So, I'm just trying to understand the pricing a little here. If these are both Softtails why is the price difference so huge? What is it that makes up that extra 4.5k (31% increase) on the Fat Boy?

Thanks for any info!

 

At their base prices, no ABS on the Bob, smaller and less expensive wheels and tires, smaller tank, a minimalist finish (fork covers, paint, pegs vs. floorboards, smaller fenders, etc), less expensive digital gauges and display, and so on. And then there is the "name and reputation" of the Fat Boy as one of Harley's marquee models. They can set the prices at whatever they want. Doesn't necessarily mean that every Bob will sell for $4500 less than every Fat Boy.

 

Because HD still thinks they are back in the their heyday when the Fatboy was THE Softail to have. It was all styling and appeal and same applied then as now. Why were they $1000's more than a Softail Standard and why is/was a Heritage with bags and a windshield damn near the same price as a Fatboy with no bags or shield. Styling and appeal..

 

In France the Street Bob is 14860€, the Slim is 20160€ (both with ABS, no choice over here), so it's 5300 more for a Slim when in the US it's only 1400 $ more... If you want a Fat Boy you'll have to pay 7100€ more than a Street Bob.
Also over Here for example the Sport Glide is also cheaper than the Slim...
I would be curious to know how they set their prices...

 

In the UK the pricing is also a bit different (all have ABS). Here is the list, assuming all 107s

Street Bob £12,295
Low Rider £13,645
Fat Bob £14,295
Sport Glide £14,995
Slim £16.045
Deluxe £17,245
Breakout £17,245
Fat Boy £17,545
Heritage £17,995

So Slim and Deluxe are basically the same bike apart form the bling (and the passing lamps)....
Also you could make a Heritage from a Slim with some bags and a windscreen and a pillion.... That doesn't cost £1,950
If you take the SG as a base you are even closer, yet the price spread between the SG and Heritage is a whopping £3,010!


We'll see what happens on Friday, when the 25% tariffs on US imports will be applied.

 

Ok so based on the replies it looks like although there are small differences, which of course are obvious, there isn't really anything significant enough to objectively justify the price difference. Thanks to those who took the time to respond!

Just trying to figure out what my next Harley could be

 

 

Hey.... of course to convert a Slim to a Heritage or Deluxe it would cost a lot more than £2k.

Then again you could buy a Heritage and spend a fortune to convert it into a Slim!!!

In your list you forgot the handlebars, the instrument cluster, the engine trim, the pipes' configuration, the wheels, the tyres, the fake drum brake cover etc.

The geometry difference (the Slim seat height is a whole 2cm lower than the Deluxe and Heritage) is given by the seat style and handlebars.

The frame, rake, wheelbase, tank shape and capacity are unchanged. So the bikes are essentially the same. A speedometer is a speedometer, a fender is a fender, an indicator is an indicator, a brake light is a brake light.... ok you may like the full Heritage fender better than the Slim bobbed one, but this does not make the bikes intrinsically different. The cost difference for HD at production level is marginal.

The panniers, pillion (and pegs... I forgot about those!!!!), and windscreen are substantial differences.

I think the spirit of the thread was about what is intrinsically an upgrade that justifies a price difference vs a cosmetic/style choice with little functional added value.

 

So, maybe you can also explain why in France the Sport Glide is a lot cheaper than the Slim when in the US the Slim is the lot cheaper than the Sport Glide ?