2016-2017 Harley-Davidson FXSE CVO Pro Street Breakout: Twin Cam 110B Softail Factory Custom

The Harley-Davidson FXSE CVO Pro Street Breakout was the sharpest-edged member of the Breakout family before the Milwaukee-Eight Softail redesign. Built for the 2016 and 2017 model years by Harley-Davidson Custom Vehicle Operations, it combined the long-and-low Breakout silhouette with the counterbalanced Screamin' Eagle Twin Cam 110B, a 240-section rear tire, inverted fork, dual front discs, CVO paint and high-spec factory-custom equipment.

It was not a racing motorcycle, despite the Pro Street language. Its importance lies elsewhere: the FXSE was Harley-Davidson's late Twin Cam-era attempt to sell a drag-strip visual vocabulary as a turnkey, warranty-backed premium Softail, aimed at riders who wanted custom-bike stance without surrendering to the compromises of an actual one-off build.

Best Known For: the FXSE CVO Pro Street Breakout is best known as the 2016-2017 CVO Softail Breakout variant with the Screamin' Eagle Twin Cam 110B, inverted fork, dual front brakes, wide 240 rear tire and factory Pro Street styling.

Quick Facts

The FXSE is best understood as a specific CVO model code, not simply as a dressed-up standard Breakout. The following table summarizes the hard reference points most useful to buyers, restorers and collectors.

The table shows why the FXSE sits apart from the regular FXSB Breakout. It was a low-volume CVO specification with chassis and equipment differences that are visible at a glance to anyone who knows the family.

Why the FXSE CVO Pro Street Breakout Matters

The FXSE matters because it captures a very particular point in Harley-Davidson product strategy. By the mid-2010s the Motor Company was selling factory customs with the confidence of a brand that understood its accessory culture better than any outside builder. The CVO Pro Street Breakout took that logic to its extreme: wide rear tire, big-inch Screamin' Eagle engine, expensive finishes and a showroom stance that deliberately looked like it had already passed through a high-end custom shop.

It also arrived near the end of the Twin Cam Softail period. The 2018 model year brought a completely revised Softail chassis and the Milwaukee-Eight engine, making the 2016-2017 FXSE one of the last factory CVO expressions of the older hidden-shock Softail architecture. For collectors who study modern Harleys by engine generation and chassis breakpoints, that timing gives the FXSE more than ordinary showroom-custom interest.

Mechanically, its defining distinction was the Twin Cam 110B. The B suffix matters: Softail Big Twins of this generation used counterbalanced engines because the engine was rigidly mounted in the frame. That made the FXSE different in feel and installation from rubber-mounted Touring and Dyna models using non-B Twin Cam variants.

Historical Context and Development Background

The Breakout concept came from Harley-Davidson's long involvement with custom culture rather than from racing homologation or police-duty development. The family emphasized a stretched profile, raked-out front end, substantial rear tire and minimal bodywork. By the time the FXSE appeared, the regular production Breakout had already established itself as one of Harley's most visually aggressive Softails.

CVO's role was to sell what many owners would otherwise try to build after purchase. The division applied limited-production paint, premium wheels, special finishes, Screamin' Eagle power and model-specific detailing at the factory level. The CVO Pro Street Breakout was therefore aimed not at touring riders or club racers, but at buyers who wanted a hard-edged boulevard motorcycle with real Harley warranty, parts support and factory documentation.

The competitor landscape was not simply other cruisers. It included the entire aftermarket: custom Softails, fat-tire pro-street builds and big-inch Harley conversions. The FXSE answered that market with a factory-built motorcycle whose engine, paint and chassis equipment were integrated from new rather than assembled from a catalog after delivery.

The model also reflected the last years of the Twin Cam as Harley-Davidson's flagship Big Twin architecture. In 2017 Harley was already selling Milwaukee-Eight Touring models, while the Softail line would not make the change until the 2018 model year. That makes the FXSE a bridge between two eras: visually modern and expensive, but still fundamentally a counterbalanced Twin Cam Softail.

Engine and Drivetrain

The heart of the FXSE is the Screamin' Eagle Twin Cam 110B, an air-cooled, 45-degree, two-valve-per-cylinder pushrod V-twin with counterbalancers for rigid-mount Softail use. The 110-cubic-inch displacement was Harley-Davidson's premium factory Big Twin specification in this period, and CVO models used it to provide the torque-rich character expected of the division.

Fuel delivery was by Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection, with electronic ignition and modern engine management rather than carburetion. Lubrication followed Harley Big Twin practice with a dry-sump system, while the primary drive used a chain and wet multi-plate clutch leading to the 6-speed Cruise Drive transmission. Final drive was by belt, consistent with the rest of the modern Softail line.

Harley-Davidson did not routinely publish U.S.-market horsepower figures for these models in the way sportbike manufacturers did. Factory literature emphasized displacement and torque output; independent chassis-dyno numbers vary with exhaust, calibration, break-in and atmospheric conditions, so horsepower should be treated as a test result rather than a stable factory identity for the model.

Engine and Drivetrain Specifications

These are the core mechanical specifications used to distinguish the FXSE from the standard Breakout and from earlier CVO Breakout variants.

The important engineering point is not peak output but the way the 110B was packaged. In a Softail frame the engine is part of the motorcycle's visual mass: large cylinders, exposed pushrod tubes, prominent intake and CVO finishes all contribute to the bike's identity as much as the displacement figure itself.

Chassis, Suspension and Braking

The FXSE used Harley-Davidson's pre-2018 Softail chassis architecture: a steel frame with rear suspension hidden beneath the motorcycle to preserve the hardtail visual line. That architecture gave the Breakout family its low rear stance and uninterrupted fender line, but it also placed limits on cornering clearance and rear-suspension travel compared with more conventional chassis layouts.

The CVO Pro Street Breakout's front end is one of its easiest identification points. The inverted fork and dual front brake discs gave it a more serious mechanical appearance than the standard Breakout and were central to the Pro Street visual brief. The wide rear wheel and 240-section tire completed the drag-custom stance, but they also influenced the way the machine steered at low speed and tipped into corners.

Chassis and Equipment Reference

The following chassis details are the ones most likely to matter during identification, purchase inspection or restoration to factory configuration.

These parts are not merely cosmetic. A standard Breakout can be modified to resemble an FXSE from a distance, but the fork, brake arrangement, CVO equipment, engine specification and documentation separate the genuine CVO Pro Street Breakout from an accessorized FXSB.

Riding Experience and Mechanical Character

The FXSE starts like a late-model fuel-injected Harley rather than an old ritual machine: key fob present, ignition on, starter button, the big Twin Cam settling quickly into its electronically managed idle. There is no hand shift, foot clutch or magneto drama here. Its theater comes from mass, pulse, intake presence and the visual authority of a very wide rear tire under a clipped fender.

On the road the 110B delivers the expected low-rpm shove rather than a rev-hungry personality. The engine's appeal is the way it loads the belt and pulls cleanly from modest engine speeds, with the counterbalanced Softail installation muting some of the raw vibration associated with older rigid-mounted Big Twins. It still feels unmistakably like a large-displacement Harley V-twin: deliberate, heavy-flywheel, mechanically audible and happiest when ridden on torque.

The clutch and 6-speed Cruise Drive gearbox suit that character. Shifts are positive rather than delicate, and the wide-ratio feel encourages short-shifting instead of sustained high-rpm work. The belt final drive keeps driveline behavior clean and low-maintenance compared with a chain conversion, which some custom builders might favor visually but which would move the bike away from factory originality.

Handling is inseparable from the stance. The long wheelbase, raked look and 240 rear tire give the FXSE impressive straight-line composure but a slower roll response than narrower-tire Softails. The inverted fork and dual front discs give the front end a more planted and substantial feel than the standard Breakout specification, yet the motorcycle remains a low-slung cruiser with limited lean-angle appetite rather than a back-road scalpel.

Its best roads are broad, fast and open enough to let the engine work against the tall gearing. In town, the same visual ingredients that make it compelling in photographs—the rear tire, long chassis and low profile—make it a large motorcycle to maneuver. That contradiction is central to the FXSE's charm and also to its limitations.

Identification and Originality

The key identifier is the FXSE model code. A genuine 2016-2017 CVO Pro Street Breakout should be documented as an FXSE, not merely described as a Breakout with CVO-style parts. Buyers should verify the VIN and factory paperwork through normal Harley-Davidson documentation channels rather than relying on badges, paint or accessory invoices alone.

Correct visual cues include the Screamin' Eagle Twin Cam 110B engine, inverted fork, dual front discs, wide rear tire, CVO-specific finishes and Pro Street styling treatment. Surviving examples often show aftermarket exhaust systems, intake changes, tuning devices, handlebar swaps, seat changes, side-mount or relocated license brackets and altered lighting. Those changes may improve personal usability, but they reduce the value of factory completeness when original parts are missing.

CVO paint is a major originality issue. Factory CVO paint schemes are expensive to repair correctly, and repainting a damaged tank or fender in a near-match color is not the same as retaining original CVO finish. Collectors should look for consistent paint quality, correct badging, original wheels and finishes, intact CVO trim, owner's manual material, key fobs, security documentation where applicable and service records.

Engine and frame-number concerns are the same serious matters they are on any modern Harley, with the added weight of CVO value. Avoid motorcycles with inconsistent paperwork, unexplained engine replacement, salvage history that is not fully disclosed, or heavily modified examples presented as original. A genuine FXSE does not need a story to justify its identity; the factory documentation should do that work.

Model Code and Variant Breakdown

The FXSE is often confused with earlier CVO Breakouts and the standard FXSB. The differences below are useful when reading listings, evaluating modified motorcycles or deciding whether a bike is a genuine CVO Pro Street model.

This table is also a warning against vague sales language. “CVO-style,” “Screamin' Eagle look,” or “Pro Street build” does not make a motorcycle an FXSE. The model code, engine specification and factory documentation must agree.

Performance and Dimensional Specifications

Factory literature for the FXSE emphasized displacement, torque character and equipment rather than sport-bike style acceleration claims. Harley-Davidson did not use a consistent U.S.-market horsepower figure as the public identity of the model, and independent dyno results vary too widely with exhaust and tuning to serve as restoration-grade specifications.

Factory dimensional data for the CVO Pro Street Breakout commonly lists the long Softail wheelbase, low seat height and substantial wet weight typical of the wide-tire Breakout platform, but buyers should consult the correct model-year owner's manual or factory service literature for exact market-specific numbers. The meaningful performance story is less about top speed or quarter-mile claims than about how the 110B engine, gearing and rear-tire package create a heavy, torque-led cruiser with stronger front-end and braking specification than the standard Breakout.

Compared With Related Harley-Davidson Models

FXSE CVO Pro Street Breakout vs. FXSB Breakout

The regular FXSB Breakout is the most common source of confusion. It shares the family stance and Softail architecture, but the FXSE adds CVO status, the Screamin' Eagle 110B engine, inverted fork, dual front brakes and premium factory finishes. A modified FXSB can be made visually similar, but it will not have the same model identity or collector position.

FXSE CVO Pro Street Breakout vs. FXSBSE CVO Breakout

The 2013-2014 FXSBSE CVO Breakout is the earlier CVO member of the family and also used the Twin Cam 110B. The FXSE, however, is the later Pro Street interpretation, more overtly drag-custom in presentation and fitted with the front-end and braking treatment that gives it a distinctive stance. Collectors often separate the two by model code and styling era rather than by engine alone.

FXSE CVO Pro Street Breakout vs. 2018-on Breakout

The 2018-on Breakout belongs to the redesigned Softail generation and uses Milwaukee-Eight power rather than the Twin Cam 110B. Those bikes are important in their own right, but they are different machines mechanically and historically. The FXSE is the end-of-line premium Twin Cam Softail expression; the later Breakout is part of Harley's new chassis strategy.

Restoration and Ownership Notes

The FXSE is a modern motorcycle, so restoration is usually less about fabricating obsolete mechanical parts and more about recovering factory correctness after customization. Exhausts, air cleaners, seats, bars, mirrors, lighting, wheels, fasteners and tuning equipment are common areas where original parts disappear. On a CVO, the absence of those parts matters because the model's value is tied closely to its factory specification.

The Twin Cam 110B is well supported by Harley-Davidson specialists, but it deserves careful inspection. Heat management, tuning quality, oil-change history, cam-chest service history, lifter condition, compensator health and primary-drive noise are all worth evaluating on any big-inch Twin Cam. Poorly calibrated exhaust and intake modifications can create drivability and heat problems that are then mistaken for inherent engine faults.

Chassis inspection should focus on the wide rear-tire package and Softail rear suspension. Check belt alignment, rear tire clearance, wheel condition, swingarm area, rear shock adjustment and any evidence of collision repair. The inverted fork and dual-disc front end are defining FXSE pieces, so bent fork tubes, damaged calipers, mismatched rotors or non-original finishes should be treated seriously.

CVO-specific cosmetic parts can be the hardest items to replace correctly. A mechanically tired but complete FXSE may be easier to return to collector-grade condition than a low-mile example with missing original CVO paintwork, wheels and trim. Documentation, photographs from earlier ownership and retained take-off parts can make a decisive difference.

Buyer and Restoration Inspection Points

A good FXSE inspection should be model-specific. The following checklist is aimed at the areas where CVO originality, Twin Cam 110B condition and Breakout-family modifications most often intersect.

The best examples are usually not the loudest or most heavily accessorized. For this model, restraint is often a virtue: documented CVO originality carries more long-term interest than another round of catalog customization.

Collector and Market Relevance

The FXSE occupies a specific niche in the modern Harley collector market. It is not rare in the sense of a prewar factory racer or an early strap-tank single, and it has no military or police-service history. Its appeal is that of a short-run CVO, a high-spec final-era Twin Cam Softail and a factory-built expression of the fat-tire Pro Street style that shaped Harley custom culture in the early twenty-first century.

Collectors typically value original paint, correct CVO equipment, low modification burden, full documentation, clean ownership history and the presence of original take-off parts when accessories have been fitted. Mileage matters, but condition and factory completeness often matter more, because CVO-specific finishes can be more difficult to replace accurately than mechanical wear items.

Auction and dealer interest tends to follow broader Harley-Davidson CVO patterns: special paint, limited-year identity, large-displacement factory engines and clean provenance help. The FXSE also benefits from being easy to explain. It is the Pro Street CVO Breakout, the one with the 110B, inverted fork, dual discs and the aggressive wide-tire stance.

Cultural Relevance

The FXSE did not earn its place through racing results, dispatch service or military contracts. Its cultural relevance comes from Harley-Davidson's absorption of custom-building language into factory production. The Pro Street look—low bar, long wheelbase, huge rear tire, abbreviated rear bodywork and heavy visual mass around the engine—came from custom and drag-influenced street bikes, not from touring necessity.

That is why the FXSE is an honest period object. It reflects the years when many riders wanted a motorcycle that looked modified before a wrench touched it. Harley-Davidson understood that market well, and CVO gave the company a way to sell high-margin, limited-production motorcycles to buyers who wanted factory legitimacy with custom-bike presence.

FAQs

What years was the Harley-Davidson FXSE CVO Pro Street Breakout made?

The FXSE CVO Pro Street Breakout was produced for the 2016 and 2017 model years. It belongs to the pre-2018 Twin Cam Softail generation, before the Breakout moved to the redesigned Milwaukee-Eight Softail platform.

What engine is in the 2016-2017 FXSE CVO Pro Street Breakout?

It uses the Screamin' Eagle Twin Cam 110B, a 110 cu in / 1801 cc air-cooled 45-degree pushrod V-twin with counterbalancers for rigid-mount Softail use.

Is the FXSE the same as a regular FXSB Breakout?

No. The FXSB is the regular-production Breakout, while the FXSE is the CVO Pro Street Breakout. The FXSE has CVO specification, the Twin Cam 110B engine, inverted fork, dual front discs, special finishes and model-specific Pro Street styling.

How can I identify a real CVO Pro Street Breakout?

Start with the FXSE model code and factory documentation. Then confirm the Screamin' Eagle 110B engine, CVO paint and trim, inverted fork, dual front brake discs and correct wide-tire Breakout equipment. Badges or aftermarket parts alone are not proof of CVO identity.

Did Harley-Davidson publish horsepower for the FXSE?

Harley-Davidson did not use a consistent U.S.-market horsepower figure as the principal published specification for this model. Factory information emphasized the 110 cu in displacement and torque-oriented Big Twin character; independent dyno figures vary with exhaust, tuning and test conditions.

What are the main ownership concerns with the Twin Cam 110B FXSE?

Important areas include heat management, tuning quality after exhaust or intake changes, cam-chest and lifter condition, compensator and primary-drive noise, belt alignment and preservation of CVO-specific cosmetic parts. A complete service history is especially valuable.

Is the FXSE CVO Pro Street Breakout collectible?

Yes, within the modern Harley-Davidson CVO market. Its strongest collector arguments are the short two-year production run, Twin Cam 110B Softail specification, factory Pro Street identity, CVO paint and equipment, and its position just before the 2018 Softail redesign.

Collector Takeaway

The 2016-2017 FXSE CVO Pro Street Breakout is not important because it solved a transportation problem. It is important because it captured a moment when Harley-Davidson could sell a factory motorcycle with the posture, displacement and finish quality of a completed custom build. The model's value is in that completeness: CVO paint, 110B engine, inverted fork, dual discs, wide rear tire and the factory paperwork tying it all together.

For collectors, the FXSE is one of the cleanest late Twin Cam Softail statements. It sits at the end of an engine-and-frame era, just before the Milwaukee-Eight Softail reboot changed the mechanical basis of the family. Find one that has not been stripped of its CVO identity, and it remains a precise artifact of Harley's factory-custom confidence in the final years of the Twin Cam Softail.