BIKES: 2013 Harley-Davidson CVO Road King

New Models

BIKES: 2013 Harley-Davidson CVO Road King

The 2013 CVO Road King is the first production Road King to come with factory-installed audio. It also gets a new Vented Wind Splitter windshield that allows riders to divert air around them.

Bryan Harley | http://www.motorcycle-usa.com | Posted December 17, 2012 Eugene, OR

The 2013 CVO Road King has comfortable, upright ergos, a well-padded saddle and an adjustable wind vent so riders can easily log long miles in style. (Photo: MotorcycleUSA.com)

Harley-Davidson’s Road King has played an important developmental role in the Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) program, the Screamin’ Eagle Road King making its debut in 2002. The following year Harley introduced the 103 cubic-inch Twin Cam engine on the 2003 Screamin’ Eagle Road King. The platform was shelved from the CVO program for a few years, then came back in 2007 outfitted with the first 110 cubic-inch Twin Cam V-Twin. Its last CVO appearance was in 2008, but it’s back again this year with a few new wrinkles.

The 2013 CVO Road King is still powered by Harley’s Twin Cam 110 engine, the added power suiting this touring platform. The big mill resides in a chassis set up for long hauls like the vaunted Ultra Classic Electra Glide in a motorcycle that weighs 78 pounds less. Geared to provide Harley’s dependable low-end punch, its gearing is wide so getting up to highway speeds only takes a few shifts. Most of our freeway miles were spent in the generous range of fifth gear, saving “Cruise Drive” sixth gear for long stints on open road to drop rpm and prolong engine life.

Jumping from the CVO Breakout to the CVO Road King during the 2013 Harley CVO press launch, we immediately noticed the lighter clutch pull. Seeing how our run down central California’s Hwy 1 had been met by rockslides closing the freeway to one lane and construction bringing traffic to a halt altogether, having a lighter pull and requiring less effort to balance it at the point of engagement was beneficial. Even at low speeds the bike’s fairly low center of gravity, its seat a laden 26.5 inches off the ground, keeps it manageable.

Once in motion, the Road King lives up to its name on the uneven coastal roads as its suspension provides a plush ride. The healthy 41.3mm tubes of the telescopic fork and the preload adjustable rear smoothes out the road so that the rider is cushioned from most of the road’s uneven ebb and flow. The rear is hand-adjustable for preload but requires the quick removal of the hard saddlebag. We were riding solo so we ran with the stock settings which still left a solid feel to the rear.

As signs warn of 25 mph switchbacks and long sweepers bridge canyons on Hwy 1, the 2013 CVO Road King is holding its line tightly. It’s steady and true when banked over and its floorboards are up high enough to give riders plenty of lean. Its 180mm rear and tighter rake help it transition more smoothly than the 240mm CVO Breakout which pivots more slowly around its big back end.

Long floorboards and easy-to-reach bars leave riders perched comfortably upright in the CVO Road King’s well-padded leather seat. Large, hard locking saddlebags easily have enough room to hold a few day’s provisions for a person traveling solo. The extended bags have a custom fascia filling in the space between them and the rear fender and rear LED lighting has been integrated into the bodywork. The combination of leg fairings and a mid-height windshield provide a generous buffer between rider and the wind.

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