2023–2025 · Tourer · Buyer's Guide
Bagger With Factory-Custom Soul
The CVO Street Glide sits at the very top of Harley's bagger range, and the numbers back the billing. The Milwaukee-Eight 121 lays 139 lb-ft under your right wrist from just off idle, with 115 hp moving 1,977 cc of air/liquid-cooled V-twin through a belt final drive and a 6-speed box. Up front rides an inverted fork; the cockpit is built around a 12.3-inch Skyline OS touchscreen with wireless CarPlay and a 500-watt Rockford Fosgate stereo. Hand-finished paint and color-matched bodywork mark it as the flagship. This is touring with the volume, the chrome, and the tech turned all the way up.
On the road it behaves like what it is: a heavy, planted flagship that wants to eat highway. At 838 lb wet it takes intent at parking speed, then feels rock-steady once you're rolling. ABS, cornering ABS, traction control, and ride modes come standard, so there's real electronic substance behind the attitude. It suits a rider who values presence and long-haul stability over sharpness, and it rewards an owner who keeps on top of the recall and software items. The honest caveat is that this is an emotional buy first. You're paying for finish, sound, and statement, and you should want those things going in.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 115 hp (86 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 139 lb-ft (188 Nm) |
| Displacement | 1977 cc |
| Engine | 45° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air/liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front tire | 130/60B19 |
| Rear tire | 180/55B18 |
| Wheelbase | 64.0 in (1626 mm) |
| Seat height | 28.1 in (714 mm) |
| Wet weight | 838 lb (380 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 6.0 gal (22.7 L) |
| Fuel economy | 45 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Lighting
Safety
Thumb the starter and the big twin settles into that low, offbeat idle you feel through the tank and floorboards before you really hear it. Roll away and the pulse smooths as the revs build, though a low-frequency thrum lingers in the bars at a steady cruise. The riding position is pure relaxed bagger: feet forward, back upright, wide bars falling right to hand, and the fairing pulling a clean pocket of calm air over your chest at speed. The seat is broad and supportive, the kind that keeps you fresh through a full tank. Wind protection, stereo, and sheer mass fold into a bubble of quiet on open interstate. At real road pace it feels big and deliberate, never nervous, asking you to flow with its weight rather than fight it.
This isn't my own verdict on the CVO Street Glide. It's the sentiment I've gathered from riders over the years, in paddock conversations, at club nights, in back-and-forth with owners, and in the emails and messages people send me straight from the road. Boiled down for this bike, the mood is steady: strong regard for how it rides and how it's finished, with a short list of complaints that keep resurfacing.
For all its bulk, owners describe a bike that feels lighter through a bend than its mass suggests, with suspension that lets them lean on it without second-guessing. The low-end grunt earns the same warmth: pull from low in the rev range that takes the effort out of highway pulls and two-up loads. Close behind sits the look, the exclusive CVO paint and hand-finished detailing that reads a cut above and pulls attention wherever the bike lands.
The complaints stay few, and one leads the rest: electrical trouble, cited more often than anything else. After that the notes turn minor. A share of owners mention the infotainment stalling or lagging now and then, and a smaller group finds the engine slow to catch on cold mornings.
High‑speed instability (recall 23V‑836)
At speeds above 100 mph, the combination of front‑end mass, stiffness, and inertia can cause the bike to become difficult to control. Harley‑Davidson issued a recall for all 2023 CVO Street Glides built between May and October 2023 to install a ballast, strap, and revised ECM calibration.
Voltage regulator harness rubbing
The voltage regulator output wire may rub on the front corner of the crankcase, exposing the wire and causing an electrical short circuit, which can result in a loss of electrical and drive power. Harley-Davidson recalled certain 2024 units (NHTSA 24V672000).
Rear brake line clamp may cause brake fluid loss
On certain 2023 CVO Street Glide and Road Glide motorcycles, the rear brake line may not be properly retained in a lower frame rail clamp, allowing it to contact the exhaust. Over time, this can lead to a hole in the brake line and a loss of rear brake fluid, compromising braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash. Harley-Davidson issued recall 0184 to install an updated clamp.
Infotainment system freezing
The 12.3‑inch Skyline OS display can freeze or become sluggish, especially when switching between functions; often resolved by a software update or hard reset.
Hard cold starts
In cooler temperatures, the engine may require extra cranking effort; using a wider‑range multi‑grade oil mitigates the problem.
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 sit on your calendar and the badge matters, this is your bike. The sound, the presence, and the CVO finish hand you exactly the statement you ride for.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
For long hauls and big routes, the comfort, high-speed stability, and 6.0-gal tank hold up two-up and loaded. Just plan around the weight at low speed and confirm the recalls are cleared.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
You'll love the comfort and the soundtrack on a scenic day loop, but at 838 lb this is a cruiser at heart, not a canyon tool. Great on flowing roads, less so for tight, quick work.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2017
Bagger With Factory Swagger
Compare to the previous model →