Next-generation VVT Milwaukee-Eight engine and fresh looks for Harley-Davidson's all-new CVO Street Glide 121
Studio images of Harley-Davidson’s all-new CVO Street Glide 121 have emerged thanks to the company’s certification filings in Australia – confirming not only the bike’s existence and appearance but the fact it’s heading to these shores.
Although the certification documents didn’t include the correct technical information for the new model, the pictures show a machine that matches earlier leaked shots of the bike, complete with ‘CVO’ badging and the all-important ‘121’ logo on the air cleaner and clutch cover.
Those numbers refer to the engine’s capacity in cubic inches, equating to 1983cc, and don’t match anything in the current range. At the moment, the biggest standard version of the Milwaukee Eight V-twin is 117ci (1923cc), and while the Screamin’ Eagle options catalogue includes a 122ci version there’s no 121ci option. The size isn’t all that’s new, either, as there are changes to the timing cover that suggests this is the first pushrod Harley engine to get the company’s long-planned variable valve timing system, first seen in a patent back in 2020.
Engine aside, the new bike features completely redesigned bodywork, with a squared-off headlight shape and a more aggressive batwing fairing that juts forward at its lower edge. LED running lights extend sideways to the edge of the fairing, and behind there’s a new tank, new side panels and reworked larger panniers. Right at the back, a pair of vertical taillights sit between the panniers and the rear fender, above new black chrome exhausts.
The wheels are a remarkable combination of old and new, with traditional wire spokes connected to cast or forged alloy rims with raised sections where each set of spokes join them, allowing tubeless tyres to be used. At the front, new USD forks replace the old, right-way-up design, and superbike-sized floating discs and four-pot, radial-mount Brembo calipers point to a huge improvement in braking. Those changes probably reflect styling influences and performance expectations that have changed thanks to the hugely popular King of the Baggers race series in the USA, which sees hugely powerful versions of Harleys and Indians doing laps within a few seconds of full-on superbikes.
On board, a vast colour TFT dash replaces the traditional dials of the current Street Glide, and there’s clearly a substantial stereo system. New bar control pods are also evident, including a four-way D-pad on the left bar to control whatever’s on the new big-screen display.
Harley is expected to launch the CVO Street Glide soon, alongside a similarly revamped CVO Road Glide, also featuring the 121ci engine and completely new styling. The more mass-made, non-CVO versions of the Street Glide and Road Glide will inevitably get the same styling changes – probably for 2024 – and the VVT engine will also trickle down to other models in the future.
Ben Purvis