adjustable rider and passenger backrests and standard remote-control power locks for the Tour-Pak, saddlebags and ignition. The CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide’s new styling appointments include chrome billet muffler caps with black spears, new chrome mirrors, diamond-cut inserts for the CB pod, Tour-Pak lid and air cleaner. It rolls on 18" Agitator wheels featuring HarleyDavidson’s Contrast Chrome finish, and it is available in only one custom color scheme, Black Ember/Rio Red with Flame Graphic. It will also be the rarest of Harley’s 2011 CVO models, with just 1500 units slated for production, and its $36,499 MSRP makes it the most expensive factory Harley money can buy.

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