Harley-Davidson has launched the 2026 CVO Road Glide ST and CVO Street Glide ST, using its Dirt-Road-Track event at Sydney Motorsport Park to showcase what can best be described as their hero bikes.
We first got our bum on the seat of the CVO Road Glide ST back in 2024 and were lucky enough to get up close and person with the big bagger for a few weeks. At that time, we declared it the best bike Harley-Davidson had ever built, which is no small statement.
When news broke that a CVO Street Glide ST would be joining the ranks for 2026, it was like all our Christmas’s had come at once. That’s how we found ourselves at the DRT event, with the opportunity to ride both in anger around the Grand Prix Circuit.
Sometimes the Gods can be cruel though; with the heavens opening on our way to Sydney Motorsport Park. A little wet weather wasn’t going to get in the way of a good time though and our spirits were lifted as the rain cleared, and things started to dry.
After a quick presentation on the new models, it was time for our date with destiny, and I would find myself jumping on board a CVO Street Glide ST. It was time to live out my King of the Baggers fantasy, even if we had been warned not to drop it.
The first two to three laps were taken with caution, trying to find a nice dry line before attempting to twist the throttle and unleash all of that torquey goodness on offer from the big powertrain.
The soul of the ST is a high output (non VVT) variant of the Milwaukee Eight, paired with a high-performance camshaft, race-inspired air intake and elevated 5,900rpm redline. There are selectable ride modes including, for the first time, Track and Track Plus.
Each affects characteristics like power delivery, engine braking, cornering ABS (C-ABS), and cornering traction control system (C-TCS) settings. For the record, this magnificent bastard of an engine produces 94kW and an earth shattering 193Nm.
It’s exciting in the dry, less so when you add water (and yes, I was almost that guy who had a mischief). Exiting turn one and a little touch of extra throttle had me drifting sideways and struggling for grip. It was fun, in a unique kind of way.
Once the track had dried, you immediately notice that cornering is a different experience on both CVO’s, compared to a sports bike. The key to everything, on a motorcycle tipping the scales at 380kg, is a smooth throttle.
If you are too snatchy, it wants to spin and slide the back wheel from under you, which means you have to ensure you wear dark underwear and have balls of steel. Picking a nice line into the corner to hit the apex is also of the upmost importance.
That’s especially so if you want to hurry the big Harley-Davidson CVO through a bend. Baggers can only lean over so far, which means committing to the right line goes hand in hand with throttle control.
Both the CVO Street Glide ST and Road Glide ST run identical running gear. The front suspension features a 47mm inverted 1×1 fork with adjustable preload, compression and rebound damping.
The true beauty of this setup is the ease with which the bike changes direction, especially when pushing hard. It holds its line beautifully through a corner as you feed the throttle. On the rear is emulsion suspension.
It comes with adjustable preload, compression and rebound damping, again ensuring the bike tracks true, with no wallowing. It’s a massive improvement over the standard models, although heading through Turn 1 at over 160km/h, the bike does move a little at the rear.
Braking is handled with dual Brembo M4.32 four-piston radially mounted calipers and 320mm wave rotors fitted to the front, and providing really nice feel. The rear features a single axially-mounted four-piston Brembo caliper with a 300mm rotor.
Anything unnecessary, such as pillion seats and pillion foot pegs, have been removed from the CVO ST models, resulting in an 11.3kg weight reduction over the standard offerings. Assisting this is a healthy serving of forged carbon componentry.
The most notable difference between the two models is the front fairing and how it is mounted to the motorcycle. The Road Glide is mounted to the frame, while the Street Glide is mounted to the forks, which affects the front-end handling characteristics.
Handlebar selection and positioning is also different, with both bikes utilising what we’d describe as the perfect match for their style. Tracking these two models around a race track is a Harley-Davidson fan’s dream.
Both bikes are truly special and although they will not be every potential buyer’s cup of tea, there’s plenty to love. As for which one we’d choose, while the 2026 CVO Street Glide ST is very good, the CVO Road Glide ST remains the best bike the American brand has ever built.
The 2026 CVO Street Glide ST is available in two colours; Electric Coast and Inferno Grey, while the CVO Road Glide ST comes in Electric Coast, Inferno Grey and Citrus Heat. Both bikes start from $64,750 ride away.
To find out more, check out the Harley-Davidson website, or talk to your local dealership.
Our test bike was provided by Harley-Davidson Australia as part of its Dirt-Road-Track media event, for independent review purposes. Images courtesy of Incite Images.
