Wide Glide or Fat Bob?
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 329
Likes: 0
Wide Glide or Fat Bob?
I'm really new to this forum, just really browse it alot, like everyday! Anyway I'm over here in Iraq and "getting short". It's just about crunch time, time to order my new ride that is. I'm stuck between the Wide Glide and the Fat Bob. I'm 6'3 and about 220 lbs, prob like a 34" inseam. They've go a Fat Bob in stock and the color I want (silver denium), but I like the Wide Glide also. But it's harder to get a Wide Glide due to the allotment of bikes they can get. I live in the mountains of east Tennessee, so my riding will be cruising the hills and valleys back home. I need some honest opinions on the way they both handle and perform. I've already got several mods in my head for both of them obviously! And I'm in no way a speed deamon, I just want something sweet to criuse on. I need some help, pros/cons, just anything would help!
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 449
Likes: 1
From: The Mohawk Trail
The mountains of Eastern TN! Dude I am jealous!
Personally I'm having the same dilemma you are. Which is the bike for me? But given what I know about your general area I'd be thinking Fat Bob. My reasons? The extra front rubber and additional braking abilities of that model. I also think you might be affected by the longer rake and lower ride height of the Wide Glide. Can you say "Dragin?" Every pun intended here too. :-)
Let's see what some real owners of the models in question say about that?
Get Home Safely Brother.
God's Speed
Personally I'm having the same dilemma you are. Which is the bike for me? But given what I know about your general area I'd be thinking Fat Bob. My reasons? The extra front rubber and additional braking abilities of that model. I also think you might be affected by the longer rake and lower ride height of the Wide Glide. Can you say "Dragin?" Every pun intended here too. :-)
Let's see what some real owners of the models in question say about that?
Get Home Safely Brother.
God's Speed
Last edited by spaceblue; Apr 12, 2010 at 06:44 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,062
Likes: 2
From: Southwest OHIO
Both are nice bikes... You'd have to ride em both to know for sure. But i agree with spaceblue, the fatbob may be the better bike for your area and riding conditions. You can do everything on the wide you can on the fatbob, but you can push the fatbob harder in the turns and it would have better braking ability. And since they have the color you like in stock it would seem to be an easy decision. Good luck, get home safe, and ride the rubber off when you get back!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 11
From: PacNW; Beacon of Conservatism in a Sea of Liberals.......AZ Snowbird; Just another Conservative
Two good choices; if I didn't have my Wide, I'd want a F-Bob. After riding my RKC for a while and then getting back on the Wide, I found that the front feels heavy and really wants to fall off one way or the other at very low speeds (really noticed this after riding the King, as it wants to self-center at any or no speed). As soon as you get over 5-10mph, this goes away and cruising at speed feels really stable. I haven't ridden a F-Bob, so I can't compare the two directly.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 9
From: Monmouth, OR
The new Wide Glide wasn't available when I purchased my Fat Bob in late 2008, so I didn't have the choice. I like the looks of both bikes, but have no regrets on my Fat Bob. I find the bike very stable in all conditions, and am especially happy with the bike going up my 1/4 mile gravel driveway with pot holes. That big front wheel makes a hugh difference on the gravel.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: the netherlands
I would go for the fat bob because of the rake....
this one is easyer in the corners....
and its a FAT bob.... especially the front is much bigger...
the breaks are also 2 calippers in the front....
good luck choosing!!!!
this one is easyer in the corners....
and its a FAT bob.... especially the front is much bigger...
the breaks are also 2 calippers in the front....
good luck choosing!!!!
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 449
Likes: 5
My Vote Fat Bob. That Hog is perfect for TN. The only issue you will come across is it's hard just to cruise on the Fat Bob. The FXDF is very aggressive and you often find yourself ridding it very aggressively.
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Northwest Maine
+1 on the "aggressive riding". I've had my FB for a few weeks now and love the way it handles. Best handling Harley I've ever owned. I must have exceeded the lean angle by a good bit when I was out riding yesterday. Took a hard right and felt /heard something grind from the rear of the bike as I rounded the corner. I kept going and checked it when I got home--doesn't seem possible, but the rear tip of the bottom exhaust pipe had a little scrape on it? If it really occured from that corner, it shows how this bike will flip-flop with the best of 'em!
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 115
Likes: 1
From: Milan, Italy
Hey!
I'm gonna give you an answer straight out of a comfort PoV:
I'm 6'7, 220lbs and before pulling the trigger on my FXDWG '10 I sat down on most of the new Dyna models, including the Fat Bob and the WG was the only one I found to be comfortable for my size.
I'm not sure if the tank on the fat bob is different in anyway but I found it very uncomfortable wrapping my legs around it.
Unfortunately I can't compare the Fat Bob to the WG as I never took it for a test ride, however I can tell you that the WG handles very well, a lot better than I first expected.
I even find myself slaloming through morning traffic with ease on my way to work!
I'm gonna give you an answer straight out of a comfort PoV:
I'm 6'7, 220lbs and before pulling the trigger on my FXDWG '10 I sat down on most of the new Dyna models, including the Fat Bob and the WG was the only one I found to be comfortable for my size.
I'm not sure if the tank on the fat bob is different in anyway but I found it very uncomfortable wrapping my legs around it.
Unfortunately I can't compare the Fat Bob to the WG as I never took it for a test ride, however I can tell you that the WG handles very well, a lot better than I first expected.
I even find myself slaloming through morning traffic with ease on my way to work!