2007 Fatboy has a Design Flaw?
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,929
Likes: 301
From: moved to Florida!
RE: 2007 Fatboy has a Design Flaw?
Sorry, Ghostwolf, let me clarify. All I'm wondering is why the 06 SE Fatboy is not offset, but the 07 is, both having the same tires. Just wondering why HD chose to do that, not a criticism of the bike, or HD, just wondered why they did it. I don't know of anyone who thinks their SE 06 OR 07 Fatboy veers one way or the other, which is why I wondered why HD changed the geometry when no one was complaining. I don't have either one, so just curious about "why" HD chose to do what they did, is all.
Jerry
Jerry
Novice
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From:
RE: 2007 Fatboy has a Design Flaw?
A friend of mine has an '03 Fatboy and got it with a spare set of Heritage spoke wheels. When he tried swapping from disk wheels to spokes the front tire was offset about 3/8" from centering between the forks so there must be alot of offset combo's floating around HD. Here (Ihope) is a photo of another guys bike with a stock HD springer that is clearly designed with an offset. Can't explain it, but it looks wierd!
[IMG]local://upfiles/10180/7A607205CCCA4FAC949013CBE7A32C54.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/10180/7A607205CCCA4FAC949013CBE7A32C54.jpg[/IMG]
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From:
RE: 2007 Fatboy has a Design Flaw?
Yep, sure as crap. Went out just after reading this thread and my 07 Springer is offset. The tire and the fender both are about a quarter off to the left when looking straight at her. Never noticed untill reading this thread. It goes straight as an arrow and really doesnt bother me since it was done that way last year(pics of the Springer above I assume are of the '06 model). Do wonder a little why they couldnt find a better way to balance my $25,000.00 new ride. Oh well--I knew that buying the first year model is never a good idea, but didnt care because of the discontinued model and the first for the SE.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,380
Likes: 3
From: NC
RE: 2007 Fatboy has a Design Flaw?
I remember reading the old svc manual for my old 90 flstc.. It showed a top view of the bike for wheel alignment and from memory had gap specs drawn for the widths on left and right sides of the front and rear tire on a top view.. The two were not symmetrical as you would think. The front tire was off-center from the rear (as specified in the manual).. So it is by design for one reason or another. If you think about it.. makes sense geometrically.. As the bike is weighted off center to begin with, due to the engine setup, primary drive location, etc..
Ever wonder why the stock exhaust is so dang heavy compared to aftermarket.. It's not an accident, and they don't just want to waste extra steel piping and thick welds. I believe, (opinion coming) that they purposely make the exhaust heavy as a counterbalance to the weight of the primary on the other side. Interesting stuff.. Makes ya go hmmmm. [sm=confused06.gif] The geometry and physics involved is definitely more than just elementary. I'd love to talk to their Engrs about it.. as if they'd talk to a PSB like me..
Is PSB even a term rather than RUB. There's RUB, but I sho ain't (r)ich and I sho ain't (u)rban. hehe 
Is there a slang term for your average married, 2 kid shmo that lives in the country and counts the minutes until he can actually get away to go for a ride on a bike he financed?
Ever wonder why the stock exhaust is so dang heavy compared to aftermarket.. It's not an accident, and they don't just want to waste extra steel piping and thick welds. I believe, (opinion coming) that they purposely make the exhaust heavy as a counterbalance to the weight of the primary on the other side. Interesting stuff.. Makes ya go hmmmm. [sm=confused06.gif] The geometry and physics involved is definitely more than just elementary. I'd love to talk to their Engrs about it.. as if they'd talk to a PSB like me..
Is PSB even a term rather than RUB. There's RUB, but I sho ain't (r)ich and I sho ain't (u)rban. hehe Is there a slang term for your average married, 2 kid shmo that lives in the country and counts the minutes until he can actually get away to go for a ride on a bike he financed?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,196
Likes: 13
From: Maryland
RE: 2007 Fatboy has a Design Flaw?
I stopped in to a dealer in St Louis yesterday while on a bizness trip and was talking to a service tech and he showed me what HD plans to do to remedy the fender fiasco. They will be replacing the fork covers with another set that is notched out at the end of the slider where it would meet the fender. Cheap fix on their part.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 645
Likes: 0
From:
RE: 2007 Fatboy has a Design Flaw?
Sorry, Ghostwolf, let me clarify. All I'm wondering is why the 06 SE Fatboy is not offset, but the 07 is, both having the same tires. Just wondering why HD chose to do that, not a criticism of the bike, or HD, just wondered why they did it. I don't know of anyone who thinks their SE 06 OR 07 Fatboy veers one way or the other, which is why I wondered why HD changed the geometry when no one was complaining. I don't have either one, so just curious about "why" HD chose to do what they did, is all.
Jerry
Jerry
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
RE: 2007 Fatboy has a Design Flaw?
I don't have a fat boy, and not much I can add, except to say I'v got an 04 bmw rt 1150, and like most all bmws it pulls to the right if you take your hands off the bars. Bmw's are famous for it. Nonetheless, it's a great handling bike. If the fat boys go straight, I don't think there should be any problem. Sounds like just a cosmetic trade off - 200 mm rear tire for slightly offset front tire/fender. Personally, I think a 180 is a nicer looking size, and I don't care what anyone says, my 05 fxstb with the 150 handled better than my 06 fxstb with the 200. That said, I came to prefer the look of the 200 over the 150, and if I had my choice, I'd stick with the 200. I know Harleys aren't sport bikes, and I can live with their handling limitations, and I think this is true for everyone that's got a Harley.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 335
Likes: 1
From: OKC, Oklahoma
RE: 2007 Fatboy has a Design Flaw?
ORIGINAL: Babs
... Is there a slang term for your average married, 2 kid shmo that lives in the country and counts the minutes until he can actually get away to go for a ride on a bike he financed?
... Is there a slang term for your average married, 2 kid shmo that lives in the country and counts the minutes until he can actually get away to go for a ride on a bike he financed?
(Average Married Dad With Bike)
(IF so, then I'm one too!)
And now back to your regularly scheduled topic!
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Novice
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
RE: 2007 Fatboy has a Design Flaw?
I live in Germany and visited a Harley store over the weekend. They had a 2008 Fatboy and the front fender and wheel were dead center on the fork, unlike my 2007 Fatboy. I then called Harley Davidson's Service department and they informed me that Harley actually put a new front fork and redesigned the frame... I'm not sure what to believe now. They say there is no flaw, but if there is no flaw, why did they change it in the 2008?
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From:
RE: 2007 Fatboy has a Design Flaw?
ORIGINAL: srandall25
I live in Germany and visited a Harley store over the weekend. They had a 2008 Fatboy and the front fender and wheel were dead center on the fork, unlike my 2007 Fatboy. I then called Harley Davidson's Service department and they informed me that Harley actually put a new front fork and redesigned the frame... I'm not sure what to believe now. They say there is no flaw, but if there is no flaw, why did they change it in the 2008?
I live in Germany and visited a Harley store over the weekend. They had a 2008 Fatboy and the front fender and wheel were dead center on the fork, unlike my 2007 Fatboy. I then called Harley Davidson's Service department and they informed me that Harley actually put a new front fork and redesigned the frame... I'm not sure what to believe now. They say there is no flaw, but if there is no flaw, why did they change it in the 2008?
Oh and I can tell you that when I look at my back tire the wear in more towards the right side and not in the middle.
This tells me that the bike is having to be leaned to the right to go straight.
My lower back on the left side is getting muscle strain because of the unbalanced bike.
When i do sit up straight the bike will go off to the left UMMM sumthin aint right here.