The Modern V-Twin That Could Become A Future Classic
It’s hard to predict what’s going to become the next sought-after motorcycle. But there are some earlier indicators that can help identify the next true classic. Was the model popular in its day? Maybe it was underappreciated? Was it expensive? Another indicator could be the use of rare components. Or perhaps there was a collaboration between two manufacturers, like it was with the Harley-Davidson’s partnership with Porsche on the polarizing V-Rod.
Whatever the reason, owning a bike that is the envy of all riders is truly special. There have been many bikes, in the last 100+ years of motorcycle culture, that have remained in our hearts and minds. We’re talking about one of the latest examples of that, and it comes from Harley-Davidson.
There’s A Huge History Of Limited-Edition Racing Replicas
One of the biggest hints that a bike is a future classic is whether it was based on a popular racing bike of the time. And there have been many such bikes over the years. Right now it may not look like it, but the recently dumped Indian FTR, based on the prestigious FTR750 flat track bike, may turn into a classic someday. Or the Indian Challenger RR with its race-spec componentry.
Another recent racing replica was Triumph’s Daytona Moto2 765, featuring the motor from its MotoGP Moto2 collaboration. It had some fantastic features and equipment, and was limited to only 1,530 production bikes (765 for Europe and 765 for U.S. markets). Several other examples come to mind from brands like Ducati, BMW, Kawasaki, and even KTM.
V-Twin Collectible Machines Are Rare, Though
Things take a turn when you actually laser in on modern V-twin race-replica machines. Indian’s Challenger RR is a prime example, and so is the Aston Martin AMB 001. But other than that, the list is slim. What about Harley-Davidson, you ask? Well, you could say Harley-Davidson has a complicated relationship with racing. It has dipped its toe into it on multiple occasions, starting with its board track racing, Flat Track Racing, and even an honest-to-goodness superbike, the VR1000. And yes, the VR1000 is rare and expensive, with one model selling for $104k. All of these are from years ago, though, which makes finding a ‘modern V-twin’ that could become a future classic quite difficult.
The Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide RR Is A Gnarly V-Twin Future Classic
It’s not impossible, however, and the recent CVO Road Glide RR serves as the answer. Taking full advantage of the King of the Baggers popularity, Harley built the RR on the bones of its factory racing bikes. Knowing full well that it would be an expensive model from the start, and that nobody in their right mind would ever race it for real, Harley crammed it full of tech goodies, performance mods, and faux racing details to make even the biggest Ducati Panigale V4 fans drool with jealousy. Chief among these was the Screamin’ Eagle 135ci engine—Harley’s biggest, baddest, and most powerful engine on a production bike to date.
The More Limited The Run, The Less Likely You’ll Get One
This exceptional, and expensive, piece of machinery had an aggressively limited run of only 131 production models. So it’s no wonder that its original price has only gone up even more on the secondary market. You thought $110k was too much? Well, buckle up, buttercup, because one just sold for $152k in the used market. That’s supercar territory. You could get a used Aston Martin Vantage for that kind of cash. And those are a lot more practical, believe it or not.
This Special Bagger’s Performance Specs Are Unlike Any Harley On The Planet
So what exactly differentiates the RR from a standard Road Glide that only costs $26k? Let’s run the list. The exhausts were made from titanium. The bodywork is entirely made of carbon fiber. And there are custom billet aluminum components throughout the bike. But that’s not what makes it special. For anyone complaining that Harley only makes heavy, slow bikes, the American bike maker tuned its Screamin’ Eagle V-twin to produce 153 horsepower and 150 ft-lb of torque.
Coupled with its Screamin’ Eagle internals, Racing King 6 Transmission, High Performance Intake System, and feather-light exhaust (courtesy of Akrapovič), the RR is Harley’s most powerful bagger to date. It’s unlikely we’ll see a Harley with such a serious engine again (thanks to its new approach on value), which is precisely why this modern V-twin can go on to become a future classic.
Factory Racing DNA, Street-Based Premium Features
To make all that racing horsepower and torque work on the street, Harley continued the premium component build-out with the rest of the features on the RR. To help with aggressive lean angles and cornering on your favorite twisty roads, race-spec Öhlins were installed to raise the ride height by two inches. For reference, the front suspension has Öhlins 43mm FGR inverted forks, while the rear comprises dual Screamin’ Eagle Öhlins Remote Reservoir shocks.
Topping things off, the swingarm is made of billet aluminum and weighs just 18 lbs. Bringing this beast to a halt are GP4-RX Brembos that deliver MotoGP-level braking power. Cast aluminum wheels, billet aluminum mid-foot controls, and a Saddlemen solo racing seat round out the premium materials of the RR.
This Is Not Just Some Dumb Race Bike
Harley made 131 of these bad boys. Some bought the bike as an investment. To sit as a garage queen until that time, when the secondary market prices make it unreasonable to keep. But others bought it as a gift to themselves. The ultimate performance bagger to commute, tour, and maybe even race on, if they’re crazy enough. Luckily for those folks, Harley made sure that the RR’s premium features bled into its electrical and digital guts as well.
There are riding modes (for track riding and touring), advanced ABS brakes, and smart traction controls aplenty to make it as usable and as safe as possible. You’ll also get the typical Harley bells and whistles in the form of its infotainment system. A 12.3-inch touchscreen houses Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connectivity, and navigation. And to round out the package, you’ll get the Rockford Fosgate State III audio system to let everyone know you’re coming in hot.
Harley’s Tradition Of Building Great Classics That Stand The Test Of Time
H-D has been building bikes since 1903. That’s nothing. Level any accusation you want at the Bar and Shield builder. The one thing you can’t say is that they don’t know how to build a stone-cold classic. They’ve made tons of them over the years. Some of them continue to be sold even today, in one form or another. So too will the world come to remember the CVO Road Glide RR. Perhaps they’ll hem and haw over its price and uber exclusivity. But we’d like to think that it will be remembered for its high level of pure craftsmanship instead.
Source: Harley-Davidson, Indian, and Triumph
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