Harley Announces New Models, Wild New Paint for 2023
New Harley models include CVO Road Glide, Breakout and Nightster.
The Harley Davidson Motor Company does love its anniversaries and usually tries to make a big, splashy announcement that involves the release of new models and bright, new colors.
This year is no different, and today HD started its year-long celebration of its 120th anniversary by showing off seven limited-edition anniversary models, including a wild CVO Road Glide and the return of the Breakout.
All the anniversary models have fancy paint, including what Harley calls “heirloom red,” but the CVO is especially something to behold.
‘Super Premium’
HD is modestly throwing out superlatives like “super-premium” and “very limited-edition” in describing its new CVO, saying it sports “one of the most intricate paint schemes ever offered by Harley Davidson.”
It sounds like they are describing a newly discovered Michelangelo painting: “Panels of Heirloom Red are applied over a base coat of Anniversary Black, each outlined with a bright red pinstripe and a hand-applied gold paint scallop,” says the news release. ” Subtle details added within the panels portray the head and wings of a soaring eagle. The gold-plated tank medallion depicts an Art Deco rendition of the eagle, an iconic Harley-Davidson design element.”
Lead stylist Brad Richards told Cycle World the anniversary black “looks black but if the sun hits it, there’s a blood red highlight.”
There’s more, but you get the idea. If all this gets you excited, you’ll have to fork over $52,000. That’s what the MSRP is. Only 1,500 will be made.
‘Refreshed’ Breakout
Breakout fans will be pumped due to the refreshed Breakout, which HD describes as a “performance cruiser model.”
Powered by the Milwaukee Eight 117 engine, the styling lines still harken back to the old long and lean chopper days. It now has a five-gallon gas tank with a low-profile, chrome console, a new handlebar riser and slightly higher handlebar.
Old-school loyalists will love the “dazzling chrome finish … applied to the rear fender supports, side covers, muffler shields, turn signals, mirrors and Heavy Breather intake.”
The new Breakout also features 26-spoke cast-aluminum wheels finished in gloss black with machined details.
‘Inspired’ by Early Harley Motorcycles
Six existing models get the limited-production, anniversary paint scheme treatment: the Ultra Limited, Tri Glide, Street Glide Special, Road Glide Special, Fat Boy 114 and Heritage Classic 114.
The new colors are inspired by early HD bikes, says Harley, and each models includes a “classic paneled paint scheme with gleaming Heirloom Red as the base color.”
That’s just the start: Panels get a bright-red pinstripe outline and filled in with a darker “Midnight Crimson fade.” Then there is the “Art Deco eagle tank medallion, seat covers with red side panels and gold embroidered Harley-Davidson logo, and red fade powertrain inserts.”
That’s Not All, Folks
The new Nightster was unveiled, which most people already knew about, along with a Road Glide 3 trike model and a blacked-out Freewheeler trike.
Other new details: cruise control will now be standard on the Fat Boy, Fat Bob, Breakout and Low Rider S models. It remains standard on the Low Rider ST, Heritage Classic and Sport Glide.
Harley Davidson CEO Jochen Zeitz says there is more to come later this year.
Photos: Harley Davidson
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