2023 Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide & Road Glide | Both classic and modern

It has been recognized for many years now at Harley-Davidson that celebrating the brand’s rich history and moving forward must be accomplished simultaneously. With their monster cubage, their countless electronic functions and even a few surprises on the performance side, these two new models offer a glimpse into the future of Harley touring cars.

Changing of the guard

Talking about evolution has long been tricky at Harley-Davidson, where we swore only by tradition. But under the newest boss, Jochen Zeitz, things are changing, and perhaps never-before-seen leeway has now been given to design director Brad Richards. Both joined the Milwaukee brand around 2020 and are fully aware of the difficulty of the task at hand, which is to evolve the product in a tangible way, but without denying the heritage of the famous manufacturer. The all-new CVO versions of the popular Street Glide and Road Glide illustrate one of the directions this progression will take.

Classic, modern

Within the Harley-Davidson universe, the profile of the Street Glide and Road Glide represents a sacred element that we always fear to touch. But “we had to do it, we had no choice,” says designer Brad Richards. A brief look at the 2023 version of these models is enough to see a progression that will probably shake up purists, but that the majority of brand enthusiasts seem to welcome. Added to this visual mix of classic and modern are monster mechanics of almost 2 liters (121 cubic inches), a much improved chassis and now fully electronic instrumentation.

A completely redesigned design

For both models, the first eye-catching visual feature is a “face” now dominated by a very modern arrangement of main and auxiliary headlights. The classic “shark mouth” shape of the Road Glide fairing and the timeless “Batwing” style outline of the Street Glide fairing remain perfectly recognizable. But each one has been completely redesigned, like all the other body parts, from the gas tank to the mudguards and the side cases. In general, angles replace the previous curves, but the more time you take to look, the more you notice other details that modernize the silhouette without distorting it.

A seriously improved chassis

Harley-Davidson recently decided to enter a bizarre new on-track competition called King of the Baggers, which pits gigantic, highly modified touring bikes against each other. For what ? Because USA… But Harley commissioned members of its racing team to help design the 2023 CVO Street Glide and Road Glide. lean in bends and even a little relief. It all handles the superior power and torque of the new engine with ease, called the Milwaukee-Eight VVT 121, the largest V-Twin ever installed in a production Harley-Davidson.

Almost shocking progress

On the road, you usually expect civilized behavior from light touring bikes like the Street Glide and Road Glide, and nothing more. However, in the case of these CVO versions, we discover with a smile the serious kick in the behind that the new engine reserves when requested. We also note that it is now possible to lean considerably in turns, where the solidity of the whole is frankly surprising. As, in addition, the brakes offer remarkable power for such behemoths, it is surprising to note that it is possible to maintain a strangely high pace on a winding road. Who would’ve believed that ?

A few criticisms though

The 2023 CVO Street Glide and Road Glide cost nearly double the high-production versions. That’s a lot, so we can afford to be picky. So let’s go. First, even if it is improved, the rear suspension still sends back blows on bad surfaces. Then, given the very high weight of the two models, an electric reverse gear would not be refused. We also note a rather high effort at the clutch lever and a very correct infotainment system, but which can become a distraction. Finally, the high handlebars installed by the manufacturer do not promote comfort on very long journeys, especially on the Road Glide.

Conclusion

Choosing the nice optional hand-applied Whiskey Neat paint ($7500), the bill for a 2023 CVO Street Glide or Road Glide tops out at $60,000. Frames addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Everybody, they are not. On the contrary, Harley-Davidson intends them for the most fervent of its enthusiasts who, above all, do not doubt it, will seize each of these limited editions until the last. And they won’t be disappointed: thanks to big mechanics delivering a deliciously amplified sensory experience, to a remarkably strong and agile chassis, to an impressive level of technology and to a very skillfully progressing style, they squarely embody the pinnacle of Harley. -Davidson.

*Travel and accommodation costs were paid for by Harley-Davidson.