Can someone tell me the difference in quickness, top speed and handling between the Fat Boy and Sportster?

 

You know you could google that and find all you're looking for in about 5 minutes right?

 

i tried.

 

That's what this forum is for. I can google lots of things. I, as many others do, come here to get opinions about things from real people. Unfortunately, the occasional a$$ hole has to make a$$ hole comments to people asking questions.


Op, the fatty and sportster are very different in many ways. It's a softail big twin. Sporty is probably quicker while the fat boy is probably faster in the long run. Fat boy is way heavier and longer so it doesn't handle as well. It's more comfy than a sportster for sure. The list for a on..

 

Simple,,
A Fat boy would be like a Caddi or a Big SUV,,
A Sportster,,,the 883 would be like a small 6 cylinder Sports car
The 1200 would be like a V-8 Mustang......

 

Me and my brother bought a Fat Boy and an Iron on the same day...
We've been riding together for while.
One day, we've switched bike to hear each other sounds...he was scary to death how responsive was Iron throttle.

Since he is a very experienced rider and Im not, he was concerned with Iron and a rider like me with a bike like that.

Anyways, SUV and a small sport car example fits perfectly here.

 

Well I rode a 2009 Fat Boy and did not like it. It's a nice bike, but was not near as fun as my Sportys. it was big, heavy and did nto turn well like my bikes. A stock 1200 sporty will pull on the stock 96ci Fat Boy, but in a long run race the Fat Boy would keep up fine.

 

I'd have to agree with the sport's car versus Caddi comment. I demoed a Fat Boy Low a couple weeks ago and it was a very cushy, smooth ride compared to my Nightster. It kinda felt like driving a big bath tub! No where near the handling of the Nightster. The point is they are very different!

 

ok , I own/ride both..so like some other parts everyone has ,,here is my opinion.

103 fatboy SE heads/cams/thunderheader/fuel is mapped
91 1200 sportie.chain drive 23 front 48 rear sprockets.
carb'd rejetted /kehein.

sportie is quicker acceleration /slower on topend ..handles twisties better, fatboy scrapes footboards. harder to change directions
sportie stops way better(both have single disc front and rear)

fatboy much better hiway ride, sportie better in town.

sportie wears out your butt above 65-70. ftaboy cruise is 70-80..

can run 200 plus miles on fatboy without stopping...must stop at 100 on the sportie( outa gas/outa butt.

all that being said ,I like them both ..none for sale...

fatboy lower center of gravity,,easier to ride at idle speed.

 

Just like the previous poster, I have both a Fatboy and a Sportster. The Fatty is an 96 inch 2007, and the Sportster (wife's bike) is an 06 1200C. They are both a blast to ride. The Sporty spools up very quickly and is quicker in the turns. The Fatty is no slouch with the mods done to it. They have both had stage 1 upgrades, plus a few more goodies. I can beat my wife everytime on the Fatboy because she can't shift as fast as I can, and she chickens out at high speed. The ride of the 2 bikes is totally different, and why I prefer the Fatboy. In my advancing years..(now over 50!) I prefer comfort to all out performance. The Fatty does not beat you up on a long ride like the Sportster does. If all you want to do is ride around town, (or if you are young and flexible) a Sporter is fine (after you junk the POS factory seat). The Fatty is good to go, comfort wise, out of the box. Much better for 2 up riding also.