When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have the 2019 fat Bob and love it. it is a blast to ride. I have a 2017 CVO Street glide for the comfort ride and a 2008 custom NiteTrain for shows mostly now. Just go ride it, and see for yourself
The Fat Bob is the most nimble cruiser I have ever been on. Go to a dealership and look at its stance and rake. Look at the FXDR .. the Fat Bob will out handle the FXDR any day.
Here is a video of the Fat Bob on the race track .. so what ? A good rider can do wonders no matter what bike they ride. Dont take offence to what I said its based on specs and the multiple reviews I have read. At the end of the day the FXDR is cool as **** too brother.
Here is a video of the Fat Bob on the race track .. so what ? A good rider can do wonders no matter what bike they ride. Dont take offence to what I said its based on specs and the multiple reviews I have read. At the end of the day the FXDR is cool as **** too brother.
I came from a Ducati 1199 too but the Fat Bobs seating position was neutral which after doing long trips on the Ducati I really wanted.
How do you like the FXDR all Around ? What dont you like about it ? I dont know many people who own one who can give me an honest opinion.
I have a few vids up on YouTube about it, but the pros and cons:
Pro's
-Torque. Endless supply. (having an extra large air breather helps as well). And the clutch is cable, not hydraulic, so no worries about oil transfer.
- Handling. the trick on the FXDR is that the seat and the bars are too far apart. nice thing about clip-ons as you know coming from a Duc, you can adjust them. Rotate them 3/8" towards the back does wonders for posture and responsiveness. after you dial it in, it just drops into the curves and holds the line planted.
- Features. This is more to do with the softail line than the FXDR, but I really enjoy self cancelling turn signals, and the Daymaker LED headlamp lights up the night. There is also a USB port under the tank for handlebar mounted accessories.
Cons:
- Luggage. You're pretty much backpacking it on this, but then again, it isn't a tourer. I figured out how to mount bags using HD bungie bars, but it looks a bit "Unconventional"
- Heat. The FXDR does not like going slow or "cruising" the boulevard. The exhaust will bite you. (which is fine with me, I'd rather do 70 than 20 any day)
- Posture. This is relative, but those that aren't used to riding sportbikes will feel the reaching forward is odd, especially with (almost) forward controls.
I have had mine since the first week it came out. This was the bike that pulled me into the Harley camp (I was waiting for my kawai dealer to get an H2 SE SX), and honestly, I grin like a possum every time I ride it. And there are more and more of us each day. Some interesting mods are coming out for it. My FXDR Bagger project notice the license plate An example of aftermarket mods..
Just a quick note on riding 2-up on a Softail, my wife's favorite upgrade for comfort is actually the LeatherPros Retro series bags. The contour of the bags allows her to rest her legs on them for added support and comfort for longer rides. Of course, this may be subjective to how tall your wife is, in my case I have pegs mounted at the stock position on a 2018 Slim, my wife is 5" tall and the bags are in a perfect position for her.
I have the Heritage 114 and my son has a Fatbob 114. We just got back from a tour down the Coast of California. He had no issues with long riding days on his Fatbob. It's actually quite comfortable in it's seating position for time in the saddle. Both bikes (the Heritage and Fatbob) have the tall rear shock with exceptional clearance for cornering, far more than most cruisers which was great for the curvy roads along the coast. I concur with those that recommend trying more than 1 bike in the softail platform. Are there things I envy about my son's bike? Yes, dual front brakes with the floating rotors are a plus plus plus and the bike looks totally badass.
My bike feels more nimble though compared to my son's bike due to the narrower tires, mine just heals over with less effort. Both bikes are amazing and you can't go wrong with the Fatbob.
I agree with those suggesting to ride as many different models as you can. You might surprised what you pick....
My wife just traded her Ducati Monster 1200 which she loved....for a Road King Special.
She rode all the Softails and was leaning towards the Heritage or Fat Bob...she’d sat on the Road King and immediately ruled it out based on weight and size....
last minute as as we were leaving she said “ok, let me try the Road King”....all the other test drives were 20 minutes...she came back in 4 minutes smiling....”this one” she said. She LOVES it.
Anyway, just don’t assume....
as for the Fat Bob it’s a fantastic bike as others have said. No wrong choices.
Spent last Saturday test riding. I went in with an open mind...but loved the Fat Bob. Thinking things over this week...will go back this weekend and try again. Thanks!
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom
Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
2019 Fat Bob
Ride it like you stole it.
