For this issue, I wanted to compare the incomparable. Japanese custom bikers are a breed apart. Snubbed by Harley riders. And barely acknowledged by others. Yet these bikes can be a very interesting option when buying a "cool" two-wheeler
"BREAKOUT
"What are you waiting for, the time has come to make your break ........ Breakout
Don't stop to ask, now you've found a break to make at last, You've got to find a way, say what you want to say ...........Breakout"
The words of the Swing Out Sister song never leave me... And that's because in a few hours I'll have the great good fortune, thanks once again to Oli the Belgian, whom I thank from the bottom of my heart, to ride Harley Davidson's latest little gem, the Breakout.a Softail in its 2013 version, a bike with a dragster look and completely uncluttered deco.
Riding pleasure:
On twisty roads, despite its 308 kg weight and fat rear tire, the Breakout handles with ease, well helped by its wide, straight handlebars and well thought-out geometry. Stability is also on point. If you accelerate a little on a country road, you'll have fun without too much fear, as long as the pavement remains smooth.on the other hand, as soon as the road deteriorates, the low-slung rear suspension causes a little suffering, while the fork swallows irregularities well. This remains "viable", if we take into account the type of machine.
Handling:
As far as handling is concerned, although I'm no great specialist, I found the brakes to be reassuringly progressive and powerful.although the center of gravity is low (seat height 660 mm), as on most Harleys, handling is not ideal, partly due to the machine's weight, but also to its length (nearlys 2.50m) and the enormous low-profile rear tire (240 mm), which tends to make the bike stand up on its own and bring it back to a vertical position in some tight corners.a "virile" motorcycle, which a woman sometimes finds difficult to handle.
Riding position:
When I first saw the "Breakout", I said to myself that I wasn't going to be able to get to the handlebars unless I bent in half, because it's so incredibly long.the seat, however, is positioned in such a way as to allow an immediate grip despite the bike's 308 kilos. Admittedly, the straight handlebars force the rider to reach a little further, and the short-arm mirrors can be a nuisance when repositioning the hand on the handlebars, but the generously padded saddle provides the rider with a real level of comfort.
Look:
An absolutely devastating look in the purest "rebel on the road" style that's sure to catch everyone's eye with real charisma. What's more, this Harley manages the feat of being an endearing motorcycle, full of character with the ability to be totally usable on a daily basis. If you've got a biker's heart.
User-friendliness:
The Breakout is a true Harley, with a marked authenticity that makes you want to take the plunge and enter religion. On the other hand, the passenger seat is far too hard, with no padding and brittle buttocks, and will make your passenger give up after 20 kilometers.
No more.
One even wonders if the designer of said saddle has ever tested it himself, and if he hasn't designed it to make this Breakout totally exclusive and selfish.
yAMAHA XVS 1300 "DRAGSTAR
"It has all the makings of a great......!!! "
Driving pleasure :
I engage the first gear...and immediately find myself in the CHiPs series...!! You don't have to turn the handle all the way for the machine to start vigorously, almost abruptly. The bi develops 72 hp/din. I thought I'd come across a docile little custom, but the XVS turns out to be dynamic, even nervous... As a result, the first gear requires you to handle the clutch to gain in smoothness. The engine delivers excellent acceleration in town. The windscreen offers optimum protection from the wind, making for a more relaxed ride.
Handling:
With a center of gravity close to the ground and a seat height of 695 mm, the XVS is very maneuverable in town. The flat feet also make it easy to maneuver at very low speeds. And don't forget the width of the suitcases when going backwards in traffic! One small fault in my opinion is the footrests, which rub against the asphalt when the bike is tilted, even slightly.... It's surprising and you tend to want to straighten the bike in the middle of a bend, which gives a feeling of imbalance.
Riding position:
What struck me when I first saw the Yamaha was the very wide saddle; just by looking at it, I knew the seat was going to be comfortable. Once straddled, the feet lie flat, even for a small rider. Arms outstretched reach for the cowhorn-shaped handlebars. The seat is low and the arms are almost level. For taller riders, it's necessary to have a rounded back. The knees come up a little and hug the tank, while the thighs rest largely on the saddle. The riding position quickly builds confidence.
Looks:
A motorcycle that sparkles.... !!!! Chrome is omnipresent, giving the Yamaha a prestigious look. Instrumentation is the bare minimum, with a tachometer, neutral, indicators and headlights, a reserve indicator and various trip meters. The panniers give the bike a very "Road 66" look, and their capacity is adequate.
So, in conclusion?
After a week on the Yamaha (which I got before the Harley), I thought the die was cast. The bike rides really well. The full braking, the abs, the two very comfortable saddles are all allies for cruising all year round. As is often the case with this type of windscreen, after 120 km/h, the wind tends to "push" the rider, the challenge being to ride slower.
On the 7th day, I arrived at Harley's, and bam, everything was called into question! The look, the beastly look, the aura of the bike is undeniable... The only question remains: "with a price that doubles, who's going to win?"
See you soon,
By Scale in collaboration with Oli the Belgian
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| Yamaha XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR 2013 | Harley-Davidson 1690 SOFTAIL BREAKOUT FXSB 2013 | ||||||||
Chassis |
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| Nombre de places | |||||||||
| Frame | |||||||||
| double berceau tubulaire en acier | Double berceau tubulaire en acier | ||||||||
| Fuel capacity | |||||||||
| 19 liters (5.02 US gallons) | 18.90 liters (4.99 US gallons) | ||||||||
| Oil capacity | |||||||||
| Seat height | |||||||||
| Seat height : 715 mm (28.15 in) | Seat height : 660 mm (25.98 in) | ||||||||
| Length | |||||||||
| Length : 2,490 mm (98.03 in) | Length : 2,445 mm (96.26 in) | ||||||||
| Width | |||||||||
| 980 mm (38.58 in) | |||||||||
| Height | |||||||||
| Min height : 1,115 mm (43.90 in) | |||||||||
| Ground clearance | |||||||||
| Wheelbase | |||||||||
| 1,690 mm (66.54 in) | 1,710 mm (67.32 in) | ||||||||
| Dry weight | |||||||||
| 283 kg | 308 kg | ||||||||
| Curb mass | |||||||||
| Weight when fully loaded | |||||||||
| 303 kg | 322 kg | ||||||||
| Brake assist | |||||||||
| ABS as standard | |||||||||
Front axle |
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| Suspension | |||||||||
| Telehydraulic fork Ø 41 mm | Telescopic fork Ø 41 mm | ||||||||
| Wheel travel | |||||||||
| 135 mm (5.31 in) | |||||||||
| Angle de chasse | |||||||||
| Setting | |||||||||
| Brake | |||||||||
| Braking 2 discs Ø 298 mm (11.73 in), 4-piston caliper | Braking 1 disc Ø 292 mm (11.5 in), 4-piston caliper | ||||||||
| Wheel | |||||||||
| Front tire : 130 / 90 - 16 | Front tire : 130 / 60 - 17 | ||||||||
| Pressure | |||||||||
| 2.5 bar | 2.48 bar | ||||||||
| Handlebars | |||||||||
Transmission |
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| Gearbox | |||||||||
| 5 stage gearbox | 6 stage gearbox | ||||||||
| Transmission | |||||||||
| Secondary belt drive | Secondary belt drive | ||||||||
Rear axle |
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| Suspension | |||||||||
| Mono-damper | 2 shock absorbers under the engine | ||||||||
| Wheel travel | |||||||||
| 110 mm (4.33 in) | |||||||||
| Setting | |||||||||
| Brake | |||||||||
| Braking 1 disc Ø 298 mm (11.73 in), 2-piston caliper | Braking 1 disc Ø 292 mm (11.5 in), 2-piston caliper | ||||||||
| Wheel | |||||||||
| Rear tire : 170 / 70 - 16 | Rear tire : 240 / 40 - 17 | ||||||||
| Pressure | |||||||||
| 2.8 bar | 2.9 bar | ||||||||
Motor |
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| Motor type | |||||||||
| two-cylinder en V , 4 strokes | two-cylinder 45° V-shaped , 4 strokes | ||||||||
| Cooling system | |||||||||
| liquid | by air | ||||||||
| Fuel system | |||||||||
| Injection | Injection | ||||||||
| Fuel | |||||||||
| Starting system | |||||||||
| Timing | |||||||||
| 1 ACT | tumbled | ||||||||
| Number of valves | |||||||||
| 4 valves per cylinder | 2 valves per cylinder | ||||||||
| Displacement | |||||||||
| 1304 cc, Bore x stroke: 100 x 83 mm | 1690 cc, Bore x stroke: 98.4 x 111.1 mm | ||||||||
| Power | |||||||||
| 72 ch to 5,500 rpm | ≈ 79.9 ch to 5,350 rpm | ||||||||
| With compressed air | |||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Compression | |||||||||
| 9.5 : 1 | 9.6 : 1 | ||||||||
| Torque | |||||||||
| 10.80 mkg to 4,000 rpm | 13.20 mkg to 3,000 rpm | ||||||||
| With compressed air | |||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Émission sonore | |||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Motorcycle can be restricted to 34ch (A MTT1 Permit) | |||||||||
| No | No | ||||||||
| Motorcycle can be restricted to 48ch (French A2 Permit) | |||||||||
| No | Yes | ||||||||
Options/Equipment |
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Practical information |
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| The advantages | |||||||||
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| The disadvantages | |||||||||
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| Performance | |||||||||
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| Price | |||||||||
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| Country of manufacture | |||||||||
Compare |
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Fuel consumption
Yamaha XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR 2013
Undisclosed
Harley-Davidson 1690 SOFTAIL BREAKOUT FXSB 2013
: 5.60 liters/100km (0.42 mpg)
Range
Yamaha XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR 2013
Undisclosed
Harley-Davidson 1690 SOFTAIL BREAKOUT FXSB 2013
: 338 km (210 miles)
Torque
Yamaha XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR 2013
: 10.8 mkg
Harley-Davidson 1690 SOFTAIL BREAKOUT FXSB 2013
: 13.2 mkg
Power
Yamaha XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR 2013
: 73 ch (72 hp)
Harley-Davidson 1690 SOFTAIL BREAKOUT FXSB 2013
: 81 ch (79.90 hp)
Power-to-Weight ratio
Yamaha XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR 2013
: 3.93 kg/ch
Harley-Davidson 1690 SOFTAIL BREAKOUT FXSB 2013
: 3.85 kg/ch
Torque-to-Weight ratio
Yamaha XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR 2013
: 26.2 kg/mkg
Harley-Davidson 1690 SOFTAIL BREAKOUT FXSB 2013
: 23.33 kg/mkg
Speed
Yamaha XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR 2013
: approximately 180 km/h (111.80 mph)
Harley-Davidson 1690 SOFTAIL BREAKOUT FXSB 2013
: approximately 160 km/h (99.40 mph)
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