Harley-Davidson introduced this CVO Softail Convertible for the 2010 model year as a limited-production factory custom that sat between a boulevard cruiser and a light-duty tourer. Built within the company’s Custom Vehicle Operations program, it was designed around the Softail platform but packaged with quick-change touring hardware so riders could strip it down or dress it up depending on the day’s ride. Detachable saddlebags, a removable windshield and other touring accessories were central to its identity, making it one of the more versatile CVO offerings of its era.
The model returned for 2011 and 2012, retaining the same basic concept while evolving with each model-year CVO update. Harley-Davidson’s own 2012 media materials still listed it among that year’s CVO motorcycles, and the 2012 owner’s manual identifies the FLSTSE3 version as the CVO Softail Convertible. After 2012, it disappeared from the CVO lineup and was not carried into the next model year’s official range, ending its initial run after three model years.
Among Harley-Davidson enthusiasts, the bike is remembered as an especially practical interpretation of the factory-custom idea: more touring-friendly than most Softails, but less massive and more stripped-down than the company’s big baggers. Its limited run and distinct convertible character have made it a notable chapter in the CVO history, especially for riders who wanted one motorcycle that could move between weekend cruising and longer-distance travel without much compromise.