The kings of the hill

By Basem Wasuf

Every year like clockwork, Harley-Davidson unveils a colorful array of hand-built Custom Vehicle Operations variants based on the company’s standard lineup. What started as a two-bike experiment in 1999 has become an annual tradition, and this year’s bling-a-thon continues despite a tightening economy and a consumer reluctance to part with discretionary income.

The bikes “define the leading-edge vision of what a Harley-Davidson custom is,” according to CVO Senior Director Jeff Romenesko, and four models carry that torch for 2009: the Ultra Classic Electra Glide, Fat Bob, Softail Springer and Road Glide. All feature a granite-powder-coated-and-chrome Twin Cam 110 V-Twin and a six-speed cruise drive transmission mated to a heavy duty, self-adjusting hydraulic clutch.

At $35,499, the Ultra is the flagship of the CVO lineup and is the priciest factory-built Harley. It has earned CVO status for the fourth year in a row, and improvements for 2009 include the incorporation of the isolated drive system into the wheels, redesigned suspension, engine mounts and a new two-piece frame.

Its saddle is now suspended for more comfortable weight distribution and less perceptible engine heat. A half-inch longer wheelbase promises increased directional stability, which we confirmed during our ride through Santa Barbara’s wine country. Though ergonomic quirks like faraway touring pegs and a too-low windscreen still persist, its hefty presence and the distinctive sound of its torquey twin make the CVO Ultra a unique offering.

The Fat Bob is the newcomer to the CVO party, and this $25,299 member of the Softail family boasts a front end that drops three quarters of an inch, powder-coated-and-chromed one-piece “Fang Cast” wheels and an aggressive, chrome-rimmed “Heavy Breather” intake. The ’Bob is the first CVO model to feature durable Alcantara fabric on the seat and the option of a denim-and-gloss paint combination. The CVO Fat Bob rides more snugly and feels a tad heavier than its off-the-rack counterpart, but its tweaked twin is well-suited to the bike’s more direct road manners.

The $26,999 Softail Springer returns to the CVO lineup with an upgraded four-piston front brake caliper and a beefier 240mm rear tire, with retuned rear suspension to cope with the thicker rubber. The embroidered seat, accented with real buffalo hide, sits closer to the bike, and the solid-mounted engine runs relatively smoothly, though higher rpms produce vibes at the forward-mounted pegs.

Boasting what is arguably the wildest styling of the lineup, the CVO Road Glide wears a slammed suspension and saddlebag extensions to emphasize its low-slung stance. A new rear fender gives the Road Glide a heavier appearance, and its massive frame-mounted fairing provides a commanding leading edge for this $30,999 bike.

With only 2,400 to 4,200 copies of each CVO model available for 2009, Harley intends to stick to its tried-and-true method of elevating top-tier products to levels to which the rest of their lineup aspires. And given the malaise surrounding big-ticket purchases these days, Harley-Davidson can use all the flash it can muster.