Low Rider S, CVO Tri Glide and new technologies lead the list
Words by Mitch Boehm
Harley-Davidson’s 2020-spec LiveWire EV generated megawatts of buzz when it launched in late July (couldn’t help the pun, sorry), but the Motor Company’s new-bike and new-technology news of August 20th proves there’s still plenty going on in the internal-combustion side of the business.
A perfect example is the new-for-2020 Low Rider S, a Softail-platformed version of the best-selling Dyna-based LR-S model introduced a few years back. Bathed in gloss black paint and featuring a host of dark surface finishes accented by machined and chrome bits here and there, the latest Low Rider S is a performance custom in the finest sense of the term. It features maximum Motor Company horsepower in the form of the very stout 114-inch Milwaukee-Eight engine, sporty front-end geometry (28 degrees of rake vs. the standard Low Rider’s 30), dual disc brakes and a performance-oriented inverted fork, all of which means the LR-S is a sure bet to go as well as show.
A 2-into-2 dual shotgun exhaust and mini cockpit fairing help boost the bad-ass look, along with bronze-painted alloy wheels, polished fin edging, an XR750-esque solo seat design, tank-mounted instrumentation and a rear fender that simply makes you drool. Prices start at just $17,999, with ABS and a security system standard, which makes the Low Rider S a shoo-in for a Motor Company best buy in 2020.
Another favorite is the Heritage Classic, which has been restyled for 2020 in a shinier, sparklier, more nostalgic way. Changes include what Harley calls a ‘bright powertrain’ with chrome air cleaner and covers; chrome spoke wheels; chrome headlight bucket; ‘bright’ fork legs and chrome fork covers and nacelle; chrome rear fender struts; chrome console; polished handlebar and a clear (and detachable) windscreen with chrome hardware. It’s powered by the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine and is mechanically identical to the 2019 model. Prices start at $18,999. Features include lockable and sealed hard bags, a two-piece skirted seat and pillion with black studs, standard cruise control and Antilock Braking System (ABS). Colors include: Vivid Black, Billiard Burgundy, two-tone Silver Pine/Spruce and Billiard Red/Vivid Black. The Heritage Classic 114 model powered by the Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine will retain the model’s original, blacked-out look.
There’s news on the CVO (Custom Vehicle Operations) side of things, too, headlined by the CVO Tri Glide 3-wheeler, which joins the CVO Limited and CVO Street Glide in the portfolio of what Harley calls its ‘limited-production, super-premium’ lineup for 2020. Created as top-of-the-line motorcycles for well-heeled and discerning customers, CVO models offer ‘show-stopping finishes, advanced technology, exclusive componentry and attention to detail that borders on obsessive’ – and all of it backed by a Harley-Davidson warranty. The torque-rich Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine powers all three CVO bikes, which you’d expect given the cost of entry and exclusiveness here.
New on the long-haul Touring front is the Road Glide Limited, which replaces the Road Glide Ultra for 2020 and offers a host of premium features, including painted pinstriping, gloss-finish inner fairing, heated rider grips, Slicer II wheels and new tank and fender designs. The Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine is standard, along with ABS, Daymaker headlights, Premium Touring suspension and Harley’s Boom!Box GTS infotainment system with a color touchscreen.
There’s new technology coming from Milwaukee, too, in the form of HD Connect (a subscription-based service to keep rider connected to their motorcycle through their smartphone) and the Reflex Defensive Rider System, tech designed to ‘match motorcycle performance to available traction during acceleration, deceleration and braking.’ RDRS is standard on the 2020 LiveWire, Trike and CVO models, and optional on all 2020 Touring models in the U.S. (except Electra Glide Standard models).
Click on www.harley-davidson.com for more information.
