Harley-Davidson Road Glide CVO ST Turbo First Ride

What happens when you take Milwaukee’s absolute peak factory performance bagger—the stock Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide ST—and bolt a forced-induction system to its massive 121 cubic-inch engine? You get a heavyweight V-Twin land rocket that treats asphalt like a drag strip and leaves six-cylinder touring rigs looking like they’re chained to a fence post.

We got our hands on custom motorcycle builder 650ib’s personal turbocharged Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide ST, equipped with a custom TR Performance turbo kit. Naturally, the only sensible thing to do was roll out onto the open highways of the American Southwest, twist the throttle wide open, and see if forced induction is the missing ingredient every V-twin cruiser needs.

The Boosted Experience: 9 PSI of Pure Joy

Sliding into the deep bucket saddle, the first thing you notice is the aggressive stance. With your hands up in the air grabbing the tall handlebars and a wide fuel tank punching a massive hole in the slipstream, the CVO Road Glide ST commands respect before you even thumb the starter.

Once on the move, the standout surprise isn’t just the sheer grunt—it’s how remarkably civil this forced-induction bagger behaves. Cruising in top gear down the freeway at 3,500 RPM, the 121 HO engine purrs along smoothly. There’s virtually zero turbo lag. Pin the throttle on a freeway entrance ramp, and the boost gauge snaps straight to 9 lbs of manifold pressure. Even at idle, the turbine stays spooled up, ready to force-feed pressurized air into the cylinder heads at a moment’s notice.

During drag strip roll-on testing against a 2025 Honda Gold Wing Tour DCT, the turbocharged Harley didn’t just pull away—it completely walked away from the opposition.

Real-World Ergonomics and Chassis Dynamics

While the engine performance gets your adrenaline pumping, living with a boosted 800 lb bagger brings a few real-world nuances:

• Handling & Suspension: Up front and out back, the premium Fully Adjustable Öhlins suspension strikes a fantastic balance. It remains taut enough to deliver excellent feedback through corner apexes while soaking up sharp highway expansion joints.
• Low-RPM Caution: The boosted V-twin loves revs. Attempting to whack the throttle open below 2,500 RPM causes minor engine knocking. Keep the mill spinning over 2,500 RPM, and it acts like an absolute pussycat in bumper-to-bumper city traffic.
• Cockpit & Heat: The wide frame-mounted sharknose fairing with adjustable louvers provides a comfortable pocket of calm air for the rider. Just keep an eye on your inner right leg—that hot turbo exhaust header pipe runs close, especially after sustained high-boost highway pulls!

Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide ST Technical Specifications

(Note: Specifications reflect the base factory 2024–2025 CVO Road Glide ST prior to aftermarket turbocharger installation)