10 Factory Harleys That Look Like Custom Art

Harley-Davidson motorcycles have always been as much about style as they are about the authentic V-twin feel, and the motor company knows it. That’s why the most premium Harley-Davidsons come with a CVO treatment, complete with bespoke paint and details. Harley also offers a catalog of OEM accessories to style up entry-level models. Styling is baked into the company’s DNA.

But sometimes, Harley takes it a step further and builds bikes that look like they’ve just rolled out of a custom shop. They feature unique paint, top-spec components, and a road presence that turns heads even before the V-twin engine starts demanding it. And the best part is that you can buy these custom-styled bikes right from the dealership, without the long waiting time or expensive custom shop bills.

To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Harley-Davidson and other authoritative sources.

1999 Harley-Davidson CVO FXR3

Torque Output: 75 LB-FT

The FXR line was already a success before production stopped in 1995, but in a bid to revive the popular line, Harley introduced the FXR3. It featured a mild custom look with exclusive Candy Green Flames paint and plenty of chrome, and had the performance to back it up, at least for the time it was produced. Today, the CVO FXR3 appears pale in comparison to modern CVO motorcycles, which come with hand-applied pinstripes, billet components, carbon fiber, and the latest tech features. Still, it remains a special model in Harley’s lineup, standing as the CVO model that started it all.

Performance Specs

1971 Harley-Davidson FX Super Glide

Torque Output: 78 LB-FT

AMF-era Harleys don’t have the best reputation; that was the time when quality took a nosedive, so it was natural to expect the FX Super Glide to fade into obscurity. However, as time passed, this bike became one of the few AMF-era Harleys to gain even more popularity. Today, the FX Super Glide has become a collectible, and fully restored models demand a high premium. You may find some hovering under $10,000, but expect them to be project bikes. But what made the FX Super Glide so desirable?

It’s the design and influence. It was designed by Willie G. Davidson as the company’s first Factory Custom model, long before CVOs were even a thing! It combined elements of a factory hot rod and a Sportster, and its unique boat tail and white/red paint scheme have been turning heads on the streets since the ‘70s. The FX Super Glide would eventually evolve into the Low Rider models we know today and also influence an array of factory custom models.

Performance Specs

2004 Harley-Davidson CVO Softail Deuce

Torque Output: 91 LB-FT @ 3,500 RPM

The early 2000s marked a stylistic renaissance for Harley-Davidson’s Softail line, with models amplifying their flashiness through generous use of chrome and eye-catching paint finishes. One model that stands out from that time is the CVO Softail Deuce, a muscle cruiser with a good dose of old school cool charm, whose long and low stance was partly inspired by factory choppers.

The CVO Softail Deuce came with a flashy color scheme, featuring a color-matched frame that stood out like few Harleys did at the time. It also featured three-spoke chrome wheels, a raked front end, a teardrop-shaped fuel tank, and enough chrome to blind you on a sunny day. Unfortunately, the show came with a lot of heft, making this bike deceptively heavy. However, its Twin Cam 95B V-twin engine still managed to make it decently quick off the line.

Performance Specs

2016 Harley-Davidson CVO Pro Street Breakout

Torque Output: 112.1 LB-FT @ 3,500 RPM

The standard Breakout has always been a showstopper among Harley-Davidson motorcycles, featuring a chopper-inspired stance, a massive rear wheel, and a powerful V-twin engine. It’s about as flashy as a factory chopper can get, until CVO gets its hands on one. Enter the CVO Pro Street Breakout, which only built upon the already stunning custom look of the standard model.

The CVO Pro Street Breakout brought a race-inspired Screamin’ Eagle Twin Cam 110B V-twin engine that’s finished in Starfire Black. As for the body, the CVO Pro Street came with a choice of black or white gold finish, along with hand-applied graphics and a satin chrome finish on the exhaust. The Aggressor wheels only added cherry to the cake for the CVO Street Breakout’s custom styling.

Performance Specs

2019 Harley-Davidson FXDR

Torque Output: 119 LB-FT @ 3,500 RPM

The Harley-Davidson FXDR may not produce the most torque or horsepower, but it remains perhaps the fastest Harley-Davidson model in the used market. As a successor to the legendary V-Rod, the FXDR is powered by a high-output Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine and features extensive use of lightweight aluminum, which gives it an excellent power-to-weight ratio, at least for a Harley. The result is a power cruiser that can reach 60 MPH in 2.5 seconds, with a top speed of 115 MPH.

The FXDR wasn’t just for acceleration, though. Its design was a modern reinterpretation of an American-style power cruiser. As a result, it featured a low-slung custom dragster stance with contemporary design elements, like an angular exhaust, LED headlights nestled in a cowl, beefy USD forks, and a sleek tail. It may not look like a traditional Harley that the fans would love, but it still has a road presence that would make most bikers do a double-take.

Performance Specs

2020 Harley-Davidson 30th Anniversary Fat Boy

Torque Output: 119 LB-FT @ 3,000 RPM

Perhaps no other Harley-Davidson screams bad to the bone quite like the Fat Boy. It’s associated with all things badass, and it is as much a part of pop culture as it is of motorcycling culture. Thanks, Arnold! To celebrate the bike’s three decades of boulevard bruising, Harley brought out the 30th Anniversary Fat Boy, limited to 2,500 units and completely blacked out.

The 30th Anniversary Fat Boy featured a Vivid Black Anniversary color scheme with a complete blackout treatment, which extended to everything, including the Lakester wheels, pipes, handlebars, fenders, and more. Subtle bronze highlights and a serialized badge complemented the deep black paint. The 30th Anniversary Fat Boy is for those looking for a serious attitude on two wheels.

Performance Specs

2023 Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide Limited Anniversary

Torque Output: 125 LB-FT @ 3,500 RPM

The CVO Road Glide Limited Anniversary is a top-of-the-line bagger and wasn’t cheap to come by. However, it made up for the hefty price tag by offering everything you’d expect from a full-dress bagger, including unbothered highway performance, sleep-inducing comfort, and other high-end components, such as speakers, tech features, and rider aids. Then there’s its design, which is simply ravishing.

The CVO’s design treatment only takes things a step further for the CVO Road Glide Limited Anniversary. The massive motorcycle is finished in a unique custom-style Heirloom Red paint scheme with hand-applied gold pin scallops depicting a soaring eagle’s head and wings. Then there’s the gold-plated Art Deco-style medallion on the tank, and the leather/Alcantara seats, with gold and red stitching, adding a few cherries to an already stunning design.

Performance Specs

2021 Harley-Davidson CVO Limited

Torque Output: 125 LB-FT @ 3,500 RPM

Another tourer that stands out with its CVO treatment is the ‘21 CVO Limited. For 2021, it gained a few additional features, including TPMS, a hill control feature, and a pair of custom-style paint schemes. The CVO Limited was offered in Bronze Armor and Royal Purple & Black Fade paint schemes, both of which made the bike stand out from other non-CVO baggers in the market. The stunning paint scheme was paired with a healthy dose of chrome, custom seat covers and stitching, Tomahawk wheels, and Kahuna Collection components. All of which combined to make the CVO Limited a gorgeous tourer that lived up to its price tag and is a worthy buy even today.

Performance Specs

2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider El Diablo

Torque Output: 125 LB-FT @ 3,500 RPM

The Low Rider El Diablo is red-hot fire when it comes to style. Part of the Icons Collection, only 1,500 units were made. The bike featured the quintessential West Coast custom design, complete with a stout fairing up front, tall-boy stance, and scooped seat, which made the standard Low Rider popular among motorcyclists.

With the El Diablo edition, Harley-Davidson takes things further with a stunning bright red paint scheme that’s intricate and honors the 1980s’ California counterculture and West Coast-style custom motorcycles of the era. It may not have the road presence of a Fat Boy, but it steals glances even today, thanks to its paint scheme and stance.

Performance Specs

2025 Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide RR

Torque Output: 150 LB-FT @ 4,750 RPM

Few motorcycles in the world speak a louder “custom” language than the CVO Road Glide RR. It is essentially a bagger that’s made for the racetracks, for when you want to ride to a racetrack without the hassle of checking into a hotel. It is about as close as you can get to a King of Baggers experience, though you’ll have to shell out over a $100k premium for it.

The bike’s all about performance, so it comes with a beefy V-twin engine, titanium, and carbon fiber exhaust system, Ohlins suspension, Brembo brakes, and plenty of carbon fiber and billet bits scattered across the design. All these features not only make the bike fast on the track but also make it stunning to look at. Then there’s the fiery Racing Orange paint and graphics package, which further adds to the bike’s charm. It’s a custom-style bike designed for racing, not for display.

Performance Specs