Fatboy 101-questions for Fatboy knowledge base
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Novice
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 17
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From: SoCal
Fatboy 101-questions for Fatboy knowledge base
My uncle is looking to buy a Fatboy. Probably late 80's or early 90's. He just hit me up with a few questions. I want to give him all the info he'll need and I thought there'd be no better place to garner it than here!
Here's his email:
"C.B.
SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE EMBARKING ON FAT BOY SEARCH:
1. ARE ALL FAT BOYS THE SAME?
2. IS THERE A PARTICULAR YEAR YOU WOULD RECOMMEND I SEEK?
3. DID ANY OF THEM COME IN THE ORANGE/CREAM COMBO PAINT OF THE BIKE YOU HAD IN SLC? I REALLY LIKED THEM COLORS.
4. I'VE SEEN SOME NEWER ONES WITH FUEL INJECTION...IS THAT A PLUS OR MINUS?
MANY THANKS!
UNKL FUN"
So, HD-er's. Is there a good/bad year for the evo? I'm pretty sure the Fatboy had more solid color schemes than the FLSTC (it's my ol' '91 he's refering too). What year did fuel injection come standard? And as far as +/-, obviously the carb would be easier to work on at home.
Thanks everybody!!
Here's his email:
"C.B.
SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE EMBARKING ON FAT BOY SEARCH:
1. ARE ALL FAT BOYS THE SAME?
2. IS THERE A PARTICULAR YEAR YOU WOULD RECOMMEND I SEEK?
3. DID ANY OF THEM COME IN THE ORANGE/CREAM COMBO PAINT OF THE BIKE YOU HAD IN SLC? I REALLY LIKED THEM COLORS.
4. I'VE SEEN SOME NEWER ONES WITH FUEL INJECTION...IS THAT A PLUS OR MINUS?
MANY THANKS!
UNKL FUN"
So, HD-er's. Is there a good/bad year for the evo? I'm pretty sure the Fatboy had more solid color schemes than the FLSTC (it's my ol' '91 he's refering too). What year did fuel injection come standard? And as far as +/-, obviously the carb would be easier to work on at home.
Thanks everybody!!
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Since no one has answered this allow me to take a stab. (PS...I have had my fatty for about 10 years but I am in NO WAY an expert)
1. ARE ALL FAT BOYS THE SAME?
* The general MC is the same but depending on the year you buy they may ride different.
2. IS THERE A PARTICULAR YEAR YOU WOULD RECOMMEND I SEEK?
* I don't know if it is out of the question, but having a few HD MC's, I would suggest you go with a later model Fatboy. The Twin Cam engines are much smother to ride (post 2000)
3. DID ANY OF THEM COME IN THE ORANGE/CREAM COMBO PAINT OF THE BIKE YOU HAD IN SLC? I REALLY LIKED THEM COLORS.
* Cannot say I have ever seen a Fatboy with those colors.
4. I'VE SEEN SOME NEWER ONES WITH FUEL INJECTION...IS THAT A PLUS OR MINUS
* I don't think there is much difference with CARB vs FI, but I have never had a bike with FI so who knows..I went with a carbed bike b/c I felt i could handle the adjustments better
hope this helps a little bit.
Kramer
1. ARE ALL FAT BOYS THE SAME?
* The general MC is the same but depending on the year you buy they may ride different.
2. IS THERE A PARTICULAR YEAR YOU WOULD RECOMMEND I SEEK?
* I don't know if it is out of the question, but having a few HD MC's, I would suggest you go with a later model Fatboy. The Twin Cam engines are much smother to ride (post 2000)
3. DID ANY OF THEM COME IN THE ORANGE/CREAM COMBO PAINT OF THE BIKE YOU HAD IN SLC? I REALLY LIKED THEM COLORS.
* Cannot say I have ever seen a Fatboy with those colors.
4. I'VE SEEN SOME NEWER ONES WITH FUEL INJECTION...IS THAT A PLUS OR MINUS
* I don't think there is much difference with CARB vs FI, but I have never had a bike with FI so who knows..I went with a carbed bike b/c I felt i could handle the adjustments better
hope this helps a little bit.
Kramer
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nevada
I did alot of research when I bought mine and what I found out is :
2002 is the last year of the bullet proof lower ends(tinkem bearings)
EFI became standard on 2005(was and extra from 2000 on up)
My bike is sunglow red almost an orange it's a stock color.
I don't know alot about the 90's Fat Boys except they debut in 1990...first year
Hope that gave you something to chew on,and good luck!
2002 is the last year of the bullet proof lower ends(tinkem bearings)
EFI became standard on 2005(was and extra from 2000 on up)
My bike is sunglow red almost an orange it's a stock color.
I don't know alot about the 90's Fat Boys except they debut in 1990...first year
Hope that gave you something to chew on,and good luck!
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 157
From: Banning, CA
The Evo engine / trans went through many changes/improvements in 1994 and was the
same thereafter. IMO - get an '94 up, put an Andrews EV3 cam kit, '88 Sportster needle
in the carb, air cleaner and exhaust of your choice and you'll be good to go. Sold mine
with 88K on it and only problem I had was my fault - leaky base gaskets (paper) 'cause
I didn't let it warm up one cold day. Have a '04 - love that balanced engine - now with
41K and getting ready to do cam chain tensioners; no other problems. IMHO - DON'T
use synthetic engine oil in older Evo unless you want a leaker. Syn 75-140 gear in the
trans is fine though. Otherwise the old Fatboys ride very much like the newer ones.
same thereafter. IMO - get an '94 up, put an Andrews EV3 cam kit, '88 Sportster needle
in the carb, air cleaner and exhaust of your choice and you'll be good to go. Sold mine
with 88K on it and only problem I had was my fault - leaky base gaskets (paper) 'cause
I didn't let it warm up one cold day. Have a '04 - love that balanced engine - now with
41K and getting ready to do cam chain tensioners; no other problems. IMHO - DON'T
use synthetic engine oil in older Evo unless you want a leaker. Syn 75-140 gear in the
trans is fine though. Otherwise the old Fatboys ride very much like the newer ones.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,257
Likes: 6
From: Leander Texas
1. ARE ALL FAT BOYS THE SAME?
* same as what?
2. IS THERE A PARTICULAR YEAR YOU WOULD RECOMMEND I SEEK?
* 2008 or newer
3. DID ANY OF THEM COME IN THE ORANGE/CREAM COMBO PAINT OF THE BIKE YOU HAD IN SLC? I REALLY LIKED THEM COLORS.
* http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photo...LSTFFatBoy.htm
4. I'VE SEEN SOME NEWER ONES WITH FUEL INJECTION...IS THAT A PLUS OR MINUS
* maybe a carb is easier to work on but i feel the efi requires less work.
* same as what?
2. IS THERE A PARTICULAR YEAR YOU WOULD RECOMMEND I SEEK?
* 2008 or newer
3. DID ANY OF THEM COME IN THE ORANGE/CREAM COMBO PAINT OF THE BIKE YOU HAD IN SLC? I REALLY LIKED THEM COLORS.
* http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photo...LSTFFatBoy.htm
4. I'VE SEEN SOME NEWER ONES WITH FUEL INJECTION...IS THAT A PLUS OR MINUS
* maybe a carb is easier to work on but i feel the efi requires less work.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,984
Likes: 8
You can really get a 2000-2006 for only a couple of grand more than a evo model. therefore, I would not get the evo model.
I would do the EFI system if it was me.
I would not buy a 2007 model and up with the wide tire. I think it butt ugly, and looks stupid on a fatboy. Besides, you jump up a few grand in used prices when you move into 2007 and newer models.
The downside of a 2000-2006 model is you have to replace the cam shoe tensioners. to fix it right, you are looking at a grand, but you can just replace the shoes for much less.
Tell your uncle to to find a good solid well maintained and documented fatboy. Do not get hung up on the paint. if he wants a certain color, get a set of tins off ebay and have them painted.
I would do the EFI system if it was me.
I would not buy a 2007 model and up with the wide tire. I think it butt ugly, and looks stupid on a fatboy. Besides, you jump up a few grand in used prices when you move into 2007 and newer models.
The downside of a 2000-2006 model is you have to replace the cam shoe tensioners. to fix it right, you are looking at a grand, but you can just replace the shoes for much less.
Tell your uncle to to find a good solid well maintained and documented fatboy. Do not get hung up on the paint. if he wants a certain color, get a set of tins off ebay and have them painted.
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