A Closer Look at the 2020 Harley Davidson CVO Limited

Harley Davidson CVO or custom vehicle operations line is something of an event that most Harley Davidson fans patiently wait for. The CVO isn’t a model of motorcycle. Instead, the CVO represents a selection of bikes which have been chosen to receive certain package upgrades.

Once a year, Harley Davidson chooses 3 or 4 different models and gives them the CVO upgrades. The bikes chosen are generally touring models. Once the models are selected, Harley Davidson loads these models up with everything they’ve got, such as a larger engine, state of the art rider tech, superior paint finishes, and so on.

In other words, the CVO line is the best of the best Harley Davidson has to offer, and are considered to be premium examples of the craftsmanship that Harley Davidson has been known for. Harley Davidson currently offers three CVO treatments: The CVO Tri Glide, CVO Street Glide, and the one we’re concerned with, the 2020 Harley Davidson CVO Limited Edition.

The 2020 Harley Davidson CVO, Limited Edition: An Introduction

Harley Davidson calls their CVO Limited bikes the “Ultimate in Grand American Touring.” These super-premium bikes are built to be powerful show stoppers, and with a base price tag of around $44,039, people expect them to live up to the hype, which they do. The ultimate in touring comfort, engine power, and state of the art motorcycle tech, the 2020 Harley Davidson CVO Limited caters to those searching for the best, long range touring bike in the business.

To illustrate, the 2020 Harley Davidson CVO Limited introduces a brand new passenger seat design complete with backrest, smoked mid-frame air deflectors and the RDRS, which we’ll get to shortly. Finally, there are the exquisite paint finishes.from which to choose: Smokey Gray, Moonlight Blue, and Premium Sand Dune. Other features include saddlebags, upright riding position for the most comfort, floorboards, heated grips, Tomahawk wheels, and a fork mounted fairing.

The Milwaukee-Eight 117 Engine

The star of the show, when it comes to the CVO bikes, is the Milwaukee-Eight 117 Engine.The Milwaukee-Eight 117 is the most powerful engine Harley has to offer, and is designed exclusively for CVO bikes.

With its twin cooled, 1923 cc, 8 valve construction, the Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-twin is the grand daddy of all Harley Davidson engines, and quite possibly the main reason some biking enthusiasts are willing to pay top dollar for the CVO models like the 944 lb. wet weight, CVO Limited.

Features include a compression ratio of 10.2:1, Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) fuel system, and a dual exhaust with crossover. Transmission is provided by a 6 speed cruise drive/belt and torque rides in at 125 pound feet at 3500 rpm.

The Daymaker Adaptive LED Headlight

One of the more welcome additions to the CVO Limited is the Daymaker Adaptive LED Headlight. This is new for the CVO lineup. The adaptive LED headlight lights up the road ahead by shifting toward the lean angle. This means as you lean your bike toward curves and corners, the sensors have the headlight move in that direction, increasing night time visibility. The headlight also has an LED outer ring which functions as a position lamp.The Daymaker can definitely help you hit the apex on those night rides.

The Reflex Defensive Rider System

The Reflex Defensive Rider System, or RDRS is a new addition to the to the 2020 Harley Davidson CVO Limited model. RDRS refers to motorcycle technology that senses the drivers performance and makes corresponding adjustments in traction during deceleration, braking and acceleration.

This smart technology assists in giving the rider a more secure ride by granting them more control over their motorcycle. This comes in especially handy when road conditions are unfavorable. To give you an idea of just what this new RDRS includes we’ve compiled the following:

• Antilock Brake System (ABS)
• Cornering Enhanced ABS (C-ABS)
• Electronic Linked Braking (ELB)
• Cornering Enhanced Electronic Linked Braking (C-ELB)
• Cornering Enhanced Traction Control System (C-TCS)
• Drag Torque Slip Control (DSCS)
• Cornering Enhanced Drag Torque Slip Control System (C-DSCS)
• Vehicle Hold Control (VHC)
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

New Tech for the 2020 Harley Davidson CVO Limited

How many people remember the film “Easy Rider” or the television show, “Then Came Bronson”? Well, if you do, then you know the trials and tribulations of road tripping in one of those early bikes. There existed no GPS, no infotainment system, and no smart phone. Now, compare that to today’s 2020 Harley Davidson CVO Limited bikes. These Big Twins are bursting with new tech to make your long range journey’s more comfortable, secure and relaxing one.

H-D Connect

First is the H-D Connect service. H-D Connect keeps you connected to your motorcycle via your smart phone by using the Harley Davidson app. Please note that the H-D Connect service might not be available in all regions. If this is an important feature, check with your dealer prior to purchase.

Wireless Headset

Your 2020 Harley Davidson CVO Limited comes complete with one Boom! Audio 30K Bluetooth Helmet Headset. This provides you with a wireless interface to the Boom! Box GTS Infotainment System. Sound great? Well that’s not all. This wireless headset connects you with fellow riders when put in public mode via the Mesh Intercom Network, and 16 riders in private mode. .

Infotainment System

The infotainment system is the Boom! Box GTS, as previously stated. It includes a full color TFT screen, has 75 watts per channel, and comes with 4 Boom! Audio Stage 1 two way speakers. The speakers are placed in the Tour-Pak luggage carrier and up in the fairing. The speakers are energized by one, 4-channel, 300 Watt RMS Amp. AM, FM and weather band are standard, with SD card, flash drive and MP3 all supported via USB. The vehicle information screen is standard, and relates your air temperature, Engine Idle Temperature Management System, and oil pressure.

Final Thoughts

Now that you’ve got a glimpse of the powerful, 2020 Harley Davidson CVO Limited, it’s time to take that dream of yours, to roam the country to heart. With the CVO Limited, you and a passenger will be able to travel the country in comfort and style. This Big Twin is not only powerful, but also dependable and reliable. As for mileage, your CVO Limited comes with a 6 gallon gas tank and fuel economy equaling 41 miles per gallon, which can take you pretty far before you need a fill. So go ahead and grab yourself a copy of Ted Simon’s “Jupiter’s Travels”, pack your 4.7 cubic feet of luggage space, call a friend, and head on out.

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• A Closer Look at the 2021 LiveWire ONE
• A Closer Look at The 2013 Harley-Davidson FXSB Breakout