Harley-Davidson crowns Breakout Boss winner

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of their chopper-styled Breakout model, Harley-Davidson Australia & New Zealand created the first ever ‘Breakout Boss’ competition, inviting Breakout owners across the two countries to share images and details of their customised ride for the chance to win the title of ‘Ultimate Breakout Boss’ and some cool prizes.

The competition, launched last year, was held over six fortnightly rounds from September to December, with entries whittled down to ten for each round, from which a winner was chosen by a judging panel made up of Harley-Davidson ANZ staff. Those six finalists then went into the grand final this March to determine the Ultimate Breakout Boss.

In addition to the main competition, there was also a People’s Choice component to Breakout Boss, where Harley aficionados could vote for their favourite Breakout-based custom via the dedicated competition website and Harley-Davidson’s social media channels.

In total, more than 300 entries were submitted to the Breakout Boss competition, with a high calibre of style and individuality showcased amongst the entries, according to Harley-Davidson, who added that the creations ranged from the outrageous to the downright beautiful.

Custom pipes, custom wheels, blackout detailing, unique paint and an abundance of accessories from Harley-Davidson’s Genuine Parts & Accessories catalogue and the aftermarket were evident in the bikes that made the final six.

From Wayne Gummow’s gleaming Gunmetal Grey custom to Grant Crowther’s creation (that added a headlight fairing and second front brake disc amongst its many changes) and the retro-inspired creation of Kane Swan, with its turquoise paint and ape hanger bars, each finalist was unique, making the judging panel’s decision even harder.

Ultimately, the panel awarded the first ever Ultimate Breakout Boss title to Glen Couper of Coop’s Custom Cycles in Mount Helena, Western Australia.

Described as both well planned and beautifully executed, this Breakout was modified from nose to tail, with no piece left untouched. The judges said that the character, styling and x-factor of Glen’s creation blew them away.

The full list of modifications and additional features is too extensive to list here, but includes parts from the Genuine P & A catalogue, as well as aftermarket suppliers like Roland Sands Design, Performance Machine and others.

The open primary cover, air intake, oil cooler, twin disc front end with top-mounted calipers, custom mudguards front and rear, an aftermarket handlebar on fat risers and aftermarket wheels are just some of the many, many highlights of this build.

The paint (by Custom Digital) is exceptional, too, combining a ‘real flame’ finish in blue with faux mesh panels and 3D-look curved sections over a black base, with a similarly glossy black finish on the engine and the rest of the running gear.

Glen himself said an incredible amount of time and detail went into this creation (which he built for a Coop’s Custom Cycles customer), adding that he was very grateful to be voted the first Breakout Boss winner.

As the winner, Glen receives a unique Breakout Boss plaque, Breakout Boss fuel tank and a $2,500 Harley-Davidson apparel voucher. A feature article on the bike will appear in a future issue of Heavy Duty magazine.

The Breakout Boss People’s Choice award went to Kane Swan of NSW. His creation dates back to 2020 and previously featured in Live to Ride magazine, but has been well maintained since, so still looks sparkling and new.

Key changes from stock obviously include the ProCharger supercharger on the Milwaukee-Eight 114 v-twin, as well as the aftermarket pipes and custom wheels.

The saddle is trimmed in snakeskin and alligator skin, while an analogue/digital instrument pod complements the retro look achieved by this creation’s luscious turquoise paint and abundance of classic chrome.

Against the predominantly “dark” finishes on the other finalists, the brighter look of Kane’s heavily customised Breakout clearly resonated with Harley fans and those that followed the Breakout Boss competition on social media.

To see all six Breakout Boss finalists, go to: biketorques.com.au/breakoutboss/