While our long-term Harley Davidson Street Bob Special Edition was in for its first service at the Cape Town dealership, we saw the off-loading of a container-load of brand new bikes from the USA. The packaging consists of a welded steel base and frame to which the bikes are firmly mounted. After this, all that is needed is a large cardboard enclosure with items like the windscreen separately packaged. The one we spotted was no run-of the mill unit but a top-of-the-range CVO Street Glide. With a full set of instruments and a large Sat Nav screen it also offers lots of sound system inc rear mounted speakers face upwards and are water proof.
The Twin Cam 110 cu.in engine (1 800 cu. cm) now uses a higher compression ratio and to dissipate more heat, the exhaust valves are liquid cooled. Piping and jackets are hidden so as not to alter the old-school air cooling appearance although the give-away is the dual radiators up-front. The free-flow air cleaner has an exposed element in K&N style. Torque output is 156 N.m and fuel consumption on a combined cycle is 5,6 L/100 km. transmission is six-speed with an hydraulic clutch.
Being a factory custom design, these CVOs are strictly for the well-heeled executive types. The one we saw was finished in Ultraviolet blue(read purple) with molten lava flames (read golden yellow heavy metal flake) not done full justice in my cell phone photo. The CVO Street Gilde retails for R397 495.
