Takin' it to the Street
Making its debut on the CVO stage for 2010 is the Street Glide. The tuned and tricked out version of Harley's popular hot-rod bagger is powered by the same Twin Cam 110 found on the other CVO bikes, rubber-mounted to the frame and churning out 115 ft-lbs of torque (claimed) at 3750 rpm with a 6-speed Cruise Drive tranny taking it to the wheel.
The Glide rocks a lean profile behind a fork-mounted "batwing" fairing with a smoked low profile wind deflector (even Harley doesn't bother to call it a shield) and solo headlamp, slammed and trimmed front fender and hard saddlebags with just a small passenger backrest rather than a trunk. Forward-bias floorboards make for very accommodating ergonomics.
Making their first appearance are black 18-inch Agitator wheels with a seven spoke design and contrast chrome highlights. Floating front brake rotors match the wheels, naturally. If nothing else, the Glide is truly a looker. But more than that, Harley wanted us to note the Glide's new extended saddlebags, which now have a one-piece full-depth design offering increased capacity over the standard bags. The color-matched locking latches eliminate visual clutter, as does a new color-matched rear fascia panel filling in the space between each saddlebag and the rear fender. That totally custom bit incorporates new LED stop/turn/taillights for a super-clean and flush appearance.
You'll also find new hydraulic rear shocks with 40mm pistons and 14mm rods, said to offer optimized rebound and damping (though with just 2 inches of travel out back, they have their work cut out for them). Preload can be adjusted by hand via a convenient knob just behind the left saddlebag. The custom, low profile seat and matching backrest pad also emphasize the sleek silhouette. Standard ABS brakes, electronic cruise control, an H-D factory security system and a 40 watt Harmon Kardon Advanced Audio system round out the long list of premium amenities found on this CVO machine.
Though the engine is the same for all 2010 CVOs, I was still impressed with how much linear power the Twin Cam 110 mill cranks out on the Street Glide. Compared with the Ultra, the slightly slimmer CVO Glide makes that 110 motor feel positively spirited. The non-counterbalanced, rubber-mounted engine shakes a bit at idle, but once you roll over 1100 RPM, the ride is as smooth as silk. The sixth gear too, is a godsend on the interstate: even in top gear, the bike pulls with aplomb way beyond 90 mph, and cruising down the interstate beyond legal speeds is child's play. Fueling is flawless, and response from the throttle-by-wire system is sharp indeed.
Ergonomically, the Glide is made-to-order for my 5-foot-7-inch frame. The reach from seat to bars and seat to floorboards is spot-on and the slightly sculpted saddle was comfy throughout my relatively short journey. Harley's intuitive, new-gen ABS system continues to inspire heaps of confidence in tricky braking situations, and the Harmon Kardon audio made the ride down Pacific Coast Highway seem positively cinematic.
The only concerns I might have are regarding long-haul wind protection and rear suspension; I experienced the occasional face-full of wind buffeting from the low fairing on the open road, and as you can imagine with such short travel shocks (adjustable preload or not), the bottom would occasionally hit on deep potholes. Other than that, there just isn't too much for me to criticize on the 2009 Street Glide.
Production of the 2010 CVO Street Glide will be limited to 3500 units.