The 2018 CVO Harley Davidson Road Glide is one associated with those bikes that just enables you to quit and stare when you see it in the parking great deal. It's not simply another touring rig; it's basically the range topping of what Harley-Davidson's Custom Vehicle Functions (CVO) can do when they really want to showcase. Back again in 2018, this machine set a higher bar for factory-custom bikes, and truthfully, even several yrs later, it nevertheless holds its very own against the more recent models coming off the line.
Whenever you look at the CVO, you're searching at a bike that's been special from the factory. It's got the largest engine, the loudest paint, and all the bells plus whistles that generally cost a fortune to add later. If you've ever spent hours scrolling through parts catalogs trying to puzzle out just how to make your own bike stand away, you'll appreciate that Harley did most the hard work to suit your needs here.
The very center of the Beast: The Milwaukee-Eight 117
The particular most important factor about the 2018 CVO Harley Davidson Road Glide has to be the engine. From the time, the particular Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-Twin was your biggest factory-installed engine Harley provided. It's a 1923cc powerhouse that generates a ridiculous amount of torque—somewhere within the neighborhood associated with 125 ft-lb.
What does that mean when you're actually riding? It means that whenever you're in sixth gear upon the highway plus you have to pass a semi-truck, you don't even have to downshift. You just angle the throttle, plus the bike lunges forward with this deep, guttural growl that lets everybody know you aren't experimenting. It's clean, too. While older Harleys were popular for shaking your own teeth loose at a red light, the counter-balanced 117 is surprisingly refined while still keeping that will soulful "thump" we all love.
That CVO Paint and Style
Let's end up being real for a second: you don't purchase a CVO simply for the engine. You buy it because it looks incredible. The 2018 paint schemes were particularly striking. Regardless of whether you went with the Gunship Gray , the Black Earth/Nebula combo, or the Orange Lava , the depth from the finish is something you have in order to see in person. Harley's CVO paint shop is legendary intended for a reason—the steel flake is heavy, the clear coat is thick, and the hand-applied details make it feel more such as a custom present bike than something mass-produced.
Then there's the cut. Rather than the standard stainless you discover on each other bagger, the particular 2018 CVO Harley Davidson Road Glide featured the lot of "Smoked Satin" and "Dark" finishes. It gave the bike a much more aggressive, modern look. This wasn't just "blacked out"—it was even more nuanced than that will. It looks costly because it will be, and Harley produced sure every enthusiast and bolt reflected that premium price.
The Shark Nose Advantage
If you're a Road Glide enthusiast, you already know the deal with the "Shark Nose" fairing. Unlike the Street Glide's "Batwing" fairing, which is mounted to the forks, the particular Road Glide fairing is mounted directly to the framework. This is a huge deal for long-distance riders.
Because the fairing doesn't move along with the handlebars, the wind hitting the particular bike doesn't affect your steering simply because much. It makes the 2018 CVO Harley Davidson Road Glide feel incredibly stable at high speeds, even when you're catching an awful crosswind on the flatlands of South Dakota. It's a little bit of a polarizing look—people either like the Shark Nose or they hate it—but once you spend each day in the saddle, it's tough to go back again to a fork-mounted setup.
High-End Tech and Sound
For 2018, the tech package on this bike was pretty very much the peak associated with that which was available. This came with the Increase! Box 6. 5GT infotainment system. Whilst we've moved upon to bigger screens and faster processors since then, the particular 2018 setup remains very functional. It's got GPS, Wireless bluetooth, and a touch screen that truly works even if you're wearing gloves.
Yet the real star of the present could be the audio. The particular 2018 CVO Harley Davidson Road Glide came stock with Stage II Boom! Audio loudspeakers. We're talking about speakers in the fairing and speakers within the saddlebag covers, all powered by a beefy amp. It's loud enough that you could hear your favorite tunes clearly even at 80 advise with a full-face motorcycle helmet on. It's a single of those features that feels like an extravagance until you have it, and then you can't reside without it.
Handling and Comfort and ease Out of the Box
1 thing people often forget about the 2018 CVO models may be the suspension. Harley equipped these along with Showa Dual Bending Valve front suspension system and hand-adjustable emulsion rear shocks. This was a huge stage up from the air shocks associated with previous years. A person can actually call in the pre-load for your weight or if you're carrying a passenger, plus it doesn't consider a mechanic to obtain.
The bike also featured a 21-inch "Knockout" entrance wheel, which had been a first for the factory Harley bagger. Usually, putting the big wheel on the touring bike dirt with the handling, but Harley's engineers worked some miracle using the geometry to make sure it still felt nimble. It tips straight into corners surprisingly properly for a bicycle that weighs nearly 900 pounds. You're not going to be pulling knees like a sportbike rider, but you can certainly have a great time on the twisty mountain road.
Is It Comfortable for the Long Haul?
In a word: indeed. The CVO chair around the 2018 model is plush plus well-contoured. It's made for those 500-mile days where you simply want to maintain going till the sun sets. Plus, you get heated grabs as standard products, which is the total game-changer if you're riding through the mountains or catching a cold morning start.
The floorboards are spacious, as well as the ergonomics of the handlebars on the Road Glide are usually generally considered even more "natural" for a more elevated riders compared in order to the Street Glide. You sit "in" the bike instead than "on" it, tucked behind that will massive fairing that will does an excellent job of keeping the buffeting away your chest.
The Reality of Owning an Used CVO
In case you're looking at buying a 2018 CVO Harley Davidson Road Glide today, you're likely looking at the used market. These bikes tend to keep their value incredibly well. Because they were produced in limited numbers, these people don't depreciate simply because fast as the standard Road Glide Special or Ultra.
Nevertheless, because it's a CVO, parts can be expensive. If you drop it and scratch that custom paint, you aren't just buying a touch-up pen through the local auto parts store. You're likely taking a look at the specialized order through Milwaukee. That's just the price of admission for owning a "premium" machine.
On the plus aspect, most CVO owners tend to kids their bikes. It's rare to find a 2018 CVO that's been thrashed or neglected. Generally, they've been garage-kept, serviced at the particular dealership, and polished more often than they've been ridden.
Final Ideas on a Contemporary Classic
The 2018 CVO Harley Davidson Road Glide really symbolizes a specific period for Harley-Davidson. This was the stage where these people fully embraced the particular "factory custom" movement, giving riders a bike that sensed like an one-off build but with a complete factory warranty and reliability.
It's obtained the ability of the 117 engine, the stability from the frame-mounted fairing, and also a level of finish you don't see in your average motorcycle. Whether or not you're a lifelong Harley fan or someone looking to get into your first heavy-duty touring bike, this model is a hard someone to beat. It's huge, it's loud, it's expensive, and it's undeniably cool.
At the end of the day, riding a bike like this isn't just about getting from point A to stage B. It's concerning the experience of getting on something that will feels special every time you browse the starter. The particular 2018 CVO Road Glide delivers that feeling in spades, and that's exactly why it remains a highly regarded choice for riders who want the best of the greatest.