Think of iconic cruiser bike brands, and Harley-Davidson will inevitably spring to your mind. After all, the cruiser segment has always been really important for the Motor Company. As a result, the company’s motorcycle lineup is dominated by cruisers. There are a total of 10 such bikes (seven Softails and three Sportsters).
Understandably, most of these then follow the retro design language, without much experimentation from the norm. So when we began our research for the “most aggressive-looking” out of the lineup, we only had three shortlisted contestants. What took the title then? Read on to find out.
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It is also the most badass-looking Harley-Davidson cruiser available today.
The Breakout Is The Most Aggressive-Looking Harley-Davidson V-Twin Cruiser In 2025
Price: $23,099
Out of our three picks, it’s the Breakout that takes the cake by a mile. Why, you ask? Well, because of its aggressive dragster-style chopper look. The 21-inch front wheel is a rare sight for cruisers in general, and the same can be said for the beefy 240-section rear. Add to that the uber-long wheelbase, and what you have is a certified head-turner of a bike. We also dig the new-for-2026 color options, such as Centerline Yellow, Brilliant Red, and our favorite, Midnight Firestorm with flame graphics.
In second place is the Low Rider S. It’s always been an aggressive cruiser in the H-D lineup, thanks to its chopper-esque design and burly overall stature. There are some nice design touches here, such as a small headlight cowl, blacked-out mechanicals, a sporty front fender, and alloy wheels. But the closer you look, the more the Breakout edges this. For instance, the air filter assembly and fuel tank both have much less oomph on the Low Rider. The Breakout’s two-into-two exhaust is also our preference over the Low Rider’s new-for-2025 single exhaust.
Last but not least is the Sportster S. It’s an entirely different design from the Softails, taking inspiration from old-school flat track bikes. The balloon-type tires, uber-minimalistic body panels, and a distinct headlight give it a unique identity, which many new-age riders dig. The upswept exhaust is a really cool design element as well, even though it’s not particularly practical (if you like taking pillions). But for us, the Low Rider S and Breakout both fit the H-D bill better. All said and done, design is a really subjective thing, so feel free to disagree with us in the comments.
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The Breakout Blends Retro Chopper Flavor With Modern-Day Features
All Your Fancy Electronic Aids Come Standard
Let’s dive deep into the design of the Breakout. Up top, it features a new LED headlight and nacelle for 2025. This is sleeker and more minimalistic than the previous-gen model. A closer look also reveals updated LED turn signals and chrome triple-trees to hold the forks. In the middle, the air cleaner is new, with a larger, more integrated shape. The tank, tail, and saddle remain the same as before, meanwhile.
Although there’s more chrome for 2025, the Breakout has become way more modern, too. Harley has thrown in its proper rider aid suite here, which comprises cornering traction control, cornering ABS, drag-torque slip control, and ride modes. This is topped with likable inclusions like TPMS, cruise control, a USB Type-C port, and new switchgear. Our only gripe is the basic semi-digital instrument cluster, which looks identical to Harley’s cheapest cruiser: the Nightster. Considering this costs well over twice the money, we expect better here.
2025 Breakout 117 Key Features
- Cornering traction control
- Cornering ABS
- Drag-torque slip control
- Ride modes
- Type-C port
- TPMS
- LED lights
- Cruise control
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Harley-Davidson’s Mighty Milwaukee-Eight Powers The Breakout 117
Peak Power: 104 HP
What’s the need for all that electronic prowess? Because there’s a mighty powerhouse under the skin. For 2025, the Breakout has the Milwaukee-Eight 117 Custom engine with minor updates over last year’s 117 engine. So the output here is 104 horsepower and 126 pound-feet–three horsepower and three pound-feet more than the 2024 bike. All that power reaches the wheel via a six-speed transmission driven by a belt.
Milwaukee-Eight 117 Custom Highlights
- 6 percent more power and 5 percent more torque
- 50 percent greater touring-style intake airbox volume
- Intake noise is significantly reduced
- More desirable, rumbling exhaust tone
Key Engine Specs
|
Engine |
Milwaukee-Eight 117 Custom |
|
Bore X Stroke |
4.075 X 4.5 inches |
|
Power |
104 HP @ 4,800 RPM |
|
Torque |
126 LB-FT @ 3,000 RPM |
|
Transmission |
Six-speed |
|
Claimed efficiency |
49 MPG |
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Showa Suspension And Laidback Ergonomics Round Off The Package
Seat Height: 25.6 inches
Coming to the underpinnings, the Breakout is built around a steel double-cradle chassis. It suspends on Showa 49 mm dual-bending telescopic forks and a Showa monoshock. Only the latter offers adjustment (hydraulic preload). This is tied up with a chopper-inspired wheel combination (21-inch front and 18-inch rear), each of which has a single disc brake to slow you down. That’s a bit of a bummer, considering this weighs almost 700 pounds fully fueled. What you might like is the massive 240-section rear wheel. It’s one of the widest in the cruiser world!
Harley has tried hard to ensure you don’t feel that weight, though. The seat is uber-low at 25.6 inches, the footpegs are forward-set, and the tubular handlebar is wide. The two-piece saddle appears quite spacious, too, with a separate section for the pillion. Its low and long stature comes at the cost of cornering clearance, meanwhile. You get under 27 inches of lean angle, be it right or left.
2025 Breakout 117 Key Dimensions
- Wheelbase: 66.7 inches
- Ground clearance: 4.5 inches
- Rake: 34 degrees
- Seat height: 25.6 inches
- Tank capacity: 5 gallons
- Tire size: 130-section front and 240-section rear
- Weight: 681 pounds