Motorcycle specifications Harley-Davidson1745 SOFTAIL BREAKOUT FXBR 2018 A slam in the rock

breakout is a modern expression of hard rock, bracelets of strength, growling metal and muscular ankles. Manly as well as lanky, powerful in style, it immediately won itself a strong following. And that's set to take a new turn with this much-revamped opus. Equipped with the latest Milwaukee 8 engine, the 1745 cm3 / 107 ci Breakout gains in strength and ruggedness. The gym sessions have paid off, and the biceps are bulging.

harley could have just fitted the new Big Twin and called it a day. Except that this "Gasser" loves cosmetics, winks in front of nightclubs and jaw-dropping in daytime suits. As it evolves, the Breakout swaps its headlight for an LED Daymaker model, covers its mirrors and fork tees in black, angles its rear mudguard brackets, splits its rim spokes... and grafts a digital display in place of a traditional needle-type speedometer. Shock guaranteed.
The fuel tank has been redesigned, gaining in size and shedding a few liters in the process. The exhausts are now superimposed on each other, rather than following one another. In this way, the Breakout 2 asserts a new face, discreetly suggesting more than meets the eye. And it's the chassis that benefits.

the MoCo gives the Softail frame a major facelift, probably the most important since the creation of this family of machines. The frame has been completely redesigned to maintain the Hardtail look. Half as many parts, 22% fewer welds and 65% more rigidity. Once all the peripherals have been fitted, the overall improvement in rigidity is 34%. This should significantly limit the chassis' supple moods under serious conditions. Not to mention the weight benefit, which reaches 5.89 kilos on this chassis. Harley is proud to announce that this custom has lost no less than 17 kilos. Quite a job!

a redesigned frame is good. Proper suspension is even better. The Breakout borrows the double-acting valve fork introduced on Touring models in 2017. Offering improved, more responsive damping, it has a revised caster angle and stroke for improved handling. Last but not least, a new monoshock gives concrete form to a totally redesigned rear suspension, improving the bike's overall dynamics. An easily accessible knob for preload adjustment is also included.

the highlight of this evolution is the 1745 cm3 twin. Inaugurated on the big tourers, it is now used on the Softail. Sporting the best of Harley, with increased displacement, 4 valves per cylinder, a stubborn torque of almost 15 mkg and reduced vibrations, this block delivers a 10% improvement in 0 to 100 km/h compared to the old Twin Cam. And in use, it offers nothing but enchantment.

the Breakout earns its stripes on its identity. Better suspended, more rigorous, better motorized, more vindictive, the machine exerts a certain magnetism. A marked step into the 21st century, with a taste for the great period of the 20th. For a more mouth-watering dish, the 114 ci engine is available as an option.

M.B - manufacturer's photos