Three 2020 Harley-Davidsons For Three Different Roads

[Hugh Janus]

Daytona Bike Week 2020 was the setting for testing three new Harley-Davidson models. (Robert Martin/)

At Bike Week 2020 held in Daytona Beach, Florida, Harley-Davidson introduced three new 2020 motorcycle models, from the stripped-down Softail Standard, to the burly full-featured Fat Boy 30th Anniversary, up to the CVO Road Glide, each bike is for a different use by different riders and each available at widely differing prices. As you might guess, this introduction took place in a room with not one but a few elephants, one of which was about to break into a stampede. But let’s stick to the motorcycles here.

2020 Harley-Davidson Softail Standard, $13,599

The 2020 Harley-Davidson Softail Standard is a lean, price-point bike based on the essentials of the Softail chassis, providing a ready-to-ride platform for personalization. It is powered by the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine that’s blacked out and accented with polished aluminum rocker, timer, and primary covers. It features an LED headlight, a discreet, scrollable, digital gauge on the handlebar mount that provides a surprising amount of information, and the bike is available in the classically preferred Harley-Davidson color: Vivid Black.

Built only in black, the 2020 Softail Standard is ready for customization. (Brian J. Nelson/)

Because the Softail Standard is built to be built by owners, the Harley accessories catalog provides a wide selection of customizing options, starting with four packages designed around different themes: Day Tripper for a scaled up bobber style; Coastal for a West Coast style; Touring for the long road; and Performance for a more aggressive throttle response and improved midrange.

The Day Tripper ($1,049.95) leans toward a classic bobber style. It’s a social package with a passenger seat and a 21-inch, detachable sissy bar with a pad, passenger footpegs, forward foot controls to replace the mid-controls, and a 450ci black leather single-sided swingarm bag.

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The Coastal kit ($1,599.95) is for a West Coast performance look, featuring a Softail quarter fairing, black-anodized aluminum Moto Bar handlebar with a matching 5.5-inch-tall riser, Bevel two-up seat and passenger footpegs, plus BMX-style rider footpegs for the rider from the 80GRIT Collection.

The Touring package ($1,699.95) includes the Sundowner two-up seat and passenger footpegs, a 14-inch-high light-smoke quick-release windscreen, black Detachables saddlebags, and a 14.5-inch detachable sissy bar and backrest pad for your riding partner.

The 2020 Harley-Davidson Softail Standard is powered by the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine. (Brian J. Nelson/)

Lastly, the Performance package ($1,299.95) upgrades the throttle response and midrange acceleration with a Screamin’ Eagle Stage II Torque kit and a Screamin’ Eagle Pro Street Tuner for proper mapping. This kit features a free-flow Screamin’ Eagle Heavy Breather Performance Air Cleaner and Screamin’ Eagle Street Cannon mufflers. Ba-boom. This kit is a 50-state street-legal, factory-engineered performance upgrade that retains the OEM warranty when installed by an authorized Harley-Davidson dealer.

The Softail Standard suspension was, as you likely know, new for 2018 and it features a single shock with spanner-adjustable preload. More about this is below in the Fat Boy review, as they share the same chassis and suspension basics.

A mono seat is just one of the stripped-down features of the 2020 H-D Softail Standard. (Brian J. Nelson/)

The geometry of the Softail Standard features long rake, lots of trail, and a 19-inch front wheel, for a classic aesthetic. The mono seat adds to the bike’s look as does the subtle ridge down the center of the 3.5-gallon fuel tank, complemented by the stripped-down no-gauge look.

2020 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 30th Anniversary, $21,949

Building on the 2018 redesigned Softail chassis, the limited-edition Fat Boy 30th Anniversary is bold, brawny, and black all over. The production is limited to 2,500 units and its black-on-black finishes include not just the frame, body parts, seat, and tires but also the engine, air intake, exhaust system, fork legs, triple clamps, handlebars, wheels, gauge mount, and fasteners. Machined highlights on the wheels and bronze highlights on the engine help riders have a hint of where their bike is after the sun sets. An added touch is the unique logo with a five-point star on each side of the fuel tank, picking up the bronze on the engine’s heads.

Black on black: the 2020 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 30th Anniversary. (Brian J. Nelson/)

The satin blacked-out aluminum wheels are Lakester solid discs, doubly adding to the hefty look of this onyx machine. Of course, it being a Fat Boy, the front end also features a fat tire for a further look of boldly bigness. Is there any chrome at all? Nope. An LED headlight illuminates the way and an LED taillight shines back at where you’ve been.

A Milwaukee-Eight 114 fit with dual pipes powers the Fat Bob 30th Anniversary. (Brian J. Nelson/)

The Fat Boy 30th Anniversary’s engine is the beefy Milwaukee-Eight 114, featuring a claimed 119 pound-feet of torque at 3,000 rpm, exhaling out through 2-into-2 pipes for a meaty look and sound of H-D power. Rear suspension is handled by a single shock with hydraulic-adjustable preload.

Riding The 2020 Softail Standard And Fat Boy 30th Anniversary

Reviewing any Harley-Davidson is more difficult than reviewing any other brand of motorcycle because most of its models tend to be exactly what they’re supposed to be, which is something that no other brand of bike can be: a Harley-Davidson. Today’s new liquid-cooled, wider V-twins, and the electric LiveWire finally complicate that issue. But for these 45-degree, V-twin-powered machines, Harley’s heritage of sight, sound, and feel is all there. Everything works on both of these motorcycles and the clichéd ancient complaints are invalid. With balancers and the means by which engines are mounted even vibrations are of no concern.

The 2020 Softail Standard is just what is meant to be: a solid and simple platform. (Brian J. Nelson/)

The Softail Standard has a slight bit of fall-in on slow maneuvers due to the tall front wheel and the trail, which is a feel that’s not present on the Fat Boy 30th Anniversary with its 18-inch wheels at both ends. Nonetheless, both bikes feel firmly planted, albeit the Fat Boy feels a bit more so with its hefty, solid feel. Neither of these bikes are heavy steerers; they’re both just plenty stable despite having far-differing trail numbers with the Softail Standard’s trail at 6.2 inches and the Fat Boy 30th Anniversary’s at 4.1 inches. That’s quite a big difference.

The new Softail chassis has a single shock mounted high in the frame under the seat and it compresses when the chassis is in a downward motion, as per what we consider “normal” for shocks. It is also worth noting that the shock is attached to the swingarm without any additional linkage, which is why it has such a high-weight spring, and the frames and swingarms do differ today from each other due to the Fat Boy’s wider rear wheel, though both have 30-degree steering heads. Lastly, the reengineering of the chassis has allowed for a considerable loss of weight without compromise to strength.

Stable and planted, the 2020 Fat Bike 30th Anniversary has a slightly heavier feel than it’s Softail Standard sibling. (Brian J. Nelson /)

This refined chassis is a grand improvement over the original Softail chassis. It is maybe unfortunate that Harley-Davidson carried forward the Softail name of it because this version is a champion compared to its predecessor. But it does look, by intent, like a Softail, so what could H-D do? On the Softail Standard the seat has to be removed to change the preload with a spanner, but on the Fat Boy 30th Anniversary a handy knob for the hydraulic adjuster is right below the seat on the right side of the bike. The rear shock spring on each bike is progressive and the stroke is long enough that only the craziest of bumps test the shock travel. Good job on this.

The refined Softail chassis is a vast improvement from the original Softail, with better suspension action and ride quality. (Brian J. Nelson/)

Again, for both of these bikes, they always look better when you’re riding them because their aesthetics are also within their feel. Also, though knowing, as is stated above, that nothing really matters other than these Harley-Davidsons being Harley-Davidsons, one reasonable and practical bit of missing detail is that none of the classic models have adjustable hand levers. Otherwise, these two bikes are refined and ready to ride.

2020 Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide, $40,999

The Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide is built on the 2017-updated touring chassis that features greatly improved suspension. It’s driven by Harley-Davidson’s biggest and most powerful factory-installed engine, the Milwaukee-Eight 117, which produces a claimed 125 pound-feet of torque at 3,750 rpm. Only outpriced at Harley-Davidson by the CVO Ultra Limited, the CVO Road Glide is limited in production and features the best of the best of H-D’s performance, infotainment systems, and custom finish, on the frame-mounted-fairing chassis.

Limited in production, the 2020 CVO Road Glide drips in Harley-Davidson performance parts, infotainment, and custom finishes. (Brian J. Nelson /)

That low front fairing with even its short screen keeps the wind mostly above a 5-foot-10 rider, providing minimal buffeting at highway speeds. Out front is a 21-inch front wheel for a custom look and on the back an 18-inch rear wheel for performance. The two rear shocks—as with all of the touring chassis since 2017—have differing springs rates with compression valving handled by one side and rebound by the other. The preload is adjusted only on the left side where the heavier-weight spring is located. This is because the weight of the bike is basically supported by the spring on the left side even though damping duties are split between the shocks.

The Premium Boom! Audio system includes a Boom! Bluetooth headset and Box GTS infotainment system. Also standard on this and the Limited CVO and Street Glide CVO is the Daymaker Adaptive headlight system.

The 2020 CVO Road Glide is fit with H-D’s Premium Boom! Audio system with Box GTS infotainment. (Brian J. Nelson/)

The Reflex Defensive Rider Systems (RDRS), which is also standard on all CVOs, provides traction assistance when accelerating, decelerating, and braking. It’s also standard on the Tri Glide Ultra, Freewheeler, and LiveWire. The system is optional on all of the other Touring models, except for the Electra Glide Standard.

Other standard features include low fuel warning, cruise control, ABS, tire pressure monitoring system indicator, traction control, Rain mode, and hill hold. The information features here can all be scrolled to on the touchscreen, and the hill hold feature is set by a tight squeeze on the front brake lever after coming to a stop. An amber light indicates when it is activated.

The CVO Road Glide is available in the premium Sand Dune monotone paint with a pearl topcoat, which is impossible to know (or describe) what it looks like until you see the bike in person. Android Auto is now available, next to the existing iPhone option, for all Touring models with Boom! Box GTS infotainment systems, allowing a wider number of riders to perform actions by voice.

For customizers who desire more performance in an authentic Harley-Davidson powerplant, the 131 crate motor has 131ci (2,147cc), maintaining the stroke of the 114 while sporting an increased bore to 4.31 inches, supplying 131 pound-feet of torque at 3,700 rpm and 121 hp, when paired with a set of Screamin’ Eagle Street Cannon mufflers. This motor is backed by a 12-month limited warranty when customer installed, or 25-month limited warranty when dealer installed.

The 117ci of Milwaukee-Eight motivate the 2020 Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide. A 131ci crate motor is available to boost power with a 12-month warranty. (Brian J. Nelson/)

Engine Stage IV upgrades are also available for building up from the bike’s original block, of 131 or 128ci. The 131 has the same performance as the 131 crate motor, while the 128 features 126 pound-feet of torque and 121 hp, also when matched to a set of Screamin’ Eagle Street Cannon mufflers.

The standard H-D Connect for the CVO Road Glide is a subscription-based smartphone app that monitors the motorcycle’s status, adds security, service reminders, and charging status for the LiveWire. Available information includes riding statistics, available range, battery status, vehicle location, tamper alerts, and stolen vehicle tracking.

Riding The 2020 CVO Road Glide

The first thing noticeable on any Harley-Davidson touring bike is that passengers like them. So sit up straight or bring the one who you love with you. The subtle finish of the CVO Road Glide is extra cool with its black and white contrasting satin finish. It's Rick’s Café on wheels, not just any gin joint in any town. It’s totally a Harley.

As for actually what it’s like to ride, it goes very nicely with great gusto. That pile of torque it pumps out is well felt and appreciated, particularly when passing a line of cars. At 65 mph you can ride in fifth or sixth gear, depending on how much of that grunt you want to have at the ready in your hand. Also, some will feel that the higher revs produce a slightly smoother ride. This, of course, can also be accomplished by just going faster.

Comfort is king on the 2020 Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide with a plush rider area and a button or control for everything and anything you need. (Brian J. Nelson/)

The cockpit is plushly comfortable, and the controls are well located for ease of use. There are many controls, and they do many things; as with any bike that you live with, once you get to know them they will be automatically efficient. Plus, the infotainment screen is a touchscreen, but some features cannot be accessed while in motion.

The touring chassis was redesigned in 2017, and this too deserves a revisit as with the Softail chassis. For any who have done a lot of miles on the previous touring chassis, the improvements will be instantly noticed. Both ends of this machine are vastly improved over the pre-2017 suspension. The rear shocks are not rebuildable, have limited adjustability, but are absolutely capable of immediate long tours. The front fork also has improved internals, and the bike is a nicely balanced package. This CVO can totally handle spirited riding down twisty mountain roads, as well as uneven expansion joints on expressway bridges. H-D deserves credit for seriously stepping up its suspension game on these big bikes.

The CVO Road Glide is a balanced package built for covering miles while being able to cut up twisting mountain roads. (Brian J. Nelson/)

The bottom line for all three of these bikes is, they are classic but better Harleys for better days.

2020 Harley-Davidson Softail Standard FXST Specifications

Price	$13,599
Engine	1,746cc, 45-degree Milwaukee-Eight 107 V-twin; 4 valves/cyl.
Bore x Stroke	3.937 x 4.374 in.
Compression Ratio	10.0:1
Fuel Delivery	Electronic Sequential Port fuel injection
Transmission/Final Drive	6-speed/belt
Claimed Torque	110 lb.-ft. @ 3,000 rpm
Front Suspension	49mm telescopic fork w/ dual bending valve; 5.1-in. travel
Rear Suspension	Coilover monoshock, adjustable for preload; 3.4-in. travel
Front Brakes	4-piston fixed caliper, 300mm disc
Rear Brake	2-piston floating caliper, 292mm disc
Wheels, Front/Rear	Chrome, steel-laced; 19 x 2.5 in. / 16 x 3.0 in.
Tires, Front/Rear	Dunlop bias blackwall; 100/90B-19 / 150/80B-16
Rake/Trail	30.0°/6.2 in.
Wheelbase	64.2 in.
Seat Height	25.8 in.
Claimed Wet Weight	655 lb.
Fuel Capacity	3.5 gal.

2020 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 30th Anniversary Edition Specifications

Price	$21,949
Engine	1,868cc, 45-degree Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-twin; 4 valves/cyl.
Bore x Stroke	4.016 x 4.5 in.,(102.0 x 114.0mm)
Compression Ratio	10.5:1
Fuel Delivery	Electronic Sequential Port fuel injection
Transmission/Final Drive	6-speed/belt
Claimed Torque	119 lb.-ft. @ 3,000 rpm
Front Suspension	49mm telescopic fork w/ dual bending valve; 5.1-in. travel
Rear Suspension	Coilover monoshock, adjustable for preload; 3.4-in. travel
Front Brakes	4-piston fixed caliper, 300mm disc
Rear Brake	2-piston floating caliper, 292mm disc
Wheels, Front/Rear	18 x 4.5 in. / 18 x 8.0 in.
Tires, Front/Rear	160/60R-18 / 240/40R-18
Rake/Trail	30.0°/4.1 in.
Wheelbase	65.6 in.
Seat Height	25.9 in.
Claimed Wet Weight	699 lb.
Fuel Capacity	5.0 gal.

2020 Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide Specifications

Price	$40,999
Engine	1,923cc, 45-degree Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-twin; 4 valves/cyl.
Bore x Stroke	4.075 x 4.5 in. (104.0 x 114.0mm)
Compression Ratio	10.2:1
Fuel Delivery	Electronic Sequential Port fuel injection
Transmission/Final Drive	6-speed/belt
Claimed Torque	126 lb.-ft. @ 3,750 rpm
Front Suspension	49mm telescopic fork w/ dual bending valve; 3.6-in. travel
Rear Suspension	Dual shocks, adjustable for preload; 2.2-in. travel
Front Brakes	4-piston fixed caliper, dual floating 300mm discs
Rear Brake	4-piston fixed caliper, fixed 300mm disc
Wheels, Front/Rear	Split-seven spoke; 21 x 3.5 in. / 18 x 5.0 in.
Tires, Front/Rear	Dunlop bias blackwall; 130/60B-21 / 180/55B-18
Rake/Trail	26.0°/6.8 in.
Wheelbase	64.0 in.
Seat Height	25.9 in.
Claimed Wet Weight	893 lb.
Fuel Capacity	6.0 gal.

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