For years now Harley-Davidson has been known for making some of the best touring bikes anywhere. If you're looking to ride long days as you roll up the miles on the odometer, you would be hard-pressed to find a better place to park your backside than on the saddle of an Ultra or one of Harley's other touring models. It's for that reason that for the '06 lineup the guys in the CVO division have been busy designing and building an Ultra Classic with not only all the creature comforts you've come to expect but more...lots more.
CVO stands for "Custom Vehicle Operations," which was started back in 1999, when Harley decided to turn a bunch of the P&A guys loose and see what they could come up with. What has developed since then has been a team approach, with the likes of Willie G. Davidson and Louie Netz themselves having a hand in the design aspect. What began just a few short years back as a "what if?" project has turned into an elite department of the company turning out a varying number of highly anticipated, limited-production motorcycles.
For '06 the Motor Company will be building three different CVO models in addition to the Screamin' Eagle Ultra Classic Electra Glide (FLHTCUSE). They include the Screamin' Eagle V-Rod (VRSCSE), Screamin' Eagle Fat Boy (FLSTFSE), and the dragstrip-ready, non-street-legal Screamin' Eagle Destroyer (VRSXE)
It's no secret that a lot of guys ride baggers these days. Just check out any rally or dealership, and you will see more touring machines than you ever thought possible. The problem a lot of riders have is the fact that so many of them look the same. In the past the remedy for this problem was to pull out the P&A catalog and dig deep into your wallet as you dressed your bike up or down to suit your needs. Well, times are a-changin'. In addition to a couple of companies out there modifying some of the best of what Harley has to offer (Klock Works, www.kustomcycles.com; and Fat Baggers Inc., www.fatbaggers.com), the Motor Company has once again decided to offer a special CVO version of its Ultra Classic. If you are one of those guys who just can't live without a bike outfitted with every bell and whistle, the CVO Ultra could be just the bike for you.
One thing that really sets the CVO Ultra model apart from the rest of the touring line is the selection of parts used in the bike's assembly. Not only is the bike decked out with numerous components that are different from the stock bike, many of these parts are designed specifically for the CVO version. This goes a long way in adding to the style of the bike.
Other than all the bling, the most obvious departure from the stock bike is the use of H-D's 103-inch stroker motor. Going with the proven Twin-Cam-style motor, the internal dimensions have been increased to add an additional 15 inches of displacement, giving the mill a 3.875-inch bore and a 4.37-inch stroke. Other differences include Screamin' Eagle high-flow heads and Screamin' Eagle 253 cams that are unique to the CVO 103. Lift on both intake and exhaust is .530 inch. On the outside, the motor wears a protective silver powdercoat and is adorned with some good-looking chrome covers denoting use of the Screamin' Eagle model.
Getting the reported 100 lb-ft of torque to the five-speed transmission is the job of a wet-chain-drive primary and a hydraulically operated high-performance clutch. A standard Gates carbon-fiber-reinforced poly-chain belt makes the connection between the 32-tooth trans pulley and the 70-tooth wheel pulley.
The factory stuck with the stock tire sizes but decided to jazz up the wheels with the addition of a set of 16-inch six-spoke chrome slotted wheels at both ends. In addition, the braking system is a mixture of stock bagger components-four-piston calipers both front and rear, but it gets an added level of performance with a pair of 11-1/2-inch chrome floating rotors at the front and a single 11-1/2 incher at the rear.
Sheetmetal on the bike gets cleaned up by stripping all the trim from the front fender, while the hard saddlebags sit adjacent to filler panels set between the bags and the rear fender. Special tank badging and a smooth dash panel are added to give the fuel tank a distinctive look. And it doesn't stop there-a front fairing complete with a chopped, smoked windshield; leather panel; and spun-aluminum-finished gauges finishes things up front, while down below a set of adjustable louver lowers keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Speaking of warm, the CVO Ultra comes complete with not only a set of heated grips but also a dual-control heated seat for both the rider and the passenger. Making sure the passenger has plenty of support is a wraparound backrest set into the leather-covered tourpak.