Harley Davidson Softail Slim vs Harley Davidson Softail Breakout

1. HARLEY SOFTAIL SLIM VS HARLEY SOFTAIL BREAKOUT

The first HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL was launched in 1983 and has since remained in production. There have been numerous Softail models released, some of them being discontinued, while others are still in production. The SOFTAIL SLIM and the SOFTAIL BREAKOUT were last released in 2021 and 2020 respectively. However, they are still available brand new at Harley Davidson dealers. The first Softail Breakout was released in 2013 with a 103 cubic inch (1,690 cc) engine, receiving many upgrades over the years, with the latest model released in 2020 being fitted with a 114 cubic inch (1,868 cc) engine.

 

The SOFTAIL SLIM was first released in 2012, sharing many traits with the Harley Davidson Fat Boy. The Softail Slim was also released with a 103 cubic inch (1,690 cc) engine. Like all Softail models, the Softail Slim also had a hidden rear mono-shock.

Also Read: HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL FAT BOY VS HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL SLIM

2. DETAILED SPECS COMPARISON: SOFTAIL SLIM VS SOFTAIL BREAKOUT

	Harley Davidson	Harley Davidson
BASIC INFORMATION
Year	2021	2020
Model	Softail Slim	Softail Breakout
Motorcycle Type	Cruiser	Cruiser
Base Price	$15,999	$20,499
Colors	Vivid Black, Billiard Red, Midnight Crimson/Stonewashed White Pearl, and River Rock Gray Denim/Black Denim	Vivid Black, Midnight Blue, Barracuda Silver, River Rock Gray Denim, Performance Orange, Stiletto Red, and Zephyr Blue/Black Sunglo
ENGINE & SYSTEMS
Displacement	107 cu in (1,753.4 cc)	114 cu (1,868 cc)
Engine Type	Four-Stroke, V-Twin	Four-Stroke, V-Twin
Cooling System	Air-Cooled	Air-cooled
Compression Ratio	10:1	10.5:1
Stroke	111 mm (4.374 in)	114 mm (4.5 in)
Bore	99 mm (3.937 in)	102 mm (4.0 in)
Cylinders	Two	Two
Drive Train	Belt	Belt
Transmission	Six-Speed	Six-Speed
Clutch	Mechanical, 10 Plates Wet, Assist & Conventional	Mechanical, 10 Plates Wet, Assist & Conventional
Starter	Electric	Electric
Exhaust	Two-into-Two, catalyst in the muffler	Two-into-Two, catalyst in the muffler
Fuel Delivery System	Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)	Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
PERFORMANCE & CAPACITY
Horsepower	86 hp	100 hp
Torque	110 ft-lb (149.1 Nm) @ 3,000 rpm	119 ft-lb (161 Nm) @ 3,000 rpm
Fuel Tank Capacity	5 gal (18.9 L)	3.5 gal (13.2 L)
Mileage	47 MPG (19.9 km/l)	47 MPG (19.9 km/l)
Oil Capacity	5 quarts (4.7 L)	5 quarts (4.7 L)
DIMENSIONS
Trail	147 mm (5.8 in)	144.78 mm (5.7 in)
Rake	30°	34°
Seat Height	647.7 mm (25.5 in)	650.2 mm (25.6 in)
Wheelbase	1,630.6 mm (64.2 in)	1,694.18 mm (66.7 in)
Weight	671 lb (304.3 kg)	672 lb (304.8 kg)
Ground Clearance	119 mm (4.7 in)	114.3 mm (4.5 in)
Length	2,308.8 mm (90.9 in)	2,369.8 mm (93.3 in)
Width	970 mm (38.2 in)	950 mm (37.4 in)

3. SIMILARITIES & DIFFERENCES: SOFTAIL SLIM VS SOFTAIL BREAKOUT

Key Similarities	Key Differences
	The SOFTAIL BREAKOUT has straight handlebars with slightly curved grips, while the Softail Slim has wide curved handlebars
Both have a two-into-two dual exhaust on the right side	The Softail Slim has a bigger fuel tank than the Softail Breakout
Both have the license plate on the side	The Softail Slim has its speedometer on the fuel tank, while Breakout has a small digital meter on the handlebars
Both have a single disc brake at the front and rear	Both have differently styled headlights
Both have side indicators at the rear	Both motorcycles have differently styled side indicators
Both have a four-stroke V-Twin engine	The Softail Breakout has a bigger engine than the Softail Slim
Both operate on a belt drive train	The Softail Slim has floorboards for the rider, while the Softail Breakout has standard footrests for the rider and passenger
Both have dual shocks at the front and a hidden mono-shock at the rear	The Softail Breakout has bigger rims than the Softail Slim
Both have an air-cooling system	The Softail Breakout has a 37.5 % bigger rear tire than the Softail Slim
Both have footpegs at the front	The Softail Breakout has one fuel cap in the center of the fuel tank, while the Softail slim has two caps on the fuel tank
	Both have differently styled fuel tanks; the Softail Slim comes in two-tone colors while the Softail Breakout has one color only

4. DESIGN: SOFTAIL SLIM VS SOFTAIL BREAKOUT

4.1 Design: Harley Davidson Softail Slim

The SOFTAIL SLIM is a bobber-style cruiser with a solo seat and floorboards at the front. There are no pre-installed CRASH BARS or SADDLEBAGS. The chopped fenders and fuel tank are the only colored parts, with the remaining parts being covered in chrome. The Softail Slim has a 49 mm telescopic fork with a wheel travel of 130 mm (5.1 in) and a single 300 mm disc brake with a tire size of 130/90B16 53H BW. At the rear, it has a 43 mm stroke hidden mono-shock with wheel travel 86 mm (3.4 in) and a single 292 mm disc brake with a tire size of 150/80B16 77H BW.

4.2 Design: Harley Davidson Softail Breakout

The SOFTAIL BREAKOUT is a classic-style cruiser. It has dual seats and standard footrests for the rider and passenger. There are no pre-installed crash bars and SADDLEBAGS. The slim & short fenders and fuel tank are the only colored parts, while the rest is covered with a black and chrome finish. At the front, it has an inverted cartridge fork dual shock with a single 300 mm disc brake and a tire size of 130/60B21 63H BW. At the rear, it has a hidden adjustable mono-shock with a 292 mm disc brake and a tire size of 240/40R18 79V BW.

5. ENGINE & PERFORMANCE: SOFTAIL SLIM VS SOFTAIL BREAKOUT 

5.1 Engine & Performance: Harley Davidson Softail Slim

The Softail Slim has a Milwaukee-Eight 107 four-stroke V-Twin engine capable of producing a horsepower of 86 hp and peak torque of 110 ft-lb (149.1 Nm) @ 3,000 rpm. It has a stroke size of 111 mm (4.374 in) and a bore size of 99 mm (3.937 in), allowing it to produce more torque at lower rpm. The Softail Slim runs on a low-maintenance belt drive train. It has a fuel tank capacity of 5 gal (19.9 L). Fitted with an Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI), the Softa Slim has a fuel mileage of 47 MPG (19.9 km/l).

5.2 Engine & Performance: Harley Davidson Softail Breakout

The Softail Breakout has a powerful four-stroke V-Twin engine with a displacement size of 114 cubic inches (1,753.4 cc). The Softail Breakout has a stroke size of 114 mm (4.5 in) and a bore size of 102 mm (4.0 in) which helps it produce a torque of 119 ft-lb (161 Nm) @ 3,000 rpm and a horsepower of 100 hp. It has a small fuel tank capacity of 3.5 gal (13.2 L) but is equipped with Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) which provides a fuel mileage of 47 MPG (19.9 km/l).

6. COMFORT & ERGONOMICS: SOFTAIL SLIM VS SOFTAIL BREAKOUT 

6.1 Comfort & Ergonomics: Harley Davidson Softail Slim

Photo Credit: @cycleworld

The Softail Slim has a length of 2,308.8 mm (90.9 in), a wheelbase of 1,630.6 mm (64.2 in), and a seat height of 647.7 mm (25.5 in). It has a perfect riding position for heavyweight and taller riders. It is possible for shorter riders to operate this motorcycle but it can be difficult to handle because of the Softail Slim’s weight of 671 lbs (304.3 kg). Despite being a heavyweight vehicle, the Softail Slim does offer stability at higher rpm.

6.2 Comfort & Ergonomics: Harley Davidson Softail Breakout

Photo Credit: @ultimatemotorcycling

The Softail Breakout has a wheelbase of 1,694.18 mm (66.7 in) and a seat height of 650.2 mm (25.6 in). With a weight of 672 lbs (304.8 kg), the Softail Breakout can be difficult for shorter riders to handle but is ideal for taller and heavyweight riders. With a 34° rake angle and a trail of 144.78 mm (5.7 in), this motorcycle provides a confident and relaxing riding position to the riders.

Also Read: HOW TO STAY COMFORTABLE ON LONG MOTORCYCLE RIDES

7. TECHNOLOGY & FEATURES: SOFTAIL SLIM VS SOFTAIL BREAKOUT

FEATURES	SOFTAIL SLIM	SOFTAIL BREAKOUT
ABS	Optional	Standard
Instrument Cluster	Digital	Digital
Clock	✔	✔
Engine Kill Switch	✔	✔
Speedometer	✔	✔
Odometer	✔	✔
Tachometer	✔	✔
Gear Indicator	✔	✔
Fuel Gauge	✔	✔
Fuel Warning Indicator	✔	✔
Low Battery Indicator	✔	✔
Low Oil Indicator	✔	✔
Slip & Assist Clutch	✔	✔

8. PROS & CONS: SOFTAIL SLIM VS SOFTAIL BREAKOUT 

8.1 Pros & Cons: Softail Slim 

HARLEY SOFTAIL SLIM PROS	HARLEY SOFTAIL SLIM CONS
Comfortable on longer rides	Not recommended for smaller & newer riders
Requires less maintenance	No cruise control
ABS is included (optional)	No extra LUGGAGE
Good handling	Engine vibrates at lower rpm
Suitable for taller riders	No riding modes
Great sound	Lower ground clearance
Powerful and torquey engine	Expensive
	Clunky gear shifter

8.2 Pros & Cons: Harley Davidson Softail Breakout

HARLEY SOFTAIL BREAKOUT PROS	HARLEY SOFTAIL BREAKOUT CONS
Suitable for taller riders	Not recommended for beginners
Responsive throttle	No riding modes
ABS is included (optional)	No extra LUGGAGE
Comfortable on longer rides	No cruise control
Requires less maintenance	Less efficient brakes
Less vibrations at higher rpm	Expensive
Great suspension

9. FAQ

9.1 Why Does Harley-Davidson continue to Make Slow Motorcycles?

Harley Davidson is famous for its cruisers and touring motorcycles being built for comfort rather than speed. They tend to be built with heavy and bulky frames that provide stability but sacrifice speed.

9.2 What Are the Differences Between Harley Davidson's Sports Motorcycles and Cruisers?

Harley Davidson’s SPORTS MOTORCYCLES have more horsepower than its cruiser. Sports motorcycles have 500 to 1,200 cc engines, while cruisers have 800 to 1800 cc engines. Sports motorcycles are lightweight vehicles with aggressive riding positions, while cruisers are heavyweight vehicles with comfortable riding positions. Sports motorcycles are built for speed, while cruisers are built for comfort.

Also Read: SPORTS MOTORCYCLES VS CRUISERS

9.3 Between the Harley Davidson Softail Slim and the Harley Davidson Softail Breakout, which is better in terms of a used motorcycle? 

Both the Harley Softail Slim and Softail Breakout have a powerful and torquey engine and a comfortable riding position. However, the SOFTAIL BREAKOUT is more expensive due to having a bigger, more powerful engine than the Softail Slim. On the other hand, the Softail Breakout is way cheaper than the Softail Breakout. For riders who prioritize a reliable and affordable motorcycle, the Softail Slim is the better option. 

9.4 What does Softail mean for Harley Davidson?

The Softail motorcycle series was launched in 1983. Before that, Harley Davidson was producing the hardtail series. The frames of hardtail models did not have rear suspension and the rear wheel was directly attached to the frame. Harley Davidson eventually launched its new Softail frame with a hidden mono-shock at the rear, ensuring better comfort and shock absorption on the road.

10. TAKEAWAY

The Harley Davidson Softail Slim and Softail Breakout are heavyweight motorcycle models of the Harley Softail series. Both have similar dimensions with only a few differences in their design, chassis, handling, riding position, engine, and performance. Both are not entry-level motorcycles, being better suited for experienced riders. In terms of price, riders who are interested in buying a cruiser at a reasonable price tend to favor the Softail Slim. Neither of them comes with pre-installed SADDLEBAGS or LUGGAGE, requiring riders to buy them separately from aftermarket stores.