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Trading DX for Softail Breakout

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barnabylee

· VRSCDXA Owner
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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Visited my local HD dealership to try the new Breakout as I really like the look of it and have never had a traditional Harley, and wanted to see what all the fuss is about.

View attachment 254617

The 2 salesmen couldn't stopped praising it and its sold out until October so I was really expecting something special. The seat is so comfortable and from the off its winning my heart, but then suddenly on applying the brakes I'm hit with disappointment, they're not in the same class as the DX, and take a real squeeze to slow you up.
The engine hits me next, a 103 cu in for those that don't know, and it sounds and feels like a bag of spanners, with no urgency anywhere, but it does have a 6 speed box with a 6 that lights up on the speedo when you're in in sixth, very impressive!
Needless to say I couldn't find the magic that I was expecting and I'm at a loss as to what I'm missing. For me this bike is atrocious, apart from looking the part I can't find anything else good to say about it. I'm not knocking this because its air cooled, I so much wanted to love this bike, but I'm at a loss as to where the magic is. I tried it on the motorway and on twisting lanes, fast and slow and the weather was perfect, but I just don't get it! What am I missing?

For me my love for the DX has grown even more, I have exorcised my air cooled demons and I can carry on with modding my DX without fear of thinking I'm missing out on something special.

If you've never ridden an air cooled Harley before, I urge you to try it, I'm pretty sure you'll love your DX even more, or maybe there's somebody out there who can tell me where the magic hides in an air cooled.

Ride safe!!
 
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Discussion starter · #2 ·
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#4 ·
I'll try to answer your question. I've been a Softail guy since 93' and think that I have a bad kick ass Softail with a 120" engine putting 126 hp and 130 tq. at the wheel. The bike to say the least, can perform. This bike has taken me to Niagra Falls, Sturgis, everything in between, and all kind of places through the years. And I'm talking riding it, no trailing. The bike has about 120K on it. I say 120, because the speedo broke around 84k. Plus, riding with a 91 FXR, and of course, my beloved Vrod. Now, what's the mystic of the model, the alure, I would have to say NONE! That 93' beats the S...t out of me. The new Softails are a Lot smoother because of the "B" engine (stands for balanced shafts) taking out the vibes 100 times better than the older rigid mount Softails. Here's the problem with that. Along comes a little 76" engine on a just as heavy bike as the Softail, and wupps the bejeases out of it. Not to mention that this bike (the V) is much more comfortable. And of courese, I and many others here have gone long distances with the V, and it just doesn't dissapoint. I said it before, and I'll say it again: the Vrod doesn't do anything great; however, it does a LOT of things excellent.
 
#6 ·
Whooo - a 6 LIGHT on the instrument cluster?

Screw my totally customized DX, that shocks the crap out of ricers/euro's...

Gotta get me one of THESE...
















NOT....

Rick
 
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#7 ·
See, I had a softail with a 120 as well. Sucker would haul ass but I hated just about everything else about the bike. The ride was shit, and even counterbalanced over a long day the vibes would beat you up. Brakes, just about useless in comparison too. Didn't realize what a shit ride softails have until I made the mistake of taking a 2012 Dx out for a ride. Hated the softail even more after that. I now own a 2013 DX and absolutely love the bike. I put about 7k into the softail engine and this damn v rod out of the box with warranty would likely smoke it.
Your observations were 100% correct, now enjoy the v rod even more.
Ron
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Wow thanks for such honest answers, I wasn't expecting that from 2 owners, I thought there was going to be huge defence for them.
I'm glad I tried it and I realise that I found Harley's, or should I say, Willie G's gem straight off.
 
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#9 ·
The engine feels like a bag of spanners......lol.....haven't heard that before........

The bike def looks that part.......just doesn't deliver by your description ...

Harley...making slow bikes for over a 100 years.
 
#11 ·
barnabylee said:
Visited my local HD dealership to try the new Breakout as I really like the look of it and have never had a traditional Harley, and wanted to see what all the fuss is about.

View attachment 254617

The 2 salesmen couldn't stopped praising it and its sold out until October so I was really expecting something special. The seat is so comfortable and from the off its winning my heart, but then suddenly on applying the brakes I'm hit with disappointment, they're not in the same class as the DX, and take a real squeeze to slow you up.
The engine hits me next, a 103 cu in for those that don't know, and it sounds and feels like a bag of spanners, with no urgency anywhere, but it does have a 6 speed box with a 6 that lights up on the speedo when you're in in sixth, very impressive!
Needless to say I couldn't find the magic that I was expecting and I'm at a loss as to what I'm missing. For me this bike is atrocious, apart from looking the part I can't find anything else good to say about it. I'm not knocking this because its air cooled, I so much wanted to love this bike, but I'm at a loss as to where the magic is. I tried it on the motorway and on twisting lanes, fast and slow and the weather was perfect, but I just don't get it! What am I missing?

For me my love for the DX has grown even more, I have exorcised my air cooled demons and I can carry on with modding my DX without fear of thinking I'm missing out on something special.

If you've never ridden an air cooled Harley before, I urge you to try it, I'm pretty sure you'll love your DX even more, or maybe there's somebody out there who can tell me where the magic hides in an air cooled.

Ride safe!!
Click to expand...
IMO, what you are missing is that you can't compare a V-Rod and an air-cooled HD as an either/or proposition. Two totally different designs to satisfy two totally different desires when riding.

When I want to surgically carve up twisties and just burn off some stress from the day, I hop on the V-Rod. I can't ride that bike slow no matter how hard I try; the scenery is always a blur when I'm on it. But there are times when I want a hulking, loud big twin under me with locomotive-size torque to cruise the back roads comfortably, and take in the sights. that's when I reach for the FXSBSE.

An example: I go down to the TN/NC border twice a year and take both bikes. When I'm running the Dragon, RT 28, or TN116, the FXS sits at the hotel. I feel sorry for all those folks on air-cooled HD's I see when I'm running those roads as they have no idea what they are missing. But when I jump on the Blue Ridge Parkway, it's the FXSBSE I'm on. Very comfortable for all day-cruising(I'm 6'6" and can stretch out), and contrary to what others say, not slow in the least; tons of torque to motor me up and down the hills. A fantastic way to see that part of the country on two wheels.
 
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Discussion starter · #12 · (Edited)
I understand what you are saying but in this day and age there is no excuse for crap brakes. These bikes aren't cheap by any means, and I think you have the 110, but with standard exhaust the 103 sounded like the big ends had gone, and I didn't find it smooth and as torquey as I had hoped. I seriously expected a call to say the engine had been found to have no oil in it. Judging it as a motorcycle on its own merits I find it impossible to justify that outlay. Here in the UK that bike retails at £15800, about $24000 US. There is no way I would part with my hard earned for that.
Luckily we all have different tastes and one mans junk is another mans treasure, and after all that its sold out here until October so someone's buying them.
 
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#16 ·
High altitude said:
That bike looks a lot like the Rocker (minus the stupid seat) HD made in 2008/2009 and nobody bought them.
Click to expand...
Good eye -- according to my local HD salesman, it is a recycled Rocker.
 
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#17 ·
I've owned 2 softails (fatboy and duece) 2 Dynas and 1 sportster,
along with 2 V Rods (2007 W and 2013 F).

I agree 100%. When I went back toa Dyna after the Vrod (and a C14) I hated the brakes and shakes!

6th gear is near useless below 80 MPH!!

I'm very happy to be back on a V ROD.

I will also say the newer Vs with slightly less rake and upside down forks have improved handling..

I love my V!!
 
#18 ·
I'm really glad I read this thread. I have been back and forth about trading into a CVO Breakout for weeks now. The cost alone is enough to put me in check... but I loved the look of the bike. Ironically, my biggest concern was the ride. Just from sitting on it I could tell that I'd be annoyed by how far the trans juts out on the left side where you put your feet down. Looking at the tire and the front rake, I got the impression the handling wouldn't be better than where I was at now. I dunno, I was torn on this one. Glad I saw this thread.

Great looking bike though.
 
#19 ·
vdubturbo said:
I'm really glad I read this thread. I have been back and forth about trading into a CVO Breakout for weeks now. The cost alone is enough to put me in check... but I loved the look of the bike. Ironically, my biggest concern was the ride. Just from sitting on it I could tell that I'd be annoyed by how far the trans juts out on the left side where you put your feet down. Looking at the tire and the front rake, I got the impression the handling wouldn't be better than where I was at now. I dunno, I was torn on this one. Glad I saw this thread.

Great looking bike though.
Click to expand...
That's what happened to me when I was looking for a Rocker C, it only took me 3 seconds seating on it at the salesfloor to say "NOPE!"
 
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