Review: With the Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide from Kiel to Faak and back again!
GREATEST TEST RIDES
At the beginning of September Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide approx. 1300km from Keel to Faak to European Bike Week in Austria.
It was simply a matter of seeing how long you can stand it on the bike in one go, and the result surprised me very much. Usually I tend to ride old Harleys, but now I've found out what Harley-Davidson means by a tourer.
So I can say this much: after arriving at Lake Faak after a 17-hour drive and finding a room, I was drawn to the European Bike Week on the slopes in the evening.
Pack well, everything important has to go!
The European Bike Week ran from 8 to 13 September 2015. I wanted to be there on Tuesday the 8th, so I spent the day preparing the bike for the tour, polished it up and filled it up with gas before packing. I always have a lot of technical equipment with me, more than clothes.
Space on a motorcycle is generally limited and it's actually a good thing that you don't have to carry everything you don't need. The Street Glide's panniers are very practical, and it is particularly important that they are lockable, especially when you leave the bike at a rest stop to take a break or to refuel with a cup of coffee in peace and quiet.
Mega sound or space
However, the CVO cases do not fit quite as much as the Street Glide Special, the CVO has a mega sound system on board, the amplifier and the speakers also need their space, opinions may differ, some find it superfluous and others find it good to have a good sound.
It always depends, I would often have needed the space, but the quality of the BoomBox II system is also a pleasure, there are situations that just fit, listening to good music loudly on a beautiful route, with the right songs it's really good.
What's more, the navigation and traffic information are very easy to understand, and everything can be set individually, whether you prefer to listen to it on your headphones or via the bike's sound system.
Everything is very easy to operate, either by touchscreen or via the switches on the handlebars. It takes a bit of training, but once you have understood the menu, it works well.
Equipment
The weather forecast only predicted cold and no rain, but I have to go back again, and when I remember the rain from 2014, I get the cold shivers. So I'd better pack a rain suit and waterproof boots.
In addition to the Harley-Davidson Jet II helmet I took an integral helmet for the ride, then the tried and tested onion technique, T-shirt, leather shirt, windproof Harley-Davidson jacket and a Harley-Davidson leather jacket over it, plus a long Emma and the Rokker Revolution pants, so you are well and safely packed.
Thick gloves and, very importantly, the muffs, which are handlebar covers, are worth their weight in gold, especially when it gets cold and wet. What I also particularly appreciated were the protectors in the Rokker Jeans, They not only protect you from the cold in the event of a fall, but also while riding, and the pants are waterproof anyway, so you can't go wrong.
I had temperature differences of 5 to 28 degrees on the trip, so you're happy to be able to take off a jacket when the sun comes through, which is clearly the advantage of the onion look.
The tour to Faak and the Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide
As you can see from my tour on the Google map, I always covered 300 kilometer stages, on the outward journey I weakened a bit at 5 in the morning after about 8 hours of riding, but especially on the return journey I was able to keep it up well, but one thing is clear, you can't do that so relaxed on every bike.
Some bikers were on their way back north on old Evo's, one was riding full Lotte towards Berlin, I rode quite a distance with him, and there were also Norwegians on their E-Glides heading home, they had to go further than me, respect!
The 1.8L engine has 156Nm torque
With a CVO Street Glide and the 1.8 liter engine, that's a nice thing, there's always enough torque available when going up and down the hills. The ideal cruising speed is around 140 km/h, the Street Glide sits firmly on the road and is well protected by the fairing, making it easy to eat up the kilometers.
On the Street Glide, the windshield is not quite as high, so the rider still gets some wind, which can also be increased via the new ventilation duct, a good solution especially in high temperatures.
I would do it again and again with a bike like this, even in the rain the Harley was very good on the road, the tires already had a few thousand kilometers behind them, but with over 400 kilos there was enough pressure from above!
The consumption is really ok, everything is well tuned and can be influenced by your own driving style. If you drive very quietly, you will get below 5 liters per hundred, but with normal driving, the 5.8 liters specified are really achievable, as we are used to something different from some cars.
The chassis is ok, overall the bike could be a bit stiffer, in unfavorable slipstream situations or crosswinds at about 170 km/h on the highway, it rocks a bit, the machine easily drives its 200 km/h, I noticed that it is noticeably more stable at higher speeds when you close the left ventilation flap and open the right.
The BoomBox II navigation system proved its worth on the tour!
The BoomBox II entertainment system has a good built-in navigation system, a large display that can be operated via touchscreen, the destination can be entered by voice input via headset, or it can simply be typed in.
If you want, you can prepare the tour on your PC with the Ride Planner from Harley-Davidson (link) and import it into the navigation system using a USB stick. I liked it, but I also have no problems with the technical world.
You generally need a bit of practice to use it, it's not a TomTom or anything like that, the Americans have their own ways of getting to their destination, but with a bit of practice it's manageable. What I found particularly good was that when the tank changes to reserve, the navigation immediately shows the nearest petrol stations in the area with the brand, and you can easily activate the route guidance to the petrol station.
This is particularly helpful in an unfamiliar environment, as you only have to drive straight ahead on the highway, but if you run out of gas before the next filling station, you'll be glad to find the shortest route to the next filling station quickly.
I was on the Faaker See in the border triangle, whether Italy or Slovenia, the map always worked and brought me back to the Faaker See, this entire communication system is simply fun on the Harley-Davidson Premium Tourer.
The Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide in Scorching Yellow
Technical data (according to the manufacturer):
manufacturer's specifications
Engine: Twin-Cooled Twin Cam 110 Cui
Displacement: 1800ccm
Power: 98 hp at 5010 rpm
Torque: 156 Nm at 3750 rpm
Tires: Dunlop front 130/60 B19, rear 180/55 B18
Unladen weight: 395kg (ready to drive) Payload: 222kg
Tank capacity: 22.7 L, including 3.8 L reserve
Seat height: Rider 690mm
Price: approx. 38,035 euros (as of 09/2015)
Excerpts from the postings on Facebook.
Departure on September 7, 2015
1. 21:25 - My tour to Faaker See 2015 begins in Kiel! - So friends, I'm off to Faak, it's cold as shit tonight, but what the hell, now it's off from Kiel towards Berlin, to the next gas station, the tank should be enough for 300km, I'll drive the Street Glide CVO until I fall off the saddle, hopefully that won't be until tomorrow morning at Faaker See! Today, another 1000 new fans have joined Facebook, which of course makes me very happy!
2. 23:49 clock - In the direction of Berlin/Potsdam - So, off to the first gas station! After 286 kilometers, I've reached the junction to Berlin/Potsdam on the A24. I'm about to fill up for the first time!
3. 23:58 clock - First refueling stop shortly before Berlin - After 297km, the tank is on reserve just before Berlin, now it's time to refuel and get the first coffee!
4. 3:00 clock - Second refueling stop Weißenfels - After another 274 km of hard driving, the tank behind Leipzig is on reserve, and at 3:00 a.m. we finally had coffee again.
5. 4:45 clock - Autohof Berg on the A9 - Coffee break in the night at 4:45 am at 5 degrees. Now it was getting pretty cold and the tiredness was coming through for the first time.
6. 7:00 clock - Stop in Pegnitz - Between Leipzig and Munich it's time for coffee and refueling, I'm a bit tired now, so a little rest on my back on the bike is in order. So far 767km and now it's 7:00 a.m. and I'm on my way, that was the longest break on the route.
7. 10:00 clock - Fuel stop and Mc Donald - Irschenberg. Between Munich and Salzburg, this is where I bought the toll stickers, refueled, ate and had a coffee! Finally the sun came out!
8. 13:00 clock - Another break at Mc Donald - Refueling was not yet necessary, but a break all the more, at 13:00 clock it went on again, time is pressing, still have to go to the tourist information at Faaker See!
9. 14:15 clock - You have reached your destination on Lake Faak! - I arrived at my destination at 14:15 after a 17-hour drive! Well done! That was 1300km on the Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide, Now find a room and the party can begin!
On 13.09.2015, we headed back from Lake Faak towards Kiel.
1. 6:50 clock - Here the journey started again. From here, the ride starts again early in the morning at 6:50 a.m. I didn't have a chance to refuel during the night, as I didn't get back from the event until midnight, so you can still find the time on the route. The odometer on the Harley shows 8063 kilometers, I've ridden quite a bit in the last few days. So far I've covered 1907 kilometers from Kiel on the Harley-Davidson Street Glide. It's still pretty cold, but once you're riding, you can do it! Post on Facebook https://goo.gl/UrzI4Z
2. a quick look over the beautiful Faaker See - In the early morning at 7:00 a.m. you get a wonderful view of Lake Faak. Post on Facebook : https://goo.gl/IIJupj
3. 7:30 clock - First refueling stop - Now it's time to fill up the tank and continue straight away, otherwise you won't get anywhere! We've already had breakfast and coffee at the guesthouse.
4. 8:00 clock Toll station - If you want to drive through the Tauern Tunnel, you have to pay. I think I got rid of 11.00 euros. Post on Facebook: https://goo.gl/954xWq
5. 8:37 clock - Just stop for a moment! - The toilets are worth mentioning, they looked really good!
6. beautiful view - Another quick look at the beautiful mountains!
7. 11:20 clock Second refueling stop - I've now driven 360 kilometers and it's not yet on reserve, I've used 19 liters for the distance, which is quite respectable. 5.2 liters per hundred, fully loaded on the highway.
8. 14:10 clock Refueling shortly before Leipzig - First coffee break, after 297 kilometers from the last stop, I've made good time so far. Post on Facebook: https://goo.gl/NUjFhI
9. 15:50 clock - Refueling just before Berlin - After 193 kilometers, the tank is not yet on reserve, but the next petrol station might be too far away and a coffee can't hurt either. Post on Facebook: https://goo.gl/irLKaA
10. 19:15 clock Refuel in Wittenburg - It's been raining since Berlin, sometimes quite heavily, but the bike is lying well on the road and the Harley-Davidson leather jacket is just as waterproof as the Rokker Revolution trousers. Another moment when you really appreciate the protectors, they also protect your knees from the cold. I've ridden 253 kilometers in the rain and the tank is still over 1/4 full.
11. 20:50 clock - Arrived at our destination after about 14 hours! After about 1300 kilometers and almost 14 hours of driving, I arrived back up north on 19.09.2015, the return trip was a few hours faster, but I was also a little more rested than on the tour to the south. Even though I had to ride in the rain for the last few kilometers from Berlin, it was a great tour on the Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide. Post on Facebook: https://goo.gl/N8dcJj
The return journey from Lake Faak
Conclusion: A beautiful tour, on a beautiful Harley-Davidson that is built for touring. I was on the road on very different routes, whether on the highway or in the mountains, I always had the right bike under my backside. Long distances are no problem at all, it has top brakes, ABS and enough power to overtake or ride from A to B quickly.
You can also use it as a mobile office, make phone calls via the system, quickly stow your jacket, kidney belt etc. in the case, attach your helmet to the case and nobody will think you're on the road on a Harley.
In terms of price, it belongs to the premium segment, but there is also the Special, which is also a good tourer, just like the Road Glide, so it just depends on your taste and your wallet.
I had a lot of fun touring on the Harley-Davidson CVO and that's what it's all about! By October, I had ridden over 11,000 kilometers on the bike and enjoyed every kilometer.
The route Kiel to Faak for the European Bike Week, on the Google Map. Click on the markers in the map to see the info.
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More InformationWe joined the tour via Facebook, it was great how some fans were there in the middle of the night!
So friends, I'm off to Faak, it's cold as shit tonight, but what the hell, now I'm off from Kiel to...
Posted by Harleysite on Monday, September 7, 2015
All the best, even found a room and the sun is shining beautifully on Lake Faak, thank you for mentally preparing me for...
Posted by Harleysite on Tuesday, September 8, 2015
On 13.09.2015, we headed back from Lake Faak towards Kiel.
Route with description from Faak to Kiel, on the Google Map.
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More InformationWhen the trip went home again, I posted every now and then during the breaks!
So, it's time to go home! #harleydavidson #harley #harleysite #faakersee
Posted by Harleysite on Saturday, September 12, 2015
