Fat Bob for a beginner?
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 790
Likes: 4
From: Internet
Thanks everybody. We hit the dealership today and i sat on many bikes. I have to say my research proved right .. the Fat Bob felt the best!
The street glide was very nice but having the mids was a little goofy, at least at my size
The Fat Boy was very nice, but had a different feel to it, couldnt quite place it, but i felt like the fat bob was more "me"!! Besides, the Fat Boy was more money, so my wife walked away lol
Sat on a fat boy low, and that was a joke .. i felt like i was getting on/off a kids bike
Sat on a road king, while it felt comfy as hell, it felt like a little too "much" bike for me right now. The weight difference was extreme!
So overall the Fat Bob is for me. But i did have one issue, i suppose ill get used to .. the forward controls are in the perfect position and feel comfortable for me, BUT the angle of the brake/shifter was so extreme it almost felt awkward. Is that angle any different than other bikes with Forwards?
Im sure its just a while to get used to them, but it almost felt unnatural to point my tow that high to shift or brake ... hard to describe. The dealer said the shifter can be adjusted easily, but the brake has really no room to move it.
Any feedback on that?
The street glide was very nice but having the mids was a little goofy, at least at my size
The Fat Boy was very nice, but had a different feel to it, couldnt quite place it, but i felt like the fat bob was more "me"!! Besides, the Fat Boy was more money, so my wife walked away lol
Sat on a fat boy low, and that was a joke .. i felt like i was getting on/off a kids bike
Sat on a road king, while it felt comfy as hell, it felt like a little too "much" bike for me right now. The weight difference was extreme!
So overall the Fat Bob is for me. But i did have one issue, i suppose ill get used to .. the forward controls are in the perfect position and feel comfortable for me, BUT the angle of the brake/shifter was so extreme it almost felt awkward. Is that angle any different than other bikes with Forwards?
Im sure its just a while to get used to them, but it almost felt unnatural to point my tow that high to shift or brake ... hard to describe. The dealer said the shifter can be adjusted easily, but the brake has really no room to move it.
Any feedback on that?
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 790
Likes: 4
From: Internet
My wife commented that the bike appeared to be small, or i looked big on it. Even though it felt just right really.
I think this is because most of the guys we know with bikes, all have Ultra's .. so this obviously is a lot smaller than those.
I have a pic of me sitting on it i can post later on when i have time. From the side i can almost see what she means, but as i said when sitting on it i definitely feel comfortable.
I think this is because most of the guys we know with bikes, all have Ultra's .. so this obviously is a lot smaller than those.
I have a pic of me sitting on it i can post later on when i have time. From the side i can almost see what she means, but as i said when sitting on it i definitely feel comfortable.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 8
From: NW Arkansas
You can adjust the shifter easy to where it feels best for you higher or lower. I actually just added a heal/toe quick shifter which I really like. The only thing I had to get used to was reaching the rear break comfortably. The stock air cleaner sticks out a little and I kind of had to reach my right toe inward to put on the rear break. I have gotten a smaller round cleaner now where it is not so bad. I thought about adding an extension so the peddle sticks out farther but never got around to it.
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Advanced
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 54
Likes: 6
From: TEXAS!
When I test drove mine had to pick my foot up off the pedal do downshif, so I moved my shifter down. However the brake pedal even after 1500 miles, is still not in a very comfortable position. Right now I just ride with my brake foot angled out.
I keep looking at extending the forward controls another two inches, but I hate to spend the money on them if it's not going to solve my problem.
I keep looking at extending the forward controls another two inches, but I hate to spend the money on them if it's not going to solve my problem.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 790
Likes: 4
From: Internet
ok so im not crazy, it really is an issue
and it also appears to be something tough to get used to without making a change, according to you guys
So this is not the typical forward control angle? or is it?
and it also appears to be something tough to get used to without making a change, according to you guys
So this is not the typical forward control angle? or is it?
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,130
Likes: 0
From: FLORIDA
Hello everyone, 1st time poster here.
I've been around quite a few bikes, and have done a good amount of research .. within my budget, it seems like the FB is the best option. Tomorrow im headed to dealer to size it up and see how she feels! Pretty siked about that
Ultimately, some day, id love to have a Heritage Classic ... i just really dig the bad-*** look of that bike! But for right now its out of my price range.
I am 6'2 280lbs (but i wear it well!! LOL), the research ive done says the stock FB will be perfect, size wise.
The only change i definitely want to do is the bags right away because i need um! The other changes im pondering, but wont know until im a few miles deep:
Seat (thinking Tallboy, but will research more)
Mid (pegs), thinking it might be nice to have options for my feeties but i dont know how complicated of an addition this is. Ill look into it down the road.
Eventually exhaust ... id like something a tad beefier, but not so loud its annoying on long rides. Again, ill drive it stock for some time and decide which direction id like to go.
Windshield ... im up in the air about this! I definitely dont want a fullface, again ill decide after im a few miles deep. I dont expect any long rides so it may not be an issue. Im thinking 100mi trips would even be a lot for me!
I've been around quite a few bikes, and have done a good amount of research .. within my budget, it seems like the FB is the best option. Tomorrow im headed to dealer to size it up and see how she feels! Pretty siked about that
Ultimately, some day, id love to have a Heritage Classic ... i just really dig the bad-*** look of that bike! But for right now its out of my price range.
I am 6'2 280lbs (but i wear it well!! LOL), the research ive done says the stock FB will be perfect, size wise.
The only change i definitely want to do is the bags right away because i need um! The other changes im pondering, but wont know until im a few miles deep:
Seat (thinking Tallboy, but will research more)
Mid (pegs), thinking it might be nice to have options for my feeties but i dont know how complicated of an addition this is. Ill look into it down the road.
Eventually exhaust ... id like something a tad beefier, but not so loud its annoying on long rides. Again, ill drive it stock for some time and decide which direction id like to go.
Windshield ... im up in the air about this! I definitely dont want a fullface, again ill decide after im a few miles deep. I dont expect any long rides so it may not be an issue. Im thinking 100mi trips would even be a lot for me!
Big bike for a newb, but you are big guy and it aint a crotch rocket. Mid pegs won't help you at all....yer too tall.
Exhaust is a cosmetic thing....won't affect ride at all.
I'll sell you mine....it's not what I thought it would be.
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,130
Likes: 0
From: FLORIDA
My wife commented that the bike appeared to be small, or i looked big on it. Even though it felt just right really.
I think this is because most of the guys we know with bikes, all have Ultra's .. so this obviously is a lot smaller than those.
I have a pic of me sitting on it i can post later on when i have time. From the side i can almost see what she means, but as i said when sitting on it i definitely feel comfortable.
I think this is because most of the guys we know with bikes, all have Ultra's .. so this obviously is a lot smaller than those.
I have a pic of me sitting on it i can post later on when i have time. From the side i can almost see what she means, but as i said when sitting on it i definitely feel comfortable.
It is a lot of bike for a new rider. That being said, what year are you looking at?
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 790
Likes: 4
From: Internet
i cannot see myself on anything smaller, my only option would be larger
