Heritage Softail vs Fatboy Question
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,380
Likes: 3
From: NC
RE: Heritage Softail vs Fatboy Question
ORIGINAL: Cool Dog
I agree with Frosty. The solid wheels make for an "interesting" ride, particularly when you are passing or being passed by a large vehicle. The cross wind will definitely change your path and it makes it hard to relax. Once I got the spokes, she tracks straight and true. So my bike kinda migrated from a Fatboy to more of a Deluxe.
Good luck!
ORIGINAL: frosty
Jerm21,
I think you should demo a Heritage before you buy that Fatboy...the aluminum rims on the Fatboy are hard to clean after awhile and sometimes on the highway, you can catch cross drafts on the rims due to their closed nature...I think you would find that the Heritage would be the better value...especially for touring...given the fact that the Heritage comes with all you need (windshield, bags and a 2up setup)...on my 04 Heritage I found the stock seat very comfortable and a great all around bike...also the Fat boy doesn't come with the additional clear lights on each side of the headlamp which I find is really valuable for safety purposes....when I first went to my dealer, I was looking to buy a Fatboy but instead brought home the Heritage and was not sorry...that is...until I saw the Deluxe (I recently traded in my Heritage and ordered a Deluxe)...
Jerm21,
I think you should demo a Heritage before you buy that Fatboy...the aluminum rims on the Fatboy are hard to clean after awhile and sometimes on the highway, you can catch cross drafts on the rims due to their closed nature...I think you would find that the Heritage would be the better value...especially for touring...given the fact that the Heritage comes with all you need (windshield, bags and a 2up setup)...on my 04 Heritage I found the stock seat very comfortable and a great all around bike...also the Fat boy doesn't come with the additional clear lights on each side of the headlamp which I find is really valuable for safety purposes....when I first went to my dealer, I was looking to buy a Fatboy but instead brought home the Heritage and was not sorry...that is...until I saw the Deluxe (I recently traded in my Heritage and ordered a Deluxe)...
I agree with Frosty. The solid wheels make for an "interesting" ride, particularly when you are passing or being passed by a large vehicle. The cross wind will definitely change your path and it makes it hard to relax. Once I got the spokes, she tracks straight and true. So my bike kinda migrated from a Fatboy to more of a Deluxe.
Good luck!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,235
Likes: 17
From: Albuquerque, NM
RE: Heritage Softail vs Fatboy Question
There from American Wire Wheel (www.americanwire.com). A little pricy but they look like jewelery when their polished. It just wrecks the hell out of your fingers cleaning 200 spokes.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
RE: Heritage Softail vs Fatboy Question
I put aset of Fatboy wheels on my 2001 Heritage along with a 150 rear tire. I can honestly sat that there is very little, if any difference on the way the bike handles concerning the solid wheels while passing or being passed by a large vehicle. Same goes for cross winds.
I find the solid wheels much easier to keep clean than the spoked wheels, but the main reason I like the solid wheels over spoked wheels is that I can put a plug in the tire if necessary. I once picked up a nail in the rear tire of my bike with spoked wheels. It was late Saturday afternoon, 150 miles from home on back roads. I had to leave my bike in a stranger's garage, ride home with a friend and go back the next day with a trailer. If I had been able to put a plug in the tire, I wouldn't have had to go through all that trouble.
I find the solid wheels much easier to keep clean than the spoked wheels, but the main reason I like the solid wheels over spoked wheels is that I can put a plug in the tire if necessary. I once picked up a nail in the rear tire of my bike with spoked wheels. It was late Saturday afternoon, 150 miles from home on back roads. I had to leave my bike in a stranger's garage, ride home with a friend and go back the next day with a trailer. If I had been able to put a plug in the tire, I wouldn't have had to go through all that trouble.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
RE: Heritage Softail vs Fatboy Question
i really dont get everyones claims that solid rims are harder to ride with????
i have rode many bikes all with different rims (incl. my fatboys solid rims) and never felt any difference what so ever.
think about it... even spoked rims are spinning so fast that they act like solid rims anyway.
i have rode many bikes all with different rims (incl. my fatboys solid rims) and never felt any difference what so ever.
think about it... even spoked rims are spinning so fast that they act like solid rims anyway.
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