Harley-Davidson Breakout review: first thoughts

VISORDOWN'S Laura Thomson is on the launch of Harley-Davidson's 2018 Softail range in Barcelona. Here are her first thoughts on the Breakout:

'What's immediately noticeable is the bike's muscly characteristics. The huge 240mm rear tyre and 34-degree rake mean this 294kg machine takes some serious shove to turn in to bends, and manoeuvring at slow speeds is equally difficult. 

'The redesigned Milwaukee-Eight engine makes 119lb-ft at 3,000revs and solid mounting helps to keep vibrations low, without losing the characteristic for which Harleys are renowned.

'Riding ergonomics are just a little bit off for this 5ft8 rider. The gear shift and brakes were a stretch, as were the widespread bars. But shorter riders need not fret, as not only can the pegs be adjusted, but Harley-Davidson offers more than 300 accessories for the 2018 Softail range, which includes a selection of seats. 

'While the fat back tyre and extreme rake may make the bike difficult to ride, it looks great, emulating the custom look that many riders create themselves.'

Watch out for the full review of the Breakout and other Softail models on Visordown soon.