Over the course of my time with the 2011 Softail Convertible CVO, I was approached many times by curious onlookers that would admire the bike and inquire as to what model it was. After responding, I was inevitably asked, “Isn’t every motorcycle a convertible?” To be fair, it’s a valid question. After all, how many motorcycles have you ever seen with a roof?

The Convertible CVO has a unique fairing that can be attached or detached in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. (Photo: Dustin A. Woods/Moto123.com)

In this case, the term convertible refers to the fact that this Softail CVO can easily be transformed from a custom tourer to a custom cruiser in mere minutes. For those who may be on the fence over which kind of model to purchase next and aren’t a fan of compromise, this split-personality Softail was introduced in 2010 to be the best of both worlds.

The Convertible CVO has a unique fairing that can be attached or detached in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. Remove the side saddlebags and backrest, and presto chango, you’re ready to go cruising. Heading out on a long trip? Simply reattach the two pins that keep the fairing in place, click the saddlebags back on and hit the open road. Cruise control is also standard, which most owners will never bother with but can be a Godsend on a long journey.

One of the benefits of Harley baggers is the fact that they include a kick-ass sound system that allows you to enjoy your favourite tunes, if for some unknown reason you happen to grow weary of the V-Twin symphony booming from between your thighs. Being a removable unit, it would be too complicated to outfit the Convertible with a permanent stereo, but it does house a simpler two speaker system with 20 watts per channel along with an auxiliary input and pocket for an MP3 player.

Volume can be adjusted by hitting the + and – buttons on the inside of the front fairing, but if you want to change songs on your Harley iPod, it requires pulling over and shuffling through playlists on the MP3 player, so you better make sure you choose your riding music carefully. You’ve been warned.

CVO, for those who may be unfamiliar, stands for Custom Vehicle Operations, a limited-production program that adds acres of chrome, accessories that are unavailable on the standard line-up of bikes and flashy paint schemes like that of the Roman Gold with Burnished Copper Graphics of my tester. This also included the Convertible’s leather seat, complete with alligator inserts.

Sinking into this handsome saddle is an easy proposition for those who may be inseam impaired as it sits at a lowly 665 mm (26.2 inches)—even shorter than the Fat Boy Lo. Thumb the starter button and the twin cam Screamin’ Eagle V-Twin coughs and sputters before roaring to life and settling into that familiar idle with which Harley has become synonymous.

Sinking into this handsome saddle is an easy proposition for those who may be inseam impaired as it sits at a lowly 665 mm (26.2 inches). (Photo: Dustin A. Woods/Moto123.com)