Skip to main content
search
Tag

breakout

Jan 27
Love0

What We Know About the 2023 Harley-Davidson X350 and X350RA

By General Posts

by Dennis Chung from https://www.motorcycle.com

Streetbike for Asia and a Riding Academy bike for the US

Harley-Davidson held its big 120th anniversary reveal last week, and for the most part, the announcement included the bikes we expected, such as the Nightster Special, and the return of the Breakout with a Milwaukee-Eight 117ci engine. What we also expected to come for 2023 but was not included in the announcement were the X350 and X350RA. Still, despite not being part of the big Jan. 18 announcement, we managed to get our hands on some information confirming more details of the Chinese-built models.

The X350 is the product of Harley-Davidson’s partnership with China’s Qianjiang Motors that was first announced in 2019. After some regulatory delays, the QJ-built X350 is finally close to production as a small-displacement model for Asian markets. The X350 and an X350RA variant appeared in Vehicle Information Number data submitted by QJ to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and as we recently reported, Harley-Davidson included the X350RA in its 2023 model year VIN information.

Following the Jan. 18 announcement, Motorcycle.com has secured a copy of the X350RA’s official owner’s manual, plus a single image of the model, with clear proof it is intended for use for Harley-Davidson’s Riding Academy. We’ve also briefly got a look at the official parts catalog, confirming some of the differences between X350 and X350RA.

The image above briefly appeared on Harley-Davidson’s Service Information Portal, showing a roadster with neutral riding ergonomics and, tellingly, bright orange bars bolted on to either side of the radiator.

The owner’s manual includes an illustration of the X350RA from the rider’s perspective, and it offers another view of the radiator guards. The added protection further confirms our suspicions that the “RA” version of the X350 is intended for the Riding Academy.

The owner’s manual further confirms some specifications of the X350RA. The bike is powered by an eight-valve liquid-cooled Parallel-Twin engine displacing 353cc. The engine isn’t entirely new but a larger version of the engine employed by the QJ-built Benelli 302S. The X350’s 45.2 mm stroke is the same as the Benelli’s, but its 70.5 mm cylinder bore is larger than the 302S’ 65.0 mm. The X350’s 11.9:1 compression ratio is just slightly off the 12:1 ratio of the Benelli 302S.

The X350 reportedly claims an output of 36 hp, but the Harley-Davidson VIN information confirms the X350RA will only claim 23 hp. An executive order issued by the California Air Resources Board further confirms that the RA model has been restricted, as it certifies the X350 and X350RA alongside a “derating removed” version of the RA which would presumably offer its full power output.

The owner’s manual further confirms the X350RA will have a circular instrument module with an analog speedometer and a small digital screen displaying mileage, time or engine speed.

The manual provides instructions for adjusting the damping on the inverted fork and rear shock. Also present are ABS and dual petal-shaped disc brakes, which is a bit of a surprise as many of Harley-Davidson’s larger, more powerful models still only use a single front disc brake.

The X350RA runs on 17-inch wheels, front and back. Pirelli supplies its Angel CT tires with a 110/70-17 up front and a 150/60-17 at the rear. From the parts catalog, we can confirm the non-RA model will have larger tires, with a 120/70-17 up front and 160/60-17 at the rear.

According to the owner’s manual, the X350RA claims a running weight of 440 pounds,with its 3.6-gallon fuel tank at 90% capacity. We expect the non-RA model to come in a bit lighter as it lacks the protective bars. The X350RA also has a 55.5-inch wheelbase, 5.6 inches of ground clearance, and a 30-inch seat height.

We don’t expect to have much longer to wait before Harley-Davidson officially announces the X350 and X350RA. While we thought there was a chance it would have been part of the Jan. 18 announcement, we can see how a small-displacement Chinese-manufactured Riding Academy model would stick out in an event focused on Harley-Davidson’s 120th anniversary. Harley-Davidson likely has a coordinated launch plan with Qianjiang for both the X350 and X350RA

Jan 21
Love0

Celebrating 120 years of the most desired motorcycle brand

By General Posts

by Wayfarer

Click Here to Read this Photo Feature Article only on Bikernet.com

The Milwaukee Motor Company, with fans around the globe, turns 120 years old. There has been quite a few announcements regarding the homecoming as well as a public park on land they own. Most awaited however, was their announcement for model year 2023.

Fans and dealerships waiting patiently for the model release would surely be impressed if not dancing in the streets. Some limited edition collectibles are of course for ‘collectors’, but there is plenty for us common two-wheel monkeys to run with.

Breakout makes a comeback and Road Glide is now available as a Trike too. There is a Nightster Special and a re-imagined Freewheeler.

Of course, these can’t be all that’s offered. What’s happening with the ADV Pan America and the Electric LiveWire? So much more awaited by one and all, especially after the boss announced that H-D will be all-electric in the near future. One can also expect lot of activities at the H-D Museum and there will surely be ‘limited-edition’ apparel, tee-shirt tie-ins and new jackets and boots….

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Follow Bikernet Free Weekly Newsletter to get latest Motorcycling news, updates, reviews, tech, tips, & lot of fun. Click here & take a test ride.

Nov 20
Love0

Serpent-Like Exhaust on Custom H-D Breakout

By General Posts

A Custom Harley-Davidson Breakout with a “designer” Exhaust
from https://www.autoevolution.com by Daniel Patrascu

If you look from far away, superficially enough, and you don’t know what those twisted pipes on the side of this motorcycle are, your brain might trick into believing you’re looking at a couple of snakes doing their thing in plain daylight.

Over the years, as we combed through some of the most extreme, visually appealing, or mechanically-impressive rides on two wheels, we’ve seen plenty of hardcore representations of exhaust systems. The one we have here though is so far ahead of all the others, it deserves a title of its own.

The serpent-like piece of hardware sits on one side of a custom build called Criminal for one reason or another. The bike started out as a stock Breakout, but was heavily modified to earn its place in the select gallery of custom rides we constantly feature.

The visual effect of the exhaust system was achieved by the garage behind this build, Poland-based Nine Hills Motorcycles, through a clever play between the copper color of the pipes and welding stripes placed at almost equal intervals. The garage calls the system a piece of jewelry, and as far as design for these bits goes, they’re spot on.

Although from a color standpoint it has nothing in common with the rest of the body (in fact, it is exactly this mismatching that makes the exhaust stand out so much), it does seem to blend pretty well with the green hues deployed on most of the handcrafted body.

The shop did not limit itself at replacing the pipes, but fitted other custom bits on the thing as well in their bid to make it unique. Up front we’ve got a custom headlight, the wheels are of Performance Machine-make, and Roland Sands supplied the engine housings.

Mechanically, the brakes on the Breakout have been modified, and there’s an air suspensions system on deck to make both the thing’s stance more visually appealing, and the ride more comfortable.

As far as we can tell, the engine of the motorcycle was left pretty much unchanged, and only got a small number of new and improved hardware, including the exhaust system that brought us face to face with it, and a BDL clutch.

The Poles describe the end product of their work as a “real designer firecracker,” a one-off machine that retains the elements that make the Breakout such a go-to platform for customizers, but also brings something unique to the table.

For how much it does this, though, is anybody’s guess. In the usual European style we’ve grown accustomed to by now, Nine Hills keeps the price of the project under wraps, so we have no way of telling how much the modifications made cost the owner.

CLICK HERE To See at Nine Hills Motorcycles website.

May 30
Love0

Custom Harley-Davidson Monaco by Thunderbike

By General Posts

by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com

It’s not hard to link Harley-Davidson with racing. The moniker has been at the forefront of such efforts in all sorts of competitions over the years, going deep and wide all across the nation to take part in the most insane of races. Most recently, the Milwaukee company is doing its best to fight off Indian in King of the Baggers on historic circuits all over America.

Whereas Harley is easily linked with pretty much all of the important race tracks across America, the name does not ring all that good when associated with Le Mans. Yet this did not stop a German custom shop by the name Thunderbike from forever tying the American two-wheeler with the famous French circuit with a special GP S Le Mans build.

Presented at the end of last year, the GP S Le Mans is part of the shop’s Racing Series, a line of machines named after the great tracks of the world, including Silverstone, Laguna Seca, or Mugello. A few months after its presentation, the bike has now spawned a successor. It’s called the Monaco, also based on a Breakout, and a nod to the famed European city-state where one of the most exciting Formula 1 races of modern times takes place.

Once a stock Breakout, the motorcycle was lowered for a more aggressive look, gifted with tons of custom parts, including a new triple tree, grips, fenders, a custom fuel tank, and countless covers. Thunderbike calls this build the “first Twin Cam on which we’ve fitted our newly developed GP Parts for this range,” and the result, as it can be seen in the gallery above, is nothing short of spectacular.

We are not being told if any changes to the bike’s engine were made, apart from the fact it now breaths through a Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde exhaust system.

The Monaco extras meant to transform the Breakout took over 11,000 euros to put together, which is about $13,400 at today’s exchange rates.

 

Jun 07
Love0

Harley-Davidson Razorback Is a Sharp, Low and Loud Breakout

By General Posts

by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com

Harley-Davidson describes its Breakout model as a “muscular modern chopper with pure stop you in your tracks attitude” and by all accounts they are right. But as is the case with most Harleys, the Breakout too can be much more than what stock has to offer.

Usually coming to the road as a long ride with round lines, the Breakout was turned into something else, lower and sharper, by a German custom shop by the name of Thunderbike.

The group has been in the business of selling both stock Harleys and customized parts for them for the past 20 years, and it is one of the most active such garages in the industry.

Their Breakout conversion is named Razorback mostly due to the fact that the soft, flowing fuel tank and rear fender have been replaced with custom hardware, both designed with edges sharp enough to give the motorcycle a whole new shape.

Aside from the tank and fender, the Breakout has been fitted with the usual Thunderbike styling kit, which includes anything from the headlight to the license plate mounting.

New matte bicolor wheels, sized 18 inches rear and 21 inches front are of a special Thunderbike design, and to make sure anyone can admire the wheels in their full glory, a left side pulley brake system was fitted. Also, the shock at the rear was swapped for an Air Ride suspension that can bring the bike much closer to the ground than what Harley originally intended.

Also at the rear, a new Jekyll and Hyde exhaust system has been included to make sure the motorcycle has enough decibels on its side.

We are not being told what happened to the bike once the build was completed, but as with all other Thunderbike designs, this too is not a series machine, but more of a display panel for all the custom Harley parts the Germans are making,

 

Mar 16
Love0

Last World War II Great Escape veteran Jack Lyon dies, aged 101

By General Posts


Jack Lyon was captured after his plane crash-landed near Dusseldorf. He was lookout during the breakout bid from Stalag Luft III in 1944, but the escape tunnel was uncovered before he had the chance to get out himself.

The Hollywood movie starring Steve McQueen gave us some of the most iconic images of World War II in any movies ever made.

Jack’s death is especially poignant as it comes just two weeks before the 75th anniversary of the Great Escape, on March 24.

READ the story at Bikernet.com Cantin by Clickinh here and Subscribe