2017 · Tourer · Buyer's Guide
Bagger With Factory Swagger
The CVO Street Glide sits at the very top of Harley's bagger world, and it looks the part. Under that big batwing fairing runs the Twin-Cooled Milwaukee-Eight, 1868 cc of 45-degree V-twin putting out 101 hp and a deep 123 lb-ft of torque. This is the flagship, so the details go further than the standard line: hand-finished paint, machine-cut wheels, laser-etched graphics, and the Boom! Box 6.5GT infotainment built right in. It rolls on a belt drive through a 6-speed box, and every piece of it is meant to read as an event before you even thumb the starter.
On the road it's built for the long game, happiest on open interstate and big daily distances rather than tight, busy streets. The low 27.2-inch seat and that broad fairing make long days feel manageable, and the build quality suggests it will hold up well if you stay on top of maintenance. It's genuinely aimed at the rider who wants presence and comfort in equal measure. The honest part: at 866 lb wet it's a lot of motorcycle at parking-lot pace, the front fork offers no adjustment, and two items on record mean a careful history check pays off before money changes hands.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 101 hp (75 kW) @ 5,250 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 123 lb-ft (166 Nm) @ 3,250 rpm |
| Displacement | 1868 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 (690 mm) |
| Wet weight | 866 lb (393 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 6.0 gal (22.7 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Lighting
Safety
The named systems that set this bike apart — and what each one does for you.
Connectivity
Settle in and the first thing you notice is how low and planted you sit, feet easy to the ground, the seat wide and genuinely lounge-like under you. Thumb it alive and the V-twin talks through the whole chassis at idle, a slow, heavy pulse you feel in the tank and the pegs before it smooths out with speed. The batwing pushes a clean pocket of still air over your chest and hands, so wind fatigue stays low even after hours in the saddle. Your hands sit relaxed on the wide bars, the audio comes through clearly at a cruise, and the mass that feels heavy in the garage seems to melt off once you're rolling. It's a big machine that rewards an unhurried pace and quietly asks you to stop counting the miles.
Hydraulic clutch may not fully disengage (NHTSA 18V734000)
Harley-Davidson recalled certain 2017-2018 Touring and CVO models (NHTSA 18V734000): the hydraulic clutch may not fully disengage. If the clutch cannot be disengaged it can result in a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Oil sumping in early Milwaukee-Eight engines
Pre‑2020 models may experience excessive oil accumulation in the crankcase (sumping), causing power loss and hesitation. Harley‑Davidson issued a service bulletin for an upgraded oil pump.
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 your calendar runs through Sturgis and Daytona and the ride is as much identity as transport, this is squarely your bike. The sound, the presence, and the deep aftermarket give you exactly the statement you're chasing.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
Built for long hauls to Beartooth and Going-to-the-Sun, loaded or two-up. The comfort and high-speed stability are here for the miles; just respect the 866 lb of heft when the road turns to tight switchbacks and camp lanes.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
You'll love the comfort and the soundtrack on a relaxed run down Highway 1 or the Blue Ridge. Know going in that this is a heavy bagger, so it rewards a flowing pace over eager, tight-corner attacks.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2015–2016
The Factory Custom With Everything
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.
