The Sunday Run:

The Breakout

Welcome again to our V-Twins Sunday Run, and let’s begin by telling you something you already know: we’re different here in Australia and New Zealand from the rest of the world. 

Here’s a little Harley-Davidson example from a few years ago: The Twin Cam Softail Standard was a global model, until it fell out of customer favour in the USA and elsewhere… but for many years until 2015 the FXST was still built in York, Pennsylvania for the Australian and NZ markets ONLY.  

Another model which was dropped from the USA range for a number of years is the subject of today’s Sunday Run… the Breakout. 

In the beginning, released as a 2013 model and running until 2017, the Twin Cam Breakout was outstanding! 

The Breakout’s origins started - sort of - as the Softail Deuce, a surprise to us all, and a beautiful Factory Custom on its release for the 2000 model year. The last Deuces were in 2007, and the replacement (another surprise) was the Rocker in 2008.
Rockers were great to ride, but visually a bit like the Prince turning back into a frog. The final Rockers were built for the 2011 model year. 
Then in late 2012, in Milwaukee at the World-Wide Dealer meeting, some of us from V-Twins watched and listened as a new CVO model was ridden onto the stage as a 2013 release. Under a lighting rig that the Stones could have used, we were astounded by the incredible new CVO Breakout. This was the one… the finest Factory-stock Harley we had ever seen.
For the same 2013 model-year the ‘standard’ Breakout also joined the range. 
The Breakout’s Chief Stylist was Ray Drea, and he envisioned the bike’s “presence and proportions”. These were led, as we know, by the fat 240-section rear tyre, the wide-spaced forks and 130/60-21 front tyre, and in essence a long and low-as-you-can-go “slammed” look.

We know, as a Harley Dealer, that there’s far more engineering excellence in a Harley than is commonly realized. The very deliberately low Breakout styling limited rear suspension movement to 3.1 inches of rear-wheel travel, half an inch less than the Blackline or Deluxe and 1.2 inches less than a Fat Boy, Heritage or Slim. This limited movement needed careful attention to the valving in the underslung rear shocks, and the oil tank was re-developed and reshaped to allow the rear wheel to move farther upward, giving the Breakout the increased wheel travel it needed. 

The goal was to give the Breakout a smooth ride, without losing those long, low, dragster looks, and it was successfully achieved. Ray Drea also commented at the bike’s release that the Gasser wheels, with their alternating black and machined spokes, were a design from the then recently-retired Willie G Davidson himself.  

Here in Australia, Breakouts were hugely successful, and likewise in Europe. Look at AU and Euro custom bikes from the 2013-2017 era… Breakout after Breakout after Breakout. But in the USA, where baggers are the true Kings of the Interstates, Breakout sales were softening. 

So how could the Breakout be improved? You already know the answer! 2018 saw the release of the 107 and 114 Milwaukee-Eight Softails… all new from top-to-bottom, end-to-end, left-to-right, and including a new Breakout.

Thematically it hadn’t changed… fat rear, low stance, even fatter front tyre, flat bars, big attitude. But the power, torque, handling, lean-angles… all the good things… were vastly improved.  

And yet, in the USA the model was discontinued, we think for 2021 and 2022. In Australia over the same years it had been the biggest selling Harley model, and in New Zealand in the top-three every year.

Then came the 2023 Breakout with dramatic changes, although the basics of low, fat, powerful and tough didn’t change (of course!). The improvements included a return to the big 5-gallon (18.9 litre) fuel tank, with a low-profile chrome console shaped to visually lengthen the entire motorcycle’s long, low profile. The engine was upgraded from 114ci to the Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-Twin, and to keep up with the 117’s requirements a Screamin’ Eagle Heavy Breather Elite air intake was also factory fitted. 

A new taller handlebar riser and polished stainless-steel handlebar improved the rider’s reach to the controls. New 26-spoke cast-aluminium wheels in gloss black with machined details… (still tagging the legacy of Willie G Davidson)… looked fantastic, and electronic cruise control also came Factory fitted standard.

Apart from those changes, there was a strong return to chrome… chrome was back! A dazzling chrome finish appeared on the rear fender supports, side covers, muffler shields, turn signals, mirrors, and Heavy Breather intake. 

Here’s why we think the 2023 and newer Breakouts are special, and this is the upside to our Australian love-affair with the FXBR… the development of the 2023 Breakout 117 was led by the Harley-Davidson Australia and New Zealand team! It was designed and built based around our customer needs, requests, and requirements, fed to the Motor Company through Dealers like us, and there was input from H-D Europe too. 

When the 2023 Breakout idea was shown to H-D’s American Factory and Dealer representatives, they were excited enough to want it re-released in America too! 

The next set of Breakout changes – definite improvements too – arrived with the 2025 models. The 2025 is a bit of a sleeper… not much changed visually, but (as with all the ’25 Softails) there are many additions, large and small, fitted as Factory standard on the 2025 and 2026 Breakouts. 

A few of the new changes are:
* The new Second Generation 117 'Custom' Milwaukee-Eight engine, with all-new oil-cooled heads, higher-capacity air intake, larger inlet manifold, and 103HP straight out of the crate – before you even add Stage-1 upgrades
* Ride modes added - road, sport, rain, and customisable 
* New 4" analogue multi instrument
* New hand controls
* New adjustable brake lever to allow for smaller and larger hands
* All LED lighting, and a new headlight
* Re-tuned rear suspension
* ABS brakes and all 7 Softail Rider Safety Enhancements are standard
* USB charging upgraded to USB-C fast charging port
* The Breakout retains the classic 'Shotgun' 2-into-2 exhaust, (as first introduced on the original 1990 Fat Boy).

So there it is, a very brief Sunday Run history of the Breakout, which continues its massive popularity reign in Australia. 

Enjoy your own Sunday Run on the roads through our beautiful North Coast NSW countryside!