Each year Harley-Davidson offers to its “Alpha” clientele – those faithful to the brand who want the best of the best – limited edition factory premium custom motorcycles under the lineup name of CVO Motorcycles (for Custom Vehicle Operations.) Harley promotes them with slogans or statements like “True motorcycle masterpieces”, “For the rider who wants it all”, “The kind of custom machine that’s miles apart from anything else on the road”, etc…
These CVO models use mass produced motorcycles as platforms, but are customized in-house by Harley-Davidson, usually with larger-displacement engines, fancy and much costlier paint designs, additional custom accessories, electric and digital components, custom seats, exclusive badging, etc not offered on the mainstream models. Sometimes criticized for their high dollar prices, reality is that it would be impossible for an independent custom builder to duplicate them for a lower price. In fact, a good value for those with high discretionary income.
Surprisingly, until now, there was no hard cover book referencing and illustrating with high quality photography, year per year, all these CVO motorcycles since the introduction in 1999 of the 1st model, a CVO FXR. Marilyn Stemp, a founder of IronWorks magazine and now publisher of Iron Trader News, got the good idea to work with corporate Harley-Davidson to feature extensively all the CVO models ever produced. Each CVO is described with its own special features, from performance upgrades to hand-painted pinstripes , from exotic leather seat to fancy digital devices. The machines featured are a good source of inspiration and a great starting point to all those wishing to customize their plain vanilla Harley. 224 pages of eye candy. 258 color photos. Pre- order now on Amazon at Harley-Davidson’s CVO Motorcycles for delivery April 1st.
Give me a Ness or a Smith or a Perewitz custom any day….sorry HD…
I dunno. Those factory customs are pretty nice.
The only reference you need is that you have one, don’t ever get in a minor accident with one. All the parts are so overpriced on the CVO bikes that the insurance company with total it and you’ll lose your ass on the financing.
Not to mention, if you even damage a part, you’ll wait so long to get a replacement from HD you’ll die of old age before it comes in.
Good refererence book for the year 2066 when antique bikes are worth a million bucks and you discovered a “Barn find” !
Marilyn Stemp always does a great job…
I know lots of people who ride CVO Harley’s. They all enjoy them and have found the overall ownership experience to be worth the big bucks. Most have or will buy another.
I prefer to customize my own bike but I can see the allure of a CVO. Harley sells a lot of them.
Your better off with a victory or a Indian!!!
I am a bit annoyed now that they are selling the block 110 on standard bike (Low Rider S).
The CVO bought before 2016 had this exclusive block… Now what is the meaning to own a CVO and what would be their resale value in the future?
Went to an Iron Run over here in Queenstown last year and it was well run and a good pissup.
But the bike show was crap. Full of CVO’s and a well known editor that writes on here was a Judge.
A friend had a nice tricked sportster quite unique that had made parts and cool paint got no where cause it didnt have 20k worh of SE nic nacs on it.
At a real MC show CVO’s would not get a second glance.
Just an opinion !!!!!!!!
Great book! Marilyn Stemp knows her stuff and writes about it very well.
I once had an 06 CVO soft tail Springer second hand. It was the tits!! Sorry I ever let it go.
I’m a “basic” kind of guy. I’m also a Harley guy. CVO’s are great for those that can afford and like them. Not for me…as overdone customs are not for me. It’s just a personal preference…
Good job Marilyn, look forward to the read.
I am really busy so I don’t have time to put together my own custom, so thanks Harley for my CVO Dyna. I also love my Corey Ness Victory. Still I love all the custom builder stuff too, as long as it has actual suspension, because I live in California and our roads suck.
Guess I’ll have to put one on pre-order. Love the hell out of my 2011 CVO Ultra but added a 2015 denim Roadglide Special to the stable so I can do my own thing. Denny, you can keep all the Victory’s and Indian’s. I’d rather keep my Jap metrics (which I’ll be selling off) than to buy one of those and yes I’ve test ridden a couple of them. If the point is a anti-Harley bash session then I get where you’re coming from. Three Harleys is enough at this point but need to make room for more should the urge hit again.
I know a couple of guys who said
the CVO’s are not worth the headache !
They went back to normal H-D’s (Ultra, Street & Road Glides)
I also know people who love them to death !!!
I guess it depends on your income level,
If you have to ask “how much” on buying & upkeep, guess you can;t afford one ???
I’m sure the book is a good read !!!!
I have the book and enjoying it immensely esp on a day like today with snow in the forecast, perfect time to curl up with a Marilyn Stemp book!!
for any one that’s interested and reside in nc the author will be signing her book at smokin hd in Winston salem on april 16th.