Well this may be late in the season for most but I finally was able to combine a nice day with time away from my business and get out for my first ride on my new FLHTKSE-ANV. Seriously, the thing has been in my garage for 2 months and I finally got it on the road! (I'm so ashamed
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So here it is. My 2 cents on what will likely be the highest “cost per pound” ride I will ever own. So far… No regrets what-so-ever!
First ImpressionsComparing everything to my previous ride (which I loved) my 2010 CVO Street Glide, this bike, while heavier, feels like it has a lower center. The weight is not as noticeable as I had been thinking it would be – not sure why, but I was prepared for it to feel top heavy. No so.
The seating position seems lower to the ground and maybe a bit forward of what I'm used to. I'm 6’1” and still found it comfortable enough. I'm going to have to do something with the highway pegs to allow me to slide my feet forward a bit on longer rides, but overall – very comfy!
Not sure if it's just me but I did find that when at a stop (stop light for example) and just inching forward and rolling back that I notice the passenger floor boards hit the back of my calves. I'll have to get used to that lack of travel with one or both legs down. I've had other bikes with rear boards, not sure why this is so noticeable for me on this one.
SuspensionWithout a doubt, the most supple ride I have ever had on a Harley. Maybe it's the tire wheel combo or maybe the suspension itself – but I tell you, compared to the street glide, this thing soaks up the road like a Lincoln Limo! (Oh by the way, my darling young bride commented on the ride from her perch as well)
So as I approach some familiar twisty roads on my ride, I'm figuring I might have my hands full with this big yacht. Well I was pleasantly surprised! This thing loves the curves. She's as nimble as a ninja warrior! Now I'm not talking about Moto GP stuff, but for a big touring bike, riding 2 up on two lane back roads, it took a very light touch to transfer enough weight and make this thing go where you want it to. Impressive!
EngineResponsive and snappy. Passing cars in 5th... no problem. This bike gathers momentum really quickly. Feels torquey and cruises at 75mph comfortably. Everything you'd want from a touring bike. I'm not sure if the new Fullsac system has had any affect in this regard or not. I hadn't ridden it beforehand.
The 117 engine itself is very quiet compare to the constant “ticking” that came from between my legs on the 110. Very happy to see the M8 has some refinements in this regard. While the tone of the Fullsac exhaust system is pleasing, it is much quieter than I imagined it might be. In hindsight I might have considered the 2 1/2“ Fullsac cores. I wanted a quieter ride this time, but I may have over shot that goal with the 2” cores. Live and learn.
Brakes and ClutchI hopped on and rode away like I had been there before. The clutch seemed to have a lighter pull that the 2010 FLHXSE. Smooth shifts up and down, no tranny clunking - all very nice! The brakes are quite grabby but it's likely because of the fact that the bike is new. I had no cause to really put them to a real test but they feel like they will do the job quite nicely!
6.5 Boom Audio Stage 1In one word -
LAME– better than stock? Probably, but not by much. At any kind of volume, the speakers bottom out, the tone is tinny and has no punch at all. I had spent quite a bit of money on audio equipment (Hawg-Wired amps and speakers plus lid speakers and dash tweeters etc) on my 2010 CVO Street glide and always though IT could be better – but OMG was I wrong. That system blew this away! I'm definitely going to have to research upgrades to this system! (Suggestions?)
As for the hand controls for the new radios, it's going to take me some time I suppose – it's all new to me and I do not find the system very intuitive. Maybe I'm just so used to the old HK radio controls.
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Topic: My First Ride on the 2018 CVO Limited (Read 4176 times)