I will add here the '17 CVO has TPMS. If the rear gets below 40 it will throw a warning that won't go away unit you start the bike with the rear avove 42.

 

Update: I’ve ridden a thousand miles or so since I last posted. Essentially the Commander III’s are the opposite of my experience with Dunlops. After a few thousand miles Dunlops cup off-center and “sing” in the corners. The C3’s sing in a straight line with a small amount of vibration. Both sound and vibration disappear with the slightest lean.

 

I have no input for your situation but enjoyed your photos. Last year and this year both we did a similar trip from Indiana. Saw Paul and Babe both times, went through Glacier (maybe the most beautiful spot in the country), Lolo, Yellowstone, Beartooth/Cheif Joseph, the list goes on. We rode 7,500 miles in 16 days back in July and it was amazing.

Great seeing other CVO owners actually riding. We get a bad rap for just buying them as trophies.

 

You are in a very small club, my friend. Riders that clock 30k to 40k miles every year! And you do it without being retired!

 

I never thought of purchasing a CVO until YouTuber Professional Monkey pointed out that: "You can buy a standard Touring model and throw $10,000 in P&A at it and you still have a standard Touring model... or... you can buy a CVO." I found that to be a compelling argument. I have not looked at the P&A catalog once since I bought my CVO. I take care of everything I own, but the truth is I probably do take special care of the CVO. It just looks so good when it is clean and shiny but I don't let that stop me from putting miles on it and getting it dirty. I also commute to work on it even though I have an EV commuter car that costs me far less.

In a typical year I try to do a one-week ride the weeks of Memorial Day and Labor Day, and then a two-week ride the week of July 4th. I had work obligations the week of Memorial Day this year so I took three weeks around July 4th. We are in the middle of a minor kitchen remodel and used Labor Day weekend to spend with my granddaughter. It's shaping up to be an atypical riding season for me. Nonetheless, the CVO has 15,000 miles on it in the 14 months I've owned it which is what I plan for with our long winters. If I can fit 12,000 miles per year into five riding months - a touring bike is worth having. I am not an Iron Butt rider although I have some degree of admiration for many of them. A 4-500 mile day is what I enjoy. I only do 6-700 mile days when necessary.

I find that how I look back on a particular ride is a strong function of the expectations I took into it. For example, Beartooth Highway and Chief Joseph are fantastic rides... but I expected them to be. I had no expectations headed into the Cloud Peak Skyway and was blown away. Frankly, I was a little disappointed in the Columbia River Gorge. US50 across Nevada was so epic I hope to ride US6 across NV next year. I also find the weather impacts my impression of any given ride. A sunny day with blue skies and fair temperatures is the only fair measuring stick. My current mindset is suited to deserts and I'm hoping to ride across northern NM and AZ next year on my annual ride to UT. I still have several rides on my bucket list in UT.

I am originally from Indianapolis and was just in your fair city last week. I get down there a few times per year for work. I consider Bloomington to be the nicest city in Indiana. And the riding in southern Indiana is fantastic. You can find more of my riding photos and story by Googling "ADVRider Another Rookie Went to Alaska". Thanks for commenting. I always enjoying hearing from a fellow Hoosier.

 

The standard Touring bikes, and even the Spacial ones tend to be started kits for most people. Even most of the CVO's I've seen have had a fair amount of customization from the wheels, exhaust and cam upgrades etc.

Paul

 

I'm not a flashy person to be honest. My CVO is the first vehicle I've ever purchased new. As much as we ride I decided to splurge a little bit. My other vehicle is a 2017 Ford Escape with a salvaged title and hail damage. So yeah...I usually don't spend much on vehicles.

Very cool about being from Indiana. I grew up in Brown County but love living in Bloomington. I have an account on ADV rider so I'll check that out. If you have Facebook, check out "The Hoosier Cruiser". That's my blog page.

 

Same here. Nothing flashy. I don't care about new rims, fishtail exhausts, or bling. Functionality, comfort, and reliability are my objectives. My 114M8 is stock all the way to the ends of the exhaust pipes. No cams. No tune. I spend that money on gas and hotel rooms. I don't need nor want more power. I only need longer vacation periods that allow me to get further away from home and stay for as long as I want to be on the road.

I did not buy my CVO new. It was five years old with less than 5,000 miles on the odometer when I bought it. The original owner was over 80 years old and owned a CVO Street Glide as his primary bike. I am curious what HD does for a new CVO Limited for 2024. The USD forks and minus 40 pounds in the fairing would be nice. I doubt that I have the stomach for what they will price it at. At some point, a CVO is a CVO. If I was going to throw any money at my CVO it would be upgraded suspension.

I've been to Brown County many times. Scenic place. I rode my 2017 Road King to Indiana a few times while I owned it. The CVO hasn't been to Indiana yet but it will get there eventually.

I grew up in Avon, west of Indianapolis, long before it became what it is today. I tend to make it back 3-5 times per year while my mom and brother are still there. I think I've been back four times for work this year and will likely be there again in October.

I added you to my FB feed and will check out your past postings.

This is my favorite CVO picture from a ride last September through the Sandhills Scenic Byway in Nebraska on my way to Colorado. I call it "a picture of my retirement house".

 

Great photo! Oddly enough, I've ridden the entire lower 48 on my 2020 except for Nebraska. How I've dodged it being right there in the middle of the country, I don't know. Maybe your pic is a sign to head that way 😎

I absolutely loved growing up in Brown County and we have lots of great friends in the Plainfield area. Most of them were in our wedding. If you search for Scott Matlock on Facebook feel free to add me (standing in a field with my wife as profile photo). I'd love to cross paths with ya when you're back this way!