2012 Harley-Davidson CVO Softail Convertible Review

CVOs are notably pricier than the standard models they’re derived from, but by comparison to many high-end, high-priced cruisers from independent shops with low-volume production, the CVOs offer some serious value. Attempting to build something close to a CVO one piece at a time would lead to a sum total cost well beyond a CVO’s MSRP.
And in terms of value, what revs most folks’ engines is getting more than what was bargained for, especially when the deal nets you something on the order of two-for-one. The $29,699 Harley-Davidson CVO Softail Convertible is just such a two-for-one deal.  Model-year 2012 is the third year for the Softail Convertible in the CVO lineup. When it first surfaced in 2010 we discovered how crafty and practical Harley could get.
With a few twists and turns of release knobs and latches this bike transforms from stripped-down stylin’ cruiser to destination-driven touring bike by way of its quick-release windshield, saddlebags and passenger pillion with backrest.
The Convertible’s quick-release components are so well integrated into the bike’s overall styling that when removed there’s almost no indication the bike was wearing saddlebags and a backrest only minutes prior. Even the passenger saddle removes lickity split by way of a simple knurled knob. All that’s left in the passenger seat’s absence is a set of stylish ribs, for lack of a better term, that keep the top of the rear fender from suffering abrasion by the underside of the passenger seat. These protective bumpers look like intentional design elements made to enhance the fender’s styling, and wouldn’t lead most unsuspecting observers to think they’re anything other than decorative.
This example of a detail ¬– how the bike looks with the pillion removed – speaks to what’s at the core of CVO motorcycles: ultimate attention to the little things, not just here or there, but in every aspect of the motorcycle with which a rider might interact.