Harley-Davidson 1920 Softail Breakout FXBR 2023 — Specifications

Who remembers the 2013 Softail FXSB, that asphalt dragster born in the CVO workshops before joining the standard lineup? Ten years later, Milwaukee is back at it with a 2023 vintage Breakout FXBR that finally reclaims the bite that the 107 and 114 versions had somewhat dulled. The secret comes down to three digits: 117 cubic inches under the hood, meaning 1923 cc of 45-degree V-twin ready to rattle your neck. With 102 hp at 5020 rpm and, more importantly, 167.7 Nm of torque available from just 3500 rpm, this four-valve-per-cylinder Milwaukee Eight doesn't do subtlety. It sends its horsepower straight into a 240 mm rear tire that would make a Diavel's look like a road bike tubular.

The Breakout has always been divisive. On one side, those who curse its skeletal ground clearance and cornering behavior where the 21-inch front wheel seems to live its own life, disconnected from the rear end. On the other, those who accept the deal and actually enjoy this very peculiar riding style. Sitting on a seat just 665 mm off the ground, boots thrust far forward, arms spread wide on a broadened polished stainless steel handlebar, you don't ride this Softail. You straddle it. Any comparison with a Fat Bob or even an Indian Chief Dark Horse stops at the "custom" category: here, we're looking at a pure exercise in style, an urban dragster that owns its radical choices. The 310 kg wet weight won't let you forget it's there, but the massive torque from the 117 makes up in roll-on acceleration what the steel double-cradle frame gives up in agility.

On the looks front, the 2023 version corrects course from the previous design, deemed too tame. The 18.9-liter tank adopts a more sculpted shape that beefs up the silhouette. Chrome makes a strong comeback on the side covers, rear fender, fork triple clamp, mufflers, and even the engine block itself. The Heavy Breather air filter, with its exposed mesh, adds a welcome touch of brutality. The 26-spoke aluminum wheels play the elegance card, almost mimicking wire-spoke rims, while handling the stresses of this outsized machine. The license plate relocated to the left flank clears the view of the massive rear rubber — a detail purists will appreciate without having to flip through the accessories catalog.

The suspension remains the program's acknowledged weak point. The 49 mm telescopic fork offers a decent 130 mm of travel up front, but the hidden mono-shock under the seat makes do with just 43 mm. On rough roads, every pothole sends a reminder straight up your spine. The braking, with a single 300 mm disc up front and a 292 mm disc at the rear, gets the job done without enthusiasm. No standard traction control either — you'll have to tick the option box. For a machine priced at nearly 28,790 euros, that's a bit stingy. Especially when a Fat Boy 114, less extreme but more versatile, starts at noticeably less.

The Breakout 117 isn't aimed at beginners, nor at riders seeking all-round road capability. It's a motorcycle of conviction, built for radical custom enthusiasts who want a show at every startup and are willing to deal with a no-nonsense temperament. With this return to aesthetic roots and a 1923 cc powerplant, Harley-Davidson offers a machine that looks like nothing else in its lineup. The entry price is steep, the comfort spartan, the range limited. But when the V-twin rumbles at the red light and the rear tire crushes the asphalt, you understand why this machine continues to fascinate.