Breakout or the Softail Slim?

As you probably know, HD's are commonly customized. Just be aware that the Breakout (the model I have), is a vastly different handling bike with apes or a comparable bar modification installed. I'm a new rider and found my stock BO with forward foot controls and forward lean to the bars a bit of a struggle during low speed maneuvering. With apes installed, the BO handles like an absolute dream. Don't take my word. Google around and you'll find plenty of similar comments.

Also know that the BO stock mirrors are useless. Apes fix this or you can install different mirrors but you will need to do something.

You may have heard that aftermarket custom parts are as yet a rarity for the BO. "Take heart", there are a wealth of parts to customize a BO but suppliers haven't gotten around to endorsing them for that purpose. A competing HD website has a dedicated BO thread with over 175 pages largely devoted to BO ideas that work. Blackline consoles fit the BO perfectly, for instance, as do an array of exhaust systems, wider tires, and other stuff that requires minor to zero modification to install.

Cali Boy said:

Thanks for the reply's guys! I've heard about the mirrors being pretty useless on the BO which I'm sure is a fairly easy fix. Regarding the other upgrades what do they cost? If the breakout is one of those bikes were I'm going to have to spend a lot of extra money to get it riding and feeling right, I may have to pass.

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To pull a number out of the air, I'd tack on a thousand for bars and braided cables installed and that cures the mirror problem automatically. You've really got to ride the bikes to see exactly what you need and see what the dealer can do for you too. With your height, you may also need a tweak on a Slim. I dunno of course, just sayin.

I'll also say, these are Harleys bro. "Personalizing", is part of the HD journey. Someone who ought to know confided to me that a dealer generally figures he'll sell, on average, $2000.00 in personalizing bolt-ons per new bike sold. I blew that all to hell but some guys do ride em stock. CVO buyers have correctly calculated that by biting the bullet up front they have a bike with gobs of custom stuff on em without accumulating a basement full of OEM parts they've paid for and will never sell.