From a handling standpoint, I am very glad they did not put mini-apes on this bike. While they might look good in some cases, IMO, they are never a good choice for a good handling bike. I like the bars on the Breakout. I think they strike a perfect balance between drag bars, which would require a pretty good forward and low stretch for a lot of people, and more of a beach bar as was mentioned. The result, for me, is a slightly forward position, taking pressure off the back, while still being a very comfortable height and width of the bars.
I have only ridden a bike with drag bars that were on a V-Rod, so i can't really make a judgement of how they would work on the Breakout...
I have ridden mine on a 30 mile or so expressway trip at 75-80 mph sustained speeds, and I was totally impressed with the handling compared to my 2008 Softail FXSTC with mini-apes....my arms are low and further down on the bike, and the overall package does not have as much "float" as my 2008 does(best way I can describe the sensation). I think a lot of the "float" I feel at speed on my 2008 is the narrow front tire....it does a lot of hunting over the pavement on interstates, and the faster the speed, the more I notice it. I'm not sure if it's the wider track on the front of the Breakout, the lower overall height of the bike, or the wider tire itself, but that just does not exist on the Breakout.
It was really a noticeable difference to me, and a much improved one...