Confirmation of earlier leaks gives first official look at new VVT-engined Harley CVO 121 Street Glide and Road Glide models
We brought you the first pictures of Harley-Davidson’s upcoming CVO Street Glide 121 a few days back and now the MoCo has confirmed that bike as well as its sister model, the Road Glide 121.
Although details are still scant, the company has released initial images of both bikes. The Street Glide is exactly as expected, with the new batwing fairing, tank, side panels and panniers, with a nose that’s dominated by a new, semi-square headlight that Harley called ‘Omega-shaped’. The Road Glide 121 shares the same new tank and rear section but features an even bigger ‘sharknose’ fairing with a wide LED headlight.
Mechanically, both models are essentially the same, with a far higher specification than we’ve come to expect from Harley’s traditional V-twin models. The upside-down forks and radial-mount Brembo four-pot calipers are more sportsbike than traditional Harley-Davidson, and the innovative alloy-rimmed wire wheels give a distinctive, high-end style that will no doubt be reflected in some steep prices when the two bikes get a full reveal on 7th June.
Harley hasn’t revealed performance figures or weights yet but has confirmed that the bikes are powered by a new 121ci version of the Milwaukee-Eight V-twin that features variable valve timing for the first time. That’s likely to be a move intended to ensure the engine’s continued availability against ever-tougher emissions laws, but it should also give more power and torque. The 121ci capacity, if accurate, will equate to around 1983cc, making this the biggest mass production engine yet from Harley, although it’s still a long way short of the 135ci (2122cc) recently announced as an aftermarket ‘crate’ version of the Milwaukee-Eight as part of Harley’s Screamin’ Eagle options range, which shows just how much potential development remains in the basic architecture of the V-twin.
Harley also confirms that the bikes will have an all-new infotainment system, and our previous scoop pictures clearly showed a huge TFT screen ahead of the rider instead of conventional analogue dials.
Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO of Harley-Davidson, said: “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. 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.”
Brad Richards, H-D’s Creative Director, added: “These all-new and unquestionably Harley-Davidson designs bring a cohesive and dynamic flow from the front fenders to the saddlebags. 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. Like all Harley-Davidson motorcycles, these new models are meant to instil a sense of timeless desire.”
Ben Purvis