Fatboy or Fatbob?
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 273
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From: Coolidge AZ
Fatboy or Fatbob?
I have been looking forward some time. I just purchased my sportster, but already I am looking at bigger bikes, but I know my purchase will not happen for a while, but I wanted to compare/contrast the Fatboy and Fatbob? WHy would you guys choose one over the other? I know one is a Dyna, and the other is a Softail, but give me some input on what advantages each has over the other.
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,541
Likes: 1
From: Nuevo México, Los Estados Unidos de América
I have been looking forward some time. I just purchased my sportster, but already I am looking at bigger bikes, but I know my purchase will not happen for a while, but I wanted to compare/contrast the Fatboy and Fatbob? WHy would you guys choose one over the other? I know one is a Dyna, and the other is a Softail, but give me some input on what advantages each has over the other.
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
If I were you I'd do an aggressive 1200 build on your sporty and outperform either by a longshot.
The Big-Twins are just big, they offer no handling for performance benefit over even a stock 883. They do offer more comfort and a more refined ride... is that what you're after?
The Dyna will outperform the Softail, especially if you make the right choice and go with mids and highway pegs, then you will be better setup for twistys and long trips. The rubber mounted dyna engine makes more power and is more modifiable than the B engine in the softail....
You buy the softail for looks...
It's really personal taste. The Dyna has every functional advantage over the softail though.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Coolidge AZ
You make great points Herr Monk, I do like the performance of my sportster, and I know I can build a 1200 that will perform very well. It does come down to comfort, I am a big guy, 6'1" 290 lbs, much of which is carried in my lower body, so The sportster seat is very small. In the mean time I will buy a Mustang wide vintage solo seat to keep my stock solo from going up my ***, but That is my parimary reason for considering a larger bike. I am curious what everyones opinions of them all are, I have a lot of friends that like to go on long cruises, and my sportster can do it, but my *** can't.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 2
From: Novi MI
You really have to decide for yourself. Compare them on the internet, go to the dealership, check them out, test ride them. I had a 2004 Sportster, bought an '06 Road King, and then an '08 Softail. The Sportster is a great bike but it's a rough ride.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 273
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From: Coolidge AZ
I like the tail end of the dyna, with the sport fender, but I like the front end of the softail, I have not tried the heal/toe shifter and floorboards, I've always been pretty happy with just forward controls.. I like the exhaust on the fatboy better, it reminds me a bit more of my Sportster.
how do the motors feel between the 96, and the 96B? Is it a smoother ride on the Dyna or the Softail? I don't really care much about that, but I am curious.
how do the motors feel between the 96, and the 96B? Is it a smoother ride on the Dyna or the Softail? I don't really care much about that, but I am curious.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,541
Likes: 1
From: Nuevo México, Los Estados Unidos de América
I like the tail end of the dyna, with the sport fender, but I like the front end of the softail, I have not tried the heal/toe shifter and floorboards, I've always been pretty happy with just forward controls.. I like the exhaust on the fatboy better, it reminds me a bit more of my Sportster.
how do the motors feel between the 96, and the 96B? Is it a smoother ride on the Dyna or the Softail? I don't really care much about that, but I am curious.
how do the motors feel between the 96, and the 96B? Is it a smoother ride on the Dyna or the Softail? I don't really care much about that, but I am curious.
The counter-balanced engine is the opposite, the bike barely shakes at idle, but it gets a little rougher as you speed up.
The Dyna engine puts out a few more ponies too.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Uxbridge, MA
This probably won't help but I'll give it a go anyways.
I had an '07 Electra Glide but felt it was overkill for the way I was riding. So I demoed a FatBob for a day. I put about 300 miles on it. It was fun and different but for some reason, didn't really move me. I wasn't excited enough about it to go through the expense and hassle of trading my EG.
So later this year, I had my bike up for sale and the person that comes to look at it says he has a Fatboy he might trade. At this point, I hadn't even looked at a Fatboy and knew very little about them. I did some research and we swapped for a test ride.
That's all it took. While I liked my EG (really liked having a radio on the bike) and the FatBob was fun, I really love my Fatboy. I have it set up to be completely stripped and stock or loaded for touring for whatever I'm doing that day.
I'm still not really sure why I feel that way about the bike but I know every time I get on it, I'm excited like I'm riding it for the first time.
I guess my point with all this is that you really need to try them yourself. Either a demo ride (free) or rent the bike for a day or two (while it does cost, it is cheaper than buying the wrong bike).
LeonD
I had an '07 Electra Glide but felt it was overkill for the way I was riding. So I demoed a FatBob for a day. I put about 300 miles on it. It was fun and different but for some reason, didn't really move me. I wasn't excited enough about it to go through the expense and hassle of trading my EG.
So later this year, I had my bike up for sale and the person that comes to look at it says he has a Fatboy he might trade. At this point, I hadn't even looked at a Fatboy and knew very little about them. I did some research and we swapped for a test ride.
That's all it took. While I liked my EG (really liked having a radio on the bike) and the FatBob was fun, I really love my Fatboy. I have it set up to be completely stripped and stock or loaded for touring for whatever I'm doing that day.
I'm still not really sure why I feel that way about the bike but I know every time I get on it, I'm excited like I'm riding it for the first time.
I guess my point with all this is that you really need to try them yourself. Either a demo ride (free) or rent the bike for a day or two (while it does cost, it is cheaper than buying the wrong bike).
LeonD
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,195
Likes: 2
From: Denver, Colorado
Why do you want something bigger?
If I were you I'd do an aggressive 1200 build on your sporty and outperform either by a longshot.
The Big-Twins are just big, they offer no handling for performance benefit over even a stock 883. They do offer more comfort and a more refined ride... is that what you're after?
The Dyna will outperform the Softail, especially if you make the right choice and go with mids and highway pegs, then you will be better setup for twistys and long trips. The rubber mounted dyna engine makes more power and is more modifiable than the B engine in the softail....
You buy the softail for looks...
It's really personal taste. The Dyna has every functional advantage over the softail though.
If I were you I'd do an aggressive 1200 build on your sporty and outperform either by a longshot.
The Big-Twins are just big, they offer no handling for performance benefit over even a stock 883. They do offer more comfort and a more refined ride... is that what you're after?
The Dyna will outperform the Softail, especially if you make the right choice and go with mids and highway pegs, then you will be better setup for twistys and long trips. The rubber mounted dyna engine makes more power and is more modifiable than the B engine in the softail....
You buy the softail for looks...
It's really personal taste. The Dyna has every functional advantage over the softail though.
edit: Engine wise, that is. I'm mighty curious.
Last edited by Lopoetve; Sep 23, 2008 at 09:00 AM.
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,195
Likes: 2
From: Denver, Colorado
You make great points Herr Monk, I do like the performance of my sportster, and I know I can build a 1200 that will perform very well. It does come down to comfort, I am a big guy, 6'1" 290 lbs, much of which is carried in my lower body, so The sportster seat is very small. In the mean time I will buy a Mustang wide vintage solo seat to keep my stock solo from going up my ***, but That is my parimary reason for considering a larger bike. I am curious what everyones opinions of them all are, I have a lot of friends that like to go on long cruises, and my sportster can do it, but my *** can't.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,736
Likes: 3
From: Long Island, NY
what it really boils down to is your riding preference. Demo both bikes, and see how they feel to you. Though the look of a bike can play a role in your choice, it should take back seat to the riding feel a bike gives you.
I think as soon as you demo them, you will have a better idea which you will prefer. Also keep in mind the type of riding you will be doing going forward. Comfort and having a bike that will allow you to stay focused on the road on longer rides is important, if you end up getting to uncomfortable on long rides it will prove to be to much distraction to be a safe choice.
I think as soon as you demo them, you will have a better idea which you will prefer. Also keep in mind the type of riding you will be doing going forward. Comfort and having a bike that will allow you to stay focused on the road on longer rides is important, if you end up getting to uncomfortable on long rides it will prove to be to much distraction to be a safe choice.