High style gets a dose of high tech Road King CVO: High tech and high style By Lance Oliver, photos by Riles and Nelson Fly-by-wire throttle linked to sequential port fuel injection? Probably some high-tech Japanese racer replica.

1. Harley Davidson Road King For Sale

Anti-lock brakes? Maybe a European sport-tourer. Actually, no. I'm talking about a Harley-Davidson Road King. Specifically, the 2008 FLHRSE4 Screamin' Eagle Road King, the latest version of this iconic model from Harley's Custom Vehicle Operations division. The other 2008 CVOs In addition to the Road King, Harley's Ultra Classic Electra Glide, Softail Springer and Dyna also get the CVO treatment again for the 2008 model year, just as they did in 2007. Here's the short version on the other CVOs.

Harley Davidson Road King For Sale

Like the Road King, the FLHTCUSE3 Ultra Classic Electra Glide (above) gets fly-by-wire throttle, ABS, and the larger six-gallon fuel tank. And, of course, it continues to lead the pack in comfort features, including the remote power lock system for the Tour Pak top case, now built into the barrel key, and the 40-watt stereo with XM satellite radio and nearly every other form of communications known to humankind. Base MSRP is $34,995. Shown above is the special 105th anniversary Crystal Copper and Black Onyx paint scheme that is available on all four 2008 CVO models for an additional $495. Production is limited to 4,200 units, including 1,800 105th anniversary models.

The FXSTSSE2 Softail Springer (above)gets a wider, 18-inch front tire for 2008, replacing the 21-incher. The Springer front suspension may say 'nostalgia,' but the new tire contributes to the most modern-feeling and sporty handling of any of the 2008 CVOs. Also unique to the CVO Springer is the 'Heavy Breather' air intake. MSRP is $24,995 (add $495 for anniversary models) and production is limited to 2,500, including 1,050 anniversary edition models.

Harley lowered the front end on the FXDSE2 Screamin' Eagle Dyna (above)for 2008, in addition to adding new chrome. Forward controls, inverted fork with chromed tubes and LED fuel gauge hidden in a flush-mount chrome 'gas cap' are other custom touches. MSRP is $24,995 (add $495 for anniversary models) and production is limited to 2,600, including 1,050 anniversary edition models. Each year since 1999, the CVO division has been turning out limited-edition models showcasing the Motor Company's Screamin' Eagle performance parts, items from its huge accessory catalog, and special paint jobs. For 2008, all four CVO models are powered by Harley's Twin Cam 110 engine, a 110-cubic-inch powerplant with different heads and cams and other Screamin' Eagle parts.

Bolt it all together and Harley says the 110 pumps out 115 foot-pounds of torque at 3,000 rpm (measured at the crankshaft). Low-end torque doesn't get much lower-end than this. Just 2,000 rpm on the tach gets you 80 percent of maximum torque. That Twin Cam 110 also gets a new finish for 2008, called 'granite and chrome.' The 'granite' portion is a special gray paint with actual stainless steel flake in it. But the really big news for 2008 isn't the Twin Cam 110.

It's the bits that make it go, and the parts that make the two touring CVO models stop. First, let's look at the throttle. Instead of throttle cables controlling the fuel injection, an electronic sensor now tells the injectors what your throttle hand is doing on both the Road King and the Ultra Classic Electra Glide CVOs.

At first glance, it may sound like added complication. Who needs fly-by-wire on a touring motorcycle? Actually, it reduces complication, Harley's CVO engineers note. Both the Road King and Ultra Classic come with electronic cruise control, which works more seamlessly with the electronic throttle control than it did with the old throttle cables. And, there's another advantage to electronic throttle control for a company known for styling. No cables means a cleaner look for the handlebar.

The electronic wires run inside the handlebar. The other big news is Harley's new ABS system, which is standard on the Road King and Ultra Classic CVOs and will be a $795 option on all regular Harley touring models and VRSC models for 2008. It's an all-new system for Harley, and some wet pavement during our one-day ride provided some opportunity to prove that it works.

The Harley system maintains separate operation of front and rear brakes. Steel braided lines run unobtrusively from both master cylinders to a controller unit located under the right side panel, then back to the brake rotors. If the wheel sensors detect lockup, the control unit pulses the brakes up to seven times per second to prevent the wheels from locking up.

As with the throttle, Harley paid a lot of attention to the styling, as well as the performance. You have to look carefully, and know where to look, to see any visual evidence of the ABS system. Not only are the additional brake lines well hidden, but Harley also put great effort into making the wheel sensors unnoticeable.

'It's totally invisible and that was an important part of the system,' said Harley Director of Product Communications Paul James. The sensors operate using magnetically encoded rings in the wheel bearings.

Harley showed us the parts to demonstrate how they work. The two metal rings look like thin spacers. I let them clamp together by magnetic force and turned one with my hand.

The two rings 'click' in steps as the magnetically encoded spots interact. That's what sends signals to the ABS control unit without the need for a big, external sensor that would detract from Harley's traditional styling. Looking at the wheel alone, there's no way to tell if the motorcycle has ABS or not. We had one day to try the new CVOs while visiting some of Harley's production facilities in the Milwaukee area.

In Wisconsin, most of the best backroads are the county roads designated with letters, not numbers, that meander through the countryside. Riding highways and local roads on our way to some of those letter roads, the additional power of the Twin Cam 110 is immediately apparent. Harley's charts show the torque curve staying above 100 foot-pounds until you're closing in on the rev limiter, and by then any normal rider will have notched up into the next gear and ridden that wave of low-end torque again. Once we reach the letter-road curves, I get a reminder that this is a touring bike. The soft suspension that soaked up the uneven joints on the highway is now a bit vague in the turns. But that's a fair tradeoff for a motorcycle equipped with bags and a windshield and a sixth gear just made for the highway.

Switching between the Road King and the Dyna and Springer CVO models really drives home the difference made by the Road King's new features. Suddenly, throttle cables feel about as modern a form of gaining velocity as spurring a horse.

The electronic throttle control on the Road King provides for a light but completely progressive throttle. The ABS brakes, which incorporate Brembo four-piston calipers front and rear, provide ample stopping power with a two-finger pull, unlike Harley brakes of the past that called for a full fist of effort. Another change for the Road King and Ultra Classic CVOs is a 'stabilizer system,' essentially the same kind of cush drive that's been used in the V-Rod, that damps the driveline pulses that aren't already eliminated by the compensator in the primary. The 45-degree V-twin's vibrations still make themselves obvious at idle, but once underway, the Road King provides a smoother ride than all but a handful of touring motorcycles. The CVO Road King offers a host of other features, including a leather saddle that incorporates an ostrich-hide pattern that's repeated in the leather covering of the hard-plastic saddlebags, a backrest for the passenger and a removable one for the rider, chrome wheels with wider tires, and other touches that separate the CVO from regular Harleys. But while ABS brakes and electronic throttle control and more power are all appreciated on the road, it's the paint job that will be the first thing to draw a crowd to a CVO model in the parking lot at your local bike night. The paint jobs on CVO models go way beyond some different colors, and the Road King is a good example.

Take a close look at the Twilight Blue and Candy Cobalt with Ghost Flame graphics (left). The powder-coated frame and Twilight Blue on the tank look almost black until the sunlight makes the color pop. The Cobalt Blue on the tank and fenders is a partially translucent color that lets you see the flames that are actually a pattern ground into the metal of the tank or fender underneath. Hand-drawn pinstriping separates the colors.

It's a level of detail that even many custom motorcycle builders couldn't replicate. And since the flame pattern is actually in the metal surface of the tank, no two Road Kings are exactly identical. Baby mozart 2004 uk. Harley strictly controls replacement parts, so if you don't buy a CVO, you can't get these unique painted pieces and add them to your regular Road King. From its signature massive chrome-covered headlight nacelle to its tombstone-shaped taillight, the CVO Road King provides all the style and attention to detail you'd expect for a limited-run model from a company known for its styling.

'There's a lot of blood, sweat and tears - and love - that goes into creating these motorcycles,' said Bill Davidson, director of motorcycle product development. 'The Styling Department loves CVO because they get to go beyond what we normally do.'

Of course there's a hefty price for the product of that blood, sweat, tears and love. You could buy a garageful of less exclusive motorcycles for price of an FLHRSE4 Road King. The entire run of CVO Road Kings for 2008 will account for less than 1 percent of Harley's production. If you can muster the cash and have the desire for a factory custom that also sports some of the latest high-tech features, then maybe you're Harley CVO's kind of one-percenter.

You are here: — — 2008 Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Models 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHRSE4 Screamin’ Eagle Road King Click photos to enlarge. They make great desktop images. 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHRSE4 Screamin’ Eagle Road King 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHRSE4 Screamin’ Eagle Road King 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHRSE4 Screamin’ Eagle Road King 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHRSE4 Screamin’ Eagle Road King – 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHRSE4 Screamin’ Eagle Road King 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHRSE4 Screamin’ Eagle Road King The Screamin’ Eagle Road King is born into royalty as a Harley-Davidson FLHR Road King, which now includes a six-gallon fuel tank and cruise control, primed for long-distance riding. In addition, the Screamin’ Eagle Road King has the new Harley-Davidson Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) as a standard feature.

ABS is designed to help you maintain control during emergency stopping situations, especially those that happen in less than ideal conditions, while the new Isolated Drive System enhances accelerating, cruising and shifting. The Harley-Davidson CVO program creates limited-production, exclusive motorcycles produced by teams of technicians in special assembly areas at the Harley-Davidson plants in York, Pa., and Kansas City.

Approximately 3,150 examples of the 2008 Screamin’ Eagle Road King including 1,800 serialized 105th Anniversary models, will be assembled at the York Vehicle Operations facility. The suggested U.S. Retail price for the 2008 Screamin’ Eagle Road King is $29,290 ($29,390 in California). The 105th Anniversary package adds $495. The Screamin’ Eagle Road King has the largest-displacement Harley-Davidson production engine, the 110-cubic inch (1800cc) Twin Cam 110, a high-performance V-Twin engine delivering 115 ft. Of torque at 3000 rpm. For 2008, the Twin Cam 110 displays a new Granite finish.

Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) is standard, along with a custom oil cooler with chrome cover, and chrome cross-over dual exhaust with four-inch touring mufflers and chrome billet end caps. The engine is joined to the 6-speed Cruise Drive transmission for lower cruising rpm in top gear. Among the enhancements to the Screamin’ Eagle Road King are a new electronic throttle control technology for adjustment-free riding, revised mirrors and a new riser cover with indicator lights. The new six-gallon Touring fuel tank, which provides outstanding fuel range, is combined with a new console, gasket and granite colored emblem with hammered finish. The custom leather seat, backrests and saddlebags receive a new design, while new trim chrome strips flow with the bike on the side covers. The chrome-and-rubber Ironside accessories collection includes hand grips, rider footboards, passenger pegs, Mustache engine guard pads, shift pegs and brake pedal pad. A tail lamp in the classic “tombstone” shape remains exclusive to the Screamin’ Eagle Road King.

Chrome, Road Winder Forged Aluminum wheels carry 130 mm front and 170mm rear, radial tires. Touring features include electronic cruise control, Mustache Engine Guard with rubber boot pads, an accessory power outlet, and a quick-detachable smoked windscreen. The Screamin’ Eagle Road King will be offered in three exclusive color combinations: 105th Anniversary Crystal Copper and Black Onyx (serialized models); Twilight Blue and Candy Cobalt with Ghost Flame graphics; and Black Diamond and Silver Dust with Ghost Flame graphics. Frame and swingarm colors are matched with each paint scheme.

The Harley-Davidson Smart Security System with Smart Siren, an indoor storage cover with CVO logo, and a commemorative CVO key in a presentation box are also included.