Harley-Davidson Motorcycles
Harley-Davidson Model Explanations
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Harley-Davidson FXDF Fat Bob
Story by Mark Barnett, Photos courtesy of Harley-Davidson Photography & Imaging
At the dealer show this summer most of the buzz was centered around the new Rocker and Fat Bob shown here. The Rocker with a regular rear fender fitted will be a super looker, but as they sit stock, it was the Fat Bob that got my attention. I spent more time sitting on it making motor sounds than I did on the Rocker. And you thought the dealer shows were full of technical seminars and high brow engineering discussions. Anyway, this new model is in my opinion, a long time coming. Several Dyna Wide Glides have come through the shop in the last few years modified to look similar to this new model. It was only a matter of time before the Factory did it for the rest of us.
Adding a super wide 130mm front tire on a 16” rim changes the looks of the top of the line Dyna model quite a bit. The rear also has extra meat on it, a full 180mm rear tire is mounted. Both are fitted to slotted solid rims. What distinguishes the Fat Bob from other models introduced recently is the large number of parts unique to this model. Most obvious are the dual headlamps which drew mixed reviews at the show. I like them. The air cleaner is for this model only, good looking and worth saving when hopping the bike up. The handlebars are internally wired and for the first time, a stock H-D comes with a choice of forward or mid-controls. The Fat Bob has its own “block” tread tire design which is pretty different. The “Tommy Gun” exhaust also is unique to the Fat Bob, and fairly awesome looking. It too should be kept when the normal stage one breathing work is done. The rear shocks also are special, fitted with covers like the old FL’s of the past. Complimenting the tough, blacked out, aggressive appearance are a host of paint options including no less than three “denim” or “flat” colors which really look good.
When it was time to test drive this model, I lucked out. The Harley-Davidson Demo Truck stopped by our store in El Paso for a two-day gig. I rode one with the extended controls and all-in-all, this is one of the most comfortable of all Harley models. While the drag bars look a little overdone, like they might be a stretch, the seat actually pushes you quite a bit forward. I didn’t find the reach to the bars unsettling at all. The wide bars effectively hid any increase in steering effort required to turn the bike with the new fat rubber on it. It was smooth turning and not tiring. Again, it is always the technical issues like this that Harley-Davidson gets right. They rarely make anything that is not comfortable and well thought out, the new rocker passenger seat perhaps politely forgotten for a moment.
Overall, Harley-Davidson has found out that some of their “tougher,” more aggressive models are great sellers. People liked the FXDB Street Bob, the Nightster sold quickly, and the blacked out Night Rod is the top seller in the V-Rod line. Some people like glitz and chrome, others want to look like they eat road kill and kick start their bikes with their hands. The new Fat Bob is for the latter group, but don’t worry, the tough appearance doesn’t sacrifice comfort, so you can eat your dead possums without cramps or vibration-induced numbness ruining your meal.
