Fat Boy Curious
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 611
Likes: 204
From: Long Island, NY
And the dealer wouldn't lie ...... lol.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 413
Likes: 599
From: Florida
I've owned two '09 Road Kings, an '07 Street Glide, a '16 Road Glide Ultra, and an assortment of other bikes. I now ride a BMW 1200GS cam head and a BMW K1600 in CO but am drawn back to Harley for a bike to keep out on the East coast where I spend 50% of my time. I've always liked the Fat Boy and since my riding out there will be much more short-ish cruiser style rides, it will fit the bill.
I'd like to find a 2020 - 2024 that, hopefully, someone has already done stage 1, etc. I've looked for comparisons across those years and haven't found anything that simply answered the questions around differences in years including what colors were available. I certainly know the good 'ol "buy the newest you can afford", but price isn't as important to me as the right bike and if there's not any big differences from 2020 - 2024, fine. Then it's just a matter finding one in perfect condition and the color I'd like.
Are there any features that were added as the years went on 2020-2024? Do any of you have a site that lists the colors available in each year? I know 2025 has all of the tech that I could not care less about (other than ABS) plus paying for a new bike does not appeal to me.
Thanks for any info you can provide.
I'd like to find a 2020 - 2024 that, hopefully, someone has already done stage 1, etc. I've looked for comparisons across those years and haven't found anything that simply answered the questions around differences in years including what colors were available. I certainly know the good 'ol "buy the newest you can afford", but price isn't as important to me as the right bike and if there's not any big differences from 2020 - 2024, fine. Then it's just a matter finding one in perfect condition and the color I'd like.
Are there any features that were added as the years went on 2020-2024? Do any of you have a site that lists the colors available in each year? I know 2025 has all of the tech that I could not care less about (other than ABS) plus paying for a new bike does not appeal to me.
Thanks for any info you can provide.
First, get a FatBoy and ride the wheels off it. Youll be happier for it. 😊
Second, go test ride a few of them and see if they fit your riding style. Ive had people tell me it wont turn and I have to force it through the corners. For me that never happens. I dont know why, maybe its 62 and 244 lbs making the bike lean without any fuss. Ive had to add metal heel-savers to my riding boots, as my heels get dragged off the peg while Im cornering (sometimes). Well, that may not be a problem unless you do the peg conversion, as they come with floorboards from the Mothership. I put 54k(sh) miles on it before I purchased my 23 RKS and never had a bad ride. Sadly, Ive been letting it sit since Sep 2023 and only ridden it a couple of times since the RKS came into the stable.
PM me or @FranBunnyFFXII if you have any questions concerning making the FB ready for long haul or behaving while squirting through traffic.
FranBunnys FatBoy is in the shop just now as she had an incident that caused her airbag vest/jacket to activate. Hopefully she gets her ride back soon.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4,347
Likes: 3,392
From: Seattle
2018 to 2020 Satin Chrome
2021 beyond Standard Chrome
2021 also got a new ECM and an extra muffler sensor iirc.
2018 Model year does not have the upper bolt holes for passenger pegs/crash cage attachments, these were introduced to the fat boy and break out in 2019.
They are present on every other m8 softail.
One of the best basic upgrades you can do for an M8 Fat Boy is get a 260 tire on the rear. It pinches the tire inward and gives it a more aggressive profile, and a slight ride height lift, and a slight rake angle increase. It doesnt really look any fatter, but it does look more aggressive and handle better. Metzeler Tourance NEXT2 150/70 ZR18 tires(reverse mounted) are great for the front. Incredibly grippy and low wear and excellent wet performance.
Fat Boy is great because out of the box it can be easily kitted out to be a mini bagger, turned into a corner carver. With narrower bars where you can under bar the mirrors you can make a pretty good lane splitter. 1 Bolt seat swappability is legit awesome, and every softail can do this with any 2 up length seat. But it's nice on the fat boy because you get the big wide fat *** seat, which is comfy.
The crash cages for other M8 Softails fit it.
5 gallon tank, good foot room.
I describe the Fat Boy as... "It's like riding a Monster Truck, but it's a motorcycle and made for the street."
I really think that it's probably one of the best overall bikes HD has ever made, right next to the LRS and Heritage Classic. All 3 bikes that really lend themselves to being good at many different specilizations.
But I like the cockpit view and the fun of twisty riding on the fat boy more than any other bike in the line up.
Fat Boy now days is much more of a mini road king without bags IMO.
2021 beyond Standard Chrome
2021 also got a new ECM and an extra muffler sensor iirc.
2018 Model year does not have the upper bolt holes for passenger pegs/crash cage attachments, these were introduced to the fat boy and break out in 2019.
They are present on every other m8 softail.
One of the best basic upgrades you can do for an M8 Fat Boy is get a 260 tire on the rear. It pinches the tire inward and gives it a more aggressive profile, and a slight ride height lift, and a slight rake angle increase. It doesnt really look any fatter, but it does look more aggressive and handle better. Metzeler Tourance NEXT2 150/70 ZR18 tires(reverse mounted) are great for the front. Incredibly grippy and low wear and excellent wet performance.
Fat Boy is great because out of the box it can be easily kitted out to be a mini bagger, turned into a corner carver. With narrower bars where you can under bar the mirrors you can make a pretty good lane splitter. 1 Bolt seat swappability is legit awesome, and every softail can do this with any 2 up length seat. But it's nice on the fat boy because you get the big wide fat *** seat, which is comfy.
The crash cages for other M8 Softails fit it.
5 gallon tank, good foot room.
I describe the Fat Boy as... "It's like riding a Monster Truck, but it's a motorcycle and made for the street."
I really think that it's probably one of the best overall bikes HD has ever made, right next to the LRS and Heritage Classic. All 3 bikes that really lend themselves to being good at many different specilizations.
But I like the cockpit view and the fun of twisty riding on the fat boy more than any other bike in the line up.
Fat Boy now days is much more of a mini road king without bags IMO.
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 652
Likes: 510
From: United Kingdom
I'm 6'2" and 196lbs and have an early 2019 Fat Boy (original oil pump - Harley changed this late 2019)
When I first took the Fat Boy out for a test ride I did find that I had to consciously lean around corners and man-handle it around roundabouts - this is because it's a 699lbs bike with wide front and rear tyres.
I admit, it took a bit of getting used to.
However, once you realise/learn it's a great cruiser and, imo, perfect for short-ish cruiser style rides
I say your best bet is to go and do a few test rides.
Like with any Harley you can improve from stock...
Probably the first thing to do is change the seat.
Then fit a set of Metzler Cruisertecs with a 260 rear tyre
After that it's personal preference
When I first took the Fat Boy out for a test ride I did find that I had to consciously lean around corners and man-handle it around roundabouts - this is because it's a 699lbs bike with wide front and rear tyres.
I admit, it took a bit of getting used to.
However, once you realise/learn it's a great cruiser and, imo, perfect for short-ish cruiser style rides
I say your best bet is to go and do a few test rides.
Like with any Harley you can improve from stock...
Probably the first thing to do is change the seat.
Then fit a set of Metzler Cruisertecs with a 260 rear tyre
After that it's personal preference
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