THE ULTIMATE TECH-LADEN TOURER

Smart, modern technology and serious motorcycle pedigree combine superbly in the Harley-Davidson CVO Limited, as T3’s Robert Jones discovers

- Robert Jones

For a long time when I thought of Harley-Davidson I merely thought of rumble and leather. Loud, brash, and fundamentally simple motorbikes with so much torque and grunt that when even just one of them approached it was like a thunder cloud had just broken overhead.

I thought you bought a Harley-Davidson if you wanted that classic, no-nonsense cruiser/tourer motorbike experience, and were happy to buy into that despite a lack of mod-cons and smart tech.

But then last year I saw just how wrong my perception was when I rode the Harley-Davidson LiveWire, the most exciting electric motorbike built to date, and one that was built by none other than Harley-Davidson itself. This was a state-of-the-art, technologically cutting edge bike that felt like it was from the future, and it opened my eyes to just how forward-thinking the famous bike maker is and, crucially, just how much advanced tech it has installed on its bikes, electric or otherwise.

Fast forward to summer this year and I’m getting what, for many riders, would be the ultimate tourer experience. That’s because I’m powering down the A4 in Wiltshire towards Avebury on the brand new 2021 Harley-Davidson CVO Limited, and its Twin-Cooled MilwaukeeEight 117 engine (1,923 cc!) sounds absolutely phenomenal.

The thing is, though, the CVO Limited’s engine isn’t the only thing that sounds phenomenal, because I’ve also got the bike’s advanced and super powerful Boom! Box GTS sound system cranked up and I’ve got classic rock blaring out of its four, 75-watt speakers.