I got really excited when I heard about the 2013 Harley-Davidson® CVO® Road King®, it's something I've been waiting for with baited breath for years, the opportunity to consider upgrading my well loved and well ridden 09 Road-King to something just a little bit more "special". Finally after a wait of many years and the rolling around of the Harley-Davidson 110th Anniversary in 2013 a CVO Road King has been announced, and here's a pic
She's a beauty but as a huge fan of the Road King and in particular riding it long distances, day and night the first thing that struck me was something was missing... the passing lights!!! No, No, No has Willie G's retirement sent the designers completely mad? Is this a touring bike that's not meant to toured on? I've made absolutely no secret about how extremely good the 4" LED Auxilliary passing/fog lamps are at seeking out 'roos after dark.
Also standing out is the screen, some quick searching reveals that test riders like the protection the hand operated vent provides but the shape of it and the way it appears to fit don't immediately suggest quick release and the side profile makes it look like a copy of a Street Glide fairing. I'll wait until I clap my eyes on one before I pass judgement on this but I've got to say I really really like my big old clear screen. It's on or it's off but I've never heard of anyone complaining about the "proper ones".
The wheels, the panniers with the speakers in the top and everything else but the screen are reminiscent of last year's CVO Street Glide®. Understandable I guess, reuse makes sense, but the Street Glide (and the Road Glide) are of little interest to me because of their reduced ground clearance when compared to the Road King. I'll so some research to find out if they've mucked around with the ground clearance of the new Road King.
So, first impressions, sadly I'm not as excited about a CVO Road King now it's here as I have been about when it might arrive. I really look forward to seeing one in the flesh to see it if changes my mind. I've got the cash, but I want a proper Road King and right now I'm not sure if this is one.
