So the final countdown has arrived! On the 7th June 2023, Harley-Davidson will officially launch their CVO line up for 2023 and in doing so give us all the facts and figures we could ever dream of.
Dreaming…appears to be the applicable term here because the CVOs are sure to come with a hefty price tag and in limited numbers too. With the CVO Road Glide and CVO Street Glide having production numbers anywhere from 800 to 2000 on a full year, so the mind boggles at how many will actually be sold.
So if your wallet can’t stand the pain of the asking price and you are one of the fortunate few to be able to receive one, you might begin to wonder what will you get for your money.
Well we already know there are design changes to both the Road Glide and Street Glide CVO fairings, with integrated turn signal strips, LED lights and a new shape too.
We already know there will be a new engine in the mix, that being an Milwaukee Eight 121 cubic inch motor with Variable Valve Timing which is believed to offer better and more consistent performance through the rpm range but really this is likely to be more about emissions control. However don’t be surprised if there are some stumbling blocks initially in the first few months post launch, if you would want to upstage as the VVT may make that problematic and something that the MoCo may not be ramped up for.
The suspension has had a a facelift too and possibly brand new wheels and new brake discs have been muted along the way. Is this the start of touring bikes from Harley-Davidson with acceptable suspension or will this take many more years to trickle down to the rest of the range.
There are going to be a couple of colour options and the infotainment system is also up for an update. Perhaps a new screen, or moving map simplicity, phone and bluetooth integration without frustration…or could this just be a crisper sound at a higher decibel level from the updated speakers? We shall wait panting, tongues flapping out of the side of our mouths and streams of saliva dribbling on our chests! What an enduring image that is!
Like all CVOs these will attract only a certain few who will lay down their hard earnings to own one. Some will trade in or up and some will come in fresh, but we just hope the investment is met with performance, design and function.
Only seven more days! Can you wait or is this just another Harley-Davidson motorcycle that is out of your reach so it’s not even worth any consideration?