Harley-Davidson Softail Breakout 2019 — Specifications

The Breakout is a modern expression of hard-rock, power bracelets, growling metal, and muscular ankles. Virile and long, powerful in style, it immediately garnered a great deal of sympathy. And that should take a new turn with this greatly revised edition. Equipped with the latest Milwaukee 8 engine, the Breakout 1745 cm3 / 107 ci gains power and toughness. Workout sessions paid off, and the bicep is prominent.

Harley could have simply slotted in the new Big Twin and that would have been that. Except that this "Gasser" likes cosmetics, winks in front of nightclubs, and jaw-dropping looks in business suits. As it evolves, the Breakout trades its headlight for a Daymaker LED model, dresses its mirrors and fork tubes in black, angles its rear fender supports, doubles the spokes on its rims... and grafts a digital display in place of a traditional needle gauge. Guaranteed impact. The fuel tank has been reshaped, gaining refinement and shedding a few liters in the process. Now, the exhaust pipes no longer follow each other but overlap. Thus adorned, the Breakout 2 asserts a new face, suggesting much more than meets the eye. And the chassis benefits from it.

The MoCo offers the Softail frame a significant rejuvenation, undoubtedly the most important since the creation of this family of machines. Still that Hardtail look with a complete overhaul of the structure. Half as many parts to build it, 22% fewer welds, and 65% more stiffness. Once all the peripherals are fitted, the overall stiffness improvement is 34%. That should noticeably limit the chassis's soft temper under serious conditions. Not to mention the benefit of weight, which reaches 5.89 kilos on this chassis. Harley is not shy about announcing that this custom has lost no less than 17 kilos. Quite a job!

A revised frame is good. Adequate suspension is even better. The Breakout borrows the twin-valve fork that appeared on Touring models in 2017. Offering improved and more responsive damping, it is supported by a revised rake and stroke for greater maneuverability. Finally, a new single shock concretizes a completely redesigned rear suspension and improves the motorcycle's overall dynamics. The presence of a well-accessible knob for preload adjustment is appreciated.

The highlight of this evolution showcases the 1745 cm3 twin. Inaugurated on the large tourers, it is now exercising on the Softail models. Showcasing the best of Harley, with increased displacement, 4 valves per cylinder, a torque spike of almost 15 mkg, and reduced vibrations, this block allows a 10% gain in 0 to 100 km/h compared to the old Twin Cam. And in use, it offers nothing but enchantment.

The Breakout earns stripes on its identity. Better suspended, more rigorous, better motorized, more vindictive, the machine exerts even more magnetism. A marked step into the 21st century, with the taste of the great period of the 20th. For a more impactful flavor, you can offer it the 114 ci engine as an option.

M.B - photos manufacturer