Harley-Davidson Breakout 2023 Review

The Harley-Davidson Breakout is one of the most popular motorcycles in Australia. The Motor Company’s local arm claims it is the best-selling Harley model on our shores, and it is also the most-viewed model on bikesales by quite a distance.

Of course, the Breakout is a great cruiser, but the reason behind its enormous popularity is a bit of a mystery. The bike was actually discontinued for the American market in 2020, but it kept on trucking in Australia and other international markets thanks to its adoring fans.

Now Harley-Davidson has refreshed the Breakout for 2023 with the impressive Milwaukee Eight 117 V-twin engine and plenty of attitude. And thanks to the update, it has even returned to America.

We were recently invited to Bright in Victoria’s High Country to ride the updated model ahead of the Motor Company’s year-long celebration of its 120th anniversary. So, does the Breakout still live up to the hype? Let’s dig in and find out...

The big news is the addition of the range-topping Milwuakee Eight 117 V-twin engine, which puts out a sizeable 167Nm of torque at 3500rpm and 102hp (76kW) at 5020rpm.

Previous versions of the Breakout were powered by the 103, 107, and 114 motors, but the 1923cc 117 is H-D’s latest work of art and adds an extra degree of performance to the model.

Also new for 2023 is a bigger and re-styled 18.9L fuel tank, a new polished stainless-steel handlebar and handlebar riser, and new 26-spoke cast-aluminium rims. Of course, there are also new colour schemes and plenty of new styling choices.

The Breakout starts at $37,995 ride away for the Vivid Black colourway, while additional colourways, including the flagship orange paint scheme, lifts the price tag to $38,360 ride away.

It sits within Harley-Davidson’s ‘Cruiser’ range, which consists of models built on the current Softail chassis, and it is the equal most-expensive model in that line-up, matched only by the Heritage Classic and Fat Boy 114.

It is quite a contrast to the entry-level Softail Standard, which can be ridden off the showroom floor for just $23,995 ride away. The Standard is powered by the 107 engine, which produces 144Nm and 86hp (64kW). Make of that info what you will.

While the Breakout sure is a premium motorcycle, it is deliberately a simple and bare-bones one. The bike is complete with the 117 motor and a Heavy Breather intake, a Softail chassis, an 18.9L tank, a comfortable seat with pillion seat and pillion pegs, forward-mounted foot controls and a wide handlebar and riser.

Braking is handled by a four-piston fixed front caliper, a two-piston floating rear caliper and split seven-spoke floating rotors front and rear. Suspension, meanwhile, consists of a dual-bending valve 49mm fork and a coil-over, piston-free monoshock with 43mm stroke and tool-less preload adjustment.

The bike also has Michelin Scorcher rubber with a 21-inch front wheel and a 17-inch rear that is complete with a wide rear tyre.

Not a whole lot outside of ABS and cruise control. There is a small 2.1-inch LCD display that shows speed, gear selection, odometer, fuel level, clock, trip meter, range and tacho. It is a very basic unit, but it is effective and subtle.

Our test units did not have traction control, and neither do most of the early units to arrive in Australia, but the H-D marketing team explained that future units will have traction installed as standard, while it will be an option in America.

There are no real surprises when it comes to the ride experience offered by the Breakout. If you’ve ridden a Harley Softail model, then you’ll know what to expect here – plenty of torque, modest handling, and relaxed ergonomics.

But the new 117 motor is an absolute beauty and an excellent addition. Straight off the line, the enormous torque pulls the bike along like a rocket ship. Slower speeds are a little bit of a handful if you’re not used to the big Milwuakee-Eight V-twin, but once the road starts flowing, the 117 really comes into its own, with ample torque from start to finish. All that said, the engine is still very easy to manage, and it never feels like it’s getting away from you.

Of course, the flipside to all that performance is that the Breakout is very heavy. The 304kg wet weight is most notable at a standstill, but it does disappear a little bit once in motion. Cornering isn’t as a much of a chore as it should be and the bike handles quite decently for a cruiser, even despite the fat 240mm rear tyre and weight.

Ground clearance (115mm) is not excellent but, as above, that is no real surprise. In the mountain twisties above Bright, every journo was scraping the ’pegs without much effort. But with a bit of pre-planning, patience, and technique, it was possible to prevent the sparks flying without losing too much speed. FYI: Harley claims a maximum lean angle of 26.8 degrees both right and left.

The ergonomics are pretty spot on too. The seat is super comfy and locks you in nicely, with a moderate reach out to the aluminium handlebar which sits on a riser. The ’pegs are positioned forward, adding to the relaxed ride positon, but taller riders with long legs might end up with sore shins thanks to the Heavy Breather intake, which gets in the way of the rear brake lever.

Elsewhere, the brakes do an admiral job in stopping the big Breakout, while the gearbox shifted smoothly while maintaining an old-school yet charming mechanical feel.

But the big appeal of the Breakout is its undeniable cool-factor. This a quintessential cruiser that will make anyone who throws a leg over it a badass. That is worth the price of admission alone.

The lack of any wind protection means that highway riding will get tiresome after a while. You can really feel it when you’re pushing higher speeds on an open road, but city and suburban riding will present no issues.

One other small gripe is the indicator system, which has the left and right buttons on either side of the handlebar. This is common on H-D models, and some might prefer it, but it makes rolling on the throttle in a corner a bit more of a challenge.

The 18.9L fuel tank looks great and gives you a few extra kays to work with, but the bigger engine also means you’ll chew through fuel a bit quicker. We didn’t ride long enough to get an accurate fuel figure, but I did notice the estimated range dropping rather quickly. Though most people won’t be buying this bike for ultra-long journeys, so it’s nothing to lose sleep over.

There are four colourways available – Vivid Black, Black Denim, Baja Orange, and Atlas Silver Metallic. It seems as though H-D has picked Baja Orange as its star, and I have to admit that I came to really like it once I saw it in the flesh. The standard Vivid Black is also nice, as are the other two colour schemes, but there is something about orange that just makes sense in this case.

As with all H-D models, there are also loads of accessories available so that riders can make the bike their own. This is something Harley does really well, with the accessory catalogue containing more pages than many novels.

Clearly there are many people in Australia who will vouch for the Breakout as it is one of the country’s most popular models. At the very least, it is H-D’s best-seller locally and, considering that the 2023 version betters the outgoing model in more ways than one, there is no real reason for that trend to change.

But the Breakout is still just a cruiser at the end of the day (and a $37,995 cruiser at that). Some people love them, and others despise them, so it really comes down to your personal preference.

There is absolutely an audience for this machine and those people who take the plunge will be rewarded with a powerful, comfortable, and ridiculously cool cruiser that will look good in any shed.

On a personal level, there are other H-D models I would take first (the Low Rider ST immediately springs to mind), but I left this particular media launch with a newfound appreciation for the Breakout and its adoring fans.

Does the Breakout live up to the hype? Yes, it does. Is it expensive? Yes, it is. But whether you can justify spending the dollars is totally up to you. If you have the coin, and you like cruisers, you won’t be disappointed.

ENGINE
Type: Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-twin
Capacity: 117 cubic inches (1923cc)
Bore x stroke: 103.5mm x 114.3mm
Compression ratio: 10.2:1
Fuel system: Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 102hp (76kW) at 5020rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 167Nm at 3500rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: 6-speed
Final drive: Belt
Clutch: Wet, multiplate

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame type: Tubular steel cradle
Front suspension: Dual-bending valve 49mm telescopic fork
Rear suspension: Hidden, free piston, coil-over monoshock, adjustable for preload, 43mm stroke
Front brakes: Single 300mm disc with four-piston calipers, ABS equipped
Rear brakes: Single 292mm disc with twin-piston caliper, ABS equipped
Tyres: Michelin Scorcher 11, front – 130/60B21,63H,BW, rear – 240/40R18,79V,BW

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Rake: 34 degrees
Trail: 145mm
Claimed wet weight: 310kg
Seat height: 655mm
Ground clearance: 115mm (static)
Wheelbase: 1695mm
Fuel capacity: 18.9L

OTHER STUFF
Price: from $37,995 ride away
Colours: Vivid Black, Black Denim, Baja Orange, Atlas Silve Metallic
Warranty: 24 months, unlimited kilometres