The Bob and the Boy are 2 totally different bikes, but I also doubted when I just saw them. I fell for the looks of the Boy but after a test drive with both it was clear and I bought the Bob. At this point I prefer the handling rather than the looks, besides I also have a 2016 Breakout and the handling of that can be compared to the Boy, I think, largely because of the wide rear tire.

 

 

The 2018 heritage has a 150 on the back and a 130 up front. This is the Softail to get if you want a bike you can actually turn.,

The 2018 Fatboy has a 240 on the back and a 160 up front.

On my Fatty, 18 inch 150 on the back and an 18 inch 130 on the front.

Tire width matters.

 

"Tire width matters"

As does familiarity and skill. I'd venture to say that an accomplished rider on a Fat Boy 18 or 19 would outpace a lesser rider on an 18 or 19 Softail of another model with narrow tires and a suspension that was setup for "easier" handling, perhaps like a Low Rider or Slim.

So much gnashing of teeth over a bike that sits on the sales floor and practically shouts "I'm not made for carving corners effortlessly".

BTW, that is one very nice FB you have

 

Amen!

 

That's a bit of hyperbole right there.

 

Of course, riding skills play a huge part in the riding experience. A while back, I was having some work done on my bike at the local Harley dealer. It was going to take a bit longer than promised so the service manager handed me the keys to his personal ride, a 2107 Fatboy S with a 117 powerplant, and told me to come back in a few hours. Rode it up in the canyons and had a chance to put the bike through its paces.





This bike comes stock with a 200 on the rear and a 140 on the front. The suspension was much too soft for my liking and I hate footboards but I pushed the bike a bit.and could see that with a few mods it would actually be kinda fun in the twisties.

The difference between 2017 and 2018 handling is like night and day. When I took out the new Fatboy for a spin and hit the same canyon roads...I was actually anxious to get back and on my own bike.

A 240 on the rear with a 160 up front might look cool but if you enjoy a brisk pace thru the twisties...it's not the route to go.

 

Perhaps. Or perhaps you haven't yet seen all the threads and posts on this topic. And reviews about it from people with 5 minutes of saddle time, who seem to have come straight over from a much smaller bike.

 

I agree with the tire size observation. Yet the FDXR comes with a 240 rear and a 130 up front. Meaning the front has a bit more than an inch less footprint. I don't know what differences there are in the suspension setup between the two.
It comes down to what a person is comfortable and familiar with. Someone coming from a different bike may feel like the '18/'19 FB handles like a brick. And to a certain extent they may be right. But I think it can be ridden through the twisties safely at higher speeds than what some would be comfortable with, myself included.