013 Harley CVO Road Glide Custom First Ride

Bryan Harley

Cruiser Editor |Articles|Articles RSS|Blog|Blog Posts|Blog RSSOur resident road warrior has earned his stripes covering the rally circuit, from riding the Black Hills of Sturgis to cruising Main Street in Daytona Beach. Whether it’s chopped, bobbed, or bored, metric to ‘Merican, he rides ‘em all.

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The 2013 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Custom is the first Harley to be equipped with an LED headlight. A boomin' new audio system, an Assist & Slip Clutch Pack, and Harley's most powerful production engine equate to one hot rod bagger.

Harley's Daymaker LED Headlamp increases both punch and spread. The amount of road it illuminates in comparison to the old headlights is impressive.

We frequent the Rat’s Hole Custom Bike Show, cover the AMD World Championships in Sturgis yearly and never miss a Willie’s Tropical Tattoo Old School Chopper Show, so we’ve seen a custom motorcycle or two. And since Harley-Davidson’s Custom Vehicle Operations makes show-quality bikes in-house, we figured we’d ponder the features of the 2013 CVO Road Glide Custom as if it were entered in a show, dissecting the individual details which make up the whole.

Though the Shark-Nose fairing has been gracing the front end of the Harley Road Glide since 1998 in one form or another, the frame-mounted fairing is wide from side-to-side and short top-to-bottom and has immediately recognizable lines. The Shark-Nose on the 2013 CVO Road Glide Custom sets itself apart from stock with the addition of a smoked Windsplitter windscreen and space-age headlights called the Daymaker, giving the ’13 CVO Road Glide Custom the distinction of being the first Harley-Davidson with factory LED headlights. A brushed-nickel skull medallion sits just below the sharp-looking windscreen, a hint at the hot rod bagger aesthetic Harley is trying to achieve. The fairing also sets the tone for the paint and graphic scheme that runs the length of the bike, a two-tone affair separated by a clean pinstripe.

The center of the CVO Road Glide Custom is dominated by the big jugs of the Twin Cam 110 V-Twin and the Screamin’ Eagle Heavy Breather intake. Its got a healthy 4-inch bore teamed to a 4.38-inch stroke generating a claimed 122 lb-ft of torque within the granite-colored heads. The cooling fin tips have been machined and contrast well with the gloss black rocker covers and Harley has overall maintained an attractive balance between black and chrome in the engine department. The tank console has been trimmed down and sits more flush on the six-gallon tank in comparison to standard Road Glides and has a light-up Harley medallion located in the top-center portion. The gas cap sits flush to the tank and deploys with a simple push down on the cap. The two-tone paint scheme started in the front fairing is carried over on the tank and is also teamed with the Harley skull emblem, designed by the venerable Willie G. if memory serves us right. Drilled-out components like the foot controls and shift linkage are details easy enough to ignore because they complement the design discreetly. The diamond-patterned leather seat is wide in the middle before tapering off to the passenger pillion which pops off easily for solo action, revealing more of the high-quality paint on the rear fender.

At first glance, the rear of the 2013 CVO Road Glide Custom doesn’t appear to deviate much from stock. A closer look reveals two 5x7 MTX speakers hidden beneath the color-matching saddlebag speaker lids. A view from behind reveals the fascia that cleanly fills in the gaps between the saddlebags and rear fender and house the integrated turn/stop signals. The hard, locking saddlebags each have 2.26 cubic feet of storage and taper back and down to wrap slightly around the exhaust, exposing the sharp-looking tips of the four-inch touring mufflers.

(L) The layout of the CVO Road Glide Custom is attractive and has orange backlighting at night that makes the gauges easy to see. (M) The two-piece leather touring saddle on the Road Glide Custom has an easily removable pillion. (R) The GTX saddlebags on the 2013 CVO Road Glide Custom have 2.26 cubic feet of storage each while the custom rear fascia has signals integrated cleanly into it.

Moving to a rider’s view of the cockpit, round analog gauges sit front and center, speedo on the left, tach on the right, providing a clear view of the most vital info. The neutral indicator light and other diagnostics mounted in the strip below those gauges are small and less visible, but a fuel indicator and a volt reader for the battery get their own dails nestled higher up in the fairing. Mounted above those is a Harman Kardon deck nestled just below the smoked Windsplitter, regulator of the upgraded audio system on the 2013 CVO Road Glide Custom. The rest of the space in the cockpit is taken up by two more 5x7 speakers and bridged tweeters to go along with two small cubby holes for storage. Harley kept it classy by extending the lustrous paint and poppin’ metal flakes to the inside of the fairing as well.

As for that paint, what can we say. No other manufacturer can touch the quality of the coatings on the CVO models as much of the paint is hand-finished. The Roman Gold/Burnt Emerald combo has deep underlying tones that shine through in direct sunlight while the “Edge Graphics” are designed to give the illusion that cut metal lies underneath. The matching paint scheme extends to the fairing, upper fork covers, fenders and saddlebags makes the CVO Road Glide Custom look racy even when sitting still.

It’d be a shame to have a bike that looks this good but didn’t have the punch to back it up. This is not the case with the 2013 CVO Road Glide Custom. A twist of the throttle is all it takes to unleash arm-stretching power, the torque immediate and available. But

A Screamin' Eagle Heavy Breather and a Twin Cam 110 V-Twin give the CVO Road Glide Custom a claimed 122 lb-ft of torque!

it doesn’t stop there as gearing on the six-speed transmission is wide enough to accommodate the generous powerband as the bike pulls like a mule through all six gears. After the initial hit from the Twin Cam 110, the 1803cc V-Twin keeps on giving in a more linear nature after that first big spike. It takes two gears to get up to highway speed, the rear tire chirping in both. Add its high performance intake to the equation and we reckon the 2013 CVO Road Glide Custom is the most powerful production Harley out there. We love how low you can allow it drop in the rev range and it will pick back up with requiring a downshift.

Having all this power would be a moot point if the 2013 CVO Road Glide Custom didn’t have a chassis that remains rock-steady while transferring the power to the rear. Since Harley switched out the stamped, welded single-piece frame for a cast single-spar, rigid-backbone frame on their touring motorcycles in 2009 and went with a more heavy duty swingarm, the big Harleys roll down the road so much smoother and the uneasiness of the front end is gone. Between the well-balanced chassis and bump-killing suspension, ride quality is high. The CVO Road Glide Custom upgrades to a Showa adjustable rear shock in place of the standard air shock. An air valve located between the left saddlebag and rear fender is hand-adjustable for preload but requires removal of the saddlebag. The front is anchored by a 41.3mm fork that does a splendid job of keeping the tire on the road without transferring every little imperfection to the handlebars like the old chassis did. The meaty fork is tucked in at a tight 26-degree steering head angle. Team that up with a fairly low center of gravity thanks to a laden 26.6-inch seat height and a 64-inch spread between wheels and you’ve got a bike with surprisingly good handling for a bagger. Thanks to rider floorboards that are placed up and out of the way there is great side-to-side clearance and the CVO Road Glide Custom tracks rock-solid while riding the edges of its Dunlops.

The added power the Twin Cam 110 provides also means better binders than normal are required to confidently rein in the big tourer with a claimed dry weight of 817 pounds. Fortunately, the Brembo units on the front and back of the bike are up to the task, the 300mm dual floating rotors on the front are squeezed by four-piston fixed calipers. At the lever you can feel the pads biting into the discs with a modest pull and ample stopping power is applied. The fixed 300mm rear also has a 32mm fixed four-piston caliper and again grips tight initially before experiencing a touch of fade. Grab a handful and you’ll activate the standard ABS which still delivers a strong pulse in the ball of a rider’s foot. Gotta commend Harley for incorporating the ABS into the wheel hubs so the system is virtually

Here's a look at the punch and spread of a stock Harley headlight.

Compare that to the punch and spread of the new Daymaker LED headlight on the 2013 CVO Road Glide Custom.

unnoticeable though.

On the list of new features on the 2013 CVO Road Glide Custom is a hydraulic nine-plate wet clutch with a high performance assist and slip design. The new “Assist & Slip Clutch Pack” makes for light action at the clutch lever and it’s designed for longer wear. The clutch engages early in the release of the lever and helps keep the heavy motorcycle manageable at lower speeds. Now if only the Six-Speed Cruise Drive transmission engaged with the same alacrity, but if it did, what we would have to bitch about then if not for the notchy nature of Harley’s transmission?

One of the best new traits of the ’13 CVO Road Glide Custom undoubtedly is its new LED headlamp called the Daymaker. Now, we’re not generally one to gush over something like a headlight, but the Daymakers look like they shoot lasers. We were privy to a nighttime roadside demonstration between the old stock Harley headlight and the Daymaker and there’s no comparison. According to the numbers Harley provided, the Daymaker increases punch and spread. Punch is boosted a claimed 30 feet over halogen lamps, increasing from 315 feet to 345. Spread gets even better gains in the form of a 55-foot wider spread pattern, jumping up to 120 feet over the standard 65-foot measurement. Harley achieved this while reducing power consumption by a claimed 50%. After witnessing their effectiveness, we’re convinced the Daymaker headlight should now be on every Harley.

The other new addition to the Harley CVO Road Glide Custom is its new Audio System. This year they’ve added another 200-watt amp, giving it two total. Six speakers connected to a Harman/Kardon sound system have both boom and clarity. Two 5x7 speakers with bridged tweeters audibly assault you from the front while two-way, 5x7 MTX saddlebag speakers hit you from the rear. It has an iPod cable in the right saddlebag that can be controlled via hand controls. It even comes with a special Harley-Davidson 8GB iPod Nano. This in addition to the standard AM/FM, CD, and WB programming. For long rides, nothing helps the miles melt away like some good tunes. The 2013 CVO Road Glide Custom has the audio system covered.

Another feature of the CVO Glide we appreciate is its Engine Idle Temperature Management System (EITMS). This helps cut down the inner thigh-roasting heat coming off Harley’s V-Twin by cutting fuel and fire to the rear cyclinder when idling. It can be turned off and on by the rider at a full stop. All that’s required of the rider is to rotate the throttle in a clockwise position all the way to a stop and as it bumps the cruise switch, it essentially stops the burn in the cylinder and reduces heat transfer to the rider.

Harley’s EITMS will activate once the engine temperature exceeds 284-degrees Fahrenheit, the twist grip opening is at idle, the vehicle speed is less than one mile-per-hour and engine speed is below 1200 rpm. It will automatically disable if engine temp falls below 275-degrees Fahrenheit, the twist grip is no longer at idle, the motorcycle speed creeps above two miles-per-hour or engine speed goes above 1350 rpm. It will also disengage if the clutch is released with the bike in gear.

Then there’s the list of CVO extras that sweeten the deal. These include a Harley-Davidson Smart Security System, a commemorative CVO ignition key with display box, an indoor/outdoor motorcycle storage cover with embroidered CVO logo, and a customer care package comprised of a tool kit, microfiber detail cloth, and an H-D jiffy stand coaster. This to go along with a two-year, unlimited mileage warranty.

We did a couple of hours straight in the saddle of the 2013 CVO Road Glide Custom and I barely shifted my weight. Ergos are upright, the forward-mounted controls allow riders to stretch out comfortably and the seat is well padded. One demerit comes from the pipe coming off the forward-facing Heavy

Power and class. We did a couple of hours straight in the saddle of the 2013 CVO Road Glide Custom and barely shifted our weight.

Breather which is wide and hits the inside of my calf when reaching for the rear brake pedal. The Windsplitter windscreen and Shark-Nose fairing do an adequate job of sheltering the rider as wind was directed at the crown of my helmet. But when it’s time to punch through a strong headwind, our favorite feature of the CVO Road Glide Custom, its stompin’ Twin Cam 110 engine, lies at the ready of our right wrist.

There’s a reason baggers are a hot commodity. You can hot rod them out like we did with the Motorcycle Superstore “Super Bagger.” You can stuff the saddlebags full and head out on a cross country tour or pop off the pillion for a run to your local bike night. Wanna go two-up? No problem. They also serve as a fantastic palette for killer custom paint. If you’re looking for a bagger that’s as close to a show quality as you can get straight from the factory, then the 2013 CVO Road Glide Custom is the answer. Some might balk at the $32,999 price tag, but if you pieced out the upgrades individually and pondered the amount of time you’d be without your bike while its engine is upgraded and its body is lathered in lustrous paint, not to mention what somebody like Paul Yaffe or John Shope charges, and all of a sudden $33k doesn’t seem like such a bitter pill to swallow.

American Picker Mike Wolfe had the honor of firing up Thunder Stroke 111, Indian Motorcycles' striking new V-Twin, at its public debut during Bike Week 2013.

We’re still twitching in our sleep from V-Twins rumbling in our heads after ten days at Bike Week 2013, but life is slowly returning to normalcy. It was a whirlwind tour, with motorcycles like Harley’s new Breakout to ride, innovations like the debut of Indian Motorcycle’s new Thunder Stroke 111 V-Twin to see and technological breakthroughs to witness in the form of Darkside Scientific’s Lumilor electroluminescent paint. All this and tons of motorcycle racing too as Motorcycle USA made the rounds from Main Street to the Speedway and beyond during the 72nd annual gathering of bikers on the beach. ( Read more in our 2013 Daytona Bike Week First Report )

For the most part, the vibe was mellow and it was a peaceful affair. But don’t tell that to Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood, who was involved in an altercation on Main Street with a man who was later reported to be anti-establishment and bipolar. Though the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported Chitwood suffered a broken hand and a deep bite wound to his finger, the police chief is in good spirits as he heals from his injuries.

Otherwise, police reports of major offenses were minimal. Motorcycle thefts, a common occurrence at gatherings such as Bike Week, were down from last year, with 19 thefts reported in 2013 compared to 35 last year. Of those 19, 12

We ran around like mad men covering as much of the Bike Week 2013 action as we could and captured plenty of the shenanigans on-camera for you to enjoy in our 2013 Daytona Bike Week Review videos. Climb on!

stolen motorcycles were recovered, granted some of those were motorcycles stolen elsewhere and discovered at Bike Week.

It was relatively quiet on the motorcycle fatality front as well. Though one motorcyclist lost is too many, affairs like Bike Week seldom come away untainted. This year three fatal motorcycle accidents were reported, the first coming mid-week when a motorcyclist from Fort Myers crashed in wet conditions exiting Interstate 95 near International Speedway Boulevard. A Jacksonville man also died from injuries sustained when he collided with a car that pulled in front of him. The final incident occurred late Sunday in the waning hours of Bike Week when a rider tried to elude police over the Main Street Bridge at over 100 mph and crashed on the other side. A ticket or a little jail time is better than the latter result this rider suffered, but regardless, news like this always puts a damper on what should be a joyous occasion.

Because there was lots of fun to be had, especially at light-hearted affairs like the annual coleslaw wrestling competition at the Cabbage Patch. It was a sunny day at Sopotnicks as 12 competitors battled it out in the oil-slicked slaw for a chance to win the $500 cash prize. With emcee Radical Randy and local DJ Magic Mike working the crowd, 4000 pounds of cabbage, twice as much as last year, was shredded into the tarp-covered mound used as a ring.
Laura Lee, a challenger from Detroit, Michigan, said that she had never done anything like this before.

Competitors stir up the slaw at the Cabbage Patch before the wrestling matches begin.

Jared Blake and his band played some rockin' country tunes before the Baker Smoke-Down Showdown at the Iron Horse in Ormond Beach.

Having fun is what it's all about at Bike Week 2013.

“I’m 45 and probably gonna lose, but I’m gonna have fun doing it.” Lee was actually pretty scrappy and represented The Motor City well in her bouts.

The silly contest, worthy of a Jeff Foxworthy punchline, has grown into a Bike Week staple, but don’t tell the ladies wrestling for the $500 first prize it was a silly competition. When it was time to get it on, the girls were all business in the ring, none more serious than six-time defending champion “Texas.” From the strength in this girl’s thighs, she must have some MMA training, especially the way she gave her first opponent a judo hip throw on her way to a quick pin. In the double elimination tournament, competitor Lori Skidplate, who won the first match, had red marks covering her body after the match from wrestling so hard.

More fun was to be had at the Suzuki After Dark Party outside the Hilton. While Suzuki owners were throwing down on the beachside deck, hanging out with Suzuki reps and snagging free schwag, we checked out the 2013 Boulevard C90T B.O.S.S. before talking with our buddy Nick Anglada, who recently customized a Suzuki C109R benefit bike for the Florida Hospital Foundation. With Spring Training in full swing and the start of Major League Baseball right around the corner, this collectible custom is going to be a prized possession. The baseball-themed C109R has been designed to showcase autographed baseballs from major league legends who are in the 600-plus home run club, including “Hammerin’” Hank Aaron, Willie mays, and Babe Ruth. The bike itself has been signed by Ken Griffey, Jr. But don’t overlook the work Anglada has done on it. He widened the back and front so it rolls 21-inches up front and 280m on the rear. It has Tricky-Air air ride suspension and a Beringer superbike braking system. So even though this bike is worthy of being a museum piece, don’t think for a second it won’t get-up-and-go.

We used the second half of the week to hit up some of our favorite custom bike shows. Willie’s Tropical Tattoo Old School Chopper Show is like no other, a grass-roots event featuring some of the best from garage builders and small shops from around the country. Builders who show up at Willie’s are the types that don’t buy parts from catalogs, they take pride in reinventing parts from junkyard finds or old hot rod parts. Old School is right, from patch-wearing one-percenters to twisted frame choppers with king and queen saddles, a good time is guaranteed at one of the true holdouts against the commercialism that is prevalent elsewhere at Bike Week.

Motorcycles and bikers squeezed in on just about every inch of Willie's lot for the Old School Chopper Show.

Joe Hensley built 'The Knockout Cancer Bike' to honor the people around him and others who have lost the battle with the horrible disease.

As always, the Rat's Hole Custom Bike Show drew a great crowd to the Daytona Lagoon.

While the sun has set on another rendition of Bike Week, we're already making our plan of attack for next year.

On Saturday it was time for the 41st annual Rat’s Hole Custom Bike Show, one of the most prestigious contests around. We got a peek at the prized handmade trophies earlier in the week when we caught up with current Big Daddy Rat, Ted Smith. When the weekend rolled around, custom motorcycles of all ilk, from stretched and slammed super radicals to rat bikes, once again filled the grounds of the Daytona Lagoon. Baggers, one of the most popular segments these days, took center stage for the Bagger Showdown that included one built by Joe Hensley and Back Yard Baggers with fantastic custom bodywork. The fact that it was created to honor those who have battled cancer makes it even more special. Ted and Pam Smith know how to throw a great show and the Rat’s Hole was once again a world-class event.

We finished the week appropriately by taking in some racing, from the kick-off of the AMA Pro Flat Track to the granddaddy of them all, the Daytona 200. Youth was served at this year’s races, with plenty of fresh faces filling the podiums. It started with Mikey Rush, who broke his back last year and missed much of the season but returned with a vengeance this year to register his first-ever pro victory in Thursday night’s flat track race. Brandon Robinson would duplicate the feat the following night after winning his first GNC Expert Singles race. In the Daytona 200, Cameron Beaubier put on a clinic as he comfortably rode to victory, finishing 22 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor. Almost as impressive was the fact that the average age of the riders on this year’s Daytona 200 podium is 20-years-old. Our buddy Steve Rapp, the old dog of the bunch, showed he’s still got the skills to compete at the highest level when he placed sixth after grabbing a last-second seat. The ladies were also representing as both Elena Myers and Melissa Paris snagged top-ten positions, crossing the line in ninth and tenth respectively. We hung out a bit with Motorcycle Superstore’s sponsored rider, Devon McDonough, at the Superstore Pit Zone prior to the race, then had fun watching him compete in the AMA SuperSport race later that day.

Daytona Beach once again served as a gracious host for the annual biker blowout. Wherever we went, hospitality abounded, whether we were at the Hidden Treasure on Ponce Inlet our partying out at the Iron Horse Saloon. We got our fill of live music that spilled out of just about every venue and immersed ourselves in everything from burn-out contests to bike shows. I only heard Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Freebird 142 times in my nine days at Bike Week and am still singing the song in my sleep, but when Daytona Beach once again becomes the center of the biker universe for ten days in March, we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but in the thick of the action.

Bike Week 2013 Photo Gallery

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Mustang Seats at Bike Week 2013

Mustang Seats was busy with its two-pronged Bike Week attack, setting up booths prominently at both Destination Daytona and the Speedway. Mustang was eager to share the news of its expanded range of motorcycle seats for Victory, Triumph and Gold Wing Motorcycles in addition to a collaboration with Roland Sands Design. Mustang hit Daytona hard with a new logo, new rig, and a new 276-page catalog of American-made products.

Kuryakyn Working Hard at Bike Week '13

We don’t think we saw anybody working harder at Bike Week than the crew at Kuryakyn. There wasn’t an empty lift in their makeshift garage as people took advantage of buying the latest aftermarket parts and having them slapped on their bike on the spot. Whether it’s Harleys, metrics, or the Gold Wing, Kuryakyn’s had it covered.

Performance Machine Bike Week 2013

Rod Brogdon over at the Performance Machine location by J&P Cycles Destination Daytona Superstore said “It’s been busy” with 21-inch bagger wheels receiving the lion’s share of attention. It was cool to see ‘Virtue,’ the 2007 PM Fat Boy we had the pleasure to ride on display there, the one with PM Phatail conversion kit and the great looking Scallop line of covers.

J&P Cycles Daytona Superstore

We were like kids in a candy store at J&P Cycles Destination Daytona Superstore. Superstore is right because J&P had just about every aftermarket part you could think of at the reach of your fingers tips. It’s worth the trip just to see all the cool nostalgia they’ve got decorating the perimeter of the shop, like a Captain America replica chopper. They set up new bar just outside the store (Yeah! Thanks for the free drink tickets Patrick). J&P also stepped up large by providing free tires for the guys and gals who were burning them up in the Baker Smoke-Down Showdown burn-out contest.