2015–2016 · Tourer · Buyer's Guide
The Factory Custom With Everything
This is the factory-custom peak of Harley's batwing bagger line, built around the biggest V-twin the company put in a production bike at the time. The 1801cc air- and liquid-cooled 110 makes 115 lb-ft, and it moves this machine with the low-rpm authority a full-dress tourer lives on. Project Rushmore work fills the cockpit: a 6.5-inch touchscreen, GPS, and a 600-watt eight-speaker Boom audio system. Add show-quality paint, extended saddlebags, and polished wheels, and you get a limited-run bike that arrives dressed to the last bolt. Nothing here reads as an afterthought.
On the road it wants long, open miles. The fairing keeps most of the weather off you, the riding position stays comfortable hour after hour, and belt drive keeps upkeep simple over the years. It is genuinely for the rider who logs highway distance and wants real presence while doing it. The honest caveats are just as real. The 110 has a reputation for tappet and lifter wear that can surface around 35,000 miles, and this generation carried recalls for the hydraulic clutch and for saddlebag mounting. Buy one with careful service history and it ages into something you keep.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 97 hp (72 kW) @ 5,020 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 115 lb-ft (156 Nm) @ 3,750 rpm |
| Displacement | 1801 cc |
| Engine | 45° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air/liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 300 mm |
| Front tire | 130/60B19 |
| Rear tire | 180/55B18 |
| Wheelbase | 64.0 in (1626 mm) |
| Seat height | 27.2 in (691 mm) |
| Wet weight | 871 lb (395 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 6.0 gal (22.7 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Lighting
Safety
Thumb the starter and the V-twin settles into the loping idle that carries this whole brand. At speed it is the smoothness that stays with me. Vibration is well controlled for a big twin, and you can rack up hours without your hands going numb. The seat and floorboards put you in a relaxed, feet-forward stance, and the batwing fairing throws a clean pocket of still air over your chest and helmet. Point it down the interstate and the bike hunkers down, tracking straight through crosswinds and truck wash without wandering. The audio actually cuts through wind noise once you are rolling. Everything you touch feels milled and finished, from the switchgear to the tank console. This is a bike that shrinks a long day.
Clutch may fail to disengage — clutch master cylinder (Recalls 15V216 & 16V471)
Harley-Davidson recalled the CVO Street Glide because the hydraulic clutch may fail to fully disengage, especially after the motorcycle has been parked for an extended period, which can cause unexpected movement when starting in gear and increase crash risk. Two NHTSA campaigns cover this generation: 15V216 (2014-2015 model years) and 16V471 (2016 model year). The remedy flushes the clutch system and rebuilds the clutch master cylinder free of charge.
Saddlebag may separate from the motorcycle (Recall 15V427)
NHTSA recall 15V427: the saddlebag mounting receptacles may not adequately secure the saddlebags, allowing a saddlebag to separate from the motorcycle while riding and create a road hazard. Dealers replace the affected mounting receptacles free of charge.
Twin Cam 110 tappet and lifter failure
The 110ci engine is known for premature wear of tappets and lifters, leading to top-end noise and, in severe cases, complete engine failure. Many owners report failures around 35,000 miles despite regular maintenance.
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 the rally circuit, the sound, and the brand ritual are why you ride, this bike was built for exactly that. It delivers the presence, the voice, and the show-paint statement you are after, dressed for the long haul.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
You put down real cross-country miles, often two-up and loaded, and this bike carries that weight in comfort with solid weather protection and highway calm. Just buy on service history and keep an eye on the 110's top end.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
You want twisties and scenery on day rides. This bagger cruises them in real comfort, but at 871 lb it is built for the stately sweep more than quick flicks. Best when the miles between the corners matter most.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2010–2012
Chrome, Thunder, Factory Prestige
Compare to the previous model →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.
