2010–2012 · Tourer · Buyer's Guide
Chrome, Thunder, Factory Prestige
The CVO Street Glide is Harley's top-shelf bagger, built to show-bike standard before it ever leaves the factory. At its heart sits the big Screamin' Eagle 110 V-twin, 1802 cc of air-cooled 45-degree muscle making 97 hp and a stout 115 lb-ft that arrives low and pulls hard. The batwing fairing, deep saddlebags, and exclusive paint mark it as the flagship of the line, and ABS comes standard on this trim. This is no stripped-back cruiser. It's a heavyweight highway machine dressed in chrome and finished like the halo model it is.
On the road it rewards a rider who wants presence and long-haul reach in equal measure. The chassis feels planted and confident at speed, the build quality is genuinely high, and the whole machine ages well when it's cared for. The honest caveat lives in the engine internals. The 110 can suffer cam and lifter bearing wear at moderate mileage, and the compensator sprocket can rattle as it goes. Buy one with real service history, budget for preventive work, and it will carry you for years. Neglect the maintenance and it turns expensive fast.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 97 hp (72 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 115 lb-ft (156 Nm) @ 3,750 rpm |
| Displacement | 1802 cc |
| Engine | 45° V-twinMotorcycles With V-Twin Engines → |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | BeltMotorcycles With Belt Drive → |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 300 mm |
| Front tire | 130/70B18 |
| Rear tire | 180/55B18 |
| Wheelbase | 63.5 in (1613 mm) |
| Seat height | 26.5 in (673 mm)Motorcycles With a Seat Height Under 30 Inches → |
| Wet weight | 855 lb (388 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 6.0 gal (22.7 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Safety
The read here comes from years of listening to riders: talk at rallies, back-and-forth with owners, questions raised over a coffee, and the notes that land in my inbox. For this CVO Street Glide the mood holds steady, generous about how it moves and stops, and honest about the heat and the heft.
Riders keep returning to the 110 engine and its big low-end torque, the kind that makes highway passing feel like nothing. The brakes earn nearly as much trust, called strong and easy to lean on for such a heavy machine. Comfort is the third pillar they name: a plush seat, solid wind protection, cruise control, and saddlebags sized for a real trip. Many point to the exclusive CVO paint and chrome that turn heads, and plenty say the chassis stays composed through the twisties despite the mass.
Heat leads the complaints. Owners feel the air-cooled 110 most in slow traffic and on hot days, the rear cylinder singled out. Weight is the next steady theme, felt at low speed and more so two-up with luggage. A smaller group raises running costs, since the CVO-only parts push service and repair bills above the standard models.
ABS brake fluid deposits recall (2008-2011 ABS Touring/CVO models)
Harley-Davidson recalled all 2008-2011 Touring and CVO Touring motorcycles equipped with ABS (including the Street Glide) because deposits in the brake fluid can cause a valve in the ABS Hydraulic Control Unit to stick, reducing braking ability and increasing crash risk. Dealers flush the entire brake system with new DOT 4 fluid. NHTSA campaign 18V076000; recall began Feb 2018.
Rear brake light switch heat recall (2009-2012 Touring/CVO Touring)
Harley-Davidson recalled 2009-2012 Touring, CVO Touring and Trike models built 6 June 2008 through 16 September 2011 because the rear brake light switch sits close enough to the exhaust to cook. The switch can fail to light the brake lamp, light it with no brake applied, or leak brake fluid and weaken the rear brake. Dealers fit a revised rear brake light switch kit free of charge. NHTSA campaign 11V506000; recall began October 2011.
Front fuel tank mount recall (2009-2010 Touring/CVO Touring)
Harley-Davidson recalled 2009-2010 Touring family models including CVO Touring and Trike built 6 June 2008 through 19 November 2009 because the front fuel tank mounts can distort if the frame is badly damaged in a frontal crash, which can split the weld at the front bracket and let fuel out. Dealers install left and right braces free of charge. NHTSA campaign 09V457000; recall began December 2009.
Lifter roller bearing failure
Hydraulic lifters can lose oil pressure, leading to roller bearing failure, cam lobe wear, and metal debris in the engine. The problem is exacerbated by high valve spring pressure on the 110 engine. Later revised lifters (2013+) showed improved reliability.
Cam bearing failure
The inner camshaft bearing can fail, causing a loss of oil pressure and severe engine damage. Several CVO owners reported failures at moderate mileage, often requiring an engine rebuild.
Compensator sprocket wear
The compensator (primary drive sprocket) can wear prematurely, causing a loud rattling noise at idle and potential starter engagement issues. Upgraded compensator kits are available from aftermarket suppliers.
Where this Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide FLHXSE pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the CVO Street Glide FLHXSE is actually built for.
If Sturgis and Daytona are on your calendar and brand identity matters, this is your bike. The sound, the presence, and the custom finish speak your language before you say a word.
Made for Florida State Road A1A · Black Hills · Main Street, Daytona Beach
For long two-up hauls out to the parks, the comfort and highway stability deliver. Just go in with eyes open on the engine maintenance and budget for it up front.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
You'll love the presence and the planted feel on a Blue Ridge day, but this is a heavyweight bagger, not a light sport-tourer. Great at a relaxed pace, less so for quick footwork.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
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