Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide Limited Anniversary Edition (2023-on)

If you want the ultimate in terms of exclusivity and bling in your touring bike, then meet the new 2023 CVO Road Glide Limited Anniversary Edition from Harley-Davidson.

Simply put, this is it the most premium, exclusive machine from the American brand; no production Harley has more on offer, whether you’re looking at the sheer additions and features, or the eye-watering price tag.

Saying that, if you’re reading this and you do fancy sticking one in your garage, then you better be quick. There are just 1500 models on sale (with 20 reserved for the UK and Ireland) and it will set you back an eye-watering £50,677 for the privilege. Yes, really.

Mind you, the new 120^th Anniversary Limited Edition (based on the CVO edition of Harley’s Road Glide) is a truly special bit of kit. Essentially, it’s Harley’s top-of-the-range fully-dressed tourer, which has been taken up a level to CVO (Custom Vehicles Operations) trim with fancy paint and extras and then, for this year only, taken up ANOTHER level again to ‘120^th Anniversary Limited Edition’ spec.

It's all to mark the 120^th Anniversary of Harley-Davidson, the world’s oldest motorcycle manufacturer in unbroken production, and in order to celebrate they really have gone to town.

There’s more of everything, starting with the fancy gloss black and contrast chrome ‘Tomahawk’ wheels that replace the plain versions on the stocker.

You also get more luxurious Alcantara seats, with gold and red contrast stitching, embroidered CVO logo and rider backrest thrown in (and which, along with the posh grips, are heated as standard).

The ‘Infotainment’ system is uprated with everything from FM radio to intercom standard plus louder Rockford Fosgate Stage 1 speakers. And luxuries like cornering ABS and traction, hill hold, keyless ignition and LED lights all round are standard, too.

Harley have also thrown everything they could at 2023 CVO Road Glide Limited Anniversary Edition to make it cosmetically striking, as well. You get a ‘Heirloom Fade’ paintjob, special ‘Speedbird’ art deco tank ‘medallion’ with glass inserts, custom CVO gauges; ‘Kahuna Collection’ grips, pegs, brake pedal cover, muffler end caps and footboards and, if all that isn’t enough, the tank’s special 120^th Anniversary console insert is gold plated with a laser-etched serial number. Mine was No. 102 of 1500. And yes, we did say gold.

But it’s not just been ramped up in terms of bling, as the CVO Road Glide Limited 120^th Anniversary comes equipped with a bigger twin cooled engine (1928cc up from 1868cc), which offers up 105bhp and 122 ft.lbs, an increase of 18bhp and 4ft.lb of torque compared to the standard models. Even its model designation – FLTRKSEANV – is the biggest in Harley history.

At 437kg ready to roll, yes, it’s a big old beast, but that’s true of all Ultras and Limiteds. It offers more than an ample amount of poke from that huge engine, the aids and additions are a really nice touch and although it sets on the truly hefty end of the scale (literally) it does offer a truly luxurious riding experience that borders on majestic.

The CVO Road Glide Limited 120^th Anniversary is an impressive machine in terms of its ride quality. The plush saddle is low and on the move it’s all easily manageable, and you feel smugly regal above and beyond not just any other two-wheeler, but any four-wheeler as well, that this most excessive of motorcycles comes into its own and (kind of) makes sense.

As a touring motorcycle it’s OK, especially on Interstates. As a dynamic motorcycle subject to conventional parameters, it’s irrelevant, although sweeping country roads through Californian wine country arouse more joy than most bikes can muster. It’s not going to break any records, but it was never intended to.

Bigger is always better, especially when it revolves around engines and the world of Harley Davidson. By gifting the CVO Anni’ more cubes with the Twin Cooled 117ci (1928cc) engine (in place of the 114ci/1868cc version), power has been boosted to 105bhp (from 87) and torque has risen to 122lb.ft (from 118).

This means that the 2023 CVO Road Glide Limited Anniversary Edition certainly offers more shove from your right wrist when you twist the grip.

There’s no denying that this at the very highest end of the spectrum in terms of quality, which is reflected in its build quality as the CVO Road Glide Limited 120^th Anniversary is a seriously premium bit of kit, from any angle.

In terms of reliability, the modern Harleys tend to be fairly dependable minus a few odd niggles here and there, and we expect this to be no different.

So, is it really worth the £50,677 price tag? There are two answers, I’m afraid. On the one hand: objectively, dispassionately, sensibly, probably not. The standard Road Glide Limited starts at £28,995, over £21K less and, although I can see the extras you get, no-one really needs them. Besides, for the same money you could get a brace of Harleys and probably a sports car as well…

But the terms ‘objective, dispassionate or sensible’ shouldn’t apply here. Harley set out to build ‘The ultimate ride to the 120^th Homecoming’ and it’s done just that. It’s the ultimate Harley full dresser with so much spec I’ve struggled to list everything. It may be OTT, but it’s also the ultimate Harley, and that, to some – and it only needs to be some – is priceless.

The CVO Road Glide Limited 120^th Anniversary costs almost double what the standard Road Glide Limited will set you back, alongside other machinery such as Honda’s Gold Wing Tour DCT, which is almost £20,000 cheaper.

But then again, none of these models are truly comparable; Harley have opted to push the boat out with their CVO Road Glide Limited 120^th Anniversary in the most extreme way to celebrate a huge milestone, and if in turn created something truly luxurious and un-attainable for most.

A top spec 'Elite' version of Indian's Pursuit full dress tourer will only set you back £30k, pocket change compared the the Harley but nowhere near as opulent.

Now this is where the CVO Road Glide Limited 120^th Anniversary really earns its stripes. There really is just more of everything, and it gains some extra kudos by having a gold-plated console too. Yes, we said gold-plated.

Where some limited runs consist of the odd paint job and a few stickers, the 2023 CVO Road Glide Limited Anniversary Edition really does ooze a sense of exclusivity. From its ‘Tomahawk’ wheels and more luxurious Alcantara seats, to the uprated ‘Infotainment’ system or even the riding assists such as cornering ABS and traction, hill hold, it’s fair to say that every base has been covered.