Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide and Road Glide models to feature new engine

Harley-Davidson have fully unveiled two new CVO models powered by an all new, 1997cc V-twin engine that features for the first time, variable valve timing (VVT), helping to increase power and torque over the previous 117 Milwaukee Eight engine.

Said to increase power and torque over the previous 117 Milwaukee Eight engine the power unit will roar to life in the 2023 models of the CVO Street Glide and CVO Road Glide, based on the Harley-Davidson Street Glide and Harley-Davidson Road Glide touring machines, and will produce, claim Harley-Davidson, 115bhp at 5020rpm and peak torque of 135ft/lb at 3500rpm.

Available in dealers from late August, the limited-edition bikes will be the next evolution of the Custom Vehicle Operations line-up that earlier this year saw the £50,395 CVO Road Glide Limited Anniversary edition introduced.

The VVT system, a rare embracement of 21st century technology by the US firm, will be accompanied by redesigned four-valve cylinder heads that are cooled by an upgraded cooling system that incorporates new channels for coolant flow around the exhaust valve areas.

An electric pump circulates the coolant first to the hotter rear cylinder head, then to the front cylinder head, and then to a new radiator located low on the front of the frame and backed by a thermostatically controlled fan. Air flow from the fan is directed below the motorcycle for enhanced rider/passenger comfort, especially at low vehicle speeds.

The aforementioned cylinder heads feature a reshaped combustion chamber with oval intake ports, low-profile intake valve seats and an enhanced squish band, which together increase intake air velocity and tumble and accelerate combustion to improve performance and fuel economy.

The compression ratio has also increased to 11.4:1 from 10.2:1 over the 2022 Milwaukee-Eight 117 engines, enhancing torque at lower revs. This increase has been made possible due to the improved cooling capabilities.

Other engine upgrades include a higher lift camshaft, an updated valvetrain and a newly designed intake tract that has a wider throttle body and a new air box that has a volume 50% more than the 117, claim HD.

This impressive sounding engine breathes out via an exhaust that has been fitted with a larger diameter muffler to increase exhaust flow and tone.

Elsewhere the two models are brought to a halt by four-piston Brembo calipers, front and back, ride on Showa inverted front forks with a rear Showa shock absorber that feature a new remote hydraulic preload adjustment knob.

More first-time technology is found with the electrics as both bikes will enable riding modes to be selected – road, sport, rain and custom – through a larger TFT screen than the CVO models being replaced.

Rider aids including cornering electronically linked brakes, cornering ABS, cornering TC, cornering drag torque slip control, vehicle hold control and tyre pressure monitoring are also standard.

Aesthetically both CVO’s get fairing updates although the Street retains its “T” shape, with an updated, faster overall look while the Road Glide receives a more defined shark nose design with the indicators now integrated within the outer portions of the front fairing lights, eliminating the previous bullet turn signals.

Aerodynamics and rider comfort come from a new adjustable control vane in the fairing centre vent of both models. The fairing vent balances air pressure behind the fairing to minimise helmet buffeting at speed.

Both models have also been fitted with a “floating” screen design, which say Harley-Davidson, reduces helmet buffering while the Road Glide has adjustable vanes at the trailing edge of the fairing to channel more or less air to the rider’s torso area.

The Street, meanwhile, has air deflectors located on the fork skirts to adjust wind turbulence to the rider’s head.

Despite the larger displacement engine both bikes have a claimed reduced dry weight; a 14kg slim down for the Street Glide and 15.9kg shaved off the Road Glide model.

If you want one, the CVO Street Glide comes in a £38,295 Dark Platinum and £44,695 Whiskey Neat colour scheme. Elsewhere, the CVO Road Glide starts at £38,795 and climbs to £45,195 for the same livery options.

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Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide and Road Glide unveiled

First published on April 26 by Ben Clarke

Harley-Davidson have unveiled two limited edition CVO (Custom Vehicles Operation) models based on their Street Glide and Road Glide dressed tourers for 2023, both to be powered by a new 121 V-twin engine complete with Variable Valve Timing (VVT).

We’re told by Harley that we won’t get the full information on the bikes until 7 June, with their first proper reveals to the public coming at the firm’s Homecoming in Milwaukee and Budapest 120th Anniversary events later in the year.

“With the introduction of the all-new CVO Street Glide and CVO Road Glide, we’ve completely reimagined two of Harley-Davidson’s most iconic motorcycles and redefined the boundaries of CVO in the process,” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President, and CEO of Harley-Davidson.

“By rethinking these two models from the ground up, we are ushering in a new era of innovation, design, engineering, and technology, while expanding the definition of Harley-Davidson CVO and taking the Grand American Touring experience to another level. The new CVO Street Glide and CVO Road Glide break the mould and reset the bar for the pinnacle Harley-Davidson riding experience.”

Both specials sport new, custom fairings with the Street Glide getting a redesigned batwing that visually flows into the fuel tank, side panels and saddlebags.

The Road Glide gets a tweaked version of the ‘sharknose’ fairing design used on the standard 2022 model that uses twin elements in a nod to the headlamps Road Glides of the past.

As well as the new looks, both bikes will get a new Milwaukee-Eight VVT 121 engine, all-new suspension, and a new infotainment system.

We won’t get the juicy details on any of that though until the full reveal, however we can see from the images and a teaser video on YouTube that there will be upside down forks, radially mounted Brembo front calipers, plenty of LED lighting, and a large TFT display.  

“Achieving a greater degree of visual change than any generation prior, the design of these CVO Street Glide and CVO Road Glide models are revolutionary takes on the historical art of evolution,” added Harley’s Vice President of Design and Creative Director, Brad Richards.

Harley’s CVO department have been building special and limited versions of existing models since 1999. Just a handful of bikes come from the team each year and they usually carry a price tag to reflect this exclusivity. Expect these to cost upwards of £30,000.

The Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide and Road Glide will be available in two colour options – one being this understated grey design, complete with a smoked screen. They will join the £50,395 CVO Road Glide Limited released back in January to celebrate the firm’s 120^th birthday.