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Custom Vehicle Discussions => CVO™ Limited => Topic started by: naitram on August 23, 2017, 08:30:05 AM

Title: 2018
Post by: naitram on August 23, 2017, 08:30:05 AM
first look
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: naitram on August 23, 2017, 08:57:08 AM
.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: naitram on August 23, 2017, 08:57:28 AM
.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: naitram on August 23, 2017, 08:57:48 AM
.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: sixgun95 on August 23, 2017, 10:24:57 AM
~44k, I just don't see it.  Ever since the CVO busted past 38k its been hard to justify IMO.  Now 17k more than a Limited! Come on HD!!
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: muddypaws on August 23, 2017, 11:42:51 AM
I don't get it either...
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: blacktop on August 23, 2017, 11:53:49 AM
~44k, I just don't see it.  Ever since the CVO busted past 38k its been hard to justify IMO.  Now 17k more than a Limited! Come on HD!!

Count yourself lucky...The guys north of you in Canada pay a lot more...$5k more than last year.

PRICING
CUSTOM COLOR $ 53,699
ANNIVERSARY COLOR $ 54,999
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: bigchuck on August 23, 2017, 12:00:38 PM
~44k, I just don't see it.  Ever since the CVO busted past 38k its been hard to justify IMO.  Now 17k more than a Limited! Come on HD!!

The paint sure doesn't justify any increase.
CVO's are no longer anything special except the price.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: HarleyJeffOregon on August 23, 2017, 12:13:03 PM
The days of the CVO are DEAD. Who comes up with these colors. All blacked out and no chrome. Just can't get into it. Time to buy a regular limited. :(
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: tpcrawford on August 23, 2017, 02:23:58 PM
DAM !   Who picks these colors and paint schemes ?  No Imagination at all !  definetly not CVO material.   Remember when you could walk down the street and see a CVO and say to yourself ... WOW !   Look at that paint !, look at the chrome! , look at that bike !!!    The last several years of CVO motorcycles didn't have the "WOW" factor anymore and it seems that its getting worse each passing year.      Sad day.      Looks like the days of the CVO are over.        :soapbox:

-Tim   
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: ultrafxr on August 23, 2017, 05:46:37 PM
IMO the blue is acceptable - the others much, much less so.  And for the price point - well, no way.  I think there will be a lot of CVOs sitting on showroom floors in the next few months.  Just sayin'.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: WYD OPN on August 23, 2017, 05:47:47 PM
Well... The blue is nice.  This is the first year I haven't seen at least one color of every model that I really want to own.  I'm confused and sad about this, to say the least.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: tazmun on August 23, 2017, 06:05:38 PM
After a day of thought,  maybe the company thinks  the "M's" would like the colors of the 2018's? I cannot come up
with any other reason for the color choices!



Title: Re: 2018
Post by: Toofast_28 on August 23, 2017, 06:31:46 PM
After a day of thought,  maybe the company thinks  the "M's" would like the colors of the 2018's? I cannot come up
with any other reason for the color choices!

Millenials won't touch them because of the price, I am one.  They could paint them to order, let you pick chrome/black, etc, and at $40k they still won't get millenial buyers.  And the small portion of millennial buyers willing to look at $40k bikes would rather have a full custom and are willing to spend the $50+ for a big wheel custom.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: King Glide on August 23, 2017, 06:55:24 PM
And they have obviously officially decided to abandon the baby boomers completely. So much for any sign of appreciation for our 40+ years of support for them, throughout the AMF years, the 3 year waiting lists and constant quality failures. If they think the last few years have been tough they better hold on because they ain't seen nothing yet.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: KGB on August 23, 2017, 07:02:30 PM
And they have obviously officially decided to abandon the baby boomers completely. So much for any sign of appreciation for our 40+ years of support for them, throughout the AMF years, the 3 year waiting lists and constant quality failures. If they think the last few years have been tough they better hold on because they ain't seen nothing yet.
I imagine that they have a team to figure out how to sell to the millennials as any manufacture probably does, but its not going to be easy, the millennials have no alliance with any brand like the baby boomers, so when something goes south, they will drop them and move on to the next brand-----just my .02 
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: SBB on August 23, 2017, 07:06:44 PM

The irony of all of this is when customers buy these new CVO's some will wind up on this site.
Everyone will say "Oh what a beautiful bike."
Happens every year.
I love my Harley's and hope for the best to those that buy an 18.
For someone to spend $42K+ to get a CVO they deserve what they get!

SBB




Title: Re: 2018
Post by: hard10 on August 23, 2017, 10:47:39 PM
Still haven't seen anything to sway me away from my '07 Jester. She just keeps going. Beautiful Black Diamond Ice & Orange. Loved it 11 years ago and it's still going strong.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: bbrown on August 24, 2017, 06:19:21 AM
And they have obviously officially decided to abandon the baby boomers completely. So much for any sign of appreciation for our 40+ years of support for them, throughout the AMF years, the 3 year waiting lists and constant quality failures. If they think the last few years have been tough they better hold on because they ain't seen nothing yet.


Well said
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: danner55 on August 24, 2017, 06:35:25 AM
I see the sale of extended warranties increasing! :nixweiss:
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: Mjspiz on August 24, 2017, 07:08:20 PM
Sad choice of paint.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: Heatwave on August 24, 2017, 07:51:16 PM
The '18 CVO Limited paint looks like "mud". I think the fade may look nice upclose but from a distance it will look like a muddy mess. No thanks. Boring paint. Eliminate CB. Going for millenials that have no money with a "Murdered" black out look. Add 3ci. Raise the price $2k or $3k for Anniversary.

No thanks. Very glad I went with the '17 CVO Limited even if I had to go through 3 M8 engines for HD to get the bike right.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: SDCVO on August 25, 2017, 12:32:37 AM
And they have obviously officially decided to abandon the baby boomers completely. So much for any sign of appreciation for our 40+ years of support for them, throughout the AMF years, the 3 year waiting lists and constant quality failures. If they think the last few years have been tough they better hold on because they ain't seen nothing yet.
I have to disagree with you on that. My 27 year old son and his friends including his roommate that just bought a new Ducati XDiavel are going crazy over the new Softails. In my opinion they have finally come up with a model with the right suspension and lean angle for these kids. Time will tell
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: Heatwave on August 25, 2017, 04:42:21 AM
I have to disagree with you on that. My 27 year old son and his friends including his roommate that just bought a new Ducati XDiavel are going crazy over the new Softails. In my opinion they have finally come up with a model with the right suspension and lean angle for these kids. Time will tell

I hope your right. Given the recent sales declines HD NEEDS you to be right.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: ultra13 on August 25, 2017, 10:33:18 PM
The CVO Limited blue is the only color I like.  All the new models with this bobbed fender???/  No more Dynas?  What the?
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: RonandJanet on August 26, 2017, 03:20:31 PM
I like the blue as well of course I am a little biased. HA  I love my bike and see no reason to spend more money!   
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: Grizzly on August 26, 2017, 03:41:14 PM
The irony of all of this is when customers buy these new CVO's some will wind up on this site.
Everyone will say "Oh what a beautiful bike."
Happens every year.
I love my Harley's and hope for the best to those that buy an 18.
For someone to spend $42K+ to get a CVO they deserve what they get!

SBB

Well that is to be expected, right?

After all, I'm sure all us Baby Boomers were brought up with the understanding that "if you have nothing nice to say, it's best to say nothing at all".

Hmmm, maybe the MoCo is simply testing us?   :P




Title: Re: 2018
Post by: firefighter156 on August 27, 2017, 05:06:59 PM
I agree with much of what has been said.  I will not give up my 2014 CVO for any 18 that's for sure.  The colors are horrible except maybe the Blue but the price is insanity.  I can afford it and still wouldn't do it. Not worth it.  Keeping mine for sure..
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: Grizzly on August 27, 2017, 06:04:57 PM
I hear ya... In Canada the 115th is just shy of $55,000.  YIKES!

That's is almost 20g's over what my first home cost!!!
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: bpf on August 29, 2017, 08:21:24 AM
Tastes and colors... when looking at HD 2016 results, they have a much better growth overseas, even if they still do 50% of their business in the USA. More exactly they are growing overseas, and receding in the USA.

In Europe some HD paint are not appreciated the way they are in the USA. I even heard of a guy at my local HD dealership that had a CVO repainted in black.

I for my part switched from BMW to HD in 2010 for different reasons, one of them being the massive deployment of speed traps all around the country, including laser radars. The police is testing drones over highways nowadays. I know that I'm not alone to have followed this approach. HD bikes give a smile at a reasonable speed so you risk less problems. However guys like me usually appreciate more neutral colors compared to what many American bikers seem to like.

Just my 0.2 cents.. but I wouldn't be surprised that colors are selected to try to match marketing targets. I would also expect that in the future, colors become market related, different colors made available to different markets so everyone would be pleased. However this require a minimal volume of sales while what I read here and there is a reduction of the quantity of CVO bikes.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: Ronnie W on September 07, 2017, 10:30:05 AM
I just picked up the red one. Believe me the pictures do not do this bike justice. I know the price is hard to get over but this is the last new one I will buy. So far I love it
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: 110Mofo on September 07, 2017, 12:12:40 PM
I just picked up the red one. Believe me the pictures do not do this bike justice. I know the price is hard to get over but this is the last new one I will buy. So far I love it

 Famous last words  :2vrolijk_21:
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: Grizzly on September 07, 2017, 12:15:57 PM
If I had a nickel every time I heard "this is the last new one I will buy",
I just might be able to afford a 2018 CVO, but most likely it would only be the Anniversary, so I have to wait a little longer.  ;D

Enjoy your new ride!
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: masiman on September 08, 2017, 09:19:17 AM
 Send us some pics Ronnie.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: bpf on September 11, 2017, 02:05:57 PM
I got my limited last Friday, "black earth fade", under natural light the color is completely different from the official pic. More exactly, the color changes slightly according to the ambiant luminosity. It may explain why HD pictures seem to show different bikes that the one you get for real. I'll try to post a few pics anyway.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: ultrarider123 on September 11, 2017, 02:24:07 PM
Famous last words  :2vrolijk_21:

....and the very reason I don't put my leg over another new one 'cause the last time I "test rode" one, it came home with me.   ;D
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: muddypaws on September 11, 2017, 06:05:34 PM
So far the only one I like is  the blue one. Not a fan of black chrome...
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: windjammer on September 11, 2017, 07:56:09 PM
Agreed on colors and chrome wanted to trade my 15 this year but have not seen anything other than a silver and black 2018 LImited dealer says he will trade straight up I'm thinking maybe as I really like the m-8 motor. Think it's a good deal or not? 29,000 trouble free miles on my cvo but am getting nervous without warranty on the 110.

Title: Re: 2018
Post by: Grizzly on September 11, 2017, 08:02:40 PM
Agreed on colors and chrome wanted to trade my 15 this year but have not seen anything other than a silver and black 2018 LImited dealer says he will trade straight up I'm thinking maybe as I really like the m-8 motor. Think it's a good deal or not? 29,000 trouble free miles on my cvo but am getting nervous without warranty on the 110.

Just my 2 cents...

Personally, I would never give up a CVO for a reg. Limited just due to warranty.  After all, you did say "29,000 trouble free miles".

If you really like your CVO you can always do what I did and buy a warranty for it to give you peace of mind.

My '08 Duracell is still going strong and is still covered by warranty till next year.


I would be thinking long and hard if the M8 is worth giving up a CVO for.   :nixweiss:
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: MoparBob on September 12, 2017, 07:43:07 PM
I got my limited last Friday, "black earth fade", under natural light the color is completely different from the official pic. More exactly, the color changes slightly according to the ambiant luminosity. It may explain why HD pictures seem to show different bikes that the one you get for real. I'll try to post a few pics anyway.

PICS!!!
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: windjammer on September 12, 2017, 08:12:48 PM
Made my decision today after riding the new 18 limited. I will be keeping the 2015 CVO and buying the warranty got the dealer to throw in the tire and wheel now it doesn't matter if she blows!! Just could not  convince myself to go backwards.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: Grizzly on September 12, 2017, 09:35:40 PM
You've got a beautiful bike and I believe you made the correct choice.

I bet 5 years from now your bike will be worth a lot more that the '18 even though it's 3 years older.

Safe riding.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: bpf on September 13, 2017, 10:07:43 AM
PICS!!!


Title: Re: 2018
Post by: bpf on September 13, 2017, 10:08:12 AM
By changing the viewing angle, the color differs completely. The bike is black when the luminosity is weak, but much less under the sun! (sorry for the dust, didn't have time to clean it :-))
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: MoparBob on September 13, 2017, 07:29:44 PM
Thanks for posting up the pics! Looks like there is a fair amount of flake in there and out in the sun, it's quite a bit lighter in color.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: DesertHOG on September 13, 2017, 08:24:41 PM
The irony of all of this is when customers buy these new CVO's some will wind up on this site.
Everyone will say "Oh what a beautiful bike."
Happens every year.
I love my Harley's and hope for the best to those that buy an 18.
For someone to spend $42K+ to get a CVO they deserve what they get!

SBB



Scratching my head trying to get your meaning. Doesn't necessarily sound like a good thing but ????
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: bpf on September 13, 2017, 10:10:36 PM
Thanks for posting up the pics! Looks like there is a fair amount of flake in there and out in the sun, it's quite a bit lighter in color.
Exactly, however it's my first CVO and also the first vehicle I have with such a kind of paint, I never had anything that can be compared to that. It reminds me of long time friends that had an art gallery and were doing pictures of contemporary ceramics, some of them with shiny surfaces: it was very difficult for them to get pictures reflecting what was in front of our eyes. Anyway this is, at least in my 'cvo-newbie' condition, a high quality paint job.

Sorry for the digression but I can't refrain writing about the bike itself: it is a real pleasure to ride. The engine sound is very quiet, especially during break in, it starts to give a bit more sound when reaching the 3500 limit not to cross according to the manual but it is still very quiet. However I was never looking for loud pipes, I can do 1000km in a day, I have maybe still a couple of decades yet before starting to lose my hearing, and I will always prefer "real" music instead of an engine sound.

With hundreds of watts of speakers, I can always warn the cagers with music, I don't need loud pipes for this. At last, concerning sound, for a few months I returned living in a city (I just spent 15 years in the countryside), and during the summer season, Cannes attracts a lot of tourists, many of them with luxury sport cars or, of course, HD or sport bikes modified in a way or in another. When at 3:00 am an a**hole tries to impress his girl friend by pushing on the engine in a city street, or by revving a bit at a traffic light, we are probably hundreds to be woken up. I won't risk doing it myself ever again.

Compared to my previous 2013 FLHTK, the cycling part of the bike has improved a lot. I begin to retrieve sensations I had with one of the best bike I ever had, the R1100RT: sharp cornering and a twin engine always available. The FLHTK was much more heavier to rock from one side to the other. Slaloming between cars in slow motion traffic still require some physical work, but less than with the FLHTK. It is a bit early yet but I already feel that soon I will leave again t-max scooters far behind ;-)

The remote controlled locking mechanism of the saddles and top case is nice, like the small LED lights that turn on when you switch the bike off. However I can't believe that a 42K euro bike allows anyone to access to the fuel tank! I will probably find a cap with a lock...

Boom Audio ergonomics aren't perfect. I was so used to the old HK that I take some time to build new habits. The guy that decided to forbid accessing a keyboard to enter navigation data while riding, but to authorize its use, or the use of something similarly complex to locate a music title should take medications.

I miss oil temp info (I had the air temp gauge replaced by the oil temp). I don't understand why I can't see on BA what I got on my PV. During long rides, it is the kind of stupid gadget that helps passing time. TPMS should show its usefulness when sometimes I wonder if a loss of traction come from the road of from tire pressure.

That's my first HD water cooled. What a difference on a hot day in a city! However the way the vents are placed in the lower fairings push hot air on the feet when these rest on highway pegs. I didn't use these pegs more than a couple of minutes because of the break in requirements, maybe my position wasn't optimal, I'll try again later.

The backrest doesn't have the option to allow changing its inclination while riding. I'll see if it can be added. IMHO it should be factory fitted on a CVO...

Overall I'm extremely happy with the bike. I avoid thinking about the price ;-) but I'm lucky, in my case it is a corporate vehicle :-).

I've read that HD has lowered the volume of CVO they manufacture, I don't know if it is true, but if yes, then probably they are following the same track than luxury brands like Channel, LVMH, etc: limiting the volume insures to customers that the chance for one of them to meet another person with the same product is very low. And thus pricing can be based also on rarity.. I have the first one in France and I was able to look at the planning for the next months, there is about 5 more planned for whole France until the next round of CVO in summer 2018. My paint job is a rare one :-)

(End of digression!)
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: Heatwave on September 13, 2017, 10:36:03 PM
Exactly, however it's my first CVO and also the first vehicle I have with such a kind of paint, I never had anything that can be compared to that. It reminds me of long time friends that had an art gallery and were doing pictures of contemporary ceramics, some of them with shiny surfaces: it was very difficult for them to get pictures reflecting what was in front of our eyes. Anyway this is, at least in my 'cvo-newbie' condition, a high quality paint job.

Sorry for the digression but I can't refrain writing about the bike itself: it is a real pleasure to ride. The engine sound is very quiet, especially during break in, it starts to give a bit more sound when reaching the 3500 limit not to cross according to the manual but it is still very quiet. However I was never looking for loud pipes, I can do 1000km in a day, I have maybe still a couple of decades yet before starting to lose my hearing, and I will always prefer "real" music instead of an engine sound.

With hundreds of watts of speakers, I can always warn the cagers with music, I don't need loud pipes for this. At last, concerning sound, for a few months I returned living in a city (I just spent 15 years in the countryside), and during the summer season, Cannes attracts a lot of tourists, many of them with luxury sport cars or, of course, HD or sport bikes modified in a way or in another. When at 3:00 am an a**hole tries to impress his girl friend by pushing on the engine in a city street, or by revving a bit at a traffic light, we are probably hundreds to be woken up. I won't risk doing it myself ever again.

Compared to my previous 2013 FLHTK, the cycling part of the bike has improved a lot. I begin to retrieve sensations I had with one of the best bike I ever had, the R1100RT: sharp cornering and a twin engine always available. The FLHTK was much more heavier to rock from one side to the other. Slaloming between cars in slow motion traffic still require some physical work, but less than with the FLHTK. It is a bit early yet but I already feel that soon I will leave again t-max scooters far behind ;-)

The remote controlled locking mechanism of the saddles and top case is nice, like the small LED lights that turn on when you switch the bike off. However I can't believe that a 42K euro bike allows anyone to access to the fuel tank! I will probably find a cap with a lock...

Boom Audio ergonomics aren't perfect. I was so used to the old HK that I take some time to build new habits. The guy that decided to forbid accessing a keyboard to enter navigation data while riding, but to authorize its use, or the use of something similarly complex to locate a music title should take medications.

I miss oil temp info (I had the air temp gauge replaced by the oil temp). I don't understand why I can't see on BA what I got on my PV. During long rides, it is the kind of stupid gadget that helps passing time. TPMS should show its usefulness when sometimes I wonder if a loss of traction come from the road of from tire pressure.

That's my first HD water cooled. What a difference on a hot day in a city! However the way the vents are placed in the lower fairings push hot air on the feet when these rest on highway pegs. I didn't use these pegs more than a couple of minutes because of the break in requirements, maybe my position wasn't optimal, I'll try again later.

The backrest doesn't have the option to allow changing its inclination while riding. I'll see if it can be added. IMHO it should be factory fitted on a CVO...

Overall I'm extremely happy with the bike. I avoid thinking about the price ;-) but I'm lucky, in my case it is a corporate vehicle :-).

I've read that HD has lowered the volume of CVO they manufacture, I don't know if it is true, but if yes, then probably they are following the same track than luxury brands like Channel, LVMH, etc: limiting the volume insures to customers that the chance for one of them to meet another person with the same product is very low. And thus pricing can be based also on rarity.. I have the first one in France and I was able to look at the planning for the next months, there is about 5 more planned for whole France until the next round of CVO in summer 2018. My paint job is a rare one :-)

(End of digression!)

Nice writeup and congratulations on your 2018 CVO Limited. I believe your assessment of the paint is exactly what HD was targeting. European tastes will probably find this year's CVOs more attractive than many American CVO buyers. Most Europeans prefer less chrome, more black and far more subtle paint colors and schemes than American CVO buyers. Personally I find the 2018 CVO colors, black out and paint fading, far too subtle and to be honest somewhat boring compared to past years of CVOs. From 10 ft away the '18 CVO Limiteds look like just another Ultra Limited. 2016 HD sales growth in Euro were far better than in the US. I won't ge surprised if that trend continues as HD appears to be looking to attract a larger global marketshare by catering to their tastes even if that means losing some American buyers.

It appears that HD hit the mark given your positive writeup. Thats a good thing for ALL Harley riders. I wish you many enjoyable miles on your new bike.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: bpf on September 14, 2017, 01:19:52 AM
Nice writeup and congratulations on your 2018 CVO Limited. I believe your assessment of the paint is exactly what HD was targeting. European tastes will probably find this year's CVOs more attractive than many American CVO buyers. Most Europeans prefer less chrome, more black and far more subtle paint colors and schemes than American CVO buyers. Personally I find the 2018 CVO colors, black out and paint fading, far too subtle and to be honest somewhat boring compared to past years of CVOs. From 10 ft away the '18 CVO Limiteds look like just another Ultra Limited. 2016 HD sales growth in Euro were far better than in the US. I won't ge surprised if that trend continues as HD appears to be looking to attract a larger global marketshare by catering to their tastes even if that means losing some American buyers.

It appears that HD hit the mark given your positive writeup. Thats a good thing for ALL Harley riders. I wish you many enjoyable miles on your new bike.

I also have the feeling that the 18' CVOs paint jobs feel 'less American' than the previous ones but maybe HD is also targeting a different audience even in the USA, for instance BMW & Goldwing riders.

(I would like also to see for real the 'gunship' gray on the RG CVO, I suspect that it has characteristics similar to the pain job of my ride.)

IMHO the 'black earth fade' color could fit well to a Porsche car. Someone wrote this idea on an other forum and I find it spot on. The USA represents about 25% of the worldwide sales of Porsche...

The mix of old style looking of the HD fairings, modernized engine and blacked out colors can also be considered to go into that direction if you look at what you get when you want to buy a Porsche that looks like a Porsche.

Whatever the taste for colors, it is clearly obvious that pictures can't show how are the bikes for real. Usually the first target for an OEM is to have you to visit a dealership: with the 18' color line-up you have no other choice than to go to see by yourselves. It is a risk for the OEM, but as word of mouth is getting in that direction even on the forums, HD design team has probably succeeded.

At last fashion, by definition, is in constant evolution. Tastes change over time. 20 years ago, nearly no one had tattoos, piercings and HD bikes were often considered to be reserved to, hu.., specific persons. (at least in Europe ;-) ). Nowadays you can have tattoos,piercings, a HD bike, and tidy up your bike wear before entering a financial meeting in a Fortune 500 company without having other persons attending the meeting being afraid that they will be robbed or gunned down in the next few seconds. (traditions get lost:-))

As you wrote, It is also logical that HD shift its product line up towards where it expects to see growth. It doesn't forbid a buyer to change the bike according to its own taste. (once at my local dealership a guy had a CVO repainted in black...)
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: Heatwave on September 14, 2017, 07:27:35 AM
I also have the feeling that the 18' CVOs paint jobs feel 'less American' than the previous ones but maybe HD is also targeting a different audience even in the USA, for instance BMW & Goldwing riders.

(I would like also to see for real the 'gunship' gray on the RG CVO, I suspect that it has characteristics similar to the pain job of my ride.)

IMHO the 'black earth fade' color could fit well to a Porsche car. Someone wrote this idea on an other forum and I find it spot on. The USA represents about 25% of the worldwide sales of Porsche...

The mix of old style looking of the HD fairings, modernized engine and blacked out colors can also be considered to go into that direction if you look at what you get when you want to buy a Porsche that looks like a Porsche.

Whatever the taste for colors, it is clearly obvious that pictures can't show how are the bikes for real. Usually the first target for an OEM is to have you to visit a dealership: with the 18' color line-up you have no other choice than to go to see by yourselves. It is a risk for the OEM, but as word of mouth is getting in that direction even on the forums, HD design team has probably succeeded.

At last fashion, by definition, is in constant evolution. Tastes change over time. 20 years ago, nearly no one had tattoos, piercings and HD bikes were often considered to be reserved to, hu.., specific persons. (at least in Europe ;-) ). Nowadays you can have tattoos,piercings, a HD bike, and tidy up your bike wear before entering a financial meeting in a Fortune 500 company without having other persons attending the meeting being afraid that they will be robbed or gunned down in the next few seconds. (traditions get lost:-))

As you wrote, It is also logical that HD shift its product line up towards where it expects to see growth. It doesn't forbid a buyer to change the bike according to its own taste. (once at my local dealership a guy had a CVO repainted in black...)

HD will know if their "new direction in tastes" and higher prices, pays off in short order. By this time next year they will know if this strategy has paid off. If unit sales continue their slide downwards and overall margins also decline, HD will need to reconsider their entire strategy. OTOH if they reverse current sales and margin declines, then Wall Street will be happy and we'll see more of this "styling" to come. Time will tell in short order since stockholders aren't known for being patient.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: bpf on September 16, 2017, 08:08:55 AM
HD will know if their "new direction in tastes" and higher prices, pays off in short order. By this time next year they will know if this strategy has paid off. If unit sales continue their slide downwards and overall margins also decline, HD will need to reconsider their entire strategy. OTOH if they reverse current sales and margin declines, then Wall Street will be happy and we'll see more of this "styling" to come. Time will tell in short order since stockholders aren't known for being patient.
The death of Victory should also help HD. I understand that the sales of used HD bikes are good, even if that doesn't bring short term profit, it also excellent news for the brand name in the long run.

Today I gave the bike my first hand wash. The paint is very hard to describe, its color oscillates between light gray to black, sometimes very dark green (but nature is green where I'm, so go figure if it has an influence...). When you take a picture of it, the result is always different from what you perceived with your own eyes. It should be attractive to women that love so much some mystery and secrecy where it is not expected  ::)

Really if you have a chance to see it by yourself when it is parked outside, do it. And if possible at different hours of the day.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: bpf on September 18, 2017, 03:29:47 PM
I finished the break in Sunday afternoon, it was done by the book, I always did so and had fine bikes, I push them hard after break in, not before. So here are a few lines describing what I feel regarding this 18' CVO...

The stock 117 is a nice engine with a linear acceleration as soon as it gets hot. Even a small throttle opening with the engine not at correct temp will show that the engine isn't ready yet, the stock ECU map must be very lean at low temp since these temps are usually producing a lot of pollution. However after a few km everything is fine.

The stock 117 has a large powerband, it is a pleasure to open the throttle on the highway in 6th gear. Accelerating from a traffic light leaves a lot of people behind, they just can ear a throaty sound that isn't ear breaking. IMHO the stock sound is perfect for sensations when accelerating, while allowing long rides while listening to music: I won't change it.

It is of course too early to see what the engine will become in the next thousands of km but for sure it is already fun to use.

The "cycling part" is really excellent now, the whole bike balance is really good. (I don't know how it is called in English, in French we usually separate, for a bike, the "engine part" from what I call here the "cycling part" - wheels, tires, shocks, frame effects having side effects on the link with the ground, please tell me the correct wording in English as I found no translation for what I call here the "cycling part" ("partie cycle" en Français)

I start touching ground in turns, the stock tires seem good on dry roads, accurate, but I had no chance to test them yet on wet ground. Coming from the 2013 FLHTK, this bike is a total pleasure, it is like wearing sneakers after leaded boots: it much less physical to push the bike hard in turns or road traffic, it really goes where you look at without sweating.

The cycling part fits very well with the engine power, and the combined braking is also excellent, but I was a bit surprised at first after all these years without such a kind of braking (I had combined braking on the K1200LT but that dates back from 2010 and significant progress has been done obviously from that time).

I had to do an emergency harsh braking in town a couple of hours ago (I was playing with the engine and was about to take over a car that decided that it was time to immediately turn left...), and combined braking + ABS did the job finely, I was able to get from a hard acceleration to a complete stop with a good safety margin, and able to move away without having to put my feet on the ground: the front end didn't dive, or, more exactly, I didn't feel it dive a lot, I just felt the rear tire sliding a bit in the last couple of meters, and that was because it was braking on the ground marks of a pedestrian walk. The frame was still, the bike did exactly what I was expecting it to do, no locked wheels, no loss of balance.

Overall appreciation at the moment: this is a good, fun and sane bike, its engine is on par with its "cycling part". If I have to summarize it in a single word it would be "balanced", which is for me the ultimate compliment for a vehicle: I can ride it hard, if I crash it will be only because of my stupidity, or external factors, not because of the bike's design. This is what I'm looking for in a bike: to be fun AND sane. And all of this with the luxury of a EG limited CVO, that's total pleasure.

I think I will love it very much for a long period of time :-)

(sorry for the long post!)
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: Heatwave on September 18, 2017, 06:24:20 PM
Nice write-up. The best word to use in english for "cycling" would be "handling". We use "handling" as a general term referring to braking, suspension, balance, center of gravity, steering, tire grip. Its the most common term used when talking about performance cars and motorcycles.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: bpf on September 19, 2017, 02:36:30 PM
Nice write-up. The best word to use in english for "cycling" would be "handling". We use "handling" as a general term referring to braking, suspension, balance, center of gravity, steering, tire grip. Its the most common term used when talking about performance cars and motorcycles.
IMHO handling depends on the "engine part", the "cycling part" and other subsets like the frame, center of gravity, mass balance, etc. The results of all those parts should be the handling as defined also there https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile_handling (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile_handling). Sorry I fell in nitpicking, this must be genetic with French speakers  ;) Anyway you understood what I meant.

I had a chance to ride on wet roads today. However I was very quiet since it didn't rain for weeks so the water made the road surface very slippy. I was coming back from the office, in medium traffic, I wasn't able to really try ABS like I usually do, on a straight road/street with no one, and a good harsh braking to see how the bike stops. (I'm a deep lover of ABS on motorbikes)

The combined braking feels a bit strange on a wet surface, I'll take some times to get used to it, it doesn't triggers ABS very quickly on the rear tire so you may get a (small) bit of sliding. However the bike is still very sane.

I was surprised by a car making a stop (at slow speed), I was able to move easily between this car and another, inserting myself between the two lanes while braking on the wet road surface and felling ABS being triggered.

I think that with the FLHTK I wouldn't have been able to ride so finely.

So what you get with the CVO isn't just a questionable paint job (according to American taste  ;)) or (lack of) chromes, it's a HD that is on the same level that German made touring bikes, at least from a few years ago since I didn't had the chance to ride a K1600 for the comparison (and don't want to, who cares about 6 cylinders and 250km/h since you can lose your license with only 2 cylinders and a much slower speed?).

When accelerating on dry pedestrian walk markings, the rear wheel is often spinning: the M8 117 has a very good potential and seems to be a perfect engine for the weight of the EG.

I still have to ride with a passenger, but I have some difficulties to find one these days. (internal reorganization at my home, wife/girlfriend's position is vacant and recruiting faces harsh competition)
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: Heatwave on September 19, 2017, 03:00:47 PM
For Americans, "handling" is somewhat independent of engine performance. Small cars with small engines can have excellent "handling". A big powerful car wih an extremely powerful engine can have lousy "handling". Based in your description of "cycling" being "wheels, tires, shocks, frame effects and how it links to the ground", that is exactly what an American is referring to when they state that the "handling" of a vehicle is good or bad.

Feel free to use whatever term you wish, but "handling" is the term to use if you're trying to communicate how the motorcycle responds to the road surface through the tires, suspension, frame and steering.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: bpf on September 20, 2017, 05:33:32 PM
Then let's go with "handling"! A few minutes ago I just tried high speed curves (+/- 180km/h) using the highway pegs and stability is good, the frame doesn't tack(?) -> "louvoyer" in French. Of course it's not a sport bike and using this pegs I offered a larger surface to the wind but it's still fine. And the 300 watts of the stereo do the job also, you cana hear music at this speed.

I had a compliment about the bike today: "how nice it is! And, at last, no more chrome!" I swear it's true! (from a woman that doesn't ride).
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: PFWiz on November 02, 2017, 09:28:54 AM
bpf

Thank you for the fine review.
I have Sunglo Fade Limited CVO on order that I purchased sight unseen. (I must be crazy)
You review makes me feel a little better about my insanity.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: bpf on November 02, 2017, 11:32:58 AM
bpf

Thank you for the fine review.
I have Sunglo Fade Limited CVO on order that I purchased sight unseen. (I must be crazy)
You review makes me feel a little better about my insanity.

Thanks! I hope you'll like it! Me too I bought the bike blindly and I don't regret it !

A few more information after close to 4K km: I won't increase the engine HP, I'll leave it as is: the handling (suspension/stearing and wind exposure) make me feel it fits well the current power of the engine but I'm not sure it will be able to stand more power and keep the bike safe.

I have a lot of fun with the CVO I now have it well in hand, the engine leaves everyone behind at a traffic light. If after such a start you need to brake hard everything stays manageable but I have the feeling that there is not much of a margin of progression to support more power. Or only for acceleration on straight lines, which is a trap I'd like to avoid.

Sometimes I reach 160km/h and it's still okay. But at higher speed, in large curves, depending on the wing direction and strength, the bike may start to show a sinusoïdal lateral move ('louvoiement' en Français). On a K1200LT with a variable windshield, it disappeared by lowering the windshield in such curves, I guess the bike has too much pressure on the front wheel because of the wind exposure of the fairing.

There is no such feature on the CVO, I tried to push the button of the front air vent to no avail, it may have an effect but not significant enough to raise the speed to 180km/h and still feel confident. So IMHO 160km/h is the top speed, you can reach it soon enough for me, I don't ride often at that speed these days.

So the handling limit both in braking + wind exposure will make me to stay with the current, rather balanced, power/handling ratio, the stock engine is enough for me.

The weather is getting a bit colder in the evening these days, it is clear that you must not count on any kind of acceleration to get you out a traffic problem until the engine is hot enough because it will just avoid accelerating. I miss a kind of gauge indicating oil or engine temp.

At last, one side bag was touched by a cager not seeing because of the sun low in the sky. We were at near zero speed. I had his front bumper very slightly touching the bag while I was slowly moving forward: his bumper left its paint on the bag/case, but I had not a single dent or a stripe on the bag! the paint job quality of the CVO is excellent!

So I'm still more than happy with that beautiful bike, the charm didn't passed away!
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: 15CVOSG on November 12, 2017, 04:49:38 PM
pic of the Red Fade...
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: ultrarider123 on November 12, 2017, 10:19:50 PM
pic of the Red Fade...
I believe that's the only one I'm really looking forward to seeing in person. That and the 115 anni cvo limited....not to purchase, just to view.  I'm not swinging my leg over anything new from the MoCo....don wanna buy nuttin and sitting/test riding can lead to other things.... ;D
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: 15CVOSG on November 13, 2017, 10:05:44 AM
it really is a beauty in person ...
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: kojak on November 13, 2017, 06:22:17 PM
I got my limited last Friday, "black earth fade", under natural light the color is completely different from the official pic. More exactly, the color changes slightly according to the ambiant luminosity. It may explain why HD pictures seem to show different bikes that the one you get for real. I'll try to post a few pics anyway.
You live in a beautiful part of the world. I spent 9 days in Monaco 15 years ago and took a couple of trips into Cannes. Great roads, food and people!
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: bpf on November 14, 2017, 01:59:31 AM
I was in Monaco Sunday, then went to Sainte Agnes, a very nice village 750m above sea level with a very nice sight on the surroundings and the sea. A nice ride with my girlfriend and cool music... however I think we ride differently from what I've seen in the US (being on a motorbike and waiting inline behind cars at a traffic light is pure science fiction here)

Envoyé de mon SM-G920F en utilisant Tapatalk

Title: Re: 2018
Post by: kojak on November 14, 2017, 05:58:41 PM
I was in Monaco Sunday, then went to Sainte Agnes, a very nice village 750m above sea level with a very nice sight on the surroundings and the sea. A nice ride with my girlfriend and cool music... however I think we ride differently from what I've seen in the US (being on a motorbike and waiting inline behind cars at a traffic light is pure science fiction here)

Envoyé de mon SM-G920F en utilisant Tapatalk
No kidding, we have a hard enough time getting them not to run us off the road as it is.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: sunset666 on November 22, 2017, 02:59:50 PM
I recently got my brand new Limited in Black Earth Fade, as bpf said, it is a color you have to see to really understand.

I traded my 2016 FLHXSE, and the feeling of the M8 is really nice, I almost can compare it to my 1997 Heritage Springer Evo, your thinking about the new colors focused to the non US market might be right, some of us didn't quite like those bright CVOs with tons of chrome.

The M8 is still a hot engine (as the TC was), runs a little bit cooler that my previous 110 and I can hear the fans of the radiator work while riding (I don't recall this on the SG, but maybe it was because of the boom audio II), I'll switch to ceramic coated pipes, which helped a lot with the 110 as soon as I recover from the trade.

I'll work the highway pegs position since the hot air coming from the radiator indeed burns your legs as bpf also said, but overall I'm really happy with the trade and planing to get me back the boom II (I start to really miss that).
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: bpf on December 04, 2017, 09:54:28 AM
I recently got my brand new Limited in Black Earth Fade, as bpf said, it is a color you have to see to really understand.

I traded my 2016 FLHXSE, and the feeling of the M8 is really nice, I almost can compare it to my 1997 Heritage Springer Evo, your thinking about the new colors focused to the non US market might be right, some of us didn't quite like those bright CVOs with tons of chrome.

The M8 is still a hot engine (as the TC was), runs a little bit cooler that my previous 110 and I can hear the fans of the radiator work while riding (I don't recall this on the SG, but maybe it was because of the boom audio II), I'll switch to ceramic coated pipes, which helped a lot with the 110 as soon as I recover from the trade.

I'll work the highway pegs position since the hot air coming from the radiator indeed burns your legs as bpf also said, but overall I'm really happy with the trade and planing to get me back the boom II (I start to really miss that).

Glad I didn't write too much stupid things  ;) I hope you enjoy the bike!

Friday was a difficult day here, we got small hail and a 3-4 C° temp, that made a snow-like mess on the road. I was stupid to ignore the weather report in the morning... anyway I survived to hill descents in neutral at 1 or 2 km/h, mostly braking with the front brake since I had to keep both feet on the ground most of the time to keep the bike upright (stupidity stroke again, I had sneakers instead of my waterproof Alpinestar..). Other bikers were also having troubles, especially the ones with higher bikes, what a chance to have such a low gravity center on HD... However with me the bike is north of 500KG and in some hills, it was very close to slip at rest even when braking to full stop. I hate putting my feet on the ground but I didn't want to take risks, it would have been terrible to fall. Thinking about what would be needed to put the bike back upright in such conditions removed any remains of self-esteem, I let my feet sink in cold water/hail to add supplementary brake surface.

After all of that, when I finally escaped from this frozen hail/hell and went back to sea level with a 7C° temp, riding under rain was a joke, I relaxed a lot, up to the point where I could see that handling is correct under rain and could be trusted, at least when the road has been washed of greasy products. Only problem I found is what I already heard under previous (small) trips with rain, the front brake is noisy when wet, maybe the brake pad type ? The OEM tires are also good enough.

B.
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: sunset666 on March 04, 2018, 03:40:33 PM
Well, I'm in love of this milwaukee motor, I expended some cash making it safe and somehow transforming the HDI bike to a more domestic one.

Added the wrapping tourpak light with Turn/Brake/Run (just that brake on turn corners wasn't activated had to add a custom dynamics triple play to it, reversing connectors), electra glo saddlebag lights (same as the tour pak, another CD TP), smoked brake with light on top (HDI bikes comes with red and license plate at bottom).

Had to mask the turn light bar led so they aren't amber (I considered a ridiculous amount of money to buy those on red), and now it grasp attention on every driver behind me (at least I hope so).

https://youtu.be/NecAhWYH0SM
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: mxkenny on March 10, 2018, 03:25:42 PM
As of today 9 March 2018 we have 49 out of the 1200 Anniversary CVO Limited’s listed.  Please help spread the word, and let others know that if they purchase a 2018 Anniversary CVO Limited we would like them to join the “Harley Davidson 115 Anniversary CVO Limited” Group and post a photo of their bike number and location.  Our highest number so far is 695; it would appear that production and shipping are not that far over 60%.  Check out and join other groups as well, I am a member of 7 Harley Davidson related groups and typically post in all of them.     

#1 – Krasnoyarsk, Russia
#4 – Orange County, California
#23 – Zwijndrecht, Belgium
#25 – Vietnam
#64 – Poland
#66 – Japan
#102 – Bayonne, France
#146 – Kaisermatt, Switzerland
#158 – El Cajon, California
#177 – Indiana
#182 – Kansas City, Missouri
#185 – Leverkusen, Germany
#186 – Cagliari, Italy
#196 – Lugano, Switzerland
#217 – Zanesville, Ohio
#223 – Kokomo, Indiana
#228 – Kuwait
#243 – Lake County, Indiana
#247 – Madison, Alabama
#251 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
#256 – Portsmouth, Virginia
#267 – Valencia, California
#288 – Mansfield, Pennsylvania
#355 – Valencia, California
#356 – Tucson, Arizona
#362 – Tinley Park, Illinois
#368 – Langhorne, Pennsylvania
#373 – Texarkana, Texas
#400 – Mason, Ohio
#412 – Stafford, Texas
#422 – Shakopee, Minnesota
#427 – Athens, Alabama
#449 – Salinas, California
#468 – Downers Grove, Illinois
#490 – Marysville, Washington
#515 – Chandler, Texas
#524 – Loma Linda, California
#540 – London Ontario, Canada
#546 – Terre Haute, Indiana 
#564 – Portland, Main 
#577 – Chandler, Arizona 
#580 – Tulsa, Oklahoma 
#584 – New Castle, Indiana
#619 – Saint Peter, Wisconsin
#633 – Topeka, Kansas 
#672 – Ridge Harbor, Florida
#678 – Barrie, Ontario
#695 – Edgewater, Florida
#757 – Valparaiso, Indiana

Note:  Bike #1 in Russia seems unlikely but I asked for a second photo of the bike number from another angle and they sent it.  I also asked HOG Magazine to contact the factory to verify. 
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: PFWiz on March 12, 2018, 09:33:00 AM
MX, quit copying the same darn post to every thread!

Seriously dude!
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: ultrarider123 on March 12, 2018, 10:54:14 AM
As of today 9 March 2018 we have 49 out of the 1200 Anniversary CVO Limited’s listed.  Please help spread the word, and let others know that if they purchase a 2018 Anniversary CVO Limited we would like them to join the “Harley Davidson 115 Anniversary CVO Limited” Group and post a photo of their bike number and location.  Our highest number so far is 695; it would appear that production and shipping are not that far over 60%.  Check out and join other groups as well, I am a member of 7 Harley Davidson related groups and typically post in all of them.     


Hey MX, is that 7 Harley Davidson groups and post the same post multiple times in all of them OR you are new member here and post the same thing at least 7 times each time....just askin' cause as PF stated, we's tired of seeing the same thing over and over again, sir.  Just post it once and we will see it.... ;D
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: Tobias7000 on April 02, 2018, 01:36:04 AM
pic of the Red Fade...

Just turned 900 miles on mine.  The Burgandy Sunglow Fade is a real eye catcher in person... if you like those color pallets of course. My last bike was blue, so this one is red  :)


Title: Re: 2018
Post by: HotRodFXR3 on April 20, 2018, 06:56:09 PM
Looks like my local dealer wasn’t getting the black earth fade CVO I wanted, so I changed my mind and am now going with the burgundy cherry. The thing is I want to change the pipes to black chrome to match the front. Doing a web search and it seems impossible. Any ideas??
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: bpf on April 21, 2018, 05:28:16 PM
I reached 13000km (8K miles) "thanks" to the different strikes we have here these days in public transportation. (I rode 2000+ miles last week). The 117 engine is a permanent joy. No significant problems with the bike but:

- bugs with Boom Audio (sometimes losing the set language (it falls back to English), losing the current album/playlist nearly all the time after ignition off, navigation is sometimes giving stupid direction (happens with all nav systems I ever had), if navigation was engaged when switching ignition off, sometimes I have no audio for the nav at the next ignition on, etc. I asked a dealership to upgrade it to the latest version to no avail). IMHO either the underlying hardware isn't designed correctly regarding BA power needs when the bike is turned off, and/or the contractor programming BA should change of job since those bugs are reported for years. However when BA works correctly, it is really a nice system.

- the warning/flashers button is badly placed, once I pressed it in a hurry to report to following cagers that the traffic was slowing down quickly and by mistake I turned the engine off.

- if the rear tire is hot at ignition on, sometimes the TPMS reads 000 and stay at that value. TPMS saved my day if not my life when it detected a 1 bar/14.5 PSI drop (got a punctured rear tire, had to replace it and the 000 problem started to appear at that time, will have the valve checked at the next service, maybe the guy that changed the tire didn't followed whatever procedure is required for this valve).

I didn't think first that I would use often the Bluetooth hand free kit but in the end I often do because of the time I spend on the bike, people calls me when I ride. The kit works well, even with my terrible modular helmet that makes a lot of aerodynamic noise.

I still don't understand what the front air vent is supposed to do, maybe whatever it is supposed to do doesn't happen because of the windshield bags I have.

The front tire is now very close to retirement. I know I must not ride at 100 mph+ but I sometimes do and I think that the lack of accuracy at these speeds could come from the tire itself. The stock tires are bias ply, I would like to change the two for radials to see the result, expecting to trade longevity for better handling. It seems that the Metzeler M888 are radials, I didn't find other radials for that type of bike, did anyone test radial tires on a HD touring ?

I did a lot of miles/km under the rain, I still don't feel completely comfortable even if the road is clean because the rain washed it: that's another reason I would like to test new tires.

Once I lost the key fob, I think I forgot it on the rear seat and I didn't see the "No key fob" alert: in a perfect world, it should appear on BA or make some warning sound. The first replacement key fob I got from the dealership didn't work, they had to order a second one (it takes weeks to get one).

At last: zilch oil loss (not a single drop from the air filter), no leakage of any kind, fuel consumption gives me regularly 300km (186 miles) at highway speed (here 130kph/80mph), even the remaining range given by the computer is often correct, the engine ticks like a Swiss clock whatever the external temp/humidity, IMHO the 117 M8 is a total success, the bike is an excellent one and if handling could be improved a bit at high speed and BA bugs fixed, it would be the best touring bike!
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: Tobias7000 on April 21, 2018, 06:46:29 PM
I reached 13000km (8K miles) "thanks" to the different strikes we have here these days in public transportation. (I rode 2000+ miles last week). The 117 engine is a permanent joy. No significant problems with the bike but:

- bugs with Boom Audio (sometimes losing the set language (it falls back to English), losing the current album/playlist nearly all the time after ignition off, navigation is sometimes giving stupid direction (happens with all nav systems I ever had), if navigation was engaged when switching ignition off, sometimes I have no audio for the nav at the next ignition on, etc. I asked a dealership to upgrade it to the latest version to no avail). IMHO either the underlying hardware isn't designed correctly regarding BA power needs when the bike is turned off, and/or the contractor programming BA should change of job since those bugs are reported for years. However when BA works correctly, it is really a nice system.

- the warning/flashers button is badly placed, once I pressed it in a hurry to report to following cagers that the traffic was slowing down quickly and by mistake I turned the engine off.

- if the rear tire is hot at ignition on, sometimes the TPMS reads 000 and stay at that value. TPMS saved my day if not my life when it detected a 1 bar/14.5 PSI drop (got a punctured rear tire, had to replace it and the 000 problem started to appear at that time, will have the valve checked at the next service, maybe the guy that changed the tire didn't followed whatever procedure is required for this valve).

I didn't think first that I would use often the Bluetooth hand free kit but in the end I often do because of the time I spend on the bike, people calls me when I ride. The kit works well, even with my terrible modular helmet that makes a lot of aerodynamic noise.

I still don't understand what the front air vent is supposed to do, maybe whatever it is supposed to do doesn't happen because of the windshield bags I have.

The front tire is now very close to retirement. I know I must not ride at 100 mph+ but I sometimes do and I think that the lack of accuracy at these speeds could come from the tire itself. The stock tires are bias ply, I would like to change the two for radials to see the result, expecting to trade longevity for better handling. It seems that the Metzeler M888 are radials, I didn't find other radials for that type of bike, did anyone test radial tires on a HD touring ?

I did a lot of miles/km under the rain, I still don't feel completely comfortable even if the road is clean because the rain washed it: that's another reason I would like to test new tires.

Once I lost the key fob, I think I forgot it on the rear seat and I didn't see the "No key fob" alert: in a perfect world, it should appear on BA or make some warning sound. The first replacement key fob I got from the dealership didn't work, they had to order a second one (it takes weeks to get one).

At last: zilch oil loss (not a single drop from the air filter), no leakage of any kind, fuel consumption gives me regularly 300km (186 miles) at highway speed (here 130kph/80mph), even the remaining range given by the computer is often correct, the engine ticks like a Swiss clock whatever the external temp/humidity, IMHO the 117 M8 is a total success, the bike is an excellent one and if handling could be improved a bit at high speed and BA bugs fixed, it would be the best touring bike!
Good assessment, thanks.  I’m really liking the 117 too.   I’m coming from an 2005 Goldwing so real big change for me.  I’m sold on this CVO.   


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: 2018
Post by: DesertHOG on April 24, 2018, 10:30:16 AM
Good assessment, thanks.  I’m really liking the 117 too.   I’m coming from an 2005 Goldwing so real big change for me.  I’m sold on this CVO.   


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

That says a lot coming from a former Goldwing rider.