2016 Harley-Davidson® Softail Breakout
New for 2016
Harley-Davidson® brags that it has “a century's worth of commitment to life on two wheels”, and the 2016 Harley-Davidson® Softail Breakout demonstrates the depth of that commitment. This year, the Softail Breakout boasts a brand-new High Output Twin Cam 103B engine, which promises to change the riding experience forever.
Classic Hardtail Design Meets Modern Comfort
The aggressive, stretched out design of the 2016 Softail Breakout pays tribute to Harley-Davidson’s® long history of muscular bikes, and the new High Output Twin Cam 103B engine delivers powerful torque. Other updates include an electronic throttle and a choice between standard and electronic cruise control.
However, underneath all that swagger riders get shocking comfort that can only have been developed through decades of road experience. Add the smoother ride to upgrades in performance, then throw in cutting-edge style. That’s the 2016 Harley-Davidson® Softail Breakout.
Powertrain and Performance
The biggest news in Breakout performance is the air-cooled High Output Twin Cam 103B™ engine featuring 3,000 foot-pounds of torque. This reimagining of the classic Softail 45 V-Twin means more power delivered where it counts – directly to the Gasser Cast Aluminum wheels. Thanks to innovative counterbalancing, the engine is bolted right to the frame, so there's no interruption to the tight styling at the bike’s center.
Harley-Davidson® combined this engine with Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) and a 34/46 chain drive for exceptional performance, and the bike boasts staggered, straight cut chrome mufflers with gloss black muffler shields. Superior engineering lets riders feel the engine’s power without any major rattling, adding to the Breakout’s remarkably smooth ride.
Fuel economy comes in at about 42 miles per gallon*, so the five-gallon tank will get you across the state fast – no pit stops necessary. The 4-piston fixed front caliper-style brakes work seamlessly with the 2-piston floating rear caliper-style brakes for precise stopping power, made easier with standard ABS.
It’s true that Harley-Davidson® is obsessed with perfection, as evidenced by the hundreds of thousands of miles logged on earlier Breakouts. All that road time inspired a stiffer frame, greater geometric balance and an all-around more responsive machine.
Others in the 2016 Harley-Davidson® Softail lineup include the Softail Slim, the Fat Boy, the Fat Boy Lo, the Heritage Softail Classic and the Softail Deluxe. While all come equipped with the High Output Twin Cam 103B™ engine, the Breakout is a bit longer, a bit lower and a bit more hardcore. All that comes a slightly higher base MSRP of $18,799.**
Features and Trims
The visual impact of 2016’s Breakout is all the more powerful for its premium finish and 3-D Tank Medallion. The bike comes standard in Vivid Black, which is an unexpected balance between shadows and light. By some accounts, the tank medallion looks almost liquid, which turns heads every time.
More color is an option, and those that want to make a massive first impression can choose the bold Hard Candy Custom™ finish. Hard Candy colors are awash in large metal flakes, and the selection includes Charcoal Denim, Black Gold Flake, Billet Silver, Velocity Red, and Crushed Ice Pearl.
Color isn’t the only thing that makes Breakout riders stand out. Every detail is custom designed to keep the whole bike as sleek as possible. Even the console is carefully planned to integrate with the overall look, tightly styled with electrical lines and vents that blend into the full visual experience.
Design
Inspired by the classic Gasser drag bikes popular in the 1950s and 1960s, the Breakout is long and low. Everything else is extra-large, from big wheels to bright paint and show-stopping chrome. This bike is made to be eye catching, whether on the road or standing still.
The sleek design is intended to show off smooth lines and special features, like the horseshoe oil tank – a nod to Harley-Davidson® tradition. Even the license plate is side-mounted, to ensure there is no interruption in the clean lines of the rear tire and chopped fender.
Of course, the front end exudes muscle, thanks to wide forks and the dragster-style 21-inch-long, 3 1/2-inch-wide Gasser front wheel. Despite the custom look, the feel is nothing but premium – balanced and smooth, mile after mile. It’s no wonder people stop and look when a Breakout goes by.
Safety
The Breakout comes standard with an anti-lock braking system, and riders can expect critical lights and gauges for improved riding safety. The bike offers high-beam headlights, a low oil pressure indicator, turn signals, low fuel lights, a low battery light and engine diagnostics.
Bottom Line
The bottom line is that the 2016 Harley-Davidson® Softail Breakout is everything a bike should be. Aggressive. Powerful. Eye-catching. Yet despite all indications that it is a classic custom design, the Breakout rides with every bit of the comfort modern engineering has to offer.
Visit Test Nissan today to start building your Breakout.
* Estimated from fuel economy tests on a sample motorcycle from the corresponding family conducted by Harley-Davidson® under ideal laboratory conditions. Not all motorcycle models undergo fuel economy testing. Fuel economy and mileage may vary among motorcycle models within a family. Your mileage may vary depending on your personal riding habits, weather conditions, trip length, vehicle condition and vehicle configuration and other conditions. Break-in mileage may vary.
** Prices listed are the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices. Options such as color are available at additional cost. Prices exclude dealer setup, taxes, title and licensing and are subject to change. Dealer prices may vary.
Image: Harley-Davidson®