The Harley Breakout is part of the new generation of factory cruisers benefiting from the 2018 Softail all-new chassis, lighter and 34% stiffer than before, with new adjustable mono shock rear suspension. In the front, a new Showa® SDBV® suspension technology providing the performance of a racing-style cartridge fork with linear damping characteristics. The 2018 Breakout, with its factory dragster style attitude now offers increased lean angles, sharper turn-in response and quicker accelerations. It’s a great canvas for personalization, to add more muscle to its hard riding stance and to show the street what you are made of…
As I already explained before in several posts, there is an unofficial competition between Harley dealers to be the first to customize one of the eight 2018 all-new Softail® models. This bike by Thunderbike Customs seems to be the first fully customized 2018 Breakout appearing on the custom scene. Powered by the new Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine ((1,868 cc) this Breakout is ready to devour asphalt with real street muscle.
As a Harley Dealer, and to preserve the very valuable Milwaukee warranty, Thunderbike kept intact the 114” Milwaukee-Eight engine and 6-speed Cruise Drive Transmission. Rare enough on any professional custom job to be mentioned here, the factory gloss black, Gasser II cast aluminum wheels look so one-off that it was decided to also keep them! But in the rear Thunderbike went for an ever meaner Breakout look, replacing the 18” 240 mm stock tire with a 18” 260 mm Metzeler ME880.
A new stretched aluminum gas tank and new steel rear fender were hand-fabricated at the shop. Taillight was frenched on this rear fender lip. A very creative machine work was done to create from scratch a new housing for the H-D Daymaker® Signature LED Headlamp. In the front, the riser-mounted digital instrument screen was preserved, but risers were switched for the Thunderbike Flat model. Pegs & grips are Harley Defiance models. Mirrors are from Rizoma model Circuit 74, Front Turn Signals are made with Thunderbike Strips. For exhaust, an Euro 4 system from Jekill & Hyde was chosen. With little fabrication and some great bolt-on parts the H-D Breakout gets a great modern edge custom performance look. Thunderbike Customs Germany.
Of all the new bye bye Dyna soft tails this is my favorite by far . Ride it daily as is to the office/job and then slap some soft bags on for the weekend and you’ve got perhaps the best allrounder of the bunch . Not that I’d buy one mind you what with the company’s current stance on things . But it is my favorite
Well done…..
Like very much.
Fantastic job.
My favourite custom bike builder with another very nice bike! Too bad HD didn’t have the customer option of buying these exact bikes through their dealers. They would sell like crazy!
Now we’re talking! Nice job creating a custom I’d want to ride.
I will put real money on it – in time the new Softails will outsell any other model in the history of HD.
Eventually the Polarindians will fade into the background in ways similar to the defeated Victory…
PS – cannot wait for somebody to do a ‘super-light’ Fat Bob 117 (Hot Rod).
WOW, another black paint shaker…
Ya just have to love something tat clean…..!!!
-nicker-
Wow, very nice bike. I agree with Mr Ryan, it would be nice to see this offered at the dealership
Its a pro build, Thunderbike has great leadership, talented & committed team and resources. Haven’t seen them miss the mark on refining stock bikes. Hope this inspires the countless hard workin guys at US dealers.
this engine could be the next “evo” that pulls harley into the future, softails are nice/overdue update too
Damn nice looking day rider! Well done! Now if only HD could make these as a premium version but not so expensive as their over-priced CVO line. I guess that’s what makes a Harley a Harley though. Everyone gets to spend $5k-$10k in farkles to make “their own”.
Look out Indian; heads will be looking HD’s way a lot more. Especially with the 114″ engine.
Damn nice looking day rider! Well done! Now if only HD could make these as a premium version but not so expensive as their over-priced CVO line. I guess that’s what makes a Harley a Harley though. Everyone gets to spend $5k-$10k in farkles to make “their own”.
Look out Indian; heads will be looking HD’s way a lot more. Especially with the 114″ engine.
Damn nice looking day rider! Well done! Now if only HD could make these as a premium version but not so expensive as their over-priced CVO line. I guess that’s what makes a Harley a Harley though. Everyone gets to spend $5k-$10k in farkles to make “their own”.
Look out Indian; heads will be looking HD’s way a lot more. Especially with the 114″ engine.
nice flow/ proportions of the top of the bike, tank-seat-rear fender
Haha. I like SIGFREED’s name for Indians, “polarindian”. I will remember that. I love the new Breakout, too.
It would be nice if Polaris could give Harley some real competition; it would be good for both brands and for the customers. But I don’t see it happening anytime soon.
“For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished. It is a devastating fire that destroys to hell. It would wipe out everything I own.” Thanks for damning me to hell with this Thunderbiuke post, Cyril.
Kudos to the photographer!
The camerawork and digital enhancements remind me of Gordon Calder’s work.
Apologies for the multiple posts. Must have been a glitch in the website software.
Look at the specs. on this MW8 then spend three to four thousand dollars after doing so, call up Indian. That’s how close this Yamaha (knock off) engine is to the Indian 111 motor! Quit faking your self out!
Is there an interpreter here?
Lol!
Wait a minute: let me get this straight HD has a super secret competition with it’s deals to customize a bike then HD steals all the creativity?
Can anyone tell me what exhaust system is on this Milwaukee 114 breakout and does it sound good ?
Glen………… For exhaust, an Euro 4 system from Jekill & Hyde was chosen