The 2011 Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide - Very Impressive

The Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide, logic dictates that Harley should have enlisted the Street Glide into the CVO lineup years ago. But economic sense suggests otherwise because the FLHX has been a favorite of the custom bagger crowd ever since it was pressed into service in 2006.

If you're looking for a versatile bike that melds cool styling with the practicality of a long-distance tourer, you've come to the right place. Indeed, thanks to weight, the Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide is easier to maneuver through traffic and parking lots, and the batwing-faired bike even feels more stable through the turns and more stable at speed than the Ultra Classic. Missing, of course, is that handy Tour Pack, not to mention more suitable accommodations for a passenger, plus an array of electronic gizmos and gadgets unique to the Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic.

But if you're riding fool like me, the Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide is just fine. In terms of handling, you can start with the improved chassis introduced last year. That's been improved even more with a new adjustable rear shock absorber spring that lets you set the preload on the left side. Pull the two pins that secure the left bag in place to swing that new extended cargo box away from the frame, then simply give the spring's preload adjuster a twist or two to suit your weight.

The left shock absorber also regulates the rebound damping rates while the right shock controls compression damping. It's a much better system than the air bags, and like the Ultra Classic, the Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide has an anti-lock braking system. I've had occasion to use the ABS on several Harley's and believe me, the system is welcomed as standard issue on both CVO baggers.

In terms of comfort, seat height is set at 709mm static, and Harley claims when laden with a rider that dimension drops to 673mm. In any case, you sit low behind the batwing fairing with a good view of the exclusive CVO gauges before you. They're easy to spot, too, against the black dash insert, and the view above the abbreviated smoke-tint windscreen is unobstructed. I didn't notice much wind buffet at cruising speed, but one of my friends complained about it. Guess, different folks, different strokes.

AS for exclusive features, the Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide rolls on 18-inch black Agitator wheels front and rear, the low profile seat with matching backrest pad have leather inserts and French stitching and you've got to love the engine-turned trim throughout. Moreover, the one-piece extended saddlebags wrap nicely around the Screamin'Eagle mufflers, and also offer slightly more storage space inside.