Harley-Davidson goes even bigger for '24

Milwaukee releases an uprated CVO Pan America, while flagship Street and Road Glides get new 2-litre motors.

Harley’s Custom Vehicle Operation (CVO) is the firm’s in-house performance arm, and it celebrates 25 years of, er, operation this year with a host of sweet-looking new models.

First up is the Pan America adventure tourer, which is now available in CVO format, turning it into more of a BMW R1250 GS Adventure competitor.

The 150bhp V-twin is upgraded with adaptive ride height on the semi-active electronic suspension; tubeless wire-spoked wheels; an aluminium hard luggage package;Screamin’ Eagle quickshifter as standard; extra LED lights; and a tough aluminium sump guard. It looks super-tough with the black luggage and silencer, and is priced at £23,495.

More conventional Harley CVO fare comes in the form of the new Street Glide, Road Glide and Road Glide ST bagger, which get a massive 1977cc (121 cubic inch) version of the Milwaukee-Eight V-twin motor. The motor has a revised layout for the liquidThings cooled heads, and makes 127bhp, with 145lb-ft of torque – which Harley claims as its most powerful and torquey factory-installed engine ever (though that seems to ignore the 150bhp Pan America).

It's also got lowered final drive gearing for more shove, a composite sump, and titanium/ carbon exhaust system.

The CVO bikes also get new Brembo brakes, fully-adjustable Showa suspension upgrades, and comprehensive electronic rider aids, as well as a 500-watt premium audio system, and a massive new 12.3” TFT LCD dashboard to control all the navigation, audio, rider aids and Bluetooth gizmos.

The standard versions of the Road and Street Glides also have an uprated engine, but ‘just’ a 1923cc (117 cubic inch) capacity Milwaukee-Eight making 105bhp with 130lb-ft of torque. Of course, you’ll need every one of those ponies: the big, beefy cruisers are all around 400kg ready to ride.

You’ll need a half-tonne bank account as well. Harley’s policy of high-value offerings continues, with the top-end version of the

Road Glide ST CVO costing a fiver under £39k. The standard 2024 Street Glide starts at £26,795, with the Road Glide costing a grand more.