Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

2018 Fat Bob - Test Ride

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 26, 2017 | 05:28 PM
  #11  
Sleeko's Avatar
Sleeko
Stellar HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,583
Likes: 96
From: Eastern North Carolina
Talking

Meh, I ROUTINELY do this on my Deluxe.




LoL, yeah right!

Originally Posted by jclax01
just damn.... and obviously this is only stock

https://youtu.be/VL-sB1gZOlI
 

Last edited by Sleeko; Aug 26, 2017 at 05:32 PM.
Reply
Old Aug 26, 2017 | 06:13 PM
  #12  
not_so_newb's Avatar
not_so_newb
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,922
Likes: 826
From: Toronto Canada
Default

Originally Posted by big ron
It wont be long before the aftermarket boys come up with a headpipe.
not sure they need to , the catalyst is in the muffler on (some , maybe all ?) of the new bikes .
now if you want to put bags on it then new headpipes that put the mufflers in a different place would be great .
i hate almost all the new muffler setups on the 2018 softails . just ugly .
 
Reply
Old Aug 26, 2017 | 06:36 PM
  #13  
cvaria's Avatar
cvaria
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 12,367
Likes: 2,215
From: Tallahassee, Florida
Default

it's a beast, i rode it yesterday. the 114 makes hella power down low. it felt close to my dyna 120tq... and that was stock! seating position was a little odd but... that faded away on the highway.
 
Reply
Old Aug 26, 2017 | 08:05 PM
  #14  
HalfMoon's Avatar
HalfMoon
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 27
Likes: 4
From: California
Default

Originally Posted by jclax01
6'4 300 +/- pounds. I had a light breakfast. lol


I found one today locally and sat on it, at 5'10" and 240 (working that down) I felt fine on it.

The only reason I didn't ride it home is because I swore I was not going to finance anything else for the next 18 months and I'm waiting on a check that is due in the next 10 days.

I was ready to just finance it short term, but i made that promise to myself that I want to go cash only on purchases until the end of 2018. If I break that, what's next, jumping off my diet?

I'm sure if that one is gone in the next week another dealer will have one.

The Industrial Gray looked awesome in person. Really nice.

Also checked out a Fatboy 114 and a Breakout 114, which were both very nice, but something about the Fat Bob told me it was the one.

I haven't ridden in about 15 years but I got the bug late last year and have been inactively shopping online since. Thinking I will get the Bob in the next week and maybe early next year I will get a Road Glide for cruising with the wife on the back.

 

Last edited by HalfMoon; Aug 26, 2017 at 08:09 PM.
Reply
Old Aug 26, 2017 | 08:42 PM
  #15  
Baldy 48's Avatar
Baldy 48
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 190
Likes: 4
From: Washington State
Default

I test rode the 2018 Fat Bob and it's a really sweet ride. Handles like the sacred 48 with twice as much power.

It's so well balanced, it feels like a 48, not a 680lb machine.

The one I rode has way too much exhaust bling for my taste.

The speedo is a joke. The tach is analog and the mph is digital. The digital has the gear/rpm function, too.

At $19k for that build (custom paint, bling, etc) is too much for a daily rider.

I'm waiting for 2019 or 2020 before I get the new Fat Bob, but I will get it.
 
Reply
Old Aug 26, 2017 | 09:37 PM
  #16  
chrisg's Avatar
chrisg
Cruiser
15 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 153
Likes: 3
Default

I test rode the Fat boy 114 today, and the motors are incredible. New frame is light and nimble. Can't wait to ride a Fatbob next.
 
Reply
Old Aug 27, 2017 | 12:27 AM
  #17  
artsbest's Avatar
artsbest
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 497
Likes: 50
From: CA
Default

I think the new Fat Bob is by fat the best looking/performing bike HD has in its inventory now.
 
Reply
Old Aug 27, 2017 | 08:42 AM
  #18  
Gadgetech's Avatar
Gadgetech
Club Member
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,633
Likes: 54
From: GA
Default

I wonder how bad that rear tire is going to throw up stuff on a person's back? Looks like the fender may be short enough that it won't do a good job of preventing that.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 27, 2017 | 08:53 PM
  #19  
EricInNCa's Avatar
EricInNCa
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,960
Likes: 26
From: Sonoma County, CA
Default

I also got a change to ride the new Fatbob today (114 motor). Great torque in the motor and it really pulls strong right from the bottom of the range. It's a really fun bike. Totally different than my 2010. It's a really quick and nimble bike. It will only get better as the aftermarket catches up to it.
 
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2017 | 12:01 AM
  #20  
adm's Avatar
adm
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,815
Likes: 2,555
From: UK
Default

Originally Posted by not_so_newb
not sure they need to , the catalyst is in the muffler on (some , maybe all ?) of the new bikes .
Definitely not in the mufflers on the Fat Bob unfortunately. The header pipe is part number 65600288 "Header Assembly Catlaytic"
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:33 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE