Raleigh Rider Questions Answered: A Breakdown of the 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST
If you’ve spent any time on two wheels around Raleigh lately, chances are you’ve caught a glimpse—or at least a deep, throaty soundbite—of the new 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST. It’s been generating buzz from bike nights to backroads, and for good reason. This machine doesn’t just roll down the street—it storms through with race-bred power, dialed-in handling, and a design that knows exactly what it’s doing.
But with all that noise—figuratively and literally—come a few questions from local riders. What’s this bike really about? How does it feel in the saddle? And does it handle Raleigh’s roads with grace or grunt?
To help you cut through the hype and get to the good stuff, we rounded up the most common questions riders in and around Raleigh have been asking. From Five Points to Falls Lake, here’s what you need to know about the 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST.
1. What makes the 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST so different from other Harley-Davidson® models?
At first glance, the 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST looks like the rest with a racing edge—but spend five minutes with it, and you'll realize it’s something else entirely. Inspired by the brand’s MotoAmerica® King of the Baggers™ race bikes, this machine was built with the track in mind but tuned for the real world. It’s leaner, sharper, and lighter than most of its touring cousins. You’re still getting that iconic Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® silhouette with the sharknose fairing, but now it’s paired with forged carbon fiber and a solo seat designed to hold you steady when the road gets twisty.
In the Raleigh scene, where a rider might split time between gliding through Glenwood South and pushing harder out toward country roads near Rolesville, this bike offers the kind of versatility that’s hard to come by. It’s aggressive, yes—but approachable once you’re in the saddle.
2. Is it comfortable enough for longer rides, or is it strictly built for speed?
You might expect a bike with this kind of performance focus to skimp on comfort, but Harley-Davidson® didn’t go that route. The 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST strikes a smart balance between rider support and handling feedback. The solo seat has a steep back that hugs you during hard launches and corner carving, while the fully adjustable SHOWA® suspension front and rear lets you fine-tune your setup for comfort or stiffness, depending on the ride ahead.
Cruising out of Raleigh toward the coast or riding a loop around Jordan Lake, this bike keeps your spine and shoulders relaxed, even when your heart rate’s up. It’s not plush like a traditional touring model, but it gives you everything you need to stay dialed-in without getting beat up by the road.
3. How does the Milwaukee-Eight® 121 High Output engine feel in everyday riding?
This engine doesn’t whisper. It rumbles, it responds, and it pulls like it’s always a little impatient to go faster. With 127 horsepower and 145 ft-lb of torque, the Milwaukee-Eight® 121 HO is the strongest production powerplant Harley-Davidson® has ever dropped into a bike—and it feels every bit the part.
On city streets like Hillsborough or Wake Forest Road, the engine’s responsiveness is noticeable. You’re not constantly working the throttle to get ahead of traffic. It gives you confidence. But open it up on the 540 bypass, and the engine’s second nature reveals itself. The power builds smoothly, and the high-performance camshaft and Heavy Breather Intake deliver not just a satisfying rumble, but a real sense of momentum that keeps climbing until you back off.
4. What kind of tech is packed into the 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST?
One of the most surprising parts of this bike—especially for traditionalists—is just how smart it is. Up front, you’re greeted by a 12.3-inch touchscreen running Harley-Davidson®’s new Skyline™ OS. It’s bright, intuitive, and handles everything from navigation to ride modes with a tap. Real-time weather and traffic overlays make this especially useful for riders in Raleigh, where a sunny morning can turn into a sudden thunderstorm without much warning.
It’s also got the Rockford Fosgate® Stage II audio system onboard, so your ride doesn’t lack for a soundtrack. But what really shines is the range of ride modes, including two new ones: Track and Track+. These are designed for aggressive, closed-course performance, but even standard modes like Road and Sport bring a noticeable change in throttle response and traction control.
5. Are all these ride modes actually useful in a city like Raleigh?
They are—maybe even more than you’d think. With eight ride modes in total, you’ve got a lot of control over how the bike responds in different situations. Rolling through downtown Raleigh traffic? The Road or Rain mode softens the power delivery and increases safety net features. Heading out for an afternoon on country backroads or tight twisties near Chapel Hill? Track mode sharpens the throttle, cuts traction intervention, and brings the bike alive in your hands.
Being able to switch modes on the fly means you can adapt mid-ride. Raleigh’s blend of urban sprawl and open two-lane stretches makes the 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST a practical companion that’s always ready to match the road ahead.
6. How does it handle corners and quick maneuvers?
Cornering is where this bike shows off. Thanks to its lighter weight, cast aluminum wheels, and those finely-tuned suspension components, it feels planted and poised through curves. Mini floorboards give your feet plenty of support without catching pavement during lean-ins, so you can ride more aggressively without worrying about scraping.
Through Raleigh’s tighter turns or while navigating traffic circles and parking lots, the bike manages to feel more nimble than it looks. The center of gravity is balanced in a way that makes it easy to control at both low and high speeds.
7. Is it a challenge to ride in city traffic?
Not at all—surprisingly so. The reduced weight, responsive throttle, and well-placed bars (thanks to tall risers and moto bars) all contribute to a feeling of control, not burden. The 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST doesn’t feel top-heavy or sluggish. It has a quickness to it that makes start-stop riding feel less like a chore and more like a game of precision.
The fact that it also comes with features like Vehicle Hold Control (great for uphill take-offs on uneven terrain), electronic linked braking, and a responsive traction system means the bike isn’t only fast—it’s also smart in how it handles unpredictable conditions. And Raleigh drivers can be... well, unpredictable.
8. How loud is the exhaust compared to other Harley-Davidson®?
It’s got a presence, for sure. Those titanium mufflers aren’t just there to trim weight—they help shape a rumble that’s deep, aggressive, and unmistakably Harley-Davidson®. But it’s not obnoxious. It’s refined in the way a muscle car might be: all bark when you want it, and a subtle rumble when you don’t.
Rolling through neighborhoods or cruising through the Warehouse District, you’ll turn heads—but it won’t feel over the top. And when you twist the throttle out of a stoplight, the rumble hits you right in the chest.
9. Is it safe to ride year-round in North Carolina’s changing weather?
Raleigh weather doesn’t always stick to the script, but this bike is built to roll with the punches. It’s equipped with a full suite of rider aids—including cornering-enhanced ABS, traction control, and drag-torque slip control. These systems kick in when they’re needed most, adjusting for lean angles and road surfaces in real time.
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is another unsung hero, keeping you informed before an issue becomes a problem. When the summer heat softens the pavement or a surprise winter drizzle hits the roads, it’s reassuring to know your bike has systems that can adjust faster than you can blink.
10. Where can I try one out around here?
If you’re even a little curious about what the 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST feels like in the real world, the best thing you can do is swing by Raging Bull Harley-Davidson® in Raleigh, NC. Their team knows this model inside and out and can walk you through its setup, features, and ride options.
The test ride is where this bike really clicks. Reading about a high-output engine is one thing. Twisting the throttle and feeling it launch down Atlantic Avenue? That’s an entirely different story.
The 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST isn’t about fitting into the traditional mold. It’s built for riders who like to push limits but still want control, confidence, and style in every mile. For folks in Raleigh who ride year-round, explore every backroad, and appreciate a bike with both bark and brains, this one’s worth a long look.
