I'm almost embarrassed to post this but.......having ridden Harleys since the 90's, when you had to go through the lottery to get one. I was blown away.
Only rode the Road Glide at the suggestion of a friend, went in the dealership to buy another CVO Street Glide. Have always rode Batwing faring bikes, have owned multiple. Dealer said let's take both out for a ride. I got on the Road Glide first, I wanted to get off my 15 CVO Street Glide and get right on the 2023 CVO Road Glide to compare the feeling. At first I wasn't trusting what I felt, the RG was easier to pick up off the side stand than my SG..ok thats weird... but nice. When we started out of the dealership the RG seemed better balanced than my SG, we went through a section of 30-40 mph turns before we hit the main street and the bike seemed to turn so good at even slower speeds. We got out on the main street, and we were running 60 mph and the only word that comes to mind is planted and stable. Except for the wind from the short windscreen, I was truly impressed. We stopped and switched bikes the CVO SG was a Whiskey Neat paint, and it was stunning in the sunlight. The SG felt like home...everything was the same, bars, seat position to the faring, as my 2015. I know the RG and SG are the same except the fairing, so I pretty much expected them to ride the same. They didn't. The SG just didn't feel as good as the RG, which really had me shaking my head. How could there be such a difference? The cable clutch took a little getting used to, the 121 pulled like it wanted to run, but I really didn't turn a lot of rpms, the suspension seemed firm but a little more refined than my 2015. I'm probably not a good person to review this bike as it's the only RG I ever rode. Not sure if they all ride like this, but this one definitely got my attention in a nice way.
I've owned Fat Boys, Ultra Classics, Limited's and Street Glides, loved them all for their own reasons, but this RG seemed really special to me.
So, thinking i was having a good day, maybe that's why this bike felt so different and good. I took it out for a ride the next day, half expecting it to remind me of my old SG. Nope.... the feeling was still the same. Handles like a dream, the balance to me seems perfect. Not sure if it's the center of gravity that's different, or the fixed fairing mounted to the frame, that changes the balance, but to me....there is a noticeable difference. For a stock motor it pulls hard, the VVT is part of it im sure, but the power seems more even.
To say i am impressed is an understatement.