Harley Davidson FLTRSE  CVO Road Glide

The Road Glide has undergone the CVO makeover twice before, notably in 2000, when it flaunted Screamin' Eagle heads on its VR Racing Orange fairing. That iconic design is echoed discreetly on the new CVO Road Glide with a more subtle Screamin' Eagle on the fairing, accompanied by ghosted flamed feathers in the accent stripe on the fairing, tank, side covers and bags.

For 2009 the CVO Road Glide also benefits from the new chassis that underpins all 2009 Harley-Davidson touring models, based on a redesigned frame and swingarm intended to improve maneuverability. In this application, the 110-inch V-twin produces 115 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm (different induction and exhaust packaging varies the big twin's performance in different models).

The fuel-injection system incorporates electronic throttle control, and the clutch is a self-adjusting hydraulic unit. A Sportster-style air-filter cover exposes a Stage 1 Screamin' Eagle element, and a new 2-into-1-into-2 exhaust system with a one-piece front exhaust shield is fitted.

Over the only 18-inch wheel in the range (a chrome forged aluminum design known as the Blade), CVO has dropped the front fender about three-quarters of an inch. It also added composite skirts to the saddlebag bottoms to wrap over the exhaust outlets, and filler strips between the saddlebag and rear fender, on which are mounted LED stop/turn/tail lights.


Like the other CVO models, the Road Glide is slathered in chrome. There are three color combos: Yellow Pearl with Charcoal Slate, Stardust Silver with Titanium Dust, and Electric Orange with Vivid Black. You gotta love those names, don't you?

Equipped with Brembo brakes, ABS, and cruise control as standard, along with a two-speaker Harmon/Kardon radio, CD and MP3 system, the CVO Road Glide retails for $30,999, or $31,195 for those lucky California residents.