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[CVORick]

A couple rubber bands and some popcicle sticks do wonders...splinters can be an issue, however.....  

That was just mean. You could have said 12" Rulers and duct tape.  After all this is a CVO Forum.

[WVHoop]

There are negative aspects to everything, some people unfortunately let their lives be dictated by & thrive on anything negative. For me, I feel so fortunate that I'm able to own one of these machines & more importantly that I'm able to be a part of this forum. I've learned so much from reading what others here have experienced, both good & not so good. The MOCO may not be what everyone may think it should be but when you mix human beings with machinery it can & sometimes does produce not so good results. I'm fortunate that my machine must have been built on a good day.

[Indenial]

I think I'll go to Milwaukee on Friday and thank all the folks at HD for their fine machines.

[xbigallenx]

I was feeling the same way about the complaining, I do like to hear the about problem so it give me things to look for. I also have a 07 with no issues, heated grip still work. 25000 miles and doing a 400 mile trip to FL this weekend by myself. I also like hearing about the good things and the add on's that work or don't. But if you don't like your Harley buy something else they make all kinds. Just ride and live free.

 Thanks for the term paper lesson. The bike was bought by my uncle new. I would ride it when he had it and after get hit on mine by a car He sold me the 07 with only 9000 miles on it. So I have known the bike sense it was new. The only thing he had done was the head gasket.
 I work for a Diesel Engine Shop. and believe me ever engine has there issue here and there.  That one thing that keeps all dealer in business. If it is man made or robot made it could have some type of problem. We have Engines that get a million mile with no problem and some that don't make it 10 miles.  Just saying just because one had trouble don't make them all bad.

[1abastarsmda]

I was feeling the same way about the complaining, I do like to hear about problem so it give me things to look for. I also have a 07 with no issues, heated grip still work. 2500k and doing a 400 mile trip to FL this weekend by myself. I also like hearing about the good things and the add on's that work or don't. But if you don't like your Harley buy something else they make all kinds. Just ride and live free.

I know I'm not the only one wondering here, so I'll be the one to bust your chops a little.  "2500K"  If that's 2500 miles on an '07, that bike isn't even broken in yet.  If it's truly 2500k, that would be 2 million, 500 thousand miles and I am truly impressed that the grips work, or anything else for that matter.  I'm hoping that you had a different number in mind than either of those extremes.  Now I'm wondering if you purchased the bike around when you joined the forum and you have put the 2500 miles on it yourself in about 1.75 yrs.  Perhaps you meant 25,000 miles since you bought it and then you've been putting on some good mileage...or is it 25000 miles on an '07 and you put some of the miles on it.  Regardless, this still tells me that someone else already had all the bugs worked out before you got the bike.  Or maybe you bought it new, and didn't join the forum until 12/2011.  I really don't mean to bust your chops real bad, but as you can see, it's a little hard to interpret what you are trying to say in this post.  Damn, I feel like a teacher ripping apart someone's term paper.

Seriously though, it doesn't matter how many miles you have to run into problems.  My new bike had 200 miles when it started making some extreme noises and had the engine replaced with 800 miles.  I didn't complain about it and the dealer didn't put a mark on the bike putting it back together.  They did a great job.  Moving forward, I took it back to the same dealer for a dyno tune, and ended up with deep scratches on my heat shields and they forgot to screw the clamps back together on the heat shields when they put them back on.  For that, I'm complaining.  You know what?  Sometimes we just need to vent and tell somebody that can put themselves in our shoes.  This forum provides a perfect place for that.  Like you said, you have had no issues, but when you do, you will have some empathetic ears here to listen to you.

[rmw]

I am a long time BMW rider who recently made the move to a 2013 CVO Ultra Anniversary.  I enjoyed the last ten years and 120k + miles on a BMW 1200 LT.  It was time for a new bike and I switched to the Harley CVO because I tried and did not like the LT replacement, the BMW GTL.  BMW totally missed the point of a touring bike on this one.  They tried to make the GT, a sport touring bike, also a two up touring bike, it is not.  A fine piece of engineering yes but not a good two up touring bike IMHO. That left two options for a touring bike for us, the Goldwing or the CVO.
 
Having rented a bunch of Harleys over the years we thought it time to take the plunge. That and the paint on the 13 anniversary just grabbed us from the start.  It is understated and elegantly done, eye of the beholder kind of thing I guess.  Anyway, bought it in June and now have 6,500 miles on it so a couple of thoughts.

By the same mileage on my beloved BMW I had replaced two slave cylinders, and two complete audio systems.  I struggled with a head shake for some time after the same mileage before it was resolved.  I never got more than 6-7k on a rear tire and the seat sucked beyond belief.  Everything was sorted by 30-35k and I had many years of trouble free and enjoyable miles after that.  I do miss my LT but the CVO is definitely stepping up to the plate.

At 6,500 miles my problems with the CVO are as follows: zip, nada, zilch, none, absolutely nothing.  Oh, she runs hotter than hell but I am getting used to it. The CVO is, hands down, the best looking motorcycle ever made.  For me it is also, so far, the most reliable of the 23 or so bikes I have owned.   

[spydglide]

I am a long time BMW rider who recently made the move to a 2013 CVO Ultra Anniversary.  I enjoyed the last ten years and 120k + miles on a BMW 1200 LT.  It was time for a new bike and I switched to the Harley CVO because I tried and did not like the LT replacement, the BMW GTL.  BMW totally missed the point of a touring bike on this one.  They tried to make the GT, a sport touring bike, also a two up touring bike, it is not.  A fine piece of engineering yes but not a good two up touring bike IMHO. That left two options for a touring bike for us, the Goldwing or the CVO.
 
Having rented a bunch of Harleys over the years we thought it time to take the plunge. That and the paint on the 13 anniversary just grabbed us from the start.  It is understated and elegantly done, eye of the beholder kind of thing I guess.  Anyway, bought it in June and now have 6,500 miles on it so a couple of thoughts.

By the same mileage on my beloved BMW I had replaced two slave cylinders, and two complete audio systems.  I struggled with a head shake for some time after the same mileage before it was resolved.  I never got more than 6-7k on a rear tire and the seat sucked beyond belief.  Everything was sorted by 30-35k and I had many years of trouble free and enjoyable miles after that.  I do miss my LT but the CVO is definitely stepping up to the plate.

At 6,500 miles my problems with the CVO are as follows: zip, nada, zilch, none, absolutely nothing.  Oh, she runs hotter than hell but I am getting used to it. The CVO is, hands down, the best looking motorcycle ever made.  For me it is also, so far, the most reliable of the 23 or so bikes I have owned.   

Very good comparison reply.  It is so interesting to read the different experiences that occur with these machines...I think that tells us a lot about the quality control.  Why can't there be more consistency?  spyder

[ultrarider123]

I am a long time BMW rider who recently made the move to a 2013 CVO Ultra Anniversary.  I enjoyed the last ten years and 120k + miles on a BMW 1200 LT.  It was time for a new bike and I switched to the Harley CVO because I tried and did not like the LT replacement, the BMW GTL.  BMW totally missed the point of a touring bike on this one.  They tried to make the GT, a sport touring bike, also a two up touring bike, it is not.  A fine piece of engineering yes but not a good two up touring bike IMHO. That left two options for a touring bike for us, the Goldwing or the CVO.
Having rented a bunch of Harleys over the years we thought it time to take the plunge. That and the paint on the 13 anniversary just grabbed us from the start.  It is understated and elegantly done, eye of the beholder kind of thing I guess.  Anyway, bought it in June and now have 6,500 miles on it so a couple of thoughts.
By the same mileage on my beloved BMW I had replaced two slave cylinders, and two complete audio systems.  I struggled with a head shake for some time after the same mileage before it was resolved.  I never got more than 6-7k on a rear tire and the seat sucked beyond belief.  Everything was sorted by 30-35k and I had many years of trouble free and enjoyable miles after that.  I do miss my LT but the CVO is definitely stepping up to the plate.
At 6,500 miles my problems with the CVO are as follows: zip, nada, zilch, none, absolutely nothing.  Oh, she runs hotter than hell but I am getting used to it. The CVO is, hands down, the best looking motorcycle ever made.  For me it is also, so far, the most reliable of the 23 or so bikes I have owned.   

RMW, that is a great write-up and helps us realize that while we may have issues with our HD's from time to time, none of the brands are perfect and all products are subject to issues.  I found this refreshing to be reminded of that fact and thanks for sharing your experiences with the group.

[Spiderman]

To take on the issue raised by the title of this thread, I think I'd start by saying that after 15 years of CVO models (2000-2014) we the consumer have an expectation that the issues we've spoken of on this website since it's inception regarding the CVO model line-up will have been addressed. Quality control issues for one, value issues for another. And lastly clear and obvious distinctio between the standar version and the CVO version of any particular model in the H-D lineup. Now, having said that, there is not a snowball's chance in hell that if you put 100 bikers and H-D lovers in a room, you'd get total and complete agreement if you were to present them with various styling and engineering possibilities to be put into CVO model. So, while I kick the MoCo around as much as anyone I have to step up and say that it's a difficult job to continue to make changes that impress the segment of buyers willing to shell out the extra cost for a CVO model while still keeping that model within the design, engineering, manufacturing and production parameters of the factory building them.
OK, having said all that, there are some things that I personally believe H-D could do that are within those parameters. The greatest of them being a program for custom ordering a bike and only the bikes in that program having the CVO designation. For instance, I'd as soon have a 103 as a 110. Argue all you want, it's my preference. Next, some of the paint in the paint shop section - - the numbered sets far exceed the CVO paint jobs each year as to WOW factor. Wheels, any wheel within the H-D parts catalogue should be available. Same with seats. Now, you say you can do all this anyway. No you can't. Because you take a stock bike or a CVO model and you do the above and you're left with a 1/2 garage full of parts that you'll never ever use or sell. Furthermore when you go to trade in that built to your own standards bike you'll find that gajillion dollars you spent on all those parts isn't worth squat. So that's why I have a negative attitude toward the CVO models at times. I'd like to buy a new Road King. I'd like it be a CVO model but I don't care for this year's paint and chrome offering. (YUCK) So it'd be nice if I could have some other choices. If you buy a regular production bike you get like 5 color choices. If you buy a CVO, it's take it or leave it. See my point ? Perhaps not, doesn't matter, it's clear in my mind  LOL

B B

[dlaws01]

Spiderman, have you had your coffee this AM?     Many of us would agree with you whole heartedly. 

[North Georgia Hawg]

Spiderman - that's an excellent idea for CUSTOM Vehicle Operations to actually build CUSTOM, made-to-order Harleys. Even in a factory, it shouldn't be too difficult to accommodate things like seats, bars, custom paint sets, chrome vs. blacked-out, hand control/footboard styles, etc. Even options like passenger foot boards vs pegs, chrome front ends vs. painted, air cleaners, factory installed Tour Pak option on non-Ultra models, etc. Exhaust choices probably wouldn't be possible due to the EPA regs, tho.

Maybe they should change CVO to EVO... for EXPENSIVE Vehicle Operations... since CVOs long-ago stopped being "custom" at all. They are really just the same old bikes with a different paint job, the 110, and more P&A pre-installed... in a configuration decided solely by the MoCo, not the CUSTOMer.

They'll never do that, tho... because it would take a huge bite out of their dealer P&A business. I suspect that CVO owners spend a LOT more on P&A than non-CVO owners do... which is rather odd when you really think about it, since CVOs come with lots more P&A already installed...

Ken

[Rooster]

I would like to see the option of ordering and paying extra for a trued and welded crank. That way at least when you upgrade the rest of the motor the bottom end is not your last worry. Where most do everything else and cross their fingers on whether the wheels shift.

[North Georgia Hawg]

I would like to see the option of ordering and paying extra for a trued and welded crank. That way at least when you upgrade the rest of the motor the bottom end is not your last worry. Where most do everything else and cross their fingers on whether the wheels shift.

Why should it be an OPTION? The MoCo should put a decent crank in EVERY bike, and go back to the old tighter runout specs, so these expensive engines run reliably for a long time after the warranty expires!

Ken

[Boatman]

Why should it be an OPTION? The MoCo should put a decent crank in EVERY bike, and go back to the old tighter runout specs, so these expensive engines run reliably for a long time after the warranty expires!

Ken

A long with premium lifters and inner cam bearings.  A welded crank does no good with those inferior parts.

[North Georgia Hawg]

A long with premium lifters and inner cam bearings.  A welded crank does no good with those inferior parts.

They have FINALLY fixed the cam bearings.

Lifters are another matter... but as has been pointed out, lighter valve springs could possibly help.

Ken

P. S. - HQ Black Ops lifters. Very quiet... shhhhhh...