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

The 2016-2017 Harley-Davidson CVO Pro Street Breakout, model code FXSE, was one of the final high-profile Twin Cam 110B Softail customs before Harley-Davidson moved the Softail line into the Milwaukee-Eight era. It belonged to the Custom Vehicle Operations program, but unlike a touring CVO loaded with audio, luggage and long-distance equipment, the FXSE was built around stance: a stretched Softail profile, big rear tire, inverted fork, dual front brakes, dark finishes and the factory Screamin' Eagle 110B engine.

Best Known For: the FXSE CVO Pro Street Breakout is best known as Harley-Davidson's limited-production, Twin Cam 110B-powered pro-street Softail, combining CVO paint and trim with the raked-out Breakout chassis and 240 mm rear-tire look.

Quick Facts

The FXSE is often searched under several overlapping names: Harley-Davidson CVO Pro Street Breakout, FXSE, CVO Breakout Pro Street, and Screamin' Eagle 110B Breakout. The factory model code is the cleanest identification term.

The table shows why the FXSE sits apart from an ordinary Breakout. It was not merely a paint-and-trim package; the engine, brakes, fork specification, CVO finish level and limited-production positioning made it a distinct factory custom.

Why It Matters

The FXSE matters because it caught Harley-Davidson at the end of a particular engineering and styling cycle. The Twin Cam Softail platform had matured, CVO had become the company's premium in-house custom program, and the Breakout had established itself as the factory answer to the long, low, fat-tire custom look that had dominated American custom culture since the late 1990s.

The Pro Street Breakout took that language in a more mechanical direction than the earlier chrome-heavy customs. Its inverted fork, dual front brakes, aggressive intake, abbreviated bodywork and dark finishes gave the bike a harder edge. It was not a drag bike in the racing sense, but it was clearly styled around the visual grammar of street-strip machinery: low seat, wide rear tire, heavy-breathing big twin and a rearward visual mass.

For collectors, the importance is also chronological. The FXSE belongs to the last chapter of CVO Softails powered by the Twin Cam 110B. That alone gives it a specific place in Harley-Davidson history, because the subsequent Softail redesign and Milwaukee-Eight engines changed the mechanical character, frame architecture and ride behavior of the line.

Historical Context and Development Background

By the middle of the 2010s, Harley-Davidson's Softail range had become the company's primary canvas for factory custom styling. The Softail chassis allowed Milwaukee to sell a hardtail silhouette with modern rear suspension, and the Breakout shape pushed that idea further with a long wheelbase look, a narrow front end visually stretched away from a massive rear tire, and minimal fender coverage.

The CVO program served a different role from the standard model catalogue. It offered limited-production motorcycles with premium paint, higher-displacement engines, upgraded equipment and factory-installed accessories that would otherwise have been assembled through the parts counter. The FXSE followed that formula, but with less emphasis on touring equipment and more on hot-rod posture.

The competitor landscape was not a conventional sport-cruiser fight. The FXSE's real competition came from three directions: Harley's own standard FXSB Breakout, earlier CVO Breakout models, and the aftermarket custom world. Big rear tires, billet-style wheels, dark finishes and exposed air cleaners had already been part of custom-building vocabulary for years; the FXSE industrialized that look with factory warranty support and CVO-level finish.

Its timing is central to its appeal. The 2016 and 2017 model years put the FXSE just before the 2018 Softail redesign, which replaced the traditional hidden-shock Twin Cam Softail structure with the Milwaukee-Eight Softail platform. As a result, the FXSE represents the final mature expression of the older CVO Softail mechanical package rather than the beginning of a new one.

Engine and Drivetrain

The defining mechanical feature is the Screamin' Eagle Twin Cam 110B. The suffix B is important: in Harley-Davidson usage it denotes the counterbalanced Twin Cam engine used in Softail applications, where the engine is rigidly mounted in the frame. That distinguishes it from rubber-mounted Twin Cam engines used in other Harley platforms.

The engine is an air-cooled, pushrod, two-valve-per-cylinder 45-degree V-twin with electronic sequential port fuel injection. Factory displacement is 110 cubic inches, or 1801 cc, achieved through the familiar 4.000 in bore and 4.375 in stroke dimensions of the Twin Cam 110. Harley-Davidson factory material commonly lists peak torque at 112.1 lb-ft at 3500 rpm for the FXSE; horsepower was not a standard published sales specification and should not be invented for reference purposes.

Visually, the engine was part of the motorcycle's identity. The heavy-breather-style intake placed the motor's breathing hardware in plain view, and the blacked-out and contrast-finished engine treatment suited the Pro Street brief better than traditional brightwork. The drivetrain used Harley's 6-speed Cruise Drive transmission and belt final drive, with a hydraulic assist-and-slip clutch specified for this CVO model.

Engine and Drivetrain Specifications

These are the core mechanical specifications most useful when identifying, buying or restoring an FXSE.

The 110B gives the FXSE its character: large flywheel feel, strong low- and mid-range torque, and the unmistakable cadence of a rigid-mounted but internally counterbalanced Softail Twin Cam. It is a very different proposition from the later Milwaukee-Eight Breakout, which is smoother, more efficient and built around a different chassis philosophy.

Chassis, Suspension and Braking

The FXSE used the traditional Softail strategy: a tubular steel chassis shaped to suggest a rigid frame while hiding rear suspension beneath the motorcycle. In Breakout form, that chassis was paired with a long, low visual stance, forward controls and a rear tire large enough to define the bike from ten paces away.

The Pro Street specification sharpened the front end with an inverted fork and dual front discs. That was not a cosmetic distinction alone. Standard Breakouts of the period were commonly associated with the fat-rear-tire cruiser look but not with sporting brake equipment; the FXSE's dual-disc setup was a meaningful upgrade for a large-displacement, 730 lb running-order motorcycle.

The wheel-and-tire package is central to the machine's behavior. The 130/60B19 front and 240/40R18 rear sizes give the motorcycle its pro-street stance but also influence steering effort, line changes and low-speed manners. This is not a neutral sport chassis disguised as a cruiser; it is a factory custom with geometry and tire width chosen as much for silhouette as for response.

Chassis and Equipment Specifications

The following details are the most relevant for identification and ownership inspection.

Those figures explain why originality matters on an FXSE. Changing wheels, brake components, bars or suspension height can quickly move the motorcycle away from the specific CVO Pro Street identity that separates it from a modified standard Breakout.

Riding Experience and Mechanical Character

The FXSE starts and settles into the familiar heavy Twin Cam rhythm, but with the counterbalanced Softail engine reducing the worst of the rigid-mount shake. The idle still has the uneven Harley pulse and mechanical presence expected of a large air-cooled big twin, but it is more composed at the grips and footboards than a solid-mounted unbalanced engine would be.

Throttle response is dominated by torque rather than revs. The 110B does its best work in the middle of the tachometer, where the long stroke and heavy-breathing intake give the motorcycle the shove that suits its visual promise. It is not a high-rpm motor and was never presented as one.

The clutch action benefits from the hydraulic assist-and-slip unit, particularly given the engine's torque output. Gear engagement through the 6-speed Cruise Drive box has the heavy, deliberate feel typical of Harley big twins of the period. Riders accustomed to lighter metric cruisers or sport standards will notice the mass in every low-speed maneuver.

The wide rear tire and long stance are part of the experience, not flaws to be wished away. At parking-lot pace the bike asks for deliberate input, and on winding roads it prefers clean arcs over quick corrections. The dual front discs give the FXSE more braking authority than the visual genre might suggest, but the motorcycle remains a long, low Softail custom rather than a back-road scratcher.

Identification and Originality

The primary identification point is the FXSE model code and the CVO Pro Street Breakout specification. A correct motorcycle should present as a CVO Softail with the Screamin' Eagle Twin Cam 110B, inverted fork, dual front discs, wide 240-section rear tire, CVO-level paint and graphics, and the Pro Street styling package. A standard FXSB Breakout modified with intake, paint and wheels is not the same machine.

Collectors should examine the VIN and factory labels, confirm the engine type, and verify that the motorcycle's documentation supports its CVO identity. Modern Harley-Davidsons do not require the sort of forensic crankcase-number analysis associated with early machines, but paperwork, title consistency, factory build information and service records remain essential.

Common changes include exhaust systems, air-cleaner substitutions, handlebar swaps, tuning devices, seat changes, lighting alterations and rear-fender or license-plate modifications. Some modifications are easily reversible; others erase expensive CVO-specific details. Paint originality is especially important, because CVO finishes are a major component of the bike's collector value and are not equivalent to ordinary repaint work.

Original wheels, brake hardware, fork finish, tank console, badges, seat, exhaust style and CVO-specific trim should be inspected carefully. Reproduction or take-off parts may keep a bike presentable, but serious collectors usually reward examples that retain their factory equipment and have not been visually converted into a generic custom.

Model Code and Variant Breakdown

The FXSE was not a large family with police, military or racing subvariants. The meaningful distinction is between the 2016 and 2017 FXSE model years and closely related Breakout models that buyers often confuse with it.

This distinction is important in the collector market. A clean FXSB can be built into an attractive custom, but an FXSE derives value from being a factory CVO Pro Street Breakout rather than a modified standard model.

Performance and Dimensional Specifications

Harley-Davidson factory data commonly lists the FXSE with 112.1 lb-ft of torque at 3500 rpm, a 5.0-gallon fuel capacity and a 730 lb running-order weight. The published emphasis was torque and specification, not horsepower. Harley did not publish a conventional horsepower figure in the same way many sport-bike manufacturers did, and dyno figures vary with exhaust, calibration, air cleaner condition and test procedure.

Claims for 0-60 mph times, quarter-mile performance or top speed should be treated cautiously unless tied to a specific contemporary road test with known conditions. The FXSE was marketed as a premium factory custom cruiser, not as a homologation racing motorcycle or measured-performance special.

Compared With Related Models

FXSE CVO Pro Street Breakout vs FXSB Breakout

The standard FXSB Breakout is the machine most often confused with the FXSE. The FXSB delivered the same basic long, low Breakout idea but without the CVO engine, finish level and Pro Street hardware. The FXSE's Twin Cam 110B, inverted fork, dual front discs and CVO paint make it a fundamentally different purchase for a collector.

FXSE vs Earlier FXSBSE CVO Breakout

The earlier CVO Breakout established the idea of a premium, factory-built Breakout with the 110B engine. The FXSE moved the theme toward a darker, more aggressive Pro Street identity. Buyers should not assume that all CVO Breakouts are the same; the model code and year matter.

FXSE vs Milwaukee-Eight Breakout

The later Milwaukee-Eight Breakout belongs to a different mechanical generation. Its engine, frame and suspension architecture changed substantially with the redesigned Softail platform. Riders may prefer the later bike's refinement, but collectors interested in the final Twin Cam CVO Softail period will look specifically at the FXSE.

Restoration and Ownership Notes

The FXSE is a modern Harley-Davidson, so basic service parts are far easier to source than parts for prewar or early postwar machines. The difficulty lies in CVO-specific trim, paint, wheels and finish parts. Those pieces can be expensive, scarce or condition-sensitive, and they matter disproportionately to originality.

The Twin Cam 110B should be evaluated like any high-output air-cooled big twin: service history, oil-change discipline, heat management, tuning quality and signs of hard use all matter. Many examples have aftermarket exhausts and calibrations. A well-tuned motorcycle can be perfectly usable, but poorly mapped intake-and-pipe combinations can create heat, detonation risk, poor manners and future diagnostic headaches.

Inspect the primary drive and clutch operation, listen for abnormal compensator or primary noise, and confirm smooth engagement through the gearbox. The hydraulic clutch should feel consistent and free of leaks. On higher-mileage examples, cam chest inspection history, lifter condition and oiling health are worth documenting rather than assuming.

Cosmetic restoration can be more challenging than mechanical recommissioning. CVO paint and graphics are a major part of the motorcycle's identity. A repainted FXSE may still be a desirable rider, but a collector-grade example should retain correct finishes or have documentation for factory-quality replacement parts.

Buyer and Restoration Inspection Points

A good FXSE inspection focuses less on whether the motorcycle runs and more on whether it remains an authentic CVO Pro Street Breakout rather than a modified Breakout with expensive missing parts.

The best examples are not necessarily the lowest-mileage bikes if they have been neglected or over-customized. A documented, carefully maintained FXSE with its original CVO equipment intact is usually the more convincing motorcycle.

Collector and Market Relevance

The FXSE occupies an interesting collector niche. It is modern enough to be usable without the fragility concerns of much older motorcycles, yet specific enough to attract buyers who want a defined model rather than a generic big-twin custom. Its desirability rests on four points: CVO status, Twin Cam 110B power, short production span and last-generation Softail context.

Exact production numbers for the FXSE are not consistently documented in public factory material, so rarity should be discussed with care. It was limited-production in the CVO sense, not a one-off homologation model. Condition, originality, paint quality, documentation and lack of irreversible modifications are more important to serious buyers than unsupported claims about build totals.

Within Harley collecting, the FXSE appeals to enthusiasts who prefer factory customs over aftermarket customs. That distinction matters. A custom shop can build a more radical motorcycle, but the FXSE carries a factory model code, CVO provenance and a known specification that can be verified and preserved.

Cultural Relevance

The FXSE has no racing or military career to inflate its mythology, and that absence should be acknowledged. Its cultural relevance comes from Harley-Davidson's relationship with American custom style. The Pro Street Breakout translated a long-running custom vocabulary into a catalogued, warrantied, premium-production motorcycle.

The bike reflects the period when fat rear tires, blacked-out powertrains, exposed performance intakes and drag-inspired stances were still central to mainstream cruiser fashion. Harley-Davidson did not invent that look with the FXSE, but it legitimized it inside the CVO program and gave buyers a factory-built alternative to commissioning a custom.

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.

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

It uses the Screamin' Eagle Twin Cam 110B, an air-cooled, counterbalanced OHV 45-degree V-twin displacing 110 cu in, or 1801 cc.

How is the FXSE different from a standard FXSB Breakout?

The FXSE is a CVO model with the 110B engine, CVO paint and trim, inverted fork, dual front discs and Pro Street equipment. The standard FXSB of the same era used a lower-displacement Twin Cam 103B and did not carry the same CVO specification.

Did Harley-Davidson publish horsepower for the FXSE?

Harley-Davidson factory sales specifications emphasized torque rather than horsepower. The commonly listed torque figure is 112.1 lb-ft at 3500 rpm, while horsepower figures vary by test source and motorcycle setup.

Is the FXSE a good collector Harley-Davidson?

It has credible collector interest because it is a limited-production CVO Softail, uses the Twin Cam 110B, and belongs to the final pre-Milwaukee-Eight Softail generation. Originality and documentation are the main value drivers.

What are the most important originality items on an FXSE?

CVO paint, correct wheels, inverted fork, dual-disc brake setup, CVO trim, original-style intake and exhaust equipment, seat, badges and documentation are all important. Missing CVO-specific parts can be expensive to correct.

Is the FXSE the same as the earlier CVO Breakout?

No. The earlier FXSBSE CVO Breakout is related and also used the 110B engine, but the FXSE is the 2016-2017 CVO Pro Street Breakout with its own styling direction and equipment specification.

Collector Takeaway

The 2016-2017 Harley-Davidson FXSE CVO Pro Street Breakout is significant because it captures the last mature form of the Twin Cam 110B CVO Softail custom. It is not the fastest Harley, not the rarest CVO, and not a racing machine masquerading as a street bike. Its importance is more precise: it is the factory's polished, limited-production interpretation of the pro-street Softail idea just before the mechanical reset of the Milwaukee-Eight era.

For the serious Harley collector, the FXSE rewards discipline. The right bike is not the loudest or most modified example; it is the one that still reads as a factory CVO Pro Street Breakout, with its paint, front end, brakes, wheels, 110B engine and documentation intact. In that form, it is one of the clearest end-of-era Softails Harley-Davidson built.