With an extended, low stance and styling that places the emphasis on its main parts, the brand new Harley-Davison FXSB Breakout is a no-nonsense energy cruiser that embodies the spirit of motorcycling whereas eschewing the trimmings of trendiness.

The brand new Softail manages this feat by conserving it easy, silly. The refined styling touches hold the concentrate on its elements – an indication that the times of extremely stylized bikes just like the Cross Bones are quickly receding within the Motor Firm’s rear view mirror.

If the Breakout sounds acquainted, it ought to; it’s the brooding youthful brother of final 12 months’s CVO Breakout. However whereas that $26,499 bike is awash in chrome and sparkle, the manufacturing mannequin, in dealerships in April, is a stripped-down, no-BS model that ought to garner a far wider viewers – thanks largely to its $17,899 price ticket.

For the primary time, Harley has adopted one among its CVO bikes with a mass-produced model that goals for a wider demographic. This was not an afterthought; these bikes had been developed concurrently, with the limited-production CVO serving as a tasty hors d’oeuvre to the meat-and-potatoes meal served right here.

Make no mistake: the Breakout is a bona fide knockout. Nevertheless it achieves its enchantment by means of poise and confidence reasonably than flash and sprint. The entrance controls mix with a attain to the handlebar to place the rider in a broad-shouldered, four-point stance. Twin staggered mufflers give the motor a imply growl as an alternative of an obnoxious bark. The 35-degree rake and 5.7 inches of path contribute to the lengthy, low-slung look, and the broad 49mm fork permits the 130mm entrance tire to place a daring foot ahead.

With a 1.25-inch drag-style handlebar and gasser-style wheels, the Breakout forges a menacing presence. Notice the alternately-polished aluminum spokes.

The Breakout’s identification is anchored by its use of gloss black on chrome; it’s an expertly utilized scheme that retains the bike from trying like only a stripped-down Softail. The gloss black adorns the body and swingarm, headlight bucket, exhaust shields, oil tank, rotors, handlebar, and fork lowers, and it performs off the chrome on the higher fork, air cleaner, fender struts, head covers and pipes to attract the attention towards the Breakout’s main parts: its engine and wheels. The doughty look is complemented by a demure handlebar-mounted speedo (with digital trip- and twin odos, range-to-empty counter and clock) and unadorned sprint.

The clipped rear fender is positioned near the tire, so there’s no gentle shining by means of between the rubber and the metallic – a mode crime that detracts from the fats tire profile on so many different low-pro choppers. The passenger pillion options tool-less elimination that exposes no bolt holes.

Chopped fenders and a side-mounted license plate expose loads of rubber.

Within the saddle, the Breakout’s 24.7-inch seat top must be greater than accessible sufficient for any rider to plant his or her ft at a cease. The ahead controls are massive and intuitive. The stretch to the drag bar, nonetheless, just isn’t insignificant, and the impact is compounded by the widespread placement of the grips. On our trip across the Florida countryside, the huge attain appeared incongruous to the bike’s dealing with – however then, Florida’s notoriously straight and flat roads not often require a rider to make use of a lot leverage. Nonetheless, this might grow to be a consolation concern over the lengthy haul, significantly for short-armed motorcyclists.

With its broad drag-style handlebar, even average-sized riders must stretch to achieve the grips.

The posture is interactive, although, and when the Breakout pulls strongly from a cease, the rider is ready. Energy is clean and beneficiant, rider suggestions is liberal, and the Breakout’s plush suspension retains the bumps on the pavement the place they belong.

The Breakout’s 710-pound moist weight and 23.4-degree lean angle make the bike simple to manuever through weight shifts, even with that fats 240 out again.

The Twin Cam 103B engine is as ardent as you’d anticipate from Harley’s stalwart powerplant. Pushing 95.5 ft.-lb. of crankshaft-rated torque, it combines with a six-speed tranny to ship efficiency on par with any of Harley’s present manufacturing Softails. Whether or not tearing down the freeway or cruising the boulevard, the Breakout delivers.

The Breakout is available in Vivid Black; for $400 additional you may get it in Huge Blue Pearl or Ember Purple Sunglo (our favourite).

With assured grace and steadfast confidence – and an MSRP lurking at or close to the underside of the vary – the brand new FXSB Breakout certainly stands as one of many Softail line’s coolest prospects. As with all new Harley-Davidsons, a two-year guarantee with limitless mileage is commonplace, and Sensible Safety and anti-lock brakes are non-obligatory.

The brand new Breakout made its debut on Principal Avenue throughout Daytona Seashore Bike Week.