Harley-Davidson understands how to make a cruiser with mindset, and the 2013 FXSB Breakout is still a different illustration. Extended, minimal, and powered by 103 cubic inches of American V-Twin muscle, it’s amazing to assume it’s 10 years outdated now. It’s also amazing to imagine that Jon Langston’s crafting hasn’t graced the digital internet pages of Motorbike.com in a ten years. Here, driving a Harley, Jonny is in his element. Love going back in time with this overview.
Mar. 13, 2013
Photos by Brian J. Nelson
With a prolonged, low stance and styling that places the emphasis on its key components, the new Harley-Davison FXSB Breakout is a no-nonsense electrical power cruiser that embodies the spirit of motorcycling whilst eschewing the trappings of trendiness.
The new Softail manages this feat by maintaining it straightforward, silly. The subtle styling touches hold the aim on its sections – a indicator that the times of highly stylized bikes like the Cross Bones are swiftly receding in the Motor Company’s rear look at mirror.
If the Breakout seems familiar, it really should it’s the brooding young brother of final year’s CVO Breakout. But though that $26,499 bicycle is awash in chrome and sparkle, the generation model, in dealerships in April, is a stripped-down, no-BS version that should really garner a much wider audience – many thanks typically to its $17,899 price tag tag.
Harley’s new Softail speaks with a growl and carries a thundering 103-inch stick.
For the 1st time, Harley has adopted a single of its CVO motorcycles with a mass-produced model that aims for a wider demographic. This was not an afterthought these bikes had been made concurrently, with the constrained-production CVO serving as a delicious hors d’oeuvre to the meat-and-potatoes meal served here.
Make no miscalculation: the Breakout is a bona fide knockout. But it achieves its appeal by means of poise and assurance instead than flash and sprint. The front controls incorporate with a access to the handlebar to set the rider in a wide-shouldered, 4-place stance. Dual staggered mufflers give the motor a indicate growl as an alternative of an obnoxious bark. The 35-diploma rake and 5.7 inches of trail lead to the long, reduced-slung seem, and the vast 49mm fork makes it possible for the 130mm entrance tire to put a bold foot forward.
With a 1.25-inch drag-style handlebar and gasser-model wheels, the Breakout forges a menacing existence. Notice the alternately-polished aluminum spokes.
The Breakout’s identification is anchored by its use of gloss black on chrome it is an expertly used scheme that keeps the bicycle from wanting like just a stripped-down Softail. The gloss black adorns the frame and swingarm, headlight bucket, exhaust shields, oil tank, rotors, handlebar, and fork lowers, and it performs off the chrome on the upper fork, air cleaner, fender struts, head addresses and pipes to draw the eye toward the Breakout’s key parts: its motor and wheels. The doughty glance is complemented by a demure handlebar-mounted speedo (with electronic vacation- and twin odos, range-to-empty counter and clock) and unadorned dash.
The clipped rear fender is positioned near to the tire, so there is no gentle shining via among the rubber and the steel – a type criminal offense that detracts from the body fat tire profile on so lots of other very low-professional choppers. The passenger pillion features software-considerably less removing that exposes no bolt holes.
Chopped fenders and a side-mounted license plate expose plenty of rubber.
In the saddle, the Breakout’s 24.7-inch seat height really should be much more than available adequate for any rider to plant his or her toes at a cease. The ahead controls are large and intuitive. The extend to the drag bar, on the other hand, is not insignificant, and the influence is compounded by the popular placement of the grips. On our experience all-around the Florida countryside, the large arrive at appeared incongruous to the bike’s managing – but then, Florida’s notoriously straight and flat roads rarely require a rider to use much leverage. Continue to, this could become a consolation problem in excess of the long haul, specifically for shorter-armed motorcyclists.
With its vast drag-fashion handlebar, even normal-sized riders want to stretch to get to the grips.
The posture is interactive, while, and when the Breakout pulls strongly from a cease, the rider is well prepared. Ability is easy and generous, rider opinions is liberal, and the Breakout’s plush suspension keeps the bumps on the pavement wherever they belong.
The Breakout’s 710-pound moist bodyweight and 23.4-diploma lean angle make the bicycle quick to manuever by means of body weight shifts, even with that excess fat 240 out back.
The Twin Cam 103B motor is as ardent as you’d assume from Harley’s stalwart powerplant. Pushing 95.5 ft.-lb. of crankshaft-rated torque, it combines with a 6-speed tranny to deliver functionality on par with any of Harley’s current generation Softails. Whether or not tearing down the highway or cruising the boulevard, the Breakout delivers.
The Breakout arrives in Vivid Black for $400 excess you can get it in Major Blue Pearl or Ember Crimson Sunglo (our favored).
With confident grace and steadfast assurance – and an MSRP lurking at or in the vicinity of the base of the vary – the new FXSB Breakout definitely stands as a single of the Softail line’s coolest buyers. As with all new Harley-Davidsons, a two-yr warranty with endless mileage is normal, and Smart Safety and anti-lock brakes are optional.
The new Breakout built its debut on Primary Road in the course of Daytona Beach Bicycle Week.
