Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 2024 — Specifications

Can a motorcycle be a concept, an intention more than just a means of transportation? Mounting the new 2024 Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 affirms that. It doesn’t offer you a ride, it invites you to embody a role, that of the revisited 50s bad boy with the means of the 21st century. This machine is a pure creation of style, and its price, hovering around 30,000 euros for this 2024 version, makes it a resolutely high-end object of desire.

The heart of this proposition is, of course, its huge Milwaukee-Eight 117. With its 1923 cm3, this V-Twin breathes 102 horsepower, a figure that seems almost modest until torque takes center stage: 166.8 Nm, available from 3500 rpm. It is this visceral surge, this pull that literally tugs on the arms, that defines the experience. It propels a substantial mass of 309 kg when fully fueled, a weight that is felt when stopped but seems to evaporate as soon as the big twin starts to rumble. The question of the weight of a Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 is legitimate, but once in motion, it is its massive and anchored character that takes precedence.

In terms of the chassis, the Breakout cultivates its paradox with mastery. The 49 mm fork and hidden monoshock offer tool-free adjustment, a welcome touch of modernity. But the soul of the beast lies elsewhere: in this long wheelbase, this low seat at 65 cm, and above all in this crazy distribution of tires. A 130 at the front on a 21-inch rim, and a monster of 240 at the rear on 18 inches. This geometry, inherited from ‘Gasser’ dragsters, dictates its law. In corners, you have to compose, negotiate. It’s not a motorcycle that is ridden, it is tamed. This is where its charm lies for the road warrior seeking raw sensation, and its drawback for those seeking the precision of a sport touring motorcycle.

Facing competitors such as the Indian Chief Bobber or certain Japanese customs, the Breakout 117 doesn’t play on the same ground. It doesn’t aim for agility or versatility. Its territory is attitude, stage presence. Every detail contributes to this: the Heavy Breather air filter, the sparkling chrome, the sculpted 18.9-liter tank. It is a machine that fully assumes its status as an object of pride, designed for those who consider the garage to be an art gallery. The technical specifications of the Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 confirm it, everything is orchestrated for visual and sensory impact.

So, who is this beast for? Clearly not for a beginner, intimidated by its weight and instant torque. Even less so for the pure-bred track rider. Its audience is the road aesthetes, lovers of retro-modern sensations, those for whom the journey is a spectacle. With an announced consumption of 5L/100km, it is not even that demanding for what it is. The price of the new Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 is a significant investment, and the used market for a Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 could be a track for tighter budgets. But in any case, you don’t buy this motorcycle for its specifications alone. You buy it for the irrepressible smile it puts on your face with every throttle opening, when the landscape begins to blur to the rhythm of explosions from its big eight-valve twin. It’s a unique experience, totally irrational and absolutely enjoyable.