Well it was bound to happen, and since this was my original post, I guess it’s time for me to jump back in. The following thoughts are MY OPINIONS ONLY, I am NOT attempting to summarize or paraphrase any group of thoughts previously expressed on this topic.
MY understanding is that the CVO CONCEPT was to produce a limited issue group of motorcycles that were unique by the options and paint installed on a specialized assembly line at HD. The CVO Concept was NOT intended to make the OWNER’S “ELITE”, that has become a negative association attached by (some) NON-CVO owners; I consider it nothing more than envy.
I posted this question to define and answer "what is a CVO?", and I described a guy who has a bike that IS a CVO but it isn’t, and davidw221 has a CVO that ISN’T, but (he states that, for all practical purposes) IT IS. The respondents to this thread have been clear, a CVO is determined by the MoCo at birth and certified by the VIN, PERIOD, like it or not.
In MY opinion HD has diluted the entire concept. The specialized production line no longer exists. The CVO product line is shrinking and there is a push (by HD) to establish consumer perceptions that ALL products in the entire lineup CAN BE Custom Vehicles. The CVO LINEUP is fading and in as little as five years may be completely gone. But the CONCEPT will remain and survive as: “Special”, “Limited”, “Custom”, “Dark Custom”,“Heritage”, “Deluxe”, “Ultra”, “Ultra Limited”, and (try this) The Deluxe, Ultra Limited, Dark Custom, Heritage Softail, Special. This is called MARKETING.
MY experience has been that this forum does not look down it’s nose on ANYBODY. Everyone is respected, all questions are answered, and all bikes and their owners are considered welcome here. However, we are primarily Harley Owners, AND we are primarily CVO owner’s as well. It is clear (to me) that the CVO concept is “Pride of Ownership” and that is true of ALL Harley owners. That said, there is plenty of room in the motorcycle world and the Harley Davidson community, for a unique group of products that have been modified by the MoCo to a standard different than “stock”, and those that admire, enjoy, appreciate and ride these powerful, beautiful, machines have a common interest, and share that interest in this worthwhile forum.
OWL