2024 Harley-Davidson Breakout 117: A Comprehensive Guide On Features, Specs, And Pricing

After a three-year production hiatus on the Breakout platform that comprised the base-model Breakout and the Breakout 114, Harley-Davidson revisits the family for MY23 with the new Breakout 117 that pretty much rolls straight over into 2024. As a member of the Softail family, the Breakout 117 comes built around the factory’s second-generation faux-rigid frame that mimics the look of the later model hardtails from the 1940s when solid rear ends and hydraulic front ends briefly overlapped. The result is a classic-looking machine with all the comforts of modern swingarm technology in an old-school package.

This bike is a showroom drag bike. Whether you go legit on a track or simply are racing from light to light is up to you. The two are not mutually exclusive in the least. It’s almost like a CVO bike in performance, displacement, and electronics, just without the sticker-shock firewall. The Softail family first saw the light of day in mid-1983 with the 1984 release of the FXST Softail. This saw a slew of variants throughout the years, culminating in the first major rebuild in 2017 for a MY18 release on the second-generation Softail frame and a whole new set of new variants to go with it. The latest Breakout model has this new frame to go with its new engine and other goodies.

What’s New For 2024

Subjected to a ground-up rebuild, it isn’t hyperbolic to say that nearly every bit of the Breakout saw updates during the reimagination last year. A new, second-generation frame supports this machine while addressing the issues that plagued the original Softail structure, such as poor handling and less-than-stellar comfort.

H-D’s Mil-8 117 is new to the family as well with its soul-crushing torque and blistering acceleration. A new tank console arrangement and deep-scoop saddle redefine the cockpit area, and chrome replaces some of the blackout treatment to make this a brighter machine than its immediate forebear. The new year brings new color combinations with edgy, model-specific graphics.

2024 Highlights

• New comfortable and responsive chassis
• Large Big Twin engine
• Basic rider-safety electronics suite
• Antique frame geometry from the 1940s
• Bobbed sheet metal for minimal weight

2024 Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 Performance And Capability

H-D’s relatively new engine family, the Milwaukee-Eight V-Twin, powers this new-for-’23 Breakout model. Displacement increased from 114 cubic inches to 117 cubic inches with a concurrent increase in power output. The 2024 Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 produces 101 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque. That torque figure is up from 119 pounds of grunt for an incremental advantage over the previous gen.

This engine relies mainly on the air-cooling efforts of the cooling fins, but it also uses oil-cooling features for targeted cooling and extra heat dissipation through the oil cooler that rides between the frame’s downtubes. Each of the two heads holds a quartet of poppets, hence the devilishly clever “Eight” element of this model’s name, so it really opens up the combustion chamber for efficient induction and waste-gas removal. Bore and stroke come at 103.5 mm and 114 mm respectively, for a total displacement of 1,923 cc.

A 10.2-to-1 compression ratio will require the use of mid-grade gasoline to avoid knock/ping/run-on issues. The Breakout 117 top speed is around 120 MPH, though individual results may vary. Traction control comes as standard to help prevent the rear end from breaking loose upon rapid acceleration.

Performance Specifications

Design And Styling

Design and history cross paths on Breakout 117, in more ways than one. The frame doesn’t just have a tricky triangular swingarm to mimic the old rigid frames, it has elements from the custom culture as well. There’s some gasser/bobber action going on with a cut-down front fender and heavily bobbed rear fender that’s as long as its support struts to waste not an ounce on unnecessary bodywork. Blackout and chrome meet in the middle to give the bike plenty of visual contrast and curb appeal.

The headlights use LED tech for its sheer lumen output and low power draw, but the factory sticks to good old-fashioned incandescent bulbs for everything else. There’s a little pullback in the handlebar and riser setup, but not much. With the forward controls factored in, it forces the pilot into the windsock position, which may be a bit intimidating for newer riders and will be wearisome over long distances.

The five-gallon fuel tank gives it the legs for such long stretches with the classic teardrop profile and chrome tank console. A small LCD screen built into the handlebar riser cap takes care of the instrumentation for the ultimate benchmark in clean cockpits. It comes ready to carry a passenger right off the showroom floor.

Specifications And Dimensions

Chassis And Handling

Mild steel makes up the tubular frame that relies on a backbone and double-downtube/dual-cradle arrangement for its strength, and the engine is completely supported rather than doubling as a support itself. The fall from the steering head to the rear axle is one continuous line that mimics the old rigid frames. This allows for a dead-low laden seat height of only 25.6 inches off the deck, which will be very confidence-inspiring at stops, even for shorter riders.

Adjustable spring preload at the rear shock is the only suspension tweak found, but at least the front end is Showa’s 49 mm Dual Bending Valve forks that deliver demand-driven damping variations for a ride that is far superior to just plain vanilla stems with no need to fiddle with little adjusters. Cast-aluminum rims run with the Gloss Black finish on the 26-spoke design, and come shod with Michelin Scorcher 11 hoops in a 130/60-21 ahead of a 240/40-18. That nice big front wheel also adds to the Breakout’s old-school custom chops as well. As for brakes, a single front disc and four-bore anchor take care of business ahead of a two-pot caliper out back with stock ABS all around.

Chassis And Suspension

2024 Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 Price And Availability

MSRP on the 2024 H-D Breakout 117 starts at $22,499. That’s for the Billiard Gray colorway. In a departure from the historical norm, the bike comes in Vivid Black, but it’s not the base color. Vivid Black paint adds $350 to the total, but if you fancy the White Onyx Pearl, Blue Burst, or Alpine green packages, you can add $650 to the tally.

Pricing And Features

2024 Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 Versus Its Competitors

Call it a sport cruiser or power cruiser as you like, but it lands in the same company around the world. I have a couple that may appeal to the same sort of buyer, the Indian Sport Chief and Triumph Rocket 3 R.

How the Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 Compares To The Indian Sport Chief

• 

  2024 Harley-Davidson Breakout

  Expert Opinion: This new generation of Softail models ride and handle much better than the first Softail skeleton. That said, the engine and electronics on the Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 still steal the show. Passenger comfort takes a backseat to performance and presentation.

  Engine:

  1,923 cc V-twin

  Torque

  123 LB-FT @ 3,500 RPM

  Transmission

  6-Speed Cruise Drive® manual

  Driveline

  RWD

  MSRP

  $22,499

  Pros

  • Powerful engine
  • Stock safety aids
  • Solid performance
  • Low seat height

  Cons

  • Stock forward controls
  • Could use adjustable forks
  • Disappointing color choices from the King of Paint

• 

  2024 Indian Sport Chief

  Expert Opinion: The Indian Sport Chief is another powerful machine, but one with more electronic ride-control systems to keep it all under control. Somewhat more interesting color choices, too. Cool West-Coast vibe from the bobbed fenders and bullet fairing.

  Engine:

  1,890 cc V-twin (116 cu in)

  Torque

  122 LB-FT @ 2,900 RPM

  Transmission

  6-speed manual

  Driveline

  RWD

  MSRP

  $19,999

  Pros

  • Mid-mount footpeg position
  • Fairing provides some rider protection
  • Powerful engine

  Cons

  • Stock solo seat
  • Could use adjustable forks
  • May be cramped for taller riders

Indian is H-D’s oldest domestic competitor, and it shares a similar arc of evolution with more in common with H-D products than not. Indian also mimics the look of its own antique bikes with a downtube/cradle frame and massive V-twin powerplant, but veers into contemporary equipment with inverted KYB forks and a more expansive rider electronics suite than the Breakout along with Indian’s RIDE COMMAND infotainment package.

The 116 cubic-inch Thunderstroke engine in the Sport Chief blends old with new through a faux flathead engine that mimics the old sidevalve engines with fake cooling fins on the rocker box covers and the parallel pushrod geometry. It produces 122 pound-feet of torque to fall a tad short of the H-D, but still, it’s a respectable figure that will be loads of fun to ride. MSRP starts at $19,999 to leave a couple grand on the table.

How the Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 Compares To The Triumph Rocket 3 R

• 

  2024 Harley-Davidson Breakout

  Expert Opinion: This new generation of Softail models ride and handle much better than the first Softail skeleton. That said, the engine and electronics on the Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 still steal the show. Passenger comfort takes a backseat to performance and presentation.

  Engine:

  1,923 cc V-twin

  Torque

  123 LB-FT @ 3,500 RPM

  Transmission

  6-Speed Cruise Drive® manual

  Driveline

  RWD

  MSRP

  $22,499

  Horsepower

  101 HP @ 4,750 RPM

  Pros

  • Powerful engine
  • Stock safety aids
  • Solid performance
  • Low seat height

  Cons

  • Stock forward controls
  • Could use adjustable forks
  • Disappointing color choices from the King of Paint

• 

  2024 Triumph Rocket 3 R

  Expert Opinion: The Triumph Rocket 3 R definitely has more of a European flavor to it, but that’s to be expected. There’s no arguing with the performance numbers though, nor the utility of its stock electronics package. The look is a bit stodgy, but with that kind of power, who cares?.

  Engine:

  2,458 cc inline-3

  Torque

  163 LB-FT @ 4,000 RPM

  Transmission

  6-speed manual

  Driveline

  RWD

  MSRP

  $23,895

  Horsepower

  165 HP @ 6,000 RPM

  Pros

  • Solid performance figures
  • Adjustable suspension
  • Top-shelf electronics

  Cons

  • It’s hard to give a triple the same charm as an American twin
  • Heavy at around 700 pounds
  • Seat is relatively high at 30.4 inches

The Brits have their own take on the power cruiser theme, and the Triumph Rocket 3 R is a rough equivalent. This thing is a beast with a 2.5-liter, three-cylinder engine that brings the goods with 165 ponies and 163 pounds o’ grunt to shame the Breakout. It gets the suspension that the others need with adjustable Showa yummy goodness front and rear and a cushy suspension stroke.

The electronics are a tad better with cornering ABS, a quartet of rider modes, and is ready for the optional Triumph Connectivity System. Since it has mid-mount foot controls rather than forward controls, your heels are closer to being under your hips, which is a more confidence-inspiring riding position. Triumph comes off looking proud with a $23,895 sticker that’s the highest of the three.

He Said/She Said

He Said

“If you’re looking for a sleeper that can surprise sportier machines on the street or down on the strip, then look no further ’cause the Breakout 117 has you covered. H-D has only one production engine larger than the Mil-8 117, and it’s currently reserved solely for CVO use. The electronics are sufficient for a safe ride without being over-complicated to operate, and if I had to pick two, ABS and traction control are the features I’d go for first.”

She Said

My wife and fellow motorcycle rider, Allyn Hinton, says,

“The pullback on the bars is only a skosh more than the previous model, but it’s enough to give a more comfortable rider position. The looks are stylishly updated, but still present a drag-strip-inspired design overall. It’s a monster off the line and in the straights, but that dragster design along with the fat rear tire means it’s less-than-agile handling. If the Breakout is the bike for you, agile handling isn’t your priority.”