Rode a Fat Boy - NGC

[Xlratr]

A new Harley Davidson dealership has opened this weekend, very close to where I live, so I hopped on the T3 and rode over to have a look what was going on. They had good food and good music! Plus they were giving test rides on the new models, so I took out a Fat Boy for half an hour.

Several years ago I had a Sportster, the 883R with a 1200 screaming eagle conversion. That motor was great, although not the low revving big V Twin feeling I had initially expected. I sold the bike for several reasons, but basically it (and the scene) wasn't really me. But anyway, I was really interested to see how the new Fat Boy would compare to my old 883/1200, and how it feels compared to the Guzzi 8v "big twin".

My first impression was that the build quality is really good. Seating very comfortable, although I was leaning a bit too far back. Started it up, and was amazed how quiet it was. I mean really, I could hardly hear it! Put it into gear and rolled out, shifting at low revs. Very nice low end pull. Got it on the open road and opened it up a bit and then....... nothing! A massive hole in the power curve! Or maybe I'm just too used to the Stelvio? Anyway, I was completely underwhelmed!

I think the problem is the European specification. Silencers, emissions, noise, it's all getting stricter. I'm sure there is a lot of potential in the motor (my Sportster went like a scalded cat!), but these days, off the showroom floor, you'd need to invest a another €1500 to get it there.

Yep, the days of the air cooled engine are limited!!

John

[Lcarlson]

Harleys have seriously long-stroke, undersquare engines, so their performance is pretty much dependent on low-end torque. There isn't much point in reving them. That said, riden as they are designed to be ridden (short shifted), they can be pretty satisfying; there's a reason they own the American heartland and mountain west.

On a personal note, I rode a rented Road King for week in Utah this June and enjoyed it immensely. In fact, it rekindled my decision to add a cruiser to the (now smaller) fleet. I didn't go with H-D, but you can ride a Cali 1400 like a Harley if you want to.

[Groover]

Had an '03 fat boy in 04/05. Much prefer the feel, sound, etc of my 81 G5. I too though the fat boy with a 1400cc engine would've been a beast, but I'm pretty sure my v1000 runs much stronger and better overall. On the fat boy, I went through 3 seats and 3 different handlebar setups and I could just never get the riding position comfortable for me. Plus 2-up riding was ridiculously odd for me being the way the seat was staggered. Long story short, in the future I would consider an HD road king maybe if I ever decided to do some sort of cross country type trip, but then again, looked at a 2015 gold wing and that thing is very cool.

[Tom]

Have to agree on the oem stuff on a stock HD engine detuning the400 performance.  An oem Cali 1400 moves.  Sorry to hear that doesn't apply to a Fat Boy.  I like the Road King better.

[Xlratr]

Harleys have seriously long-stroke, undersquare engines, so their performance is pretty much dependent on low-end torque. There isn't much point in reving them.

I get that, and I know it isn't a sports bike. But I'm not talking about reving it hard. At around half throttle it just fell into a hole! Nothing there! I don't think this means the motor doesn't have potential, it's more like the noise and emissions regs have made it in standard (European) 2015 trim very unsatisfying.
John

[oldmxdog61u]

Its all good. Anything that puts you in the wind.
That said, my wife prefers my old fx to my bagger. Go figure.

[Lcarlson]

European OEM specs may well strangle the Big Twins. I know that the stock exhaust on my (US) rented Road King was not all that quiet, and sounded good....