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 Extended, minimal, and powered by 103 cubic inches of American V-Twin muscle, it’s amazing to assume it’s 10 years outdated now.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
