Fearsome Foursome
Motoring into its 13th year, the Harley-Davidson Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) program is the pinnacle of the company’s production models. Top-of-the-line components, extra chrome and horsepower, exclusive paint, and most importantly a limited production of each model make obtaining a CVO bike a top bragging point for die-hard H-D loyalists. And while the CVO customer may pony up more than $10,000 for a CVO model over a base model, according to H-D the CVO customer doesn’t stop there, as they typically spend more on P&A than the average OE customer. Along with spending more money, H-D says its research shows the CVO customer rides 30 percent more than the average customer.
This past June we got a peek at the new ’12 CVO models at H-D’s press launch in California’s Napa Valley. While we spent several hours cruising through Northern California’s wine country, there wasn’t a bit of whining coming from the journos as they motored around on the 110ci engines—especially us once we were able to get some saddle time in the Road Glide.
In this overview of the four ’12 CVO models (Softail Convertible, Street Glide, Ultra Classic Electra Glide, and Road Glide Custom) we are going to recap some of the highlights and new items Harley packed into these models. Now if you’re a CVO aficionado you’ll notice that once again there are the same four models from last year except there is a slight variation with the Road Glide. Instead of bringing back last year’s Road Glide Ultra, this year there is the Road Glide Custom. And from the moment the cover was removed and we laid eyes on the White Gold Pearl and Starfire Black with Real Smoke graphics on the Road Glide Custom, we were in love. In our opinion this is one of the sharpest models the MOCO has put out in a while. HB
All CVO models include:
110ci Twin Cam engine (rated at 122 lb-ft of torque)
Six-speed cruise drive trans
Anti-lock braking system
Security system
Cruise control
Commemorative CVO ignition key with keepsake box
Source: Harley-Davidson | harley-davidson.com
