2018 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special and Street Glide Special revealed
Harley-Davidson announced that the Dynas would merge into the Softail family earlier while adding the Milwaukee 8 engine across the line-up for 2018. And now it's the turn of the Harley-Davidson Touring and CVO lines to show their 2018 colours. Both the lines debuted the new Harley-Davidson Milwaukee 8 part-cooled engine last year. Let's take the CVOs first. And lest you forget, as we wait for the 2018 Softails to go on sale in India, Harley-Davidson India is offering some very sweet price cuts on their Fat Boy and Heritage Softail models!
The Custom Vehicles Operations started in 1999 to create high-priced limited editions of Harleys for the top customers. For 2018, it appears that the CVO customer is also searching his dark custom soul like the other Harley customers. So you the non-metallic gray colour on the CVO Road Glide that reminds of you ships with black trim and a pared back aesthetic. Don't be scared though, of the nine colours available, there will be a flashy hue and loads of chrome version for all the CVOs. All the models also get more power - 5 per cent more torque 173Nm, to be precise from the Milwaukee 8 114 - that's 1870cc in our money.
The CVO Road Glide returns for the new model year with a 21-inch front wheel and 25.4mm less front wheel travel. The Showa SDBV forks have been retuned. The CVO Street Glide gets a 900W sound system, new badges and special wheels. The CVO Limited is the top dog, as usual with all the bells and whistles.
And now the Specials. The Street and Road Glides are amongst the most popular of Harleys outside India. In the US, the Specials cost $5,000 (Rs 3.2 lakh) more than the normal ones, gaining a darker look for 2018. The Specials get new 'stretched' saddlebags, all-black engine and exhaust as well as the black treatment for all the traditionally chrome thingies like the turn signals and mirrors. They also get an updated music system.
Harley-Davidson India does sell the CVOs in the India as well as the Specials. As CBUS, they usually need a little more time to arrive. We understand that the 2018 MY Harleys are already on sale in the USA which should indicate a launch date in India for these motorcycles, the CVOs and the Specials, around November 2017. Expect a minor uptick in prices, though.