Street Bob vs. Fat Bob
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,299
Likes: 8
From: Louisiana
Not intended as an insult but the Street Bob is pretty much the most bare bones inexpensive Dyna you can buy. And because of that they are really popular. I see them everywhere. I rode a bunch of bikes and I liked the way the Fat Bob felt the best so I got it. Hated the rear fender but liked the dual headlights. But that the thing about Harleys. Hardly anybody leaves them stock. So basing your purchase on bars or headlights or fenders isnt the way to go in my opinion. You should base it on what feels the best to ride and then mod it to your liking. Bars and fenders and headlights are pretty simple to change.
I am another one who had only ridden the 300lb, 250cc Honda Rebels in the MSF course, so I was a bit apprehensive... until I got on the Fat Bob and test rode it. The Fat Bob was much easier to ride, in my opinion. It's very well balanced and rock steady. I'm 5ft7 and a 30 inch inseam and felt better with the reduced reach forwards. I picked it up on July 19th and have put just over 1K miles on it so far.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,949
Likes: 150
From: South of Mordor
I say you should go to your local dealer and rent one of each for a whole weekend, two weeks in a row (yes I know its a little pricey, but its cheaper then paying for a bike your not 100% sure you'd like over the other) and go put arround 500-1000 miles on it each over a weekend. I am sure if nothing else this will give you an answer. If your lucky, your dealer might let you swap out bikes on the same rental agreement (I have heard that some dealers do this just for the purpose you'd be doing it for), then you could do at least a 200-400 mile days worth of riding each day.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,456
Likes: 2,860
From: SW FL-Jersey Shore Emigre
Love my 209 Fat Bob! Solid, stable, and one of the few HDs with really good brakes. Love the drag bars (not a fan of apes), solo seat, and it sings an awesome song with the V&H shorties!
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 508
Likes: 2
From: Idaho Panhandle
The Super Glide FXDC is really the best bang for the buck in the Dyna family; the Street Bob is the best seller in the family; the Fat Bob is intended to be the performance unit in the family. SB is lighter than either one off the showroom floor, that matters to some of us, and some (me) appreciate the stripped down, bare bones, nothing but the essentials quality of the SB. Fat tires on the FB makes for a more stable ride, but gonna cost more when time to replace. I get compliments out of the younger generation on my partially blacked out SB wherever I go, despite the windshield; had I gotten the FXDC, likely it would be the over 40 crowd giving the compliments and not the kids. Fat Bob's looks take some getting used too for many; damn butt ugly tail mostly, and those semi-solid rims can catch some air in a stiff cross wind.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,099
Likes: 214
From: Delawere
Los11 took his FB in the most obvious direction the bike lends its self.I looked at his a thousand times..I just went a different direction.I wish I had his motor! IMO he pretty much nailed the look as it was intended. Absolutely nothing wrong w/the SB! Hell, thats a GREAT start for the $$.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 508
Likes: 2
From: Idaho Panhandle
Sure, and then you still have the wide glide front end with the dual disc brakes, and that's a winner. All it takes is money 