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-twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| 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) |
| Wet weight | 855 lb (388 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 6.0 gal (22.7 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Safety
Thumb the starter and the 110 settles into that unmistakable Harley cadence, a deep offbeat lope you feel in your chest before you hear it. Roll away and the belt drive hauls the weight forward with easy authority, letting you short-shift by instinct. At a cruise the fairing pushes clean air over your shoulders, and the broad seat swallows long interstate stretches without complaint. It's a big machine, and you feel every one of its 855 lb (388 kg) at walking pace, but momentum sorts that out quickly. There's a working V-twin buzz through the bars and pegs at certain revs, honest rather than harsh, the kind of texture that keeps you aware of what's underneath you. Wind protection is good, the exhaust note is rich, and the whole thing feels substantial and deliberate under you.
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.
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 A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
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.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide FLHXSE. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Successor · 2015–2016
The Factory Custom With Everything
Successor · 2014–2016
Factory Bagger, Connected Cockpit
Competitor · 2005–2006
Factory Custom, Built to Roll
Same Platform · 2010
Luxury Loaded From The Factory