Harley-Davidson 1870 SOFTAIL BREAKOUT 115eme Anniversaire FXBRS 2018 — Specifications

Who still remembers that in 2018, Milwaukee was celebrating its 115th birthday? Harley-Davidson has always had a flair for celebration, and to mark the occasion, the firm cherry-picked the most strong-willed models from its catalog. The Breakout FXBRS was a natural choice for the selection. This custom with the physique of a dragster, featuring a 240 mm rear tire that crushes the asphalt and a 21-inch front wheel as sharp as a blade, has never been a crowd-pleasing motorcycle. That's precisely what makes it a good candidate for an anniversary edition.

The Legend Blue Denim livery immediately sets the tone. On the 13.2-liter tank, a spread eagle clasps the Bar & Shield logo in a composition that flirts with unapologetic patriotism. You either love it or hate it, but nobody stays indifferent. An engraved serial number serves as a reminder of the limited production run, and the seat features matching blue stitching. The detail that matters: this special edition isn't available on the entry-level Breakout. You have to go through the 114 version, the one packing the Milwaukee-Eight in 1,868 cc. Harley pushes you toward the top of the range, and the price tag follows: €25,160. That's steep, especially when compared to an Indian Scout Bobber Twenty that offers a bold custom temperament for several thousand euros less.

On the mechanical side, this 45-degree V-twin develops 94 horsepower at 5,020 rpm, but it's really the torque that does the talking: 154.9 Nm available from just 3,000 rpm. The four valves per cylinder and the 10.5:1 compression ratio allow the Milwaukee-Eight to breathe properly, without ever feeling strained. The six-speed gearbox and belt drive do their job without fuss. On the road, the 305 kg wet weight makes itself known at the first tight corner. The Breakout is not an agile motorcycle — it's a cruiser built for long straights and boulevards. The 665 mm seat height lets almost anyone plant both feet flat on the ground, which is reassuring given the sheer size of the machine.

The steel double-cradle frame swallows the miles with stoicism. The 49 mm telescopic fork does its duty up front, while the mono-shock hidden beneath the seat reveals its limits on rough pavement. The braking system, with a 300 mm front disc squeezed by a four-piston caliper and a 292 mm rear disc, proves adequate without being confidence-inspiring for a machine of this weight. It's a far cry from what a Fat Bob offers in terms of versatility, but the Breakout doesn't play in the same league. Its domain is visual spectacle as much as the Sunday cruise.

Ultimately, this 115th Anniversary edition is aimed at a very specific audience: the Harley collector who wants a piece identifiable in time, or the American custom enthusiast looking for something unique in the garage. The motorcycle doesn't revolutionize anything on a technical level, but it never claimed to. The Breakout sells character, presence, and heritage. This anniversary version pushes things one notch further, with a polished presentation and the requirement to step up to the higher-spec engine. A clever move from Milwaukee, turning a simple paint job into a formidable sales argument.