Motorcycle specifications Harley-DavidsonCVO 1980 Road Glide 2025 Star Trek & Davidson

From the distance, a silhouette of a star navigator emerges. Tearing through the night, a luminous artifact appears like a ship from a Spielberg film. We're not facing an encounter of the 3rd kind, but in the sights of a latest-generation CVO Road Glide. Under the sky, the road rumbles, hammered by Harley-Davidson's M8 121 block.

the Road Glide, in its haute couture definition, shakes up the FLTR line. It arrives on the market with one heck of a rocket. The famous Milwaukee Eight engine gains a few dozen cm3 to become even bigger, even fatter, always thicker in its dose of force to spread. The manufacturer's biggest production twin now boasts 1977 cm3 or 121 cubic inches. The CVO's exceptional credentials have been further affirmed.

better still, this Big Block features the VVT variable valve timing system. This varies valve timing over a range of 40°, for even more butter on the torque. Harley already uses this technique on the Pan America 1250 trail bike, the Sportster 1250 S and the Nightster 975, but this is the first time it has been used on a MoCo air-cooled engine.

the result is spectacular: this 121 VVT sends out a squirt of 183 Nm or more than 18.6 mkg. That's a gain of more than 2 mkg, accompanied by 115 hp at 5,020 rpm. This block opens up a fine chapter in Harley's history. This is its strength in Europe; in the States, without the Euro5 standard, the M8 VVT 121 reaches 19.2 mkg.
H-D points out that this twin boasts 8% more torque and 9.5% more power than the M8 117. Like all Milwaukee Eight models, it features 4 valves per cylinder. However, like a small handful of tourers, its cylinder heads are water-cooled. The system has been redesigned for the 121, as has the intake manifold. Other features include a higher compression ratio, a new camshaft, a larger throttle body diameter, a 4-liter airbox to replace the Heavy Breather air filter (and reduce intake noise) and new exhausts.

the 121 Road Glide is full of surprises. To the point of upsetting the Harley community. It's no understatement to say that the Road Glide's famous "Shark Nose" fork head has been transported into the future. Completely redesigned, it is reminiscent of the bow of a subspace ship, with an exceptional light signature. This design reduces turbulence at helmet level by 60%, while the entire headlamp unit benefits from significant design work and presence, with a gaping, subversive jaw of light. As if it wanted to put its Indian Challenger rival in its place.

The fuel tank has been discreetly redesigned, with a bevelled shoulder and a taut surface. Fuel capacity remains unchanged at 6 gallons... sorry, 22.7 liters. The stern also gets a facelift, with wider, flared suitcases, a taillight and turn signals that disappear to be integrated into the longitudinal visual bars, and all in all, a more cosseted look.
The new multimedia system and the need for thumb-optimized navigation mean that the new commodos are a must.

As with its Street Glide cousin, Harley has dared to rework the styling of an iconic model. But that's not all. In addition to propelling the mechanics and styling towards a more muscular and modern dimension, the company is asserting a demanding desire to hold the road (in both senses of the word). The front axle consists of a 47 mm-diameter inverted fork and Brembo 4-piston radial brake calipers, clamping 320 mm discs. This is the kind of gear that's at home on a sporty roadster, but very surprising on a big bagger approaching 400 kilos. Shock absorbers are designed for comfort, with 50% extra travel.
Weight is always a very relative factor on this kind of behemoth, but there's been a major effort here. This Road Glide CVO is 15.8 kilos lighter than its predecessor.

h-D also incorporates a Skyline infotainment system, with a huge 312 mm / 12.3 inch screen. That's 400% more screen area than on the Boom Box GTS. No more dial with hands - the TFT panel displays and manages everything. It offers 3 display themes (Cruise / Sport / Tour), is accompanied by a 4-speaker sound system with 125 Watts per channel (from Rockford Fosgate Stage II), manages WiFi, Bluetooth, iOs interface and Android semi-compatibility, smartphone, voice recognition in ten languages, GPS navigation, radio, wireless headphones (if installed), etc....

The crew will appreciate the very top-of-the-range decoration, the special parts added, the on-board electronics (consisting of cruise control, traction control and residual torque control, tire pressure monitoring, interconnected braking, hill-start assist and cornering ABS), a premium saddle with topstitching and embroidery,combo wheels and a CVO console insert engraved with the 25th Anniversary logo. In a major change, there are also 5 Driving Modes. This is the first time that a Harley Tourer has been able to compose its ride with this kind of co-pilot. The "Road", "Sport" or "Rain" settings engage a specific combination of power delivery, engine braking, cornering-enhanced ABS and cornering-enhanced traction control; the other 2 Modes are customizable (Custom A / Custom B).

thus equipped, the CVO 121 Road Glide and Street Glide present themselves as a bridgehead for new Harley emotions. This bagger wants to take you further than you ever thought possible. And its style has already succeeded.