Aviation inspired fly-by-wire throttle hooked up to sequential port fuel injection? Plus anti-lock brakes are high tech improvements to the 2008 Harley-Davidson Road King motorcycle. Yes Harley motorcycle fans, the 2008 FLHRSE4 Screamin' Eagle Road King, the latest version of this iconic model from Harley's Custom Vehicle Operations division comes with these new features.
The other 2008 CVOs.
In addition to the Road King, Harley's Ultra Classic Electra Glide, Softail Springer and Dyna also get the CVO treatment again for the 2008 model year, just as they did in 2007.
Here's the short version on the other CVOs.
Like the Road King, the FLHTCUSE3 Ultra Classic Electra Glide gets fly-by-wire throttle, ABS, and the larger six-gallon fuel tank. And, of course, it continues to lead the pack in comfort features, including the remote power lock system for the Tour Pak top case, now built into the barrel key, and the 40-watt stereo with XM satellite radio and nearly every other form of communications known to man. Expect to shell out $35 grand for this king of the road motorcycle.
The FXSTSSE2 Softail Springer also has a few new goodies like a wider, 18-inch front tire for 2008, replacing the 21-incher. The Springer front suspension may say "old school" but the new tire contributes to the most modern-feeling and sporty handling of any of the 2008 CVOs. Also unique to the CVO Springer is the "Heavy Breather" air intake.
MSRP is $24,995 (add $495 for anniversary models) and production is limited to 2,500, including 1,050 anniversary edition models.
Harley lowered the front end on the FXDSE2 Screamin' Eagle Dyna for 2008, in addition to more new chrome. Forward controls, inverted fork with chromed tubes and LED fuel gauge hidden in a flush-mount chrome "gas cap" are other custom touches.
MSRP is $24,995 (add $495 for anniversary models) and production is limited to 2,600, including 1,050 anniversary edition models.
Each year since 1999, the CVO division has been turning out limited-edition models showcasing the Motor Company's Screamin' Eagle performance parts, items from its huge accessory catalog, and special paint jobs.
For 2008, all CVO models are powered by the Twin Cam 110 engine, a 110-cubic-inch powerhouse with different heads and cams and other Screamin' Eagle parts. Put it all together and Harley says the 110 pumps out 115 foot-pounds of torque at 3,000 rpm (measured at the crankshaft). Low-end torque doesn't get much lower-end than this unless you want a bull dozer! Just 2,000 rpm on the tach gets you 80 percent of maximum torque.
That Twin Cam 110 also gets a new finish for 2008, called "granite and chrome." The "granite" portion is a special gray paint with actual stainless steel flake in it. Now how cool is that!
But the really big news for 2008 isn't the Twin Cam 110. It's the performance parts that make it go, and the parts that make the two touring CVO models stop.
Instead of throttle cables controlling the fuel injection, an electronic sensor now tells the injectors what your throttle hand is doing on both the Road King and the Ultra Classic Electra Glide CVOs. At first glance, it may sound like added complication. Who needs fly-by-wire on a touring motorcycle?
Actually, it reduces complication, Harley's CVO engineers note. Both the Road King and Ultra Classic come with electronic cruise control, which works more seamlessly with the electronic throttle control than it did with the old throttle cables.
And, there's another advantage to electronic throttle control for a company known for their motorcycle styling. No cables means a cleaner look for the handlebar. The electronic wires run inside the handlebar. the result is a cleaner looking motorcycle.
The other big news is Harley's new ABS system, which is standard on the Road King motorcycle and Ultra Classic CVOs, and will be a $795 option on all regular Harley touring motorcycle models and VRSC models for 2008. It's an all-new system for Harley, and some wet pavement riding will prove to you that it is great and works well.
The Harley system maintains separate operation of front and rear brakes. Steel braided lines run unobtrusively from both master cylinders to a controller unit located under the right side panel, then back to the brake rotors. If the motorcycle wheel sensors detect lockup, the control unit pulses the brakes up to seven times per second to prevent the wheels from locking up the wheels. Now this is a great feature and is sure to save lives.
As with the throttle, Harley paid a lot of attention to the styling, as well as the performance of the motorcycle. You have to look carefully, and know where to look, to see any visual evidence of the ABS system. Not only are the additional brake lines well hidden, but Harley also put great effort into making the wheel sensors unnoticeable.
The sensors operate using magnetically encoded rings in the wheel bearings. The two metal rings look like thin spacers. The two rings "click" in steps as the magnetically encoded spots interact. That's what sends signals to the ABS control unit without the need for a big, external sensor that would detract from Harley's traditional styling. Looking at the wheel alone, there's no way to tell if the motorcycle has ABS or not.
Riding this motorcycle on a curving road will remind you that this is a touring bike. The soft suspension that soaked up the uneven joints on the highway is now a bit vague in the turns. But that's a fair tradeoff for a motorcycle equipped with bags and a windshield and a sixth gear just made for the highway.
Switching between the Road King and the Dyna and Springer CVO models really drives home the difference made by the Road King's new features. The electronic throttle control on the Road King provides for a light but completely progressive throttle. The ABS brakes, which incorporate Brembo four-piston calipers front and rear, provide ample stopping power with a two-finger pull, unlike Harley brakes of the past that called for a full fist of effort.
Another change for the Road King motorcycle and Ultra Classic CVOs is a "stabilizer system," essentially the same kind of cush drive that's been used in the V-Rod, that damps the driveline pulses that aren't already eliminated by the compensator in the primary. The 45-degree V-twin's vibrations still make themselves obvious at idle, but once underway, the Road King provides a smoother ride than most any other touring motorcycle you can buy.
The CVO Road King offers a host of other features, including a leather saddle that incorporates an ostrich-hide pattern that's repeated in the leather covering of the hard-plastic saddlebags, a backrest for the passenger and a removable one for the rider, chrome wheels with wider tires, and other touches that separate the CVO from regular Harleys. But while ABS brakes and electronic throttle control and more power are all appreciated on the road, it's the paint job that will be the first thing to draw a crowd to a CVO model in the parking lot at your local bike night.
The paint jobs on CVO models go way beyond some different colors, and the Road King is a good example. Take a close look at the Twilight Blue and Candy Cobalt with Ghost Flame graphics. The powder-coated frame and Twilight Blue on the tank look almost black until the sunlight makes the color pop. The Cobalt Blue on the tank and fenders is a partially translucent color that lets you see the flames that are actually a pattern ground into the metal of the tank or fender underneath. Hand-drawn pinstriping separates the colors. It's a level of detail that even many custom motorcycle builders would have a hard time replicating. And since the flame pattern is actually in the metal surface of the tank, no two Road Kings are exactly identical.
Harley Davidson strictly controls replacement parts, so if you don't buy a CVO, you can't get these unique painted pieces and add them to your regular Road King. Sorry.
From its signature massive chrome-covered headlight nacelle to its tombstone-shaped taillight, the CVO Road King provides all the style and attention to detail you'd expect for a limited-run model from a company known for its styling.
You can expect to pay a hefty price for this motorcycle due to all the attention to detail but it is worth it. You can buy a garageful of less exclusive motorcycles for price of an FLHRSE4 Road King but why do this when you can have the best?
The entire run of CVO Road Kings for 2008 will account for less than 1 percent of Harley's motorcycle production. If you have the cash and the desire for a factory custom that also sports some of the latest high-tech features, then maybe you're Harley CVO's kind of motorcycle owner and rider.
2008 Harley-Davidson Road King CVO Specs.
Engine
Air-cooled V-twin, 2 valves per cylinder
Displacement
110 cubic inches (1,800cc)
Bore x stroke
4.0 inches x 4.38 inches
Carburetion
Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection
Compression ratio
9.3:1
Transmission
Six-speed
Final drive
Belt
Tires
130/70-18 front; 170/60-17 rear
Front brake
Dual 11.81-inch rotors,
four-piston Brembo calipers
Rear brake
Single 11.81-inch rotor
four-piston Brembo caliper
Seat height (unladen)
27.5 inches
Wheelbase
63 inches
Fuel capacity
6 gallons
Wet weight
786 pounds
MSRP
$29,290
$29,390 in California
Add $495 for 105th anniversary paint
105th Anniversary Crystal Copper and Black Onyx
Black Diamond and Silver Dust with Ghost Flames
|