Fire up the CVO, and its 110 engine kicks to life with a loud rumble and a smooth idle. The engine's counterbalanced internals help reduce 90 percent of primary vibrations, unlike the Dyna's intentionally vibe-tastic pulse that transmits through the seat and floorboards. The 110 cubic inch engine's peak torque occurs at 2,750 rpm, and acceleration is frisky enough off the line to feel that you don't have to rev excessively in order to extract entertaining performance from the mill. Thanks in part to its state of tune, considerable heat emanates from the engine when ambient temperatures rise.
Due to its low-slung geometry, the Softail Convertible has a maximum lean angles of 26 degrees on either side, a limitation which became apparent the moment I pulled out of the Calistoga, California hotel parking lot where the 2012 CVO product press launch was held: the Softail's floorboards scraped along the road as I banked it towards my intended path, reinforcing the concept that this bike isn't a canyon carver (particularly when compared to the CVO Road Glide Custom, which has a surprising knack for handling twisty stretches.)
Along Napa Valley's backroads, the Softail cruised with composure and its stereo offered decent sound from within the windscreen's canopy, which provides noticeably better wind protection compared to last year's model. The stereo is no match for mightier systems like the thundering 8-speaker setup found on the CVO Street Glide, but credit is due for its compact proportions and clever packaging.
After several hours in the saddle, I started wondering about whether or not this CVO was really intended for long distance rides; as it did on the Switchback, my tailbone started getting sore from a pressure point on the saddle, which seemed to stem from my 5 foot, 11 inch frame attempting to fit into a relatively small rider triangle (the relationship between the grips, saddle, and footpegs.) The bike cruised comfortably and handled big slabs-o-interstate with confidence and a nice, tall 6th gear that allowed the engine to hum along at low rpms. But the CVO's limited luggage space, high handlebars, and less-than-cushy saddle make it, at least for this reviewer, more of a cruising tourer, rather than a touring cruiser. For more on that distinction, read "The Bottom Line."
