PROJECT Breakout, our long term loan, and custom bike build, has returned to us after its visit back to the good people at Harley-Davidson Australia for some alterations. And we’re very excited to have it back, with some insane changes.
After taking on board the suggestions of our loyal readers here at Exhaust Notes Australia, we decided that the Harley-Davidson Breakout needed more heart and soul. So we ordered up an engine transplant, in the form of the Screamin’ Eagle 131 motor.
As a result, it now boasts a monster 2147cc V-Twin motor, the biggest the motor company produces. The 131 is a bolt-in replacement for 2017 onwards Harley-Davidson motorcycles originally equipped with a Milwaukee-Eight oil-cooled or twin-cooled engine.
Given our Breakout started life with a 114 motor, it was a no brainer to go big or go home. The engine combines the 4.5-inch stroke of its Milwaukee-Eight 114 base, with new 4.31-inch bore cylinders with a patented design.
Four-valve cylinder heads are CNC-ported and fitted with 1mm larger-diameter valves. This optimises air and fuel flow, and velocity, with fully machined combustion chambers shaped to optimise efficiency.
The engine is completed with a high-lift SE8-517 camshaft and high-performance cam bearing, and high-compression (10.7:1) forged pistons. A 64mm throttle body and intake manifold, and high-flow (5.5-grams per second) fuel injectors round out the package.
It’s a combination that produces 90kW of power and a little over 177Nm or torque at the rear wheel. Not a bad result for an investment of $9,610 plus fitment costs. It ensures our custom ride feels extra tough, and ready to tackle anything the road can throw at it.
The Project Breakout bike sports a super beefy 240mm rear wheel and tyre combo, and 21-inch front rim, along with the Screamin’ Eagle heavy breather that forms part of the engine package. Clean black and chrome pipes complete its extroverted style.
On the road, it now sounds much lumpier, with a whole lot more rewarding riding experience. Handling characteristics remain unchanged despite the larger powerplant. We’re literally having an awesome time putting it through its paces.
We’re not sure we want to give the Project Breakout back to Harley-Davidson, now that it’s loud and angry, but with the impending arrival of the 2022 model range (some of which has already been announced), it’s just about time to say goodbye to our first ever bike build.
Project Breakout will be sold to a dealership within the Harley-Davidson network here in Australia (that means you could own it), and we’ll await the opportunity to jump on the exciting new 2022 models about to be on offer.
Let us know in the comments section which 2022 Harley-Davidson model you’d like us to turn into a project bike, and what you might potentially change on it. We’ll take your suggestions to the cool kids at the motor company, and see what they say.
Had a 2018 FXBRS 114, loved that bike, there was nary a bike that could beat it stoplight to stoplight! That includes Hyabusas, lol! It’s got to be one unique beast with the 131 CI engine. Hell yeah, I want one! Be safe!