Harley-Davidson 1870 Softail Breakout FXBRS 2018 — Specifications

Who said a 305 kg custom couldn't have character? With the 2018 Breakout FXBRS, Harley-Davidson pushes things one notch further by bolting the Milwaukee-Eight 114 under this sharp-edged chassis. This 45° V-twin displacing 1868 cc is the option every Softail enthusiast should check without hesitation. The gain over the 107 engine comes down to one figure: 154.9 Nm of torque available from just 3000 rpm. At that speed, the V-Twin pulls hard, very hard, turning every throttle blip into a demonstration of quiet force. It actually surpasses the very first CVO version equipped with the Screamin' Eagle 1803, at least in pure torque. On the power side, the 94 hp at 5020 rpm remains modest on paper, but on a machine built for cruising, nobody's going to complain.

The Breakout 114 inherits all the modernization applied to the Softail family that year. The steel double-cradle frame was reworked to gain rigidity while shedding weight, and the scales show fifteen kilos less than the previous generation. At 294 kg dry, we're still in heavyweight custom territory, but the difference is noticeable from the first few meters. The 49 mm telescopic fork and the mono-shock hidden under the seat will never make you forget a Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster on twisty roads, but comfort on straight lines and highways is decent. The redesigned headlight, digital gauge, and polished finishes all contribute to this impression of a step upmarket. Only the 114 gets the Legend Blue Denim colorway, an exclusive that costs nothing extra but turns heads at the traffic lights.

Then there's the question of dimensions. With a seat height of just 665 mm, the Breakout accommodates just about everyone, even shorter riders. But the 13.2-liter tank means frequent stops at the pump. On a highway run at legal speeds, expect barely 200 kilometers of range. It's a recurring Achilles' heel at Harley, and the Breakout is no exception. The rear tire in 240/40-18, the model's visual signature, gives it that urban dragster look but compromises maneuverability in the city and on back roads. The 130/60-21 front stretches the silhouette without really helping with direction changes. This isn't a machine built to attack corners — it's a statement on two wheels.

Against the competition, the Breakout 114 plays in a league of its own. The Indian Chief Dark Horse offers a comparable temperament with a smoother triple, and the Triumph Rocket III pushes the muscle-custom concept to its absolute limits. But neither delivers this combination of aggressive lines and the raw bark unique to the Milwaukee-Eight V-Twin. At €23,460, the entry price is steep, especially for an engine option on an existing model. The braking, with a single 300 mm disc up front and a 292 mm disc at the rear, does the bare minimum to haul this mass to a stop. The six-speed gearbox and belt drive work flawlessly, with that smoothness typical of recent Softails.

The Breakout FXBRS 114 is the bike for the rider who wants the Harley experience with no aesthetic compromise and the maximum torque available in the Softail lineup. Not a roadster, not a bagger, just a pure and uncompromising custom that owns its choices. Fans of long straight roads, coastal rides, and unapologetic posing in café parking lots will find exactly what they're looking for. Everyone else can move along, and that's perfectly fine.