Fat Boy Owners
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 719
Likes: 35
From: SE New Hampshire
RE: Fat Boy Owners
ORIGINAL: Nick
calling eveyone that owns one of these great machines ...how do you like them..? ...how do they handle compared to the others being they have the thicker tire on the front..? saw one today at the dealership two tone copper and black chrome lots of it it was beautiful....so beautiful I maybe getting a divorce over it...JK opinions please
calling eveyone that owns one of these great machines ...how do you like them..? ...how do they handle compared to the others being they have the thicker tire on the front..? saw one today at the dealership two tone copper and black chrome lots of it it was beautiful....so beautiful I maybe getting a divorce over it...JK opinions please
Heres my bike stripped:
And all loaded up:
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 685
Likes: 3
From: South central, Pa.
RE: Fat Boy Owners
As the others have said, the Fatboy is a great bike. I love the looks of them, they handle well and I think they're the most "customizable" bike in the Harley line.
I just want to point out that the only people you've heard from so far are Fatboy owners that feel like I did when I bought my '05. I wanted to give you a different answer because I've had mine for four summers now and realize that it doesn't fit my overall riding style any more. For 30 years, most of my riding was short trips around town, bar hopping and poker runs. The Fatboy is perfect for that but for day long rides and weekend trips, I wish we would have spent our money on something more comfortable. First off, most owners will agree that the stock Fatboy seat sucks so you're going to want to upgrade that first. If you live where it gets cold, you might want a windshield for cold weather and bags to put two sets of leathers in when it gets hot. Sure, you can buy bags and a windshield for a Fatboy but you'll spend more than a grand for good quality. If you expect to use them at all, you might as well buy a Heritage (Fatboy with extras) or a Touring model before spending more than $20 grand to upgrade a stripped down cruiser. I wish I would have listened to my local dealer when he said "You're going to be back to buy a bagger".
Take a look at the Touring fourums here. You'll see a bunch of guys that have converted from softails and are glad they did. Just about everybody I ride with on a softail will agree with what I'm saying. Three of us are seriously considering a new touring bike before next year.
Another thing about a softail - take part of your test ride out on the highway and keep it at 70 mph for a while. You'll notice the balanced engine loses its "smoothness" and gives you an un-comfortable vibration at speeds above 65 mph.
I just want to point out that the only people you've heard from so far are Fatboy owners that feel like I did when I bought my '05. I wanted to give you a different answer because I've had mine for four summers now and realize that it doesn't fit my overall riding style any more. For 30 years, most of my riding was short trips around town, bar hopping and poker runs. The Fatboy is perfect for that but for day long rides and weekend trips, I wish we would have spent our money on something more comfortable. First off, most owners will agree that the stock Fatboy seat sucks so you're going to want to upgrade that first. If you live where it gets cold, you might want a windshield for cold weather and bags to put two sets of leathers in when it gets hot. Sure, you can buy bags and a windshield for a Fatboy but you'll spend more than a grand for good quality. If you expect to use them at all, you might as well buy a Heritage (Fatboy with extras) or a Touring model before spending more than $20 grand to upgrade a stripped down cruiser. I wish I would have listened to my local dealer when he said "You're going to be back to buy a bagger".
Take a look at the Touring fourums here. You'll see a bunch of guys that have converted from softails and are glad they did. Just about everybody I ride with on a softail will agree with what I'm saying. Three of us are seriously considering a new touring bike before next year.
Another thing about a softail - take part of your test ride out on the highway and keep it at 70 mph for a while. You'll notice the balanced engine loses its "smoothness" and gives you an un-comfortable vibration at speeds above 65 mph.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,257
Likes: 6
From: Leander Texas
RE: Fat Boy Owners
I dont get the vibration from the engine after changing the oil to Amsol and the trasns to bel ray gear saver. Also now that there is 6th gear that is no longer a problem. 75 is smooth as can be.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,929
Likes: 8
RE: Fat Boy Owners
ORIGINAL: Bigbender
As the others have said, the Fatboy is a great bike. I love the looks of them, they handle well and I think they're the most "customizable" bike in the Harley line.
I just want to point out that the only people you've heard from so far are Fatboy owners that feel like I did when I bought my '05. I wanted to give you a different answer because I've had mine for four summers now and realize that it doesn't fit my overall riding style any more. For 30 years, most of my riding was short trips around town, bar hopping and poker runs. The Fatboy is perfect for that but for day long rides and weekend trips, I wish we would have spent our money on something more comfortable. First off, most owners will agree that the stock Fatboy seat sucks so you're going to want to upgrade that first. If you live where it gets cold, you might want a windshield for cold weather and bags to put two sets of leathers in when it gets hot. Sure, you can buy bags and a windshield for a Fatboy but you'll spend more than a grand for good quality. If you expect to use them at all, you might as well buy a Heritage (Fatboy with extras) or a Touring model before spending more than $20 grand to upgrade a stripped down cruiser. I wish I would have listened to my local dealer when he said "You're going to be back to buy a bagger".
Take a look at the Touring fourums here. You'll see a bunch of guys that have converted from softails and are glad they did. Just about everybody I ride with on a softail will agree with what I'm saying. Three of us are seriously considering a new touring bike before next year.
Another thing about a softail - take part of your test ride out on the highway and keep it at 70 mph for a while. You'll notice the balanced engine loses its "smoothness" and gives you an un-comfortable vibration at speeds above 65 mph.
As the others have said, the Fatboy is a great bike. I love the looks of them, they handle well and I think they're the most "customizable" bike in the Harley line.
I just want to point out that the only people you've heard from so far are Fatboy owners that feel like I did when I bought my '05. I wanted to give you a different answer because I've had mine for four summers now and realize that it doesn't fit my overall riding style any more. For 30 years, most of my riding was short trips around town, bar hopping and poker runs. The Fatboy is perfect for that but for day long rides and weekend trips, I wish we would have spent our money on something more comfortable. First off, most owners will agree that the stock Fatboy seat sucks so you're going to want to upgrade that first. If you live where it gets cold, you might want a windshield for cold weather and bags to put two sets of leathers in when it gets hot. Sure, you can buy bags and a windshield for a Fatboy but you'll spend more than a grand for good quality. If you expect to use them at all, you might as well buy a Heritage (Fatboy with extras) or a Touring model before spending more than $20 grand to upgrade a stripped down cruiser. I wish I would have listened to my local dealer when he said "You're going to be back to buy a bagger".
Take a look at the Touring fourums here. You'll see a bunch of guys that have converted from softails and are glad they did. Just about everybody I ride with on a softail will agree with what I'm saying. Three of us are seriously considering a new touring bike before next year.
Another thing about a softail - take part of your test ride out on the highway and keep it at 70 mph for a while. You'll notice the balanced engine loses its "smoothness" and gives you an un-comfortable vibration at speeds above 65 mph.
I have put some 700 mile days on my girl. Short trips are a dream & long trips are most certainly do-able. And you are abso-freekin-lutely correct about the stock seat. That's the first thing that got hung up on our garage wall.