CVO Road Glide FLTRSE (FLTRXSE-MY2018)

The CVO Road Glide is Harley-Davidson's factory-custom version of its frame-mounted-fairing bagger, and it sits at the very top of the Motor Company's touring line. At its core is a CVO-exclusive Milwaukee-Eight, a 1923 cc air/liquid-cooled 45° V-twin rated at 104 hp at 5,450 rpm and 125 lb-ft at 3,500 rpm. Harley-Davidson claims effortless roll-on power and a thunderous exhaust note. Underneath sits a steel double cradle frame with a 21-inch front wheel, and cornering ABS, traction control and ride modes come standard. The CVO badge is mostly about the finish, though: Harley says hand-applied paint, pinstriping and exclusive chrome or blacked-out details make each one a rolling piece of art. Presence first!

The spec sheet makes the job clear: big miles, two people, lots of metal. At 886 lb (402 kg) wet it's a heavyweight by any measure, and it doesn't pretend otherwise. The 26.8 in (680 mm) seat keeps your feet close to the ground, while the 64.0 in (1625 mm) wheelbase and 6.0 gal (22.7 L) tank point to long highway days and sweeping back roads. Cruise control, heated grips, navigation with Apple CarPlay, TPMS, a keyless system and a luggage system all come from the factory. The rear shock takes preload for a passenger and full bags. That's a tourer's checklist, already ticked. Nothing left to add.