CVO Street Glide 2025 tested on Poland's roads

From Schleswig-Holstein along the Baltic Sea coast to Gdańsk

Across Poland on the new 2025 CVO Street Glide. From the Baltic Sea coast deep into the Masurian countryside, via Gdańsk, Pisz, and Bydgoszcz to Szczecin. No fixed route, but a clear compass following the motto: just ride and discover.

What awaited me on the road? Mosquitoes, dealer shirts, Polish forests, and lots of impressions of the country and its people.

In the morning, I was still driving along the familiar country roads of Schleswig-Holstein, but by noon I had my first glimpse of the vastness of the Baltic Sea. My destination for the day was Świnoujście.

The start of a tour is best when the sun is shining and there's no rain in sight, although that wouldn't have stopped me. Unfortunately, the tank wasn't quite full. I hadn't managed to fill it up the night before, so my first stop was the gas station. My first reel with the info for you that we're off, because on Instagram and Facebook I always take you with me when I go on a big trip.

The route to Świnoujście took me through Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the island of Usedom, with frequent short stops along the coast. Especially in the off-season, you can find quiet stretches of road here where you can really relax and enjoy riding the CVO Street Glide. The Milwaukee-Eight 121VT runs smoothly, the wind in your face, and the north slowly disappearing in the rearview mirror.

The dealer in Gdańsk admired the CVO Street Glide in Pioson Berry.

I was riding the new CVO Street Glide, model year 2025, in the rare Poison Berry color. A paint job that attracts attention. And not just from other bikers. In Gdansk, to cut a long story short, the Harley-Davidson dealer came out of the shop especially to take a closer look at the color in the sunshine. He had only seen it at the presentation in Austin, but had not yet seen it in real life. But I'm not there yet; first I have to visit the beautiful area around Świnoujście.

First night in Misdroy – Villa 777

I left Germany at Świnoujście. From here on, I knew that the character of the tour would change. The roads became simpler, the places more authentic. That is exactly what I have come to appreciate about Poland. My first destination was Misdroy, where I am in the Villa 777 Guesthouse I found accommodation. A pleasant, quiet start to the northern Polish part of the trip.

It is a tourist destination, with many Poles vacationing in the north with their families in August. The location and my hotel were an excellent choice. The walk into town for dinner was pleasantly short, and after a stroll through the beautifully landscaped park, I was already standing on the Baltic Sea beach. There is a pier with lots of restaurants and hustle and bustle. The entire promenade was very lively, which you have to like. I thought it was good, as it's the best way to get to know the people who live in the country.

Everything was very clean, there were lots of trash cans that were obviously emptied regularly, and overall I felt very safe and comfortable among all the people on the promenade. I ended up in a bar where I had a few beers to relax and round off the evening. What struck me was that the restrooms in this tiki bar had apparently been left to their own devices. This didn't really fit in with everything else I experienced in Poland and remained the exception on my tour. Otherwise, the bar itself is definitely recommendable, a very pleasant location to sit or have a beer or two.

Gdańsk – history, cobblestones, and the Harley dealer

The next day, I continued along the coast to Gdańsk. The city is a mix of Hanseatic history, modern self-confidence, and a touch of melancholy. I stayed at the Radisson Hotel in the middle of the old town. It was the perfect location for exploring the old town. I parked my motorcycle in a secure parking garage, which always seems to cost extra in Poland. Most of the hotels I stayed at charged me between 20 and 50 zloty (50 zloty is about €12) for parking. This seems to be normal in Poland.

---

Only one H-D dealer T-shirt supplier is a very big problem in Europe!

I was particularly looking forward to visiting the Harley-Davidson dealer in Gdańsk. I received a friendly welcome, the shop was beautiful, and, most importantly, I even got a dealer shirt in my size. However, it was one of the last ones in my size and not the one I actually wanted. The Poles also have their concerns about the supply of Harley-Davidson dealer shirts. There is currently only one supplier in Europe, and they have certain minimum quantities and long delivery times.

This is a real problem, especially for smaller H-D dealers, as I discovered at the next dealer in Szczecin. They had no dealer shirts left and won't be getting any more before December. That's not acceptable, and hopefully something will change here soon. The H-D dealer in Gdańsk, to get back to the topic, is also an excellent Dynojet tuner and proud of his three awards, which are displayed right in the shop.

Masurian Lake District – Stopover with mosquito alert

My journey continued south from Gdańsk via Elbląg, and I took the country road towards Ostróda. This route is highly recommended. There are lots of tree-lined avenues and you can see far into the countryside in some places, then there are forests and small villages, and you get your first impression of the Masurian landscape. For me, it was a beautiful route, where I drove through the forests and along the lakes at just 60 mph in some places and took in the impressions directly.

---

When I arrived in Ostróda, I stayed at the Hotel Anders in Stare Jablonki. That was where I was greeted by mosquitoes for the first time. Nevertheless, it was a successful stop, nestled in nature and with direct access to one of the countless lakes. It was a clean hotel, with a buffet or à la carte dining options. Everything suited me perfectly. I had spent the previous nights in a city, but now I was staying in a more rural setting.

---

Through the heart of Masuria – destination Pisz

The next day, I set off on the long journey through the heart of the Masurian landscape. Forests, water, wide roads—the whole shebang. My destination was Pisz, a quiet place, perfect for taking a deep breath. This is where my Masurian stage ends, at least geographically.

Bromberg – Old Town, Harbor, and Hotel Kubus

From Pisz, I continued on to Bydgoszcz, where I stayed at the Qubus Hotel near the old town. The next morning, I made a quick detour to the harbor before heading to Szczecin.

Szczecin – Dealer shirt frustration and honest exchange

In Szczecin, I visited the local Harley-Davidson dealer. Unfortunately, they no longer had any dealer shirts in stock. They won't be back until December at the earliest, as the salesperson informed me with obvious annoyance. Apparently, the delivery situation is tense, as there is only one central supplier for the T-shirts in Europe, which requires high minimum quantities and has long delivery times. The issue seems to be a pressing one for many dealers. Nevertheless, it was a very nice store and I received a warm welcome, as I did in Gdańsk.

Return journey via the A20 toward Rostock

From Szczecin, I drove straight home via the A20 towards Rostock. The tour ended as it had begun: on well-maintained roads with light traffic. What really surprised me was the quality of the roads in Poland. Only in very rural areas did I get shaken up a bit. But that's exactly where you get to experience the most of the country: the landscape, the people, real life away from the tourist routes.

My personal summary of my trip to Poland

I didn't see any bears, moose, or wolves, but a wolf is now leaving the country again. Because that's my name. And that doesn't mean I won't be back.

This tour was more than just a ride through Poland. It was a journey through contrasts between old and new, city and nature, comfort and simplicity. In some places, you can still see the typical Eastern Bloc charm, but it is obvious that Poland is undergoing radical change.

The roads are being rebuilt, new houses are being constructed everywhere, and you can see many new buildings belonging to companies that have obviously relocated to Poland. This includes not only the large Amazon warehouse near Szczecin.

With the 2025 CVO Street Glide as a reliable partner, the journey was just as impressive as the destination. And that's what it's all about in the end. Being on the road, with your eyes open and no fixed itinerary.

Text & image credits: Harleysite Volker Wolf 08/2025

---