Every five years, Harley-Davidson celebrates another half-decade in business with a slew of special anniversary models. For their 120th birthday, they’re painting the town red with a series of commemorative paint jobs—and adding a few new models to the mix.
Leading the charge for the anniversary editions is the ultra-exclusive Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide Limited Anniversary model. If you don’t speak Harley, CVO stands for ‘Custom Vehicle Operations.’ CVO models are based on existing models—but with every last bell and whistle imaginable fitted as standard.
The CVO Road Glide Limited Anniversary gets The Motor Co.’s punchy, 166 Nm Milwaukee-Eight 117 power plant, along with a full suite of electronic rider aids like cornering ABS and traction control, hill hold control and tyre pressure monitoring.
It’s also packing Harley’s proprietary Boom Box GTS infotainment system, with a full-colour TFT display and Rockford Fosgate speakers. A rider backrest, fully kitted top box, crash bars and auxiliary speakers; if Harley offers it, the CVO Road Glide has it.
Limited to 1,500 numbered units, the CVO Road Glide Limited Anniversary is wrapped in Harley’s 2023 120th anniversary livery. It’s an intoxicating mix of various shades of red and black, punctuated by bright red pinstripes and hand-applied gold details. Look closely, and you’ll see a ghosted eagle motif spread across the fairing and tank; a design that’s echoed in the gold eagle wing-style tank badges.
Harley-Davidson have six other limited edition 120th anniversary models lined up, all wearing a slightly altered version of the CVO Road Glide Limited Anniversary livery. The emphasis shifts from gold to red here, with red inserts on the bikes’ air filters and engine covers, and red panels on their seats.
The commemorative model list includes the Ultra Limited Anniversary (1,300 units), Tri Glide Ultra Anniversary (1,100 units) Street Glide Special Anniversary (1,600 units), Road Glide Special Anniversary (1,600 units), Fat Boy 114 Anniversary (3,000 units) and Heritage Classic 114 Anniversary (1,700 units).
In addition to their 120th-anniversary quiver, Harley-Davidson has announced three more model updates. The first is good news for fans of the marque’s defunct muscle cruiser, the Breakout; it’s back, and a lot more badass.
The 2023 Breakout features the same long and lean, chopper-esque styling that its fans love, but it’s now a whole lot meatier, thanks to its new Milwaukee-Eight 117 drivetrain. It also sports new wheels, a bigger fuel tank, higher handlebars and a smorgasbord of chrome accents.
It’s flashy—but also sort of to the point—which has always been the Breakout’s charm.
Next up, H-D adds another model to their next-generation Sportster range with the Nightster Special. It’s effectively a dressed-up version of the existing Nightster, which uses Harley’s new Revolution Max 975T liquid-cooled V-Twin engine.
The Nightster Special adds a passenger seat and pegs to the base model’s solo setup, along with revised risers and bars for a less aggressive riding position. A round 4” TFT display sits up front, complete with Bluetooth functionality and selectable rider modes.
The Nightster Special also gets its own cast aluminium wheel design, with a tyre pressure monitoring system. Brembo brakes, ABS and traction control, cruise control, LED lighting and a USB charge port are all standard equipment.
Moving to trikes, H-D have restyled their Freewheeler model for 2023. Powered by a Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine, it’s had all its chromed bits swapped out for blacked-out bits. It’s also traded its 18” rear wheels for a pair of 15” hoops, which are tucked under a pair of bobtailed mudguards. Matched up to mini-ape bars up front, the overall aesthetic is something between a bobber and a hot rod—and somehow, it works.
The Freewheeler also features a weather-proof ‘boot’ at the back, dual mufflers with slash-down tips, an electric reverse gear, and a full set of trike-specific electronic rider aids. Harley are also rolling out a bunch of electronic aids to existing models this year. The Fat Boy, Fat Bob, Breakout and Low Rider S will all get cruise control as standard, while an optional (and switchable) traction control system will be available for the Breakout, Low Rider S and Low Rider ST.
And if you’re not in the market for a new motorcycle, fret not. Harley will naturally be rolling out some anniversary-specific apparel too… so you can at least look the part.
For more information visit – www.hdavidson.co.za
