Thinking about Fat Bob oor Rocker C
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 712
Likes: 0
From: Ponte Vedra, FL
I own a Fat Bob so may be a tad prejudice but I work at a dealership and have ridden both bikes. I took my bike up to the mountains for six days and had no problem riding for long periods of time. The Fat Bob corners extremely well and is a fun bike to ride. The Rocker is more difficult to maneuver in slow turns due to the skinny front tire and wide rear tire. As someone mentioned before, unless you put a different seat on, the your wife is out of luck on the Rocker. Even on the Fat Bob, if your wife is going to be riding on long trips with you then I would suggest a more touring style seat for her comfort. If you are riding by yourself then the standard seat is more than comfortable.
Good luck with your decision
Good luck with your decision
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 557
Likes: 1
From: 27540
I'm looking for something with more all-day comfort...
Definitely don't get the Rocker. My father had one and sold it because it wasn't comfortable to ride more than hopping around town. Fun bike, but not something you'd want to ride more than an hour or two at a time.
Definitely don't get the Rocker. My father had one and sold it because it wasn't comfortable to ride more than hopping around town. Fun bike, but not something you'd want to ride more than an hour or two at a time.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 467
Likes: 1
From: East of Cincinnati
"I do need room on the bike for the wife."
Have you seen the passenger seat on a Rocker? Unless she's 60 lbs and has no feeling in her bottom I think you'll be riding alone on a rocker.
Get the Fatbob and add a comfy seat and back rest and she won't want to go home.
Good luck!
Tim
Have you seen the passenger seat on a Rocker? Unless she's 60 lbs and has no feeling in her bottom I think you'll be riding alone on a rocker.
Get the Fatbob and add a comfy seat and back rest and she won't want to go home.
Good luck!
Tim
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 444
Likes: 57
Who makes your seat and sissy bar? They look nice.
Last edited by rbartick; Jun 29, 2009 at 10:12 AM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,780
Likes: 9,042
From: Monroe, NC
I just took a Fat Bob and a Rocker on long demo rides at a local dealer. IMO the Rocker is a better looking ride, that bike really turns heads. As far as riding goes I think that the Fat Bob rides better. The Fat Bob seat feel is much better, the seating position is better, the peg position is better (fwd controls), and the steering geometry is better. I felt more comfortable taking turns at speed on the Fat Bob.
I could ride a Fat Bob all day; I dont think I could do the same on a Rocker. The non-balanced motor in the Fat Bob vibrates and shakes a lot more than the balanced motor in the Rocker. The Fat Bobs bars and the pegs vibrate significantly when you coast off the throttle. I also had trouble getting the kickstand down on the Fat Bob. That sucker is tucked way under the primary.
Both bikes did NOT like to be lugged at low RPM. When I slowed down in a high gear to maybe 30 MPH or so the bikes started to buck badly. I kind of expected these bikes to run cleanly at low RPM. I can lug my Metric sport bike down near idle in top gear and it still pulls away cleanly. These bikes require a lot more shifting than my sport bike does, and I'm not talking about high RPM stuff where the Metric hits the powerband and takes off. I'm not complaining about this, just making an observation.
I could ride a Fat Bob all day; I dont think I could do the same on a Rocker. The non-balanced motor in the Fat Bob vibrates and shakes a lot more than the balanced motor in the Rocker. The Fat Bobs bars and the pegs vibrate significantly when you coast off the throttle. I also had trouble getting the kickstand down on the Fat Bob. That sucker is tucked way under the primary.
Both bikes did NOT like to be lugged at low RPM. When I slowed down in a high gear to maybe 30 MPH or so the bikes started to buck badly. I kind of expected these bikes to run cleanly at low RPM. I can lug my Metric sport bike down near idle in top gear and it still pulls away cleanly. These bikes require a lot more shifting than my sport bike does, and I'm not talking about high RPM stuff where the Metric hits the powerband and takes off. I'm not complaining about this, just making an observation.
The low speed lugging is just a characteristic of V-twins in general.
Harley's like to be kept on the pipe, those two big pistons take longer to spin up than most sport bikes.
You learn not only to live with it but to love the nature of the beast as well.
After a stage one the grin on your face gets a bit bigger when you hit the throttle.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Beaumont, Texas
I have an 09 Fatbob and was going to trade it in on the Rocker C. I was to the point of signing the papers when i decided to test drive both bikes again. I decided to keep my Fatbob due to better ride, more comfortable and beter handeling. But i did like that Fat 240 mm tire. I ride with a friend that has a Rocker C and he likes my bike and wishes he had the Fatbob due to the better ride and handleing. Ride both and Good Luck with your choice.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: Grand Forks, North Dakota
Just a quick note, I had a Rocker "C" while my Fat Bob was being repaired. It's a great looking bike, but, A bit rough riding and the steering is a little strange with the extended forks. I had a little trouble getting used to it and it seemed under powered. I was very happy when my FXDF was finished and I could give them back their Rocker. Again, though it is a good looking bike and it gets attention, I still like the power and smooth ride of my Fat Bob ! Good luck with your decision.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 444
Likes: 57
Just a quick note, I had a Rocker "C" while my Fat Bob was being repaired. It's a great looking bike, but, A bit rough riding and the steering is a little strange with the extended forks. I had a little trouble getting used to it and it seemed under powered. I was very happy when my FXDF was finished and I could give them back their Rocker. Again, though it is a good looking bike and it gets attention, I still like the power and smooth ride of my Fat Bob ! Good luck with your decision.
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