2023 Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 Evaluation [9 Urban Fast Facts]

After a two-year break on house soil, the Breakout is again. Fortunately, the muscular city cruiser is brawnier and extra comfy than ever. Nonetheless, it retains its twin missions—going quick in a straight line and making you look good at any pace. We hit the streets of Los Angeles and did each, discovering out precisely what the 2023 Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 is all about.

1. Visually, the 2023 Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 defines cruiser. It’s lengthy (66.7-inch wheelbase), low (26.2-inch seat peak), relaxed (36 levels for fork angles and 5.7 inches of path), and pointed in a straight line by a 21-inch entrance wheel complementing the audacious 240mm Michelin Scorcher 11 on the 18-inch rear wheel. Add loads of chrome, 26-spoke cast-aluminum wheels with black paint and machined highlights, and a conspicuous Heavy Breather consumption for the Milwaukee-Eight 117, and you’re able to gentle up the city. There may be nothing shy concerning the new Breakout.

2. Whereas consolation has by no means been the Breakout’s calling card, the ergonomics are friendlier for 2023. The outdated jackknife seating place has been moved extra upright this 12 months. New handlebar risers deliver the brand new, wider stainless-steel handlebar nearer to the rider. The change makes an enormous distinction, even on short-hop rides. Though your profile received’t be fairly as belligerent as previously, it’s nonetheless an aggressive look—you don’t have to inform anybody it’s extra comfy. With none doubt, longer rides round city are within the playing cards, particularly for these not schooled in yoga or contortionism.

3. To compensate for the much less insistent seating place, the powerplant will get a displacement enhance. The 114 is jettisoned in favor of the air-/oil-cooled 117. The motor makes a strong assertion at stoplights, with 123 ft-lbs of torque able to launch you away from anybody trying to prepared the ground when the sunshine turns inexperienced. There’s loads of overrev, with the horsepower peaking north of 100 at 4750 rpm. This lets you maintain it just a bit longer and look on the small rearview mirrors to observe the site visitors behind you shrink to the dimensions of bugs as you’re pushed again into the acceleration-friendly seat. It’s nice enjoyable, and troublesome to withstand each time the chance presents itself. Burnouts are on the menu for these so inclined. Should you spring for the non-obligatory traction management ($200), you’ll have to change it off earlier than making a smoke bomb.

4. Preserve a watch out for bumps and dips whereas shifting down the street. That could be a Showa Twin Bending Valve fork within the entrance, however it’s mounted at such an angle that the motion is something however easy. Regardless that the 2023 Harley-Davidson Breakout advantages from the trip enhancements of the most recent Softail chassis, the shock can solely achieve this a lot with 3.4 inches of journey because it will get scant cushioning assist from the low-profile rear tire. It’s not fairly a brutal trip, however it’s a great distance from plush. Riders who need a visceral really feel for the street will find it irresistible, although they must tolerate the occasional disquieting jolt from potholes and different street inconsistencies. The seat does assist cushion hits a bit, and there are lodging for a passenger.

5. The 2023 Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 will solely take you so quick on the native freeways. As much as about 70 mph or so, the Breakout is fairly comfy. Nevertheless, transfer a lot quicker than that, and also you’ll discover that you’ve turn into an air-gathering sail, and it will get more and more strenuous to carry on. Additionally, in case your freeways are as overwhelmed up as they’re in Los Angeles, you’ll really feel each bump, ripple, crease, and imperfection—hey, some folks pay additional for that.

6. The Breakout will nook, although pretty reluctantly. Every thing concerning the geometry and development of the Breakout is about stepping into a straight line. The 130mm entrance tire has to work laborious to get the flat-profile rear tire to alter instructions, so that you should be devoted to creating it occur. Cornering clearance is restricted, so that you’ll wish to take it simple within the twisties—this can be a Harley-Davidson about straight-line dominance with out a lot concern for agility. On the upside, when you decide to a line, the Breakout will maintain agency till the footpeg feeler begins to grind, which occurs after your bootheel touches down. This bike doesn’t encourage donning soft-sole driving footwear—deliver your boots.

7. What goes quick, should decelerate, although there’s nothing abrupt concerning the braking on the 2023 Harley-Davidson Breakout 117. That’s a single 300mm disc within the entrance, and it undoubtedly wants assist from the 282mm rear disc and the meaty footprint of the 240mm tire. Making an attempt to decelerate the inertia of the huge rear wheel and a 683-pound chassis by way of a single disc and 130mm entrance tire just isn’t the new setup. The footbrake is the go-to decelerator, whereas the entrance brake operates as an auxiliary anchor. Nevertheless, its use could trigger your leg to argue for house with the Heavy Breather consumption. Collectively, the brakes are positive for city driving, and intrusive ABS is commonplace.

8. Instrumentation is impressively minimal on the Breakout 117. There’s a small huge and quick LCD display between the handlebar clamps, supplemented by warning lights beneath. Your velocity is the biggest and most vital readout. Once you get on the throttle laborious, you’ll discover how rapidly the rpm quantity rises. Luckily, the LAPD doesn’t have a lot curiosity in implementing site visitors legal guidelines in its jurisdiction. When you’ve got plenty of officers the place you trip, take care—it’s easy to immediately obliterate any pace restrict round city, and the Breakout encourages it.

9. With solely two jobs to do, the 2023 Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 can focus on them and do each properly. Once you’re on the Breakout, there’s little question you look cool—get used to frequent “good bike” feedback wherever you go. It’s additionally addictively enjoyable to go quick in a straight line, and nothing concerning the Breakout discourages it. Harley-Davidson created a brand new Breakout that’s quicker and extra comfy this 12 months, and that makes us very happy that it’s again in The Motor Firm’s lineup.

Motion images by Kelly Callan
Static images by Don Williams

RIDING STYLE

 2023 Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 Specs

ENGINE

• Kind: Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-twin
• Displacement: 117ci (1923cc)
• Bore x stroke: 4.075” x 4.5”
• Most energy: 101 horsepower @ 4750 rpm
• Most torque: 123 ft-lbs @ 3500 rpm
• Compression ratio: 10.2:1
• Valvetrain: Single-cam; 4 vpc
• Exhaust: 2-into-2; catalyst in muffler
• Cooling: Air and oil
• Transmission: 6-speed
• Major drive: Chain
• Closing drive: Belt

CHASSIS

• Body: Gentle-steel tubular body w/ rectangular-section spine
• Entrance suspension; journey: Non-adjustable Showa Twin Bending Valve 49mm fork; 5 inches
• Rear suspension: Spring-preload adjustable shock; 3.4 inches
• Wheels: Forged aluminum
• Entrance wheel: 21 x 3.5
• Rear wheel: 18 x 8
• Tires: Harley-Davidson Michelin Scorcher 11
• Entrance tire: 130/60 x 21
• Rear tire: 240/40 x 18
• Entrance brake: 300mm floating disc w/ fastened 4-piston caliper
• Rear brake: 282mm disc w/ floating 2-piston caliper
• ABS: Customary

DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES

• Wheelbase: 66.7 inches
• Rake: 34 levels
• Fork angle: 36 levels
• Path: 5.7 inches
• Seat peak: 26.2 inches
• Gasoline capability: 5 gallons
• Estimated gas consumption: 47 mpg
• Curb weight: 683 kilos
• Colours: Vivid Black; Black Denim (+$525); Baja Orange (+$525); Atlas Silver Metallic (+$525)

2023 Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 Worth: from $21,749 (together with surcharge); as-tested value: $22,474 MSRP

2023 Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 Evaluation Photograph Gallery