2024-2026 Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide ST: Milwaukee-Eight 121 High Output Performance Bagger
The Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide ST, factory code FLTRXSTSE, is the sharpest performance-touring expression within Harley-Davidson’s CVO Touring line of this period. It combines the frame-mounted Road Glide fairing with the Milwaukee-Eight 121 High Output engine, a solo performance-bagger stance, CVO-level paint and trim, and the electronics suite introduced with the latest generation of Harley touring platforms.
Its importance is not simply that it is expensive, limited, or visually assertive. The CVO Road Glide ST is Harley-Davidson’s clearest showroom response to the performance-bagger movement: a production motorcycle that acknowledges the influence of MotoAmerica King of the Baggers, factory Screamin’ Eagle race imagery, and the customer appetite for high-output touring motorcycles with genuine long-distance hardware.
Best Known For: the FLTRXSTSE CVO Road Glide ST is best known as Harley-Davidson’s factory-built CVO performance bagger, powered by the 121-cubic-inch Milwaukee-Eight High Output V-twin.
Quick Facts
The following table summarizes the major mechanical and identification points most useful to an enthusiast, buyer, or collector comparing the CVO Road Glide ST with the standard CVO Road Glide and earlier Road Glide ST models.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Production years | 2024-2026 model-year range |
| Manufacturer | Harley-Davidson Motor Company |
| Model family | CVO Touring |
| Factory model code | FLTRXSTSE |
| Engine type | Milwaukee-Eight 121 High Output, 45-degree pushrod V-twin |
| Displacement | 121 cu in / 1,982 cc |
| Transmission | 6-speed Cruise Drive manual |
| Final drive | Carbon-fiber-reinforced belt |
| Chassis identity | Harley-Davidson Touring chassis with frame-mounted Road Glide fairing |
| Suspension layout | Inverted front fork; dual rear shocks |
| Brakes | Dual front discs and single rear disc with electronic rider aids |
| Primary use | Performance touring, fast-road bagger riding, CVO collecting |
| Collector significance | First-generation CVO Road Glide ST performance-bagger specification with the 121 High Output engine |
The shorthand collector term to know is not a nickname in the old Harley sense, but a market category: performance bagger. In this case it describes a touring-platform Harley with saddlebags, fixed fairing, upgraded suspension and brakes, and an engine specification aimed more at aggressive road pace than traditional luxury touring.
Why It Matters
The CVO Road Glide ST matters because it formalized a change already visible in American V-twin culture. For decades, Harley-Davidson touring motorcycles were judged by comfort, chrome, paint, luggage, stereo equipment and two-up capacity. The performance-bagger scene changed the conversation by making lean angle, power delivery, braking consistency and rider posture part of the touring-bike vocabulary.
Harley-Davidson had already offered Road Glide ST models and CVO Road Glides, but the FLTRXSTSE put those threads together with a unique CVO identity. The result was not a race motorcycle with saddlebags; it remained a large, belt-driven, air-cooled-architecture American touring machine. But it placed the strongest factory touring V-twin specification of its launch year into a stripped, solo-seat CVO package with the Road Glide’s frame-mounted fairing and modern electronics.
Historical Context and Development Background
The CVO, or Custom Vehicle Operations, program has long served as Harley-Davidson’s factory showcase for premium paint, high-spec audio, larger-displacement engines and limited-production finishes. In earlier periods, CVO touring bikes were usually luxury flagships: heavy, ornate, richly painted and built around conspicuous equipment. The CVO Road Glide ST shifted the emphasis toward factory performance.
The backdrop was the rise of the performance bagger. Custom shops, club-style bagger builders, and race teams showed that Harley touring platforms could be made to corner and accelerate with far more authority than their traditional image suggested. MotoAmerica’s King of the Baggers series gave that movement a national racing stage, with Harley-Davidson and Indian using full-dress American V-twin silhouettes in a form of racing that would have seemed unlikely a generation earlier.
The CVO Road Glide ST is not a street-legal race homologation special in the strict superbike sense. It is better understood as a factory production motorcycle shaped by the same cultural pressure that made race-prepared Road Glides relevant: less touring excess, more engine, more chassis intent, and a visual link to the blacked-out, high-stance performance-bagger vocabulary.
Engine and Drivetrain
The defining mechanical feature is the Milwaukee-Eight 121 High Output V-twin. Factory specification lists 121 cubic inches, or 1,982 cc, with 127 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque in launch-year U.S. trim. Those numbers place it above the regular CVO Road Glide’s touring-biased tune and explain why the ST attracted attention from riders already familiar with Screamin’ Eagle performance parts.
The Milwaukee-Eight architecture remains fundamentally Harley-Davidson: a 45-degree V-twin with pushrod valve actuation, four valves per cylinder, hydraulic lifters, a separate primary case, wet multi-plate clutch, six-speed gearbox and belt final drive. The High Output version was equipped with performance-oriented intake and engine tuning rather than the more relaxed emphasis typical of a full-luxury CVO touring model.
| Specification | Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide ST |
|---|---|
| Engine | Milwaukee-Eight 121 High Output |
| Configuration | 45-degree V-twin, pushrod valvetrain, four valves per cylinder |
| Displacement | 121 cu in / 1,982 cc |
| Bore x stroke | 4.075 in x 4.625 in |
| Compression ratio | 11.4:1 |
| Fuel system | Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection |
| Factory-rated horsepower | 127 hp at 4,900 rpm |
| Factory-rated torque | 145 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed Cruise Drive manual |
| Primary drive | Chain primary drive |
| Final drive | Belt |
The figures explain the motorcycle’s identity better than the paint does. Harley touring engines have always traded on low-speed authority, but the 121 High Output tune moved the conversation toward rev ceiling, breathing, and sustained fast-road acceleration. It is still a long-stroke American V-twin, not a short-stroke sport engine, so its character comes from torque density rather than high rpm theatrics.
Chassis, Suspension, and Braking
The Road Glide identity is inseparable from its fairing. Unlike the fork-mounted Batwing used on the Street Glide, the Road Glide’s shark-nose fairing is mounted to the frame, reducing steering mass and giving the motorcycle its distinctive long, broad, purposeful front aspect. On the CVO Road Glide ST that visual mass is paired with a solo seat, dark finishes and a performance-bagger stance.
The chassis remains a Harley touring platform, not a clean-sheet sport chassis, but the equipment package is aimed at better control of a heavy motorcycle ridden quickly. The inverted fork, dual rear shocks, modern braking package and electronic rider aids are central to the ST’s mechanical identity.
| Chassis / Equipment Area | Specification |
|---|---|
| Fairing type | Frame-mounted Road Glide shark-nose fairing |
| Front suspension | 47 mm inverted fork |
| Rear suspension | Dual rear shocks |
| Front tire | 130/60B19 |
| Rear tire | 180/55B18 |
| Front brakes | Dual disc brakes |
| Rear brake | Single disc brake |
| Electronics interface | 12.3-inch TFT display with Skyline OS |
| Factory running-order weight | 838 lb, launch-year U.S. specification |
That weight figure is worth reading honestly. The CVO Road Glide ST is lighter and more focused than a fully loaded luxury CVO tourer, but it is still an 800-plus-pound motorcycle ready to ride. Its performance comes from applying modern engine output, brakes, suspension and electronics to mass, not from eliminating mass altogether.
Riding Experience and Mechanical Character
The CVO Road Glide ST starts like a modern premium Harley rather than an old big twin with a ritual. The key fob, electronic systems check, TFT display and starter button replace the fuel-tap and enrichener choreography of earlier eras. Once running, the 121 High Output engine gives the familiar staggered Milwaukee-Eight cadence, but with a harder-edged intake presence and a more urgent response than a standard touring tune.
Throttle response is shaped by ride mode and electronic calibration, yet the underlying character remains mechanical and large-displacement. The engine does not need revs to feel serious; it gathers speed on torque, then keeps pulling in a way that makes earlier 103- and 110-cubic-inch touring engines feel noticeably softer. The clutch and six-speed gearbox are recognizably Harley touring in layout, with a broad engagement zone and deliberate shift action rather than light sportbike slickness.
The frame-mounted fairing is a major part of the experience. At highway speeds it gives the Road Glide its settled, locomotive-like front-end feel, while the inverted fork and modern tires give better precision than the touring Harleys many riders remember from the Twin Cam era. At parking-lot pace it remains a large touring motorcycle, and no amount of ST badging changes the need for respect when maneuvering on cambered pavement or gravel pull-offs.
Braking performance is far beyond that of older touring Harleys, but physics is still present. The rider is stopping a heavy motorcycle with saddlebags, a large fairing and a long wheelbase, so anticipation matters. The electronic rider aids are not decoration; on a machine with this torque output and mass, cornering-aware braking and traction-control functions are part of how Harley made the performance-bagger idea usable on the road.
Identification and Originality
The central identification point is the model code FLTRXSTSE. The FLTR prefix identifies a Road Glide-type touring platform, while the ST and SE elements separate it from a standard Road Glide ST and from the regular CVO Road Glide. Serious buyers should confirm the VIN, factory label, engine number, ECM information and build documentation through official Harley-Davidson channels rather than relying on bodywork, badges or paint alone.
Visually, a correct CVO Road Glide ST should present as a factory performance bagger rather than a dressed-up regular Road Glide. Key cues include the Road Glide frame-mounted fairing, solo-seat layout, CVO-specific paint and trim, the 121 High Output engine specification, performance-style intake hardware and the CVO electronics interface. Because Road Glides are among the most modified modern Harleys, bolt-on conversions can easily blur the visual line between a genuine FLTRXSTSE and a well-built custom.
Originality questions are different from those surrounding a Knucklehead, Panhead or early Strap Tank single, but they are still real. Factory paint, CVO-specific finishes, original exhaust hardware, emissions equipment, infotainment components, saddlebag equipment, seat, wheels, brake components and calibration status all matter. A low-mileage but heavily flashed, de-catted or cosmetically altered example may be less attractive to a collector than a carefully documented original motorcycle with all take-off parts retained.
Model Code and Variant Breakdown
The CVO Road Glide ST sits among several closely related Harley touring models that are often cross-shopped or confused. The table below focuses on the relevant factory identities rather than every color or market-specific equipment difference.
| Model / Code | Years | Engine / Displacement | Purpose | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVO Road Glide ST / FLTRXSTSE | 2024-2026 | Milwaukee-Eight 121 High Output / 1,982 cc | CVO performance bagger | Solo performance-bagger CVO specification with 121 High Output engine |
| CVO Road Glide / FLTRXSE | Related CVO Touring model | Milwaukee-Eight 121 CVO tune | Premium touring | More luxury-touring emphasis rather than ST performance-bagger specification |
| CVO Street Glide / FLHXSE | Related CVO Touring model | Milwaukee-Eight 121 CVO tune | Premium touring with Batwing fairing | Fork-mounted Batwing fairing instead of frame-mounted Road Glide fairing |
| Road Glide ST / FLTRXST | Preceding non-CVO ST context | Milwaukee-Eight 117 on earlier ST versions | Factory performance bagger below CVO level | Not a CVO model; lower displacement and different equipment specification |
The most meaningful distinction is between FLTRXSTSE and FLTRXSE. Both are CVO Road Glides, but they do not speak to the same buyer. One is a premium touring flagship; the other is the factory performance-bagger expression with a stronger emphasis on engine output, stance and rider focus.
Performance and Dimensional Specifications
Harley-Davidson factory literature provides engine output figures for the 121 High Output engine: 127 horsepower at 4,900 rpm and 145 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Factory launch-year U.S. specification lists running-order weight at 838 lb. Those are the most useful performance-adjacent figures because they come from manufacturer documentation rather than aftermarket testing.
Top speed, quarter-mile and 0-60 mph figures are not consistently published as factory data for this model. Independent tests may produce useful comparison numbers, but they vary with rider weight, wind, surface, calibration, tire condition and whether the motorcycle remains in emissions-compliant factory tune. For collector and identification purposes, factory engine specification, model code and original equipment matter more than magazine acceleration numbers.
Compared With Related Models
CVO Road Glide ST vs. CVO Road Glide
The CVO Road Glide ST is the more aggressive and stripped expression. The regular CVO Road Glide is closer to the traditional CVO touring brief, with more emphasis on premium long-distance equipment and luxury presentation. A buyer choosing between them is really choosing between CVO-as-grand-tourer and CVO-as-performance-bagger.
CVO Road Glide ST vs. CVO Street Glide
The Street Glide comparison turns on the fairing. The CVO Street Glide uses the fork-mounted Batwing layout, which gives a different steering feel and a different visual tradition. The CVO Road Glide ST uses the frame-mounted shark-nose fairing, prized by many high-mileage riders and performance-bagger builders for its steadier steering feel at speed.
CVO Road Glide ST vs. Earlier Road Glide ST
The earlier non-CVO Road Glide ST helped establish the factory ST idea, but it did not carry the same CVO exclusivity or 121 High Output engine specification. The FLTRXSTSE is the more collectible proposition because it combines the ST posture with CVO paint, equipment and the larger High Output engine. The earlier ST may be the more rational rider’s purchase; the CVO Road Glide ST is the sharper collector-and-performance statement.
Restoration and Ownership Notes
These motorcycles are not restoration projects in the traditional sense, but future collectability will depend heavily on documentation and originality. CVO paintwork, trim, electronics and model-specific components can be expensive to replace, and modern Harley infotainment and rider-aid systems should be treated as part of the motorcycle’s original specification rather than disposable accessories.
Engine work should be approached with the same seriousness as any large-displacement, high-output V-twin. Correct calibration, intake and exhaust compatibility, cooling-system condition, emissions equipment and dealer service history matter. A poorly tuned performance bagger can be impressive for a short test ride and expensive over a long ownership cycle.
Parts support is strong through Harley-Davidson’s dealer network and the large aftermarket, but that does not mean every part is equal. Genuine CVO bodywork, paint-matched components, electronic modules and model-specific trim should be documented carefully. Reproduction or custom pieces may be useful on a rider, but they reduce the certainty that collectors usually want from a limited CVO model.
Buyer and Restoration Inspection Points
A knowledgeable inspection should go beyond tire tread and service stamps. The CVO Road Glide ST is a high-value touring motorcycle with complex electronics and a performance engine, so provenance and configuration are central to its value.
| Area | What to Check | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Model identity | Confirm FLTRXSTSE documentation, VIN label, registration and dealer build record | Road Glides are frequently modified; paperwork separates a genuine CVO ST from a conversion |
| Engine specification | Verify 121 High Output configuration, intake equipment and service history | The engine is the model’s defining mechanical feature and a major value driver |
| Calibration and exhaust | Look for non-factory tuning devices, altered exhaust hardware or missing emissions components | Incorrect tuning can affect drivability, warranty status, legality and long-term engine health |
| CVO paint and trim | Inspect paint-matched panels, saddlebag lids, fairing, carbon-look or model-specific pieces and fasteners | CVO cosmetic parts are costly, and mismatched repairs are easy to spot on close inspection |
| Electronics | Check the TFT display, Skyline OS functions, ride modes, ABS and traction-control warning lights | Electronic faults can be more expensive than ordinary touring-bike wear items |
| Suspension and brakes | Inspect fork legs, shock condition, brake discs, pads, fluid age and ABS operation | The ST’s appeal depends on chassis control; neglected suspension or brakes undermines the model’s purpose |
| Crash evidence | Check bag mounts, fairing brackets, bar ends, floorboard mounts, exhaust, frame tabs and steering stops | A dropped touring Harley can hide expensive cosmetic and structural repairs |
| Original parts retained | Ask for stock exhaust, seat, intake pieces, manuals, keys, CVO accessories and take-off parts | Collectors usually reward reversibility and complete original equipment |
Collector and Market Relevance
The CVO Road Glide ST has several traits collectors tend to value: limited CVO positioning, a specific model code, a first-generation performance-bagger identity and the 121 High Output engine. It is also tied to a clearly identifiable moment in Harley-Davidson culture, when bagger performance moved from custom shops and racetracks into the factory showroom.
Rarity is more difficult to quantify because Harley-Davidson does not consistently publish exact CVO production numbers by color and market in a way that supports precise collector claims. As with other modern CVOs, value is likely to favor complete, original, well-documented examples with factory paint intact and tasteful mileage rather than heavily modified bikes with unknown tuning history.
Within the collector vocabulary, this is not a Knucklehead, Panhead or XR-style racing artifact. Its relevance is contemporary: it represents the moment when Harley’s premium touring line absorbed the performance-bagger movement and sold it as a factory product with warranty, electronics and CVO finish quality.
Cultural Relevance
The CVO Road Glide ST draws much of its cultural meaning from the performance-bagger scene. Club-style FXRs and Dynas had already shown how American V-twins could be reinterpreted as fast, functional road motorcycles, and the bagger world eventually applied similar thinking to full touring platforms. The result was a distinctive American performance category: big saddlebags, big fairing, big torque and a willingness to corner harder than tradition expected.
Harley-Davidson’s factory involvement in bagger racing gave the Road Glide silhouette a competition connection that would have been hard to imagine when touring Harleys were primarily associated with interstate mileage and police duty. The CVO Road Glide ST translates that visual and mechanical influence into a street motorcycle. It is not a race bike, but it is unmistakably informed by the same movement.
FAQs
What engine is in the 2024-2026 Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide ST?
It uses the Milwaukee-Eight 121 High Output V-twin, a 121-cubic-inch / 1,982 cc engine. Factory launch-year specification lists 127 hp at 4,900 rpm and 145 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm.
What is the model code for the CVO Road Glide ST?
The factory model code is FLTRXSTSE. Buyers should verify that code through the VIN record, factory documentation and dealer information rather than relying only on badges or bodywork.
How is the CVO Road Glide ST different from the regular CVO Road Glide?
The CVO Road Glide ST is the performance-bagger version, with the 121 High Output engine and a more aggressive solo-seat ST identity. The regular CVO Road Glide is closer to a premium luxury-touring model.
Is the CVO Road Glide ST a King of the Baggers race bike?
No. It is a street-legal CVO Touring motorcycle, not a race homologation machine. Its styling and market position are strongly influenced by the performance-bagger and King of the Baggers movement, but it remains a production touring motorcycle.
What should collectors check before buying one?
Confirm FLTRXSTSE identity, original CVO paint and trim, correct 121 High Output equipment, service history, calibration status, electronics function and whether original parts were retained after modifications. Documentation is especially important because Road Glides are commonly customized.
Are production numbers known?
Exact production numbers by year, color and market are not consistently documented in public factory sources. For collector purposes, condition, originality, documentation and factory-correct configuration are safer indicators than unsupported production claims.
Why is the CVO Road Glide ST considered collectible?
It combines CVO limited-production status with the first-generation factory performance-bagger formula and the Milwaukee-Eight 121 High Output engine. That makes it more historically specific than a standard touring model and more factory-correct than most custom performance baggers.
Collector Takeaway
The CVO Road Glide ST is important because it captures Harley-Davidson at the point where touring comfort, factory customization and bagger performance converged. It is not trying to be an old-school dresser, and it is not pretending to be a lightweight sport motorcycle. Its purpose is narrower and more interesting: a premium Road Glide built around torque, stance, electronics and the cultural pull of American V-twin bagger performance.
For the serious collector, the FLTRXSTSE is worth watching because it has a clear mechanical signature. The 121 High Output engine, CVO specification and Road Glide ST identity give it a sharper place in Harley history than many appearance-led limited editions. The best examples will be the ones that remain recognizably factory-built, properly documented and mechanically unconfused by careless tuning or cosmetic fashion.
