My Thoughts On My New 2024 Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide
If you read my post from last Thursday, you’ll know I bought a brand spanking new Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide in February. This was the last 2024 CVO my local dealer had in stock. CVO stands for = Custom Vehicle Operations and The Motor Company introduced these in 1999. They were designed to be the best of the best in their model lineup and have more powerful engines and custom paint. This is my sixth new CVO in the 21st Century, but my first CVO Road Glide. All of my previous CVOs were Limiteds. The 2024 CVO models represent the 25th anniversary of the launch of Custom Vehicle Operations by The Motor Company and have badging celebrating this milestone.
This journey started when I went to my dealer to pick up a buddy, who was having his bike serviced. I definitely wasn’t planning on buying a new bike. I’d seen this model before, in the Street Glide version. I already owned a badass 2023 Street Glide ST Fast Johnny scoot, so I was not remotely interested in buying another Street Glide model. But, lo and behold, I walk in and there was the Road Glide version. But I still wasn’t remotely shopping for a new bike. I was happy with my 2020 CVO Limited, the Grey Ghost. Unfortunately, my buddy had already told their general manager that I might like that bike. FFS!
They were literally swarming me when I walked in. And what I had always thought, but never confirmed, is that HD franchised dealers cannot order the new model year CVOs if they have any remaining inventory from the previous year in stock. Long story short, they made a deal on this bike that I literally couldn’t pass up. It took them a few days to get to where I needed to be, because I was trading the 2020 CVO in and was paying cash, but they did.
Here are some basic specifications on this bike:
Model: FLTRXSE 2024 CVO Road Glide
Curb weight in running order: 862 pounds (140 pound less than my 2020 CVO Limited)
Engine: 121 cubic inch VVT (Variable Valve Timing)
Compression ratio: 11.4:1
Transmission: 6 speed
Horsepower: 120 @ 4,500 RPM
Torque: 145 foot pounds @ 3,000 RPM
Paint: Legendary Orange – $6K additional over base CVO
Sound system, convenience items and options: 500 watt Rockford Fosgate via two fairing mounted speakers and two saddle bag lid speakers, Skyline OS for all instrumentation, ride modes, GPS mapping and phone controls, cruise control, three ride modes with an additional custom ride mode, heated grips, LED lighting, Brembo performance brakes, Showa custom front and rear suspension, three-phase 58 amp charging system (there are a lot of power hungry things on this bike: especially the stereo)
My Thoughts After 5,000 Miles of Riding
This is simple. This is the best new motorcycle I have ever purchased. What attracted me to the bike, when I first saw it, was the paint and the paint scheme. The Legendary Orange upgrade has an interesting base color. Depending on the lighting, it can look a bit more red, than orange, but trust me – it is orange. Everything which is not orange, is hand painted by a craftsman in their York, Pennsylvania assembly plant. You literally can see the brush strokes. This paint takes custom to a completely new level and, for me, was worth the extra $6,000 to have it.
Early in my journey of owning this bike, the second thing I really appreciated was the sound system. This 500-watt Rockford Fosgate system is clear and powerful. And like any other Harley-Davidson I have ever owned, you can actually hear the music at 80+ MPH. It has a built in equalizer or you can use several different custom presets. With the Skyline OS, the bike has Apple Car Play, but you have to have the wireless headset installed to use it. I don’t care to make phone calls or send texts while riding, so I am quite satisfied with the Bluetooth connection. It works seamlessly and without any glitches.
But, after riding this amazing American made machine for 5,000+ miles, what I really appreciate is the power and handling performance with the Screaming Eagle CVO engine, Showa suspension and Brembo performance brakes. The ride modes are Road, Rain and Sport. I primarily rode in the base mode, “Road,” when I started familiarizing myself with this bike. But after a couple of weeks, I just leave it in Sport mode – which I call Beast mode. Sport mode makes this bike an absolute rocket ship. You can roll into the throttle, at nearly any RPM, and the 121 SE motor pulls. And pulls hard. I attribute this to the Variable Valve Timing (VVT), which expands the power band from 1,500 RPM to well over 4,500 RPM. This Beast mode performance is why I call her Dirty Dorothy, and not just Dorothy. (Dorothy is my mom’s name, and she was so honored I named the CVO after her. Hell, she just laughed when I told her the complete name was DD – Dirty Dorothy!)
Conclusion
Buying a new bike wasn’t on my bingo card when I went up that February day to pick my buddy up at my local dealership. And while my savings account is significantly lighter than it was (MSRP on this bike is $52,000), I am totally happy with Dirty Dorothy.
The Original Grey Beard Biker™
@Yadi_Molina4 on X
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