Though the Harley-Davidson brand is built on fierce individualism, the ubiquity of its bikes often contradicts its independent spirit. To reassert the swagger that put the near-century-old company on the map, Harley formed its Custom Vehicles Operation division in 1999—a timely creation that pre-figured the recent tidal wave of custom bike builders who have gained international attention. The new CVO Screamin’ Eagle Fatboy kick starts the old-school Harley image with heightened performance and iconoclastic style. The long list of custom styling touches and mechanical modifications definitively elevate the special edition bike above the paradoxical anonymity of its stock counterparts.
Rather than blindly slathering chrome over every surface, Harley has carefully offset the shiny stuff with a range of aluminum textures, as well as a color-matched frame and swing arm. Key points of interest—the front fender, the tank, and the rear fender—are painted in a clear-coat-covered “metal grind” strip bordered by roughly painted accents. The effect is not unlike a racing stripe gone diabolical. The CVO comes in three color combinations: Nebula Yellow Pearl matched with Cobalt Blue, Autumn Haze against Abyss Blue, and Canyon Copper set against Concord Purple. Ghost flames on the bike’s lower half add yet another decorative layer. Depending on personal taste, the bike’s appearance might be regarded as rich sophistication or visual cacophony. But there is no arguing the head-turning ability of this bike. Quick stops for red lights and gas trigger comments, questions, and—without fail—volumes of unequivocal praise.
Preserving the flow of the bike’s lines are clear-coated, stainless steel braided brake, clutch, and throttle cables. Smoked turn-signal lenses with amber bulbs that emit a warm, mellow glow, hang discreetly from the handlebar. The single seat—wrapped with curved, chrome-plated steel—could double as modern sculpture, and buckshot-patterned grips, mirrors, levers, and strut covers bring a sense of levity to the CVO’s otherwise serious use of metal.
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RIDING STYLEHelmet: Arai
Jacket: Schott Perfecto
Pants: Levi’s 501
Gloves: Vanson
Boots: Red Wing. (Click image to enlarge)
The thin spokes of chromed 17-inch wheels are the antitheses of the standard-issue Fatboy’s solid disc, aluminum wheels. Not only are the CVO’s wheels an inch larger in diameter, the front and rear tires are also lower profile—each gains 50mm in width, measuring a beefy 140 mm and 200 mm, respectively. A wider frame tail, rear fender, and rear fender strut cover accommodate the swollen tires. Though a lowered suspension counteracts the taller wheel and tire proportions, the CVO gains almost an inch of clearance.
The taller CVO possesses a marked handling edge over a standard Fatboy; its improved clearance allows for a greater lean angle, making 700 pounds of motorcycle easier to wrestle into turns. Though it is still a bike of considerable heft, the bike’s improved geometry reduces the Softail’s floorboard-scraping tendencies on twisty roads. The improved handling comes at the expense of ride quality, however, as the tighter suspension dynamics convey even more road imperfections than a standard Softail.
Its bored-and-stroked 103 cu in V-Twin aids the CVO’s campaign for rapid forward motion. Based on the 88B V-Twin, the leaner, meaner, and larger Screamin’ Eagle power plant features a new flywheel assembly, pistons, and balance shaft that produce 96 ft lbs of torque at 4,000 rpm. Not only is that figure 11 ft lbs more than the stock Fatboy’s, the engine’s peak power arrives 1,000 rpm later. Though Harley doesn’t release horsepower figures for the CVO, the seat-of-the-chaps impression suggests that the decidedly torque-ier power plant is complemented by a significant boost in horsepower. A hydraulically actuated clutch rounds out the power train with surprisingly positive and crisp engagement.
This Harley will never be confused with a superbike, but the engine’s upper-end snappiness is a welcome enhancement to the otherwise dull performance of a stock Softail: The power band is no longer a flat, featureless terrain. It pulls strongly off the line, and its willingness to shoot toward higher rpm—confirmed by a small, aluminum tachometer—is accompanied by an exhaust note that pushes Harley’s signature bass thump into a slightly higher register. The aggressively mechanical sound suits the bike’s unique combination of style and performance.
Larger proportions, a love-it-or-leave-it paint job, and sharper performance endow the $29,000 Harley-Davidson Fatboy CVO with a striking road presence that distinguishes it in any cavalcade of Harleys. While aftermarket builders hawk countless variations with uniquely customized looks and ballsy performance, they lack the one thing that makes the Custom Vehicle Operations Fatboy well worth its price: a benediction from the factory validating it as a genuine Harley-Davidson.
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