Rode to town yesterday and stopped off at a local diner that is popular with riders. There were about a hundred bikes there, and it is fun to grab a beverage and walk and talk about the bikes and other motorcycle topics. Seems we all have stories about our rides and (in general) we like to share them. As we walked and asked several people about their bikes, the question that usually comes back is “So what are you ridin’?” and the stories begin.
After twenty minutes or so I was looking at a tricked out touring bike; pipes, paint, chrome, seat, handlebars, wheels, grips, etc, etc, etc. I was impressed and asked “What did it start out as?” and was surprised that the response was “It’s a CVO Street Glide”. We all praised the guy and his bike, which is truly “custom” but as we took a table for lunch, the discussion surrounded the issue: “What is a CVO Harley Davidson and/or what isn’t.”
There was nothing about that bike that looked liked it had ANY CVO DNA in it, or on it. I guess if he took it in for service, a dealer could reference the VIN, and determine what it started out as, but there, on the street, it was no longer a CVO (if it ever was). Moreover, trading it in as a CVO might not be viable since it is likely to be worth more (to him at least) but no longer fits a NADA (CVO) category.
So I thought I would post this as a question to everyone but especially to our most experienced members: Presuming we all start out with stock or primarily stock CVO’s, is there a point when we leave the title behind? Can we modify our CVO’s to the point when they no longer qualify? Or if you are born a CVO you die a CVO regardless of modifications?
Should we care? Does it matter? Well, it matters to me if I am buying your “Custom Vehicle” that isn’t a CVO.
OWL