Harley-Davidson announced new touring models and a CVO edition of the Pan America adventure model. H-D says the bikes will be in dealer showrooms shortly.
New engines make the bikes more powerful, and the touring models are also more “comfortable and lighter”. The CVO Pan America represents the first time H-D has applied CVO treatment to an adventure model.
Here is the press release from Harley-Davidson:
HARLEY-DAVIDSON USHERS IN A NEW ERA OF MOTORCYCLE TOURING, REIMAGINING TWO OF THE MOST ICONIC MOTORCYCLES IN HISTORY AND SETTING A NEW STANDARD FOR THE FUTURE OF ADVENTURE ON TWO WHEELS
The all-new Street Glide® and Road Glide® models feature exceptional performance, cutting-edge innovation, and bold new design
Celebrating 25 years of Custom Vehicle Operations™, the CVO™ lineup expands with the introduction of the all-new CVO™ Road Glide ST®, representing the pinnacle of bagger performance, and the CVO™ Pan America®, fully kitted out for extraordinary adventures.
MILWAUKEE, WI (Jan. 24, 2024) – Harley-Davidson® today revealed four new 2024 motorcycle models ushering in a new era of touring performance, technology, and design. The all-new Street Glide® and Road Glide® models featuring the new Milwaukee-Eight 117, are more powerful, comfortable, and lighter, and packed with advanced technology, including a new infotainment system, all wrapped up in a dramatic new visual design. Commemorating the 25th anniversary of Custom Vehicle Operations, the new CVO™ Road Glide® ST model takes hot rod bagger performance to the next level with racing inspired high performance suspension and brakes, and a potent new Milwaukee-Eight® 121 HO engine, and low final drive ratio that combine to produce the kind of acceleration and mid-range thrust aggressive riders crave. And the newCVO™ Pan America® debuts as the first CVO offering in the adventure touring segment, ready to take on anything with a host of standard equipment all wrapped up in exclusive custom paint and finishes.
Each of these 2024 models are scheduled to reach authorized Harley-Davidson dealerships in January 2024.
“These exciting new models represent a new era for Harley-Davidson, elevating every aspect of performance, technology, comfort, and style,” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO of Harley-Davidson. “Without question, these are the most enticing touring motorcycles ever offered by Harley-Davidson.”
NEW 2024 Street Glide and Road Glide Models
The 2024 Street Glide and Road Glide models are more powerful, lighter, and more dynamic, and feature all-new visual design elements that combine a cohesive dynamic flow from the front fenders to the saddlebags. Both models feature an evolved fairing profile that appears refreshingly modern yet retains Harley-Davidson design DNA that makes them instantly familiar. Additional key features include:
- An updated Milwaukee-Eight® 117 V-Twin engine features a new cooling system which further optimizes thermal comfort for the rider and enhanced intake and exhaust flow to boost performance.
- Selectable Ride Modes – Road, Sport, Rain and Custom – electronically control the performance characteristics of the motorcycle.
- Infotainment technology is powered by Skyline™ OS and presented on a 12.3-inch TFT color touch screen that replaces all analog instrumentation and most switches. A new 200-watt audio amplifier powers a pair of fairing-mounted speakers.
- Improved aerodynamics enhance rider comfort and reduce subjective helmet buffeting at highway speed by an average of 60 percent. Rear suspension travel is increased to 3-inches. A redesigned one-piece seat shape and padding materials offer a significant improvement in long-range comfort for most riders.
NEW CVO Road Glide ST Model Leads 2024 CVO Lineup
The CVO Road Glide ST is the quickest, fastest, and most-sophisticated performance bagger ever produced by Harley-Davidson, and represents a unique collection of components providing high value to performance minded riders. A deep solo seat and six-inch riser paired with a moto handlebar put the rider in an aggressive, upright position with West Coast custom style. Key features include:
- Two premium paint choices: Golden White Pearl or Raven Metallic. A Screamin’ Eagle graphic on the fairing sides and fuel tank is inspired by the Screamin’ Eagle® Harley-Davidson® Factory motorcycles raced in the MotoAmerica® Mission King of the Baggers series. CVO™ 25th Anniversary graphics celebrate a milestone in factory customization.
- The Milwaukee-Eight® 121 High Output V-Twin engine is exclusive to the CVO Road Glide ST model, tuned to produce 127 horsepower (94kW) and 145 lb. ft. (193 Nm) of torque – the most horsepower and torque ever from a factory-installed engine in a production Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. A lower final drive ratio is selected to enhance acceleration performance in every gear.
- The use of alternate materials helps reduce dry weight to 800 pounds (363 kg). Mufflers have lightweight titanium shells and forged carbon fiber end caps; forged carbon fiber composite is used to form the front fender, seat cowl and tank console; the oil pan is formed of lightweight composite; and wheel design and wave-style front brake rotors are optimized to minimize unsprung weight.
- Fully adjustable front and rear suspension includes SHOWA® rear shock absorbers with remote reservoirs and inverted 47mm SHOWA® 1×1 forks.
- Premium Brembo™ braking components provide outstanding braking feel and performance for added rider confidence.
- Selectable Ride Modes – Road, Sport, Track, Track Plus, Rain, and multiple Custom modes – electronically control the performance characteristics of the motorcycle.
- A suite of infotainment technology is powered by Skyline™ OS. A color touch screen replaces all analog instrumentation and most switches. A premium audio system features a 500-watt amplifier and Harley-Davidson® Audio powered by Rockford Fosgate® Stage II 6.5-inch fairing speakers.
The CVO™ Pan America® motorcycle is a new vehicle of discovery and the CVO™ program’s first adventure touring (ADV) motorcycle. All of the features that have made the Pan America® 1250 Special model a leading choice among discerning global Adventure Touring riders are retained, including the smooth-and-powerful Revolution® Max 1250 engine, semi-active front and rear suspension, touch screen display, selectable ride modes, and Daymaker® Adaptive Headlamp technology. The CVO™ Pan America® model is outfitted with a host of rugged accessories selected to enhance the journey, including Adaptive Ride Height suspension, rugged aluminum top and side cases, a Screamin’ Eagle® quickshifter, tubeless laced wheels, auxiliary LED forward lighting, an aluminum skid plate, providing excellent value to the adventure rider who wants it all and more.
In 2023, the CVO™ Street Glide® and CVO™ Road Glide® models introduced a bold new design direction for the Harley-Davidson Grand American Touring platform, the extraordinary performance of the Milwaukee-Eight VVT 121 powertrain and advanced suspension, and infotainment technology powered by the exclusive Skyline™ OS. Both models reprise all of those features for 2024 with exciting new color options.
Harley-Davidson stands for the timeless pursuit of adventure and freedom for the soul. Go to H-D.com to learn more about the complete line of Harley-Davidson® Grand American Touring, Sport, Adventure Touring, Cruiser and Trike motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Certified™ pre-owned motorcycles, Harley-Davidson® Genuine Motor Parts & Accessories, Harley-Davidson® MotorClothes® apparel and accessories, and Harley-Davidson Financial Services.
In case you’re not watching. Indian just released a 350 bike limited edition barge that features a custom paint job and some subtile styling changes for a $10,000 premium over the model that it’s based on.
OK, fine, next!
I got excited when you said “Indian just released a 350”…
After 120 years, is the seat still uncomfortable? Will the suspension still loosen my teeth over jolts? Then I won’t buy one. I CANNOT spend that much money on a punishing ride when LESS money will buy me a comfortable all day ride. That’s it. And it’s always been that way for me. And HD has never changed. And all they had to do for me was put forks and shocks on it that would ABSORB bumps. What a concept.
Japanese suspension and Italian brakes now. Much better.
Respectfully, Dirck, motorcycledaily.com caters to the racer & ninja-style motorcycle genre. Readers here simply wonder why HD reviews are shown here, and then bash and denigrate the brand in the comment section. Suggest maybe a subforum or link to “American”-style motorcycling, so that your regular readers are not so irritated, and those that appreciate HD’s are not so insulted continually? Please no flames, I’m neutral and just making suggestions.
I’m not insulted or incensed by Harley Davidson content, the company is just perplexing to me. It’s been known for well over a decade that their customer base were aging out and no longer buying motorcycles, especially 600+ pound cruisers. In order to move forward HD would have to bring in new customers, customers that weren’t interested in the outlaw cosplay that the brand had been selling since the early 1980’s. Yet, the company doubled down on large and expensive machines, looking for every last buyer of 1940’s themed bikes. I thought there was hope for HD when they introduced the Revelation engine – especially when they showed it in the Bronx. I actually began to cheer for them…and it wasn’t a Bronx Cheer – I thought that they were finally reaching out to a new customer base. But no Bronx for you…no – have a 800 pound bagger in stead. It’s perplexing to me.
I so want HD to succeed – yet I’ve never owned or care to even ride one of their machines. I like their history, the way they created a brand to people that didn’t even ride motorcycles. The museum in Milwaukee is awesome. They are an important American company. Yet, they seem so stuck in the past. I’m sure the engineers want to produce world class bikes to a growing market – but they are hamstrung by the past and how every Harley has to connect with the past. It’s just perplexing.
I’d be proud to own an American built motorcycle that didn’t ask me to compromise the attributes that make motorcycles interesting to me – and a wide audience. In fact, HD making something that isn’t a cruiser would probably help them sell more cruisers. In 2021 26 million street bikes were sold worldwide. The US represent about 315,000 annual sales for that same segment. There are about 10 million registered motorcycles in the US. Honda is by far the largest manufacturer in the world with about 23% market share – Harley doesn’t even make the top 10. In the US Harley is the largest seller with 21% market share followed closely by Honda at 18%. With a wider cross section of machines HD could easily sell more bikes worldwide as well as here in the US. It’s just perplexing to me. It’s like Ford Motor Company saying that they are only going to build pick-ups and SUV’s…oh wait…
Perplexed. A perfect word for me and HD. I have looked at HD most times I have been considering a new bike, which drives me crazy. WHY ? As a technical oriented person by career, and interest, WHY ?
Hope and American pride, perhaps. Just the image of a post WW 1 returned aviator crossing the plains on a slow reveing V twin with the reliability of an under stressed engine, – maybe, but no sale.
There is always the design details that screw that possibility into the ground. Really inconpatable function for sensible riding and ownership.
HD has come close several times with unique designs such as the original Dyna, or German engined (something Rod) or several Buells, most having semi sensible ergos and foot pegs in the middle. The Dyna and Buell with pretty good handling, but the cloud of reliability, ownership costs and weight sealed the non sale. Still they are beautiful to look at, and I’ll always be hopeful. The 45 degree engine is goofy, but that is OK, in a Harley.
I like to read about ALL bikes on MCD as I’m non-denominational when it comes to motorcycles. I’ve owned practically every brand out there and can appreciate why they exist. I’ve been riding since the 1970’s when Harleys were an unrefined piece of junk and I steered well clear of them, as I did the leaky Triumphs. Not so today. Both brands have come a long way and only the uninformed, biased minds still struggle with the brand.
An 800# touring bike is not an unusual thing as has been mentioned below, where weight can be your friend on a long distance ride. My own bikes range from 300# to 800# and are definitely not interchangeable. But ridden in their element they both make total sense. Please keep reviewing all types of bikes as most riders want to know all they can about the latest offerings.
Harley keeps making them bigger and more expensive and then wonders why their business model is dying.
You would never know that in my neck of the woods. The things are super popular in my area. I might not understand the appeal, but there certainly are a lot of people who do.
Harley, in my view, needs to either branch out of the retro market or go private. Being on the stock market curses a business with growth or death. A private business can be any size it wants and be fat and happy forever. If you want to cater to team obsolete, fine. But while there does seem to be a whole lot of people who want to retroactively lose world war two. The are still less and less of them who want to pretend that it’s the 1940s.
Harleys are popular in my area as well, but the question is “are new off the showroom floor Harleys popular”. Harley the brand is doing great but Harley the manufacturer is struggling to find new customers.
For the same money I just bought a brand new Car…4 wheels heat and air..windshield wipers etc etc.. but I think I am missing the whole point of having the comeraderie and the wind in my hair…to each his own they say….good luck, have fun…That is the name of the game….yolo!
Planet earth is a strange place. You could buy four front line dirt bikes, three of them would still weigh less.
That or you could buy one of the 125 2024 Krämer GP2-890RR to be built. They weigh 313 pounds and make 138hp. You would still have five grand left to go racing with.
But whatever. This bike is what you buy is this is your thing. There are people who really think that this bike is the best of the best. It costs way less than the best of the best car or wrist watch. Motorcycles are cheap luxury goods. Even some crazy special cost less than an expensive wrist watch. For the price of one of those you could hire the really attractive person of your choice to follow you around and tell you the time whenever you ask. Wow!
Nothing strange. Take your dirtbike across the country and let us know how that works out for you. Then, rent an HD from Eagle Rider and do it again with your girlfriend and all her stuff. Come back and tell us how much better the dirtbike is because it’s light.
I can imagine all sorts of bikes I would rather take across country than one of these and still have tens of thousands of dollars left over. I prefer to be comfortable on long rides. I don’t feel like I need to ride a certain brand to be accepted either.
I’ve done some long rides on dirt bike based bikes that I have made street legal, all on back roads naturally. But you are asking the wrong guy to ride any motorcycle cross country. I have less than zero interest in it. Motorcycling is a sport for me. The bikes are sports equipment. End of story. I recently backed out of a trip to ride around Sicily because I don’t think the roads look twisty enough there. Corsica is a much better venue.
This bike is for someone other than me. I’m fine with that. Just don’t ask me to have any interest in it. I’ve ridden enough Harleys to know that I would rather never ride another one. Just be happy that the street bike industry serves you. They seem to have no interest in serving me. I really wish that they would.
I don’t have a girlfriend by the way. I’m married. My wife weighs less than 100 pounds and is very strong. We’re slopeside skiing for the winter. Seeing a trend?
And yeah Todd. If forced to ride across the US on a current street bike with the wife and kit, I would do it on a Multistrada or an MT09 Tracer or something with vaguely dirt bike ergos and suspension that doesn’t bottom out while riding over a pencile.
Mick – your last paragraph is right on. The worsening road conditions dictate a more compliant suspension for normal riding now. I have found that a dual purpose bike with good street tires is a very nice trick. If ones interest includes a dirt road occasionaly, the 90% road, 10% dirt work just as well. The 90/10s have become much better in the last 10 years or so.
I would never own a Harley touring rig because I like riding back roads that are often (especially in Canada and the US northeast) bumpy as hell, and 3″ of rear suspension travel just don’t cut it.
They remain chrome-farkled nostalgia barges. To each his own I guess.
There are motorcyclists, and there are bikers.
Meaning 99% ‘s vs 1%’s?
And there is one Crazy Rocketman.
“new”
Well they are the best Harleys ever. If you can get over the frivolity of the bikes and the obnoxious HD riders blasting noise out their V&Hs and classic rock out of the tinny stereos, Harleys are kinda cool IMO and provide a different experience than you’ll get with a bike with more modern sensibilities. I’d probably buy one if I won the lottery and park it between a ZX-6R and air cooled Monster.
Top photo kind of reminds me of Marvin the Martian
https://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/30900000/marvin-the-martian-warner-brothers-animation-30976025-318-431.jpg
Has anyone watch the new touring CVO videos? Cringe worthy lack of judgement and cringe story line. I guess that works for that crowd. Personally I think they’d do better with a story line of riding the bike to a track day, pull race leathers out of saddle bag and show a professional hanging with the blue group sport bike riders. Sadly the company is selling $40k two wheel skull lunch boxes.
Hardly Ableson
It’s odd to see some other group of people get derided for living in the world that they do. The Harley guys live in their world. Most of the guys here live on planet street bike. And I live on weight weenie world.
All that said. Boasting about keeping a fictitious weight under 800 pounds for a motorcycle is just asking for a little ribbing, even from about half of the faithful. Though I think I must point out that it’s not uncommon in these parts to see the majority here swallow five and six hundred pound adventure bikes hook, line and sinker. How do you think that looks to an old dirt biker? Seeing the words “just” or “only” put before a weight that is over double the weight of a dirt bike?
These $30,000 to $50,000 bikes are well and good, but where is the entry level Harley since they killed the Sportster?
New models?? And black only costs $1950 more. HD is such a joke.
Always looked at semi normal HDs, but never could get past stupid design specifics, like hand grips so big there wasn’t enough room to grab the associated levers with gloves on. Now that I can’t ride they are looking better because of the recent modernization of some models. Only semi normal ones. Gonna give HD a break cause they are obviously trying now. Will always despise batwings. IMHO
Black Only.Lots of chromium details. Chromium is hand made alot. I’ll pay for that
Funky styling (who are we trying to impress?), cramped ergonomics, poor handling, excessive price gouging, being lumped into a particular “category” of followers; what’s not to like?
Who designed the front fairing ? Tesla
No, no, the fairing was done by Professor Morbius (from the 1950’s sci-fi movie Forbidden Planet), as an homage to “Robby”.
… and who said there would be no trickle down, from the king of the baggers racing? (of course, i am joking)
Worrying about the actual weight of pretty much any Harley (except maybe the Pan Am) is kind of like caring about the number of scales of any given example of Godzilla. It’s gonna be “a lot”.
$25,999 starting MSRP is outrageous and not worth it unless you are a member of their cult.
On a per pound basis its not as terrible.
Remember the “NO FAT CHICKS” stickers? Pepefarm Remembers.
In 2024, anyone displaying that sticker would be pretty lonely, we’ve turned into a nation of porkers (men included). But men admittedly do wear it better, we’re simply “husky” or “big boned”…
“helps reduce dry weight to 800 pounds (363 kg)”
Harley has had the Fatboy for a while. Did they also have a Lardass model to match?
800 lbs. is the lightened model? Are Goldwing’s able to call them fat?
A guy has to wonder how far off the 800 pound figure is from the wet weight. You can see that Harley doesn’t seem to make much use of advancements in materials and design over the years to address the weight of their motorcycles. A 1975 Electra Glide weighed 760.6 wet, including fuel.
It’s just sad that you know that even if the OEMs published the actual accurate weight of a street bikes. They would do it in twelve packs. But only after finding the holy grail twelve pack containing heaviest bottles containing the most beer sold in the heaviest hardwood case. Then they would buy a thousand of them, use the heaviest one and round the figure down to the last whole twelve pack. No way would they ever tell you what it was or even where they found it.
How many Pan Ams have the sold? 700?
Sold over 2500 in 2021. Every owner I’ve talked to really like their Pan Am.
H-D was very quick in 2021 to put that number out- claiming it was the best selling Adv bike model. Which turned out to be statistically correct; since the BMW GS and GSA models were listed separately. Iirc, the PA slightly outsold each of them individually (so, well done for sure) but sold about 1/2 the number of them combined.
Since then, we haven’t heard much of how many have been sold; but tbf most manufacturers aren’t very forthcoming about individual model sales numbers.
I’ll echo what Bart said- the two PA owners I’ve talked to were happy with their purchase. Both were street riders with no off pavement plans in their future.
But these along with one other “ride by” sighting are the only PAs I’ve seen in the wild since they came out.
H-D probably waited too long before tapping into the best selling years of the large Adv bike market; since it seems the market has moved downward (weight & displacement).
Otoh, they mostly have for all intent and purposes a captive market. And if there’s one thing true in business- try to innovate to broaden your customer base- but milk that cash cow until it’s totally dry.
A friend of mine bought one. So many electrical gremlins he invoked the lemon law to get a brand new one. Other gremlins quickly appeared in the replacement. He quickly traded for a GS. He took a bath on the entire deal but he is delighted to out from under the trundling POS that is the Pan Am. I rode it before he sold it. It had the same old rubber hinge in the middle that flexed when pushed. Same as all Harleys.
127 hp and 145 ft/lbs is going to be whole lot of fun. Indian motorcycle has brought the competition and HD has returned fire. The Challenger no doubt will see increase in out put shortly. White with the eagle graphics is really sharp.
I can definitely see the influence of Indian in these new H-D models. Who’d have thunk it just a few years ago?
Should start calling some of them HIndians
ALL batwing fairings are hedeous and however much unecessary crap hidden within or behind them does not justify sticking them on a motorcycle, even a Harley-Davidson. Removed and tipped upside down, they would make a good cement mixing tub.
I like the batwings. Both aesthetically and functionally. Looks more proper on a “old school” design bike. And allows the fairing to be moved back as close to the rider as possible. Which matters on feet forward bikes.
Harry is right.
Mazda Miata and you don’t get wet when it rains. The point of diminishing returns has long been thrown out the window and that window kicked out. They are nice motorbikes but it’s just too much money for what I would get. Same with a K1600 or GL1800. Or GS1300G.
But anyone else is free to go for it. 😉
ORT
hey mick, do not say that no manufacturers are reducing the dry weight of their bikes.
Harley ad copy is always good for a few laughs.
I can’t understand why the street bike industry still debases its own credibility with dry weights. I toured the Buell factory during Harley’s 100th, I lived nearby at the time and regularly ate at the nearby Mexican restaurant (Dos Amigos). If the rest of Harley plants are run the same way, the bikes were fully assembled and dynoed before going into the crate. The street bike industry would do well to all agree on an off the factory dyno weight. Just weigh one off the dyno. Who cares what an inoperable collection of most of a bike’s parts weigh? What does the bike weigh in operable condition? No two manufacturers have a set definition of the word “dry” either.
If the manufacturers prove themselves so willing to lie to you every time the open their mouth. Well, what else are they covering up?
Aren’t there three kinds of lies?
Lies, damn lies, and dry weight?
Well Dry Weight is in “Statistics” so you get a pass…
Different strokes for different folks, as the saying goes. Like the styling, just not a fan of these bikes. I love low weight vehicles. Owned a 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata which was sold in 2021. The vehicle weighs 2,300 pounds and reminds me of a go-cart on steroids. So much fun to drive with the 6-speed tranny. The main reason why I love my Ninja 400, its 360 pound weight. Really can’t see 800 pounds.
I’m personally mostly with you wrt size/weight. But I also hardly see any purpose for a bike which doesn’t facilitate easy lanesplitting…..
OTOH, Big tourers are designed for endless, often straight or gently meandering highways. Hours on end of sitting in what is often heavy crosswinds and rain. For perhaps several weeks on end. The N400 is just not nearly as well for that. It suffers from luggage, and simply isn’t particularly comfortable after 11 days of 11 hours endless Western and Canadian states.
I realize that is not how “most” Harleys are used. But that’s the design spec. Just as most ‘Busa owners don’t generally sit at 180mph.
Completely understand your point of view, yes the bike was built for effortless cruising on interstates. It’s just not my type of riding. I’ve made many trips across our country on a bike. Avoided the interstates like the plague. Most of the interstates were built following the original state roads. Interstates are as boring as hell. State roads because of the interstates have local light traffic and so much fun. I would maintain around 75-80 mph and absolutely follow the speed limit within city limits. Break camp with my tent early in the morning (heated vest) and usually stop around 10-11 AM at a small town diner for breakfast. Avoid fast food places. These small town grills had fantastic food. Again, different strokes for different folks.
This is exactly how we roll. Breakfast crowd out by 10 but before the lunch crowd. You have the place to yourself. Never speed in town, and avoid interstates.
Amen, brother!
The best part of dawn patrols to small town cafes, is the locals starting their day. The conversations feel like America 100 years ago , about loading cold hay, or how bad the HS football team did last night. Usually the waitress was the prom queen and could handle guy banter very well thank you.
Remember Dawn Patrol to start a great day.
Owens Valley CA
About halfway through my sentence of life in Paris, France the wife and I gave up actually traveling anywhere by motorcycle. The place has a gravity well about an hour and a half deep where no joy can be had. So we started loading the bike in the van and driving to areas that weren’t so awful. I would occasionally take guests around Paris to see the popular structures there, and lane split the heck out of the Paris traffic. Some people do like the place.
Since moving to NH we do take rides around NH, VT, ME, and occasionally the Berkshires from home. Anywhere else we go we load the bike up in the truck and drive to cool locations to ride. Neither her nor I fancy being bored on a motorcycle. We ride motorcycle. We travel by car.
2024 Location Photography – RA1250SE CVO Pan America. EMBARGOED UNTIL 1/24/24 10AM
My question is 10AM where?
My other question is how much does it weigh without the tricks? Yikes!
The use of alternate materials helps reduce dry weight to 800 pounds (363 kg). Mufflers have lightweight titanium shells and forged carbon fiber end caps; forged carbon fiber composite is used to form the front fender, seat cowl and tank console; the oil pan is formed of lightweight composite; and wheel design and wave-style front brake rotors are optimized to minimize unsprung weight.