By Punya Sharma
Back in June, Harley-Davidson took the wraps off the new CVO lineup. Both the CVO Road Glide and Street Glide underwent a massive overhaul, be it in the engine or feature department. But if you’ve taken one home, we have some bad news, as the Motor Company has issued a recall for the duo.
The Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide And Street Glide Recall
Affects Over 2,200 Motorcycles
The news comes via Harley-Davidson’s filing to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). It mentions the FLHXSE and FLTRXSE models–official names of the CVO Road Glide and Street Glide, respectively–suggesting the total number of potentially involved motorcycles is 2,212. 930 of these are Road Glides, while 1,282 are Street Glides. H-D thinks only one percent of these bikes suffer from the manufacturing defect.
What is the defect, you ask? Well, it’s with regard to the rear brake. According to the filing, the frame rail clamp might not hold the rear brake line (it connects the ABS module and the master cylinder) in place. This could cause the line to touch the exhaust, leading to oil leakage and a potential brake failure.
To quote Harley’s exact words, “On certain early production 2023 FLHXSE and FLTRXSE model motorcycles, a lower frame rail clamp may not adequately retain the rear brake line, which may allow the line to contact the exhaust. Contact between the brake line and the exhaust could, over time, lead to a hole in the brake line and a loss of rear brake fluid.” Also, the bikemaker says “rear braking may be compromised, increasing the risk of a crash.”
As part of the recall, Harley-Davidson will fix the issue free of cost. Existing owners will receive notifications between October 16 and 20, 2023, post which you can head to your nearest authorized H-D dealer to have the clamp replaced. In case you’re curious, the company has already whipped up a revised clamp, instead of putting on the same type. Future CVO models will come with this new clamp. You should also know the brake line in question comes from Spanish OEM company J. Juan, although the caliper is from Brembo.
The New Harley-Davidson CVO Range Starts At $42,999. The CVO Road Glide and Street Glide sell at $42,999 for the Dark Platinum shade and $48,999 for the Whiskey Neat option. Both employ H-D’s flagship Milwaukee Eight 121 engine that has 115 horsepower and 139 pound-feet. A six-speed transmission and variable valve timing ensure proper power delivery.
