Dark is always in with Harley-Davidson. For this mid-year release, The Low Ride S and the limited-production Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) Pro Street Breakout will certainly be casting a long, lean and dark shadow over the specialty custom cruiser competition.
Harley-Davidson Low Rider S Is Stripped Down And Powered Up
Bringing back a taste of the legendary FXR bikes, Harley’s new Low Rider S is blacked out and powered by the Screamin’ Eagle Twin Cam 110 engine. It also features upgraded suspension and brakes to complete the performance package of a motorcycle that’s stripped down and ready for action.
“Riders have been asking when Harley-Davidson would build another aggressive, performance-based bike like the legendary FXR models,” said Harley-Davidson Director of Styling Brad Richards. “This is our answer to that question. The Low Rider S is informed by the current tall-bike custom trend and our own styling heritage, but also seeks to redefine Harley-Davidson performance for a new generation of riders. We wanted to really connect the rider to the road by delivering instantaneous power and agile handling with a bike that’s trimmed to the essentials.”
Those essential elements begin with the powertrain. The Screamin’ Eagle Twin Cam 110 engine is a powerhouse V-Twin and the largest-displacement engine Harley-Davidson installs at the factory. Equipped with a Screamin’ Eagle Heavy Breather performance intake and Fat Bob-style 2-into-2 exhaust, this engine pounds out 115 foot pounds of peak torque at 3500 rpm – 13 percent more power than the standard Low Rider model. A heavy-duty clutch delivers that power to a 6-speed Cruise Drive transmission. Cruise control enabled by electronic throttle control is standard equipment. The entire powertrain and exhaust is finished in a combination of gloss black and wrinkle black powdercoat.
The Low Rider S model is equipped to be as maneuverable as it is powerful. Premium Ride nitrogen gas-charged emulsion shocks and a Premium Ride cartridge fork deliver exceptional handling and comfort. Front and rear suspension components react quickly to small bumps and keep the tires in contact with the road surface for confident, controlled handling and braking performance. Triple disc brakes with dual floating front rotors are equipped with standard Anti-Lock Braking System. A new solo seat, flat drag bar on 5.5-inch-tall risers and mid-mount controls put the rider in an aggressive hands-up position square over the pegs. Seat height remains low, at 26.6 inches.
The rider views the road over a distinctive speed screen that gives the Low Rider S motorcycle instant identity on road. “When you ride fast in this upright position, you need a little wind protection,” said Harley-Davidson Senior Stylist Dais Nagao. “Then the way we inset the headlamp deeper into the speed screen gives the Low Rider S an aggressive face. It’s a powerful way to communicate the personality of the motorcycle.”
The solo seat, chopped rear fender and side-mount license plate keep the rear end uncluttered. Because no other color makes a statement like black, the Low Rider S is offered only with Vivid Black on the sheet metal. Other black finishes maintain the dark theme from the forks to the console to the rear fender struts. The single exception: new Magnum Gold lightweight cast-aluminum wheels, a finish inspired by the gold-tone magnesium wheels used on race cars in the 1960s. A gold tank badge pays homage to the 1977 XLCR Café Racer model.
CVO Pro Street Breakout Spells American Muscle In Bold Black Letters
Harley-Davidson CVO motorcycles combine Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories with exclusive paint treatments and surface finishes to showcase what can be done when you take factory customization to the limit.
“The Pro Street Breakout represents a new dimension of CVO motorcycles,” said Harley-Davidson Styling Director Brad Richards. “The Pro Street Breakout takes its cues from the streets and reflects our own changing tastes. It still delivers the depth of detail and value and the bragging rights the CVO customer expects, but gets there in a different way. Its colors may be subdued but also have incredible depth. We’re developing alternate finishes to bright chrome – brushed and anodized surfaces and tinted clear-coat, for example. The Breakout really lent itself to this new styling direction.”
One new finish being introduced on the CVO Pro Street Breakout model is called Smoke Satin Chrome. “We worked intensely with our plating suppliers to develop the hue and depth of Smoke Satin Chrome, and we are the first to use it in the motorcycle industry,” said Harley-Davidson Senior Stylist Dais Nagao. “It’s a finish that looks really contemporary and exclusive but also kind of sinister. We’ve carefully placed Smoke Satin Chrome next to a black surface so it creates a layered effect. For example, the top rocker cover is gloss black, and the lower cover is Smoke Satin Chrome. It’s on the exhaust header shields next to the black engine and black mufflers. We used Smoke Satin Chrome on the oil lines and fittings to add an unexpected detail.”
Scorched Chrome, a second new finish debuting on the CVO Pro Street Breakout, plates the Aggressor custom wheels. Restyled derby and timing covers have a new, mechanical look. Sheet metal is finished in solid Starfire Black or two-tone White Gold Pearl/Starfire Black, each with a single hand-applied graphic stripe flowing along the tank and rear fender to reinforce the performance theme of the CVO Pro Street Breakout.
Performance comes via the Screamin’ Eagle Twin Cam 110B that’s fitted with black blunt-cut mufflers, an open-element Screamin’ Eagle Heavy Breather Elite intake, and the Assist & Slip clutch with hydraulic actuation. The CVO Pro Street Breakout uses new 43mm inverted forks with dual front disc brakes with floating rotors, a reduced reach front brake lever, and standard Anti-Lock Braking System.
There’s a lot of drag-racer influence found on the Pro Street Breakout, from the flat 1.25-inch drag-style handlebar to the wind-cheating speed screen and the color-matched chin spoiler. The deep bucket seat and bolstered pillion combine to hold the rider in place when the clutch is dumped and its Screamin’ Eagle horsepower launches the CVO Pro Street Breakout off the line. Other styling features include a trimmed front fender, blacked-out Airflow Collection accessories on hand and foot controls, black Profile custom mirrors, and a low-profile console with smoked braided vent lines. Electronic cruise control and the H-D Smart Security System featuring a new hands-free integrated security and locking fob are also standard equipment on the CVO Pro Street Breakout.