Cost of cvo vs. add ons

[Suicide Smitty]

For a great 2009 Ultra classic for about 20K I am looking at the cvo at around 35K is that price justified??? I am wondering about the savings by just adding on bells & whistles to the basic Ultra......any thoughts???

[BigMike]

Hey Smitty.

There are more pros than cons to buying an SE bike. There is no way you can buy all of the stuff on a CVO bike plus the cost of an Ultra and come out ahead.

Plus, look at it this way. You buy a new Ultra, install all the SE stuff, and then for some reason you HAVE to sell your bike, it isn't worth as much as the CVO bike.

The thing I don't like about the CVO bikes are they are still cookie-cutter bikes from HD and are not unique. The 110 cu inch motors have a history of leaking cylinders that still isn't resolved.

I've spent a lot of time and money on my Road King. Retail, I have about $32k in it. My cost, around $27k. I will never go anywhere and pull up to a bike that is exactly like mine. It is a true custom. Would I do it again? Probably to a point but not as extreme as this bike. It took 5 years little by little to do my RK and I'm not done yet. Having a set of hard bags painted to match the bike this winter.

Good luck.

[rd2nw]

I was in the same spot you are in not too long ago. I was looking at a new Ultra to replace my King and wondering which way to go CVO or stock and make it mine, I was wanting the extra storage for with the tour pack for work of all things, even though I don't care for the pack all the time (I get paid mileage when I use my bike for work---pretty good duty in my opinion) anyway I looked and looked and finally found a perfect alternative. I found an '05 SE Glide detach tour pack 103" motor and with a few minor add ons larger throttle body, cams ect. I have a 101h 113t motor all for just UNDER 22,000. I'm happy and cuz it's a few years old I didn't shell out 40,000

[arealinvestor]

Originally Posted by Suicide Smitty

For a great 2009 Ultra classic for about 20K I am looking at the cvo at around 35K is that price justified??? I am wondering about the savings by just adding on bells & whistles to the basic Ultra......any thoughts???

CVO for 35,000 is not worth it JMHOP!!!! You could buy an 09 ultra for 20K & put 10,000-12,000 in it and have an 09 ultra with a 124ci or even a 131ci.With that kind of motor it will run circles around the CVO 110.I would buy the basic ultra just my .02!!!!!

[skyhook]

not familiar with touring models, but I love my screamin eagle dyna...was able to get 115hp/115tq on a stingy dyno by just changing heads, cams, exhaust, t/body, air cleaner, and tuner

and here's a list of the stuff I got that didn't come on the street bob my wife had: hydraulic clutch, bigger motor, ignition on the dash, better paint, better suspension, a lot of chrome, fancy wheels, tachometer, better seat, bigger fuel tank, exclusive upside-down front end, floating rotors, color-matched frame, a fancy book that I sold on ebay for $80, chin spoiler, forward controls, passenger pegs, granite colored motor/tranny, better tires...theres prolly a couple more I can't think of

my opinion is biased because I have the cvo, but I would do it again

[sblair]

To bring an Ultra up to a SEUC would cost about $10k over the price of the SEUC(without paint). It's up to you but The CVO's are worth it. Now you will still have to work on a stage 1 and race tuner but I got 13 more HP and 20 ft/lbs torque out of my 110 and it cost under $500.

[JCZ]

Originally Posted by BigMike

Hey Smitty.

There are more pros than cons to buying an SE bike. There is no way you can buy all of the stuff on a CVO bike plus the cost of an Ultra and come out ahead.

Plus, look at it this way. You buy a new Ultra, install all the SE stuff, and then for some reason you HAVE to sell your bike, it isn't worth as much as the CVO bike.

The thing I don't like about the CVO bikes are they are still cookie-cutter bikes from HD and are not unique. The 110 cu inch motors have a history of leaking cylinders that still isn't resolved.

I've spent a lot of time and money on my Road King. Retail, I have about $32k in it. My cost, around $27k. I will never go anywhere and pull up to a bike that is exactly like mine. It is a true custom. Would I do it again? Probably to a point but not as extreme as this bike. It took 5 years little by little to do my RK and I'm not done yet. Having a set of hard bags painted to match the bike this winter.

Good luck.

I have to agree with Big Mike and I no longer ride a custom.....I do ride a CVO. By the way, beautiful bike Big Mike!

CVO is a "factory custom". In other words, it's different from a standard model.....has a bigger motor, lot more chrome, a bit of a different paint scheme and colors, etc. but yet remains fully under warranty....every item on that bike is under warranty and extended warranty (if you believe in them) and can be worked on at any dealership. Where a custom is just that, a custom......where all the parts aren't HD and are not necessarily available at any dealership (if you are on the road and break down) and aren't under the factory warranty nor the extended warranty.

When I was building and riding customs, I didn't care about the warranty. Now that I'm older and am more interested in riding long distance across this country, I'm more concerned with warranty and availability of parts out in the middle of po-dunk America while still having somewhat of a more unique motorcycle that still turns a eye every time I pull into a gas station and..........is fast.

So.........it depends on what you want on the back end. There's alot that can be said for a custom that somebody put together or for a CVO that somebody bought off the floor.

[planenut]

if you take a ultra for 22k plus and start to add some of the items that are on a cvo you will be at 25k plus and still don't have a great paint job and a bike with all of the ugly chrome off and all the good stuff on

but remember that your allways 2000$ away from being done

my .02c

i have the cuse4 silver and blue

was in that position in the fall and took along look at both,rest is history

jon

[FLSTFI Dave]

In my opinion the CVO is worth it.

I am getting a CVO road glide at the end of Feb. It is 10K more than the regular RG. However to go to a bigger motor, 18 inch rims, and all the other stuff would cost much more than 10K

Plus at the end of the day, the bike you build still gets resale value based on the original bike, and the CVO will have a higher resale.

I could never begin to get the money I put into my fatboy back out of it.

[PR3VS56]

Originally Posted by FLSTFI Dave

In my opinion the CVO is worth it.

I am getting a CVO road glide at the end of Feb. It is 10K more than the regular RG. However to go to a bigger motor, 18 inch rims, and all the other stuff would cost much more than 10K

I paid $21,500 otd (7.75% sales tax on a CA bike) with ABS, chrome lowers, and floating rotors. Without the chrome lowers, I'd be otd at $20,300.

In CA, a stock CVO RG would be about $35,500 otd if you're lucky enough to find one at MSRP & you don't take any extras (like extended warranty which you'll want due to the 110's problems).

Apples to apples comparison, let's call it $15,000 difference -- most of which is for looks. Granted it's a darn good looking machine, but I decided I'd rather spend the extra $15,000 (if that) on my own creation.

Plus, I wasn't thrilled with the paint schemes. To my taste the titanium was the best, and I still wasn't crazy about it (especially the front fender).

Don't mean to diss your bike (you could still change your mind like I did), just saying how my thought process went.

The main thing that attracted me to the CVO was the headlight bezel ----- the first extra I purchased @ $35 delivered from Zanotti's.

And, I like black.

(bone stock + chrome lowers)


(with CVO headlight bezel)

[PR3VS56]

Another consideration for me, some of the more expensive extra items I would spend money on would be the same for either bike:

2nd windshield (Clearview)
seat (Corbin)
handlebars (Paul Yaffe)

By the time I was done with the CVO (extended warranty + the above items) it would be closer to $40,000, and I just couldn't do that.

[arealinvestor]

Originally Posted by PR3VS56

I paid $21,500 otd (7.75% sales tax on a CA bike) with ABS, chrome lowers, and floating rotors. Without the chrome lowers, I'd be otd at $20,300.

In CA, a stock CVO RG would be about $35,500 otd if you're lucky enough to find one at MSRP & you don't take any extras (like extended warranty which you'll want due to the 110's problems).

Apples to apples comparison, let's call it $15,000 difference -- most of which is for looks. Granted it's a darn good looking machine, but I decided I'd rather spend the extra $15,000 (if that) on my own creation.

Plus, I wasn't thrilled with the paint schemes. To my taste the titanium was the best, and I still wasn't crazy about it (especially the front fender).

Don't mean to diss your bike (you could still change your mind like I did), just saying how my thought process went.

The main thing that attracted me to the CVO was the headlight bezel ----- the first extra I purchased @ $35 delivered from Zanotti's.

And, I like black.

(bone stock + chrome lowers)


(with CVO headlight bezel)

I agree,take the extra money & make the bike your own!!!!

[Deuce Bigelow]

is MSRP $35,000.00 on a CVO road glide in CA????
I can't see how, CA emissions is only $200.00 extra.......

MSRP is a little over $30k here...(and more than likely it's the same everywhere)
and MSRP on a stock '09 road glide is a little over $18,000.00 here..

now add:

110 engine kit
antiLock brakes (option)
chrome extras (mirriors, grips, footboards, etc)
chrome wheels
new 18" tires
Hydraulic clutch (not available in HD catalog)
Chrome brake master cyl
braided cables
paint

plus more stuff that I haven't mentioned..


all the accessories add up real quick.
so "if" you were eventually going to add those parts to a stock bike, you're saving money buying the CVO.

if you didn't care about any of those accessories, then you weren't compairing apples to apples here...........

[PR3VS56]

Originally Posted by Deuce Bigelow

is MSRP $35,000.00 on a CVO road glide in CA????
I can't see how, CA emissions is only $200.00 extra.......

A bone stock MSRP CVO RG is $35,500 otd (out the door) in CA.

Originally Posted by Deuce Bigelow

MSRP is a little over $30k here...(and more than likely it's the same everywhere)

MSRP is $31,999 in CA.

Originally Posted by Deuce Bigelow

and MSRP on a stock '09 road glide is a little over $18,000.00 here..

now add:

110 engine kit don't want it
antiLock brakes (option) got it
chrome extras (mirriors, grips, footboards, etc) doing my own
chrome wheels don't want it

new 18" tires don't want it

Hydraulic clutch (not available in HD catalog) don't want it

Chrome brake master cyl want it
braided cables don't want it
paint I like mine better

To a stock CVO RG I would add a 2nd windshield, different bars, different seat, different mufflers, and an extended warranty for the 110 engine.

Originally Posted by Deuce Bigelow

plus more stuff that I haven't mentioned..

Like the rear sheet metal. Now I really like the look of the CVO back end. At the end of the day, that look still wasn't worth $10-15,000.00 extra to me.

Originally Posted by Deuce Bigelow

all the accessories add up real quick.
so "if" you were eventually going to add those parts to a stock bike, you're saving money buying the CVO.

if you didn't care about any of those accessories, then you weren't compairing apples to apples here...........

You're right. It's cheaper to go CVO if you want to pay for everything that's on a CVO.

For me, it came down to 3-4 things:

1. I wanted to have the fun of decking out my own bike that didn't look like anyone else's.

2. After adding a tall windshield, nice seat, better bars, different mufflers, extended warranty for the 110, and most likely a tune to get the most out of the de-tuned by the EPA 110, I was looking at nearly $40,000. That's a LOT of money, and I didn't want to finance the thing.

3. I wasn't crazy about the paint.

4. Something about pulling up on a CVO that just didn't appeal to me.

Again, not dis'n your ride. They're a darn good looking ride if you can justify the cost. I couldn't.

[JCZ]

Originally Posted by Deuce Bigelow

is MSRP $35,000.00 on a CVO road glide in CA????
I can't see how, CA emissions is only $200.00 extra.......

MSRP is a little over $30k here...(and more than likely it's the same everywhere)
and MSRP on a stock '09 road glide is a little over $18,000.00 here..

now add:

110 engine kit
antiLock brakes (option)
chrome extras (mirriors, grips, footboards, etc)
chrome wheels
new 18" tires
Hydraulic clutch (not available in HD catalog)
Chrome brake master cyl
braided cables
paint

plus more stuff that I haven't mentioned..


all the accessories add up real quick.
so "if" you were eventually going to add those parts to a stock bike, you're saving money buying the CVO.

if you didn't care about any of those accessories, then you weren't compairing apples to apples here...........

MSRP is the same........all across the nation. PR3V lives in Calif. where many of the dealerships still have premiums and various dealer prep fees, etc.

I was at a dealership in Morgan Hill this past Sat. and they want $1200 dealer prep......yet if you do your shopping there are dealers that will throw that in.

You get the best deal depending on how much home work you want to put into your shopping and searching. With the net, it's a lot easier than it was fifteen years ago.

By the way, on the CVO owners forum one of the guys actually took the time to price out a stock Ultra Classic and then add on all the chrome goodies that come on the CVO, added something like $500 for the paint job (you'll never get a custom paint job for $500) and it was way cheaper to go with the CVO.