HD Preview: 2013 Harley-Davidson CVO Breakout

All new for 2013, Harley-Davidson has released a limited-production Softail - the CVO Breakout.

The Custom Vehicle Operations model features the Twin Cam 110B engine combined with new custom styling that displays "muscle in motion."

Kirk Rasmussen (Harley-Davidson Styling Manager) says: "We begin by stripping the bike down to the bones and building up from there," said Rasmussen. "Stylist Mark Daniels penned a tough-looking hot rod concept and we were off to the races.

"To create a compact, muscular profile we've chopped the fenders to the legal limit so more tire rubber is revealed at both ends of the bike. The same principle is applied to the console, where we shaved it down and used braided steel lines for vent tubes. This gives us a larger canvas for paint and finishes, an essential element of the CVO formula."

The CVO Breakout story begins with its Twin Cam 110B engine, a 110-cid V-Twin that pumps out 112 ft. lbs. of peak torque to give the CVO Breakout the best power-to-weight ratio of any current CVO model. The CVO Breakout takes production motorcycle paint to a new level of true customization. Two paint schemes feature hand-polished steel sections on the fuel tank and fenders. A third paint option incorporates hand-laid lace stenciling. The amount of manual finishing required to create these painted parts makes each set of bodywork unique.

New polished chrome Turbine wheels are another styling highlight to debut on the CVO Breakout. "We gave the Turbine wheel a good deal of drama by pulling the spoke ridges all the way through to the rim, which help make the wheel diameter look larger," said Rasmussen. "The front wheel has 21 spokes. I think the ridges on the rear wheel look a little scary. The dramatic diameter of the 21-inch front wheel with a 130mm tire and the 18-inch rear wheel with a 240mm tire give the bike a strong proportional foundation."

Other custom details introduced on the CVO Breakout include a wide front end with a mini headlamp nacelle, and a chromed cast-aluminum oil tank. The Softail® chassis mimics the clean lines of a vintage hardtail frame, but utilizes rear suspension control provided by coil-over shock absorbers mounted horizontally and out of sight within the frame rails. Electronic cruise control, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), keyless ignition, and the Harley-Davidson® Smart Security System are standard equipment on the CVO Breakout.