2016 Street Glide Special vs CVO...?

[paul65k]

My .02

It is hard to argue that if you tried to "Make an SGS into a CVO" it would cost more than buying it already done from the factory........but IMO that is somewhat of a fools approach as very few people would do EXACTLY what Harley did to the CVO to make it a "Their own".

What others are trying to say is just cuz the CVO has all those things if you really went down the list how many would you would actually pay extra for and how many are just "Cool"???

In my case I took a vivid black SGS, added the things that really work for me and got a bike which meets all my needs and is cool (the way I want it to be cool) and doesn't look exactly like 2500 other bikes. I think the CVO's are a great option for some and first time Harley riders may be just one of those groups but the current 103 HO with pipes and a tuner will set you back ~$1500 and will IMO give you all the power (and substantially more than previous Harleys) you would want while getting used to riding a heavy cruiser with thousands and thousands left over to add things that YOU think are cool.

If you really like it and get into riding it as many do then the next one will be the one you really know you need and then you can make an informed decision on whether the CVO is what you want or if you want to take 5-8K and make the stock bike your 1 or a kind (as opposed to 1 of 2500) your own.

Whichever way you go you will enjoy the ride.....Good luck!!

 

[ozbernie]

Chrome dont get you home! The SGS with some relatively cost effective engine modification and a good tune will have better hp and torque figures than a stock CVO. Personally I dislike bling so a CVO will never be a bike of choice for me but each to their own.

 

[ozbernie]

Also stock bikes regardless (CVO or SGS) run very lean from the factory to meet emmision standards. Regardless of what the sales person or dealership technicians tell you the life of the engine is reduced to meet these standards. My money is better spent getting the 103 motor improved to run at its most efficient and with longevity. Find a great dealer or indy that you trust to do the work and tuning. It will ride better, last longer and sound better than any stock bike with slip ons. Dont get caught up in the BS and hype of big hp and torque claims. A well sorted 103 is a great engine and will deliver the goods

 

[Dean]

If you have the time, go to the dealer, build out a Sgs with everything you think you might ever want. Keep in mind they have options for a painted tin set and everything you can imagine. Then once you have spent hours looking at how much it is to build it out they exact way you want it. The cvo is 37000. Then you can realistically judge the difference. Drive the cvo, then make a decision. Can't really go wrong. Building a cvo from a Sgs will be way more expensive than just buying the cvo.


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[shortguy]

Thanks...I wasn't thinking of throwing too many extras on it, though, except to try and make it more like a CVO...do you still think it would be better to start with an SGS, or should I just go for the CVO?

What made the difference when you were deciding between an SGS and a CVO, did it mostly come down to value?

I bought mine prior to the '15's coming out. The way I am, I can never leave anything alone. I like to have the unique touches. The CVO wheels are nice but there are better out there IMO. That goes for most of the other parts as well. Like said previously, do you want a unique, more one of a kind SG, or do you want an upgraded SG that Harley put together? As far as negotiating CVO price, it won't happen at my dealership either. If you are going to build the SGS as close to a CVO as possible, I would just get a CVO.

 

[pappabear]

CVO.. Hands down

 

[N2DEEP]

Here's my .02

For the price difference, buy the SGS. Have you some motor work done. And put on the custom touches to make the bike, your own bike.

CVO has too much chrome for my taste. To me, the CVO is the Old Mans/ Lazy Mans custom. They want a custom looking bike, but don't want to do all the work to make it a custom bike.

If your about nothing but power, buy the SGS with the 120st. It's still cheaper than the CVO

 

[farmboy]

Here's my .02

To me, the CVO is the Old Mans/ Lazy Mans custom. They want a custom looking bike, but don't want to do all the work to make it a custom bike.

Ouch!
Proof that a lazy old man can have a pretty trick SGS and a CVO

 

[scharrin]

Like other have said, save the money and for the price you can really make it your own bike. the 2015 Blue only came in the SG and no special, so since this was the bike I liked I decided I would just upgrade it. with the out the door price of 20,500 (I think) gave me plenty of extra to make it a "Special" in my mind. To each their own as that is the beauty of these bikes, they have an infinite ways to make yours like no others around. I have not seen one like mine yet..and I will continue to add to it....peace

 

[Mandrew]

Ouch!
Proof that a lazy old man can have a pretty trick SGS and a CVOView attachment 8897View attachment 8898

Haha. Nice.

 

[N2DEEP]

View attachment 8897

 

[N2DEEP]

View attachment 8897

Nice SGS love that color

 

[farmboy]

Nice SGS love that color

Thanks,

To address the thread, there's a lot of guys out there that enjoy working on their bikes and cars, always looking to make it better or different. They have the tools and know how and they go for it. ( I guess I fall into that camp ) I'm always shopping bikes and I can see a ton of bikes out there that are a few years old that are bone stock, maybe a set of slipons or highway pegs but nothing to custom. These guys just buy it and ride it, happy with what they have. But if your the guy that wants something a little custom and don't have the tools or know how the CVO can be a good choice. But if you look at the CVO and start making a list of what to change then you better not get that one. And yes you can start with a SG or SGS and make it your own for 5-10k and have a 1 off bike for less than the CVO. But when you decide to get rid of the bike you'll do better on the CVO than the custom SGS. It's hard to get back that custom work on resale or trade. Just my .02

 

[dwagent]

My .02

It is hard to argue that if you tried to "Make an SGS into a CVO" it would cost more than buying it already done from the factory........but IMO that is somewhat of a fools approach as very few people would do EXACTLY what Harley did to the CVO to make it a "Their own".

What others are trying to say is just cuz the CVO has all those things if you really went down the list how many would you would actually pay extra for and how many are just "Cool"???

In my case I took a vivid black SGS, added the things that really work for me and got a bike which meets all my needs and is cool (the way I want it to be cool) and doesn't look exactly like 2500 other bikes. I think the CVO's are a great option for some and first time Harley riders may be just one of those groups but the current 103 HO with pipes and a tuner will set you back ~$1500 and will IMO give you all the power (and substantially more than previous Harleys) you would want while getting used to riding a heavy cruiser with thousands and thousands left over to add things that YOU think are cool.

If you really like it and get into riding it as many do then the next one will be the one you really know you need and then you can make an informed decision on whether the CVO is what you want or if you want to take 5-8K and make the stock bike your 1 or a kind (as opposed to 1 of 2500) your own.

Whichever way you go you will enjoy the ride.....Good luck!!

Thanks--that's a good point...not everyone will want exactly what's in the CVO package, so even if it comes out to the same money, you'll have a more customized bike if you start with a SGS.

 

[dwagent]

Thanks,

To address the thread, there's a lot of guys out there that enjoy working on their bikes and cars, always looking to make it better or different. They have the tools and know how and they go for it. ( I guess I fall into that camp ) I'm always shopping bikes and I can see a ton of bikes out there that are a few years old that are bone stock, maybe a set of slipons or highway pegs but nothing to custom. These guys just buy it and ride it, happy with what they have. But if your the guy that wants something a little custom and don't have the tools or know how the CVO can be a good choice. But if you look at the CVO and start making a list of what to change then you better not get that one. And yes you can start with a SG or SGS and make it your own for 5-10k and have a 1 off bike for less than the CVO. But when you decide to get rid of the bike you'll do better on the CVO than the custom SGS. It's hard to get back that custom work on resale or trade. Just my .02

Thanks. That's the main thing I'm asking myself...how much customization do I want to do? (in my case, it would be pay the dealer to do, because I don't have the tools or the know-how). I *WOULD* like to add some things like heated seats and grips, but otherwise, I don't think I would mess with too much, so maybe it would be better to go with the CVO and have it all done already.

The point about resale value is interesting, too.

 

[dwagent]

I bought mine prior to the '15's coming out. The way I am, I can never leave anything alone. I like to have the unique touches. The CVO wheels are nice but there are better out there IMO. That goes for most of the other parts as well. Like said previously, do you want a unique, more one of a kind SG, or do you want an upgraded SG that Harley put together? As far as negotiating CVO price, it won't happen at my dealership either. If you are going to build the SGS as close to a CVO as possible, I would just get a CVO.

Hmm. I agree with you about the CVO parts...to be honest, I don't like their wheels (well, they're not bad, but I would pick out something else), and a lot of the chrome trim parts, too. But it's not bad, I would definitely still enjoy it, and it would be easier, and have higher resale later down the road, too...

Thanks for the advice, really appreciate it!

 

[dwagent]

Chrome dont get you home! The SGS with some relatively cost effective engine modification and a good tune will have better hp and torque figures than a stock CVO. Personally I dislike bling so a CVO will never be a bike of choice for me but each to their own.

LOL...true.

 

[dwagent]

If you have the time, go to the dealer, build out a Sgs with everything you think you might ever want. Keep in mind they have options for a painted tin set and everything you can imagine. Then once you have spent hours looking at how much it is to build it out they exact way you want it. The cvo is 37000. Then you can realistically judge the difference. Drive the cvo, then make a decision. Can't really go wrong. Building a cvo from a Sgs will be way more expensive than just buying the cvo.


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Yep. I have already started down this path, and I have already figured that out Going straight to the CVO definitely saves you money...but the more customization options that I see, the more tempting it becomes...but you could end up customizing forever.

 

[dwagent]

OK, so it sounds like everyone is saying that the CVO price is the CVO price...they don't play around with those.

But what about the SGS? If I want a stock 2016 SGS, what's good fair price? Obviously they need to make some money, but I don't want to get screwed, either.

Around me, 1 guy owns 5 dealers in the area, so shopping for a good deal is kind of a pain in the butt...any other suggestions? Are there better times to shop (I'm guessing now, in the middle of winter, should be good, right?) Does it matter if I go at the beginning of a month, end of a month...in state, out of state, etc...?

 

[Mandrew]

OK, so it sounds like everyone is saying that the CVO price is the CVO price...they don't play around with those.

But what about the SGS? If I want a stock 2016 SGS, what's good fair price? Obviously they need to make some money, but I don't want to get screwed, either.

Around me, 1 guy owns 5 dealers in the area, so shopping for a good deal is kind of a pain in the butt...any other suggestions? Are there better times to shop (I'm guessing now, in the middle of winter, should be good, right?) Does it matter if I go at the beginning of a month, end of a month...in state, out of state, etc...?

That one guy has people at each store trying to make that dealership the best.
CVO price haggling depends on the market you're in. While I'm not familiar with Chicago, there are dealerships who will negotiate a little on the price (or extra goodies.) Even if they don't negotiate, don't let them charge over MSRP. If you wait until the 2017s are rolling out, dealers tend to be more willing to give big deals on their 2016 inventory.
For example, two years ago (just as 2015s came out) I negotiated a deal for a 2014 road king cvo almost 3k under MSRP... I had to really work at it- they didn't just offer that up- and then I changed my mind..... Anyway- it is possible depending on time, location, and dealer inventory to negotiate a price under MSRP for a CVO.

Lastly, check out seedealercost.com. That gives you a great idea of your negotiating room. Obviously the dealer needs to make money, but you'll know if they are making 1k or 7k off of you.