2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST vs 2025 Indian Challenger near Syracuse, NY

Overview

Two American V-twin baggers sit at the sharp end of performance touring: the 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST and the 2025 Indian Challenger. On paper, both deliver commanding presence, serious componentry, and long-mile confidence, but their design philosophies diverge in meaningful ways. The Harley-Davidson® model is a racetrack-inspired, weight-conscious, high-output machine that prioritizes rider connection with a solo seat, SHOWA® suspension, and the most powerful factory engine in a Harley-Davidson® production motorcycle. The Indian emphasizes all-around comfort with a liquid-cooled PowerPlus engine, adjustable windshield, and user-friendly electronics. If you are evaluating the 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST vs 2025 Indian Challenger near Syracuse, NY, our team at Eisenhauer’s Tioga County Harley-Davidson® focuses on facts that matter on the road: power delivery, adjustability, braking feel, and the quality of the rider interface. Riders from Mansfield and Wellsboro appreciate that the CVO™ Road Glide® ST pushes category benchmarks while remaining unmistakably Harley-Davidson® in sound, stance, and feel.

Key Features

Start with performance intent. The 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST is engineered around a Milwaukee-Eight® 121 High Output powertrain delivering 127 horsepower and 145 ft-lb of torque, then trimmed with weight-saving forged carbon fiber and titanium mufflers. SHOWA® 47 mm inverted forks and dual outboard remote-reservoir shocks are fully adjustable, letting you fine-tune compression, rebound, and preload. A 12.3-inch TFT display running Skyline OS centralizes navigation with traffic and weather overlays, audio, Ride Modes, and the Rider Safety Enhancements suite. Track and Track+ ride modes underscore its closed-course capability, while the aggressive solo seat and tall risers add leverage and stability under hard acceleration and cornering. By contrast, the 2025 Indian Challenger brings a capable 108 cu-in liquid-cooled PowerPlus engine rated at 122 hp and 128 ft-lb, a chassis-mounted fairing, Brembo® brakes, a hydraulically adjustable Fox® rear shock, and a 7-inch RIDE COMMAND display with Bluetooth and cruise control. When comparing the 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST vs 2025 Indian Challenger near Syracuse, NY, the Harley-Davidson® package delivers more peak output, significantly broader ride-mode customization, a larger and more immersive display, and race-derived material choices that reduce unsprung mass and sharpen responses.

Dimensions

Ergonomics and packaging influence confidence at speed, and here the 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST leans into a lean, purposeful posture. The fixed sharknose fairing, steeply contoured solo seat, and tall risers position the rider forward for better input to the front end, while cast aluminum wheels and dual floating brake rotors reduce unsprung weight for lighter steering. The forged carbon fiber front fender further trims mass where it matters most. Integrated saddlebags preserve a compact lateral profile without adding visual bulk. The 2025 Indian Challenger counters with a chassis-mounted fairing designed for stability and wind protection, an adjustable windshield to tune airflow, and locking hard saddlebags with over 18 gallons of weatherproof storage. Its published wet weight of 842 lbs reflects its comfort-first ethos. For riders weighing the 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST vs 2025 Indian Challenger near Syracuse, NY, the Harley-Davidson® chassis presentation reads more track-influenced and mass-optimized, while the Indian emphasizes touring convenience and wind management.

Engine

The Milwaukee-Eight® 121 High Output in the 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST is the most powerful factory-installed engine ever used in a Harley-Davidson® production bike. With 127 horsepower, 145 ft-lb of torque, a high-performance camshaft, Heavy Breather intake, and a higher 5,900 rpm rev limit, it builds speed with urgency and elasticity uncommon in big-displacement V-twins. The titanium mufflers increase flow and contribute to a muscular, unmistakable exhaust note. The 2025 Indian Challenger’s 108 cu-in liquid-cooled PowerPlus makes a stout 122 hp and 128 ft-lb, and its thermal management and consistent fueling are proven strengths. Still, outright output and the CVO™ Road Glide® ST’s throttle-to-tire connection, optimized by eight Ride Modes including Track and Track+, give the Harley-Davidson® a decisive edge for riders who value maximum acceleration and midrange thrust from corner to corner.

Performance

Suspension and braking convert power into pace. The 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST mounts fully adjustable SHOWA® 47 mm inverted forks up front with 4.6 inches of travel, and dual outboard SHOWA® remote-reservoir shocks at the rear with three inches of travel. This setup resists fade under repeated hits and allows precise, repeatable tuning for rider, load, and road. Dual floating rotors enhance heat management and feedback, while the package’s lighter components elevate agility in transitions. The 2025 Indian Challenger delivers strong fundamentals with an inverted front end, a lightweight cast-aluminum frame, Metzeler® Cruisetec® tires, and race-spec radially mounted Brembo® brakes. A hydraulically adjustable Fox® rear shock provides good compliance. Both motorcycles can hustle, but the CVO™ Road Glide® ST’s adjustability, materials, and dedicated Track modes skew it toward riders who want to extract every tenth on a favorite backroad or closed course.

Drive Train

Power flows through a precise 6-speed gearbox on both machines, sending torque to the rear wheel via a low-maintenance belt final drive. The 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST’s calibration, aided by its Ride Modes, helps the Milwaukee-Eight® 121 HO deliver tractable drive off apexes without sacrificing snap on demand. The Heavy Breather intake improves high-rpm breathing, keeping thrust available deeper into the rev range, which is especially noticeable with the increased 5,900 rpm limit. The 2025 Indian Challenger’s PowerPlus engine pairs well with its 6-speed box for relaxed highway cruising and quick roll-ons, and its liquid-cooling promotes consistency in hot conditions or dense traffic. Both bikes put power down cleanly, but the Harley-Davidson® emphasis on mode-driven mapping and its HO tune delivers a broader performance envelope for riders who want sharper responses when the road opens up.

Chassis

Chassis character defines confidence. The 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST reduces unsprung weight with cast aluminum wheels and dual floating rotors, then further trims rotating mass with a forged carbon fiber front fender and lightweight titanium mufflers. The result is lighter steering effort and quicker recovery between successive corners. Tall risers and a moto-style bar create a direct, communicative cockpit, while the solo seat’s steep back provides lower-back support under hard launches. The 2025 Indian Challenger counters with a stiff, lightweight cast-aluminum frame and a chassis-mounted fairing that steadies the steering head at speed. Brembo® braking hardware delivers authoritative stopping power on both models. For riders who prioritize adjustability and racetrack-influenced componentry in a bagger format, the CVO™ Road Glide® ST’s SHOWA® hardware and weight-conscious parts list present a compelling advantage.

Electric

Instrumentation and infotainment shape the ride experience. The 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST features a 12.3-inch TFT display running Skyline OS, a large, bright touchscreen that consolidates gauges, premium Rockford Fosgate Stage II audio controls, navigation with traffic and weather overlays, and access to Ride Modes and Rider Safety Enhancements. Interface clarity and screen real estate matter, especially on long days in mixed weather. The 2025 Indian Challenger integrates a 7-inch display powered by RIDE COMMAND with Bluetooth, 100-watt fairing speakers, cruise control, and convenient features such as keyless ignition and a push-button adjustable windshield. Both systems are modern and capable, but the Harley-Davidson® setup’s screen size, interface depth, and integration with performance settings make it a superior command center for riders who want seamless control. Eisenhauer’s Tioga County Harley-Davidson® supports owners with setup guidance and feature walkthroughs to make the most of Skyline OS and the audio system.

Rider Safety Enhancements

Active electronics elevate control in changing conditions. The 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST offers Cornering ABS and Traction Control as part of a comprehensive Rider Safety Enhancements suite, using sophisticated sensors to help manage braking forces and power when leaned or on compromised surfaces. Eight Ride Modes, including Track and Track+, tailor throttle response, engine braking, and intervention levels with precision. The 2025 Indian Challenger brings standard ABS, three ride modes, and supportive technologies like rear cylinder deactivation for comfort at idle, while more advanced cornering aids may be available depending on trim and equipment. Both motorcycles benefit from high-quality braking components and stable fairing designs, but the Harley-Davidson® model’s breadth of configurable electronics and the way they integrate with its high-output engine and fully adjustable suspension deliver a more holistic, performance-forward safety net that remains unobtrusive until called upon.

For riders comparing the 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST vs 2025 Indian Challenger, the decision often comes down to priorities. The Indian Challenger is a confident, comfortable bagger with a well-rounded feature set, adjustable windshield, and a strong liquid-cooled engine. The 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST, however, is purpose-built for riders who want heightened performance, deeper adjustability, and a premium rider interface. Its 127 hp and 145 ft-lb Milwaukee-Eight® 121 HO, SHOWA® fully adjustable suspension, forged carbon fiber fender, titanium mufflers, and 12.3-inch Skyline OS display create a package that feels sharper, lighter on its feet, and more configurable across more scenarios. That is why our team at Eisenhauer’s Tioga County Harley-Davidson® recommends the CVO™ Road Glide® ST to riders near Syracuse, NY, who value the most engaging, modern expression of a performance bagger. Visit Eisenhauer’s Tioga County Harley-Davidson® in Mansfield, PA, for knowledgeable guidance and a closer look at the details that make the 2025 Harley-Davidson® CVO™ Road Glide® ST stand out.

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