Test Ride of H-D 114 Fat Bob

[leafman60]

Today I checked out the new 114 series of Softails that have replaced the now-discontinued Dyna series.  I had an extended ride on the new 114 Fat Bob and my reaction was – WOW.

The new engine, frame and suspension is better than anything they’ve made in the past. The stock 114 puts out an amazing amount of torque.  Out of the hole, the bike will best my 1200GS.

Gone is the rubber-mounted drive train.  The frame is very rigid and fixed when pushed hard on curves.

The suspension has more rear travel than any of the stock Dynas as well as the stock Touring models!   H-D is using a triangulated rear swing section with an adjustable shock under the seat. This set-up  very much resembles that of the Guzzi Daytona and V11 Sport series. It all works well.

In some ways, labeling these bikes “Softails” is a shame since they have very little in common with the previous Softail models.  That badge conjures up the hard suspension and limitations of the old Softail that is long gone now.

Would I buy one?  Not yet.  They are a little too “cruiserish” for me right now. I don’t like the forward pegs of pretty much all of them and I don’t like the cornering manners of the fat front tires as fitted to the bike I rode today.
 
The bikes have potential and the 114 engine is fantastic.

.

[Kev m]

Yup, good stuff. Glad you liked!

[John Ulrich]

The Softail grows up!  Glad to hear they are giving it the suspension it deserves!

[Kev m]

I'm not sure what you're trying to say with this. That's not the new one obviously.

[fotoguzzi]

oops, my bad.. I was only trying to show a pic since the Op didn't.

[Kev m]

Ah ha ha BTDT.

Ironically I liked the out going one too and considered buying one as recently as when I picked up my RK.

I liked the dual LED tail light in the fender of the Dyna version as well as the dual discs and smaller/lighter chassis than the touring models.

[oldbike54]

oops, my bad.. I was only trying to show a pic since the Op didn't.

 Is that the new Star ?

 Dusty

[Kev m]

I love the irony when a guy who rides a bike with a flaccid whale penis for a tank tries to insult the looks of another bike.

[oldbike54]

I love the irony when a guy who rides a bike with a flaccid whale penis for a tank tries to insult the looks of another bike.

 That isn't an answer . AND who said it was an insult ?

 Dusty

[Kev m]

Passive-aggressive much?

[Socalrob]

oops, my bad.. I was only trying to show a pic since the Op didn't.

Was at the HD dealer on Sat. To pick up a wedding gift for the young man marrying my niece.  He has a 883 Sportster. I got him LED lights.

Anyway, saw the new street and road glides, which look exceptionally nice.  Also say this new fat bob.  Pretty strange bike.  Like a cruiser scrambler.  I hope a reviewer gets it out in the dirt.

The Delux model had nice style too.  I think HD has some winners on their hands.  Now if matte flat paint will just go out of style.

[oldbike54]

 My point is this , we have come full circle . The Japanese bike builders started copying the MoCo designs 30 some odd years ago , now the MoCo is borrowing from the Japanese .

 Dusty

[Kev m]

Curtis motorcycles, discuss...

[Triple Jim]

Curtis motorcycles, discuss...

Perhaps you mean Curtiss Motorcycles, the  new name of Confederate Motorcycles?

[Kev m]

Oops forgot an S

[canuck750]

My point is this , we have come full circle . The Japanese bike builders started copying the MoCo designs 30 some odd years ago , now the MoCo is borrowing from the Japanese .

 Dusty

 :1:

Or if you can't beat them join them.

I have had two great weekends riding in the Rocky Mountains of B.C. and Alberta and had lots of discussions with HD riders at various places. I had a long discussion with a fellow who was on a 2017 full dresser, I know nothing of the models, they all look the same to me but this one had water cooled heads and all the bells and whistles, set the guy back over $50K CDN. He was a long time HD owner and this bike was a major step up in performance and handling. On Friday I talked to another guy on a similar water cooled deluxe HD and he added the stage 3 performance package, was into the bike for just under $60K. He was able to keep up to my buddies 2008 Goldwing but the BMW just blew him away and I could have bought two Goldwings or two GTL Beemers for what the HD cost.

[Rough Edge racing]

My point is this , we have come full circle . The Japanese bike builders started copying the MoCo designs 30 some odd years ago , now the MoCo is borrowing from the Japanese .

 Dusty

   You say this bike has styling clues from the Japanese?
   
 
   I see styling clues from this bike just after WW2....Bobbed fenders front and rear, fat front tire and of course the fuel tank....
     

     

[oldbike54]

   You say this bike has styling clues from the Japanese?
   
 
   I see styling clues from this bike just after WW2....Bobbed fenders front and rear, fat front tire and of course the fuel tank....
     

   

 The tires were never that fat ,  the exhaust systems that convoluted , or the seats shaped anything like that . The upside down forks are borrowed from the Japanese , as are several other styling cues .

 Dusty

[Kev m]

OMG talk about fake news, USD = JAPanInc. styling? Someone better talk to BMW, Ducati, KTM, Guzzi, Triumph, ETC.

It's a stupid comparison like the rest of it.

There are no "borrowed" styling cues, they simply departed here and there from a few of their more traditional lines to make something more edgy while making it functional.

[oldbike54]

OMG talk about fake news, USD = JAPanInc. styling? Someone better talk to BMW, Ducati, KTM, Guzzi, Triumph, ETC.

It's a stupid comparison like the rest of it.

There are no "borrowed" styling cues, they simply departed here and there from a few of their more traditional lines to make something more edgy while making it functional.

 You are aware of the fact that sometimes you tend to be blind to the obvious . Yeah , the USD fork was not invented by the Japanese , but just how many Ducatis or KTM's were running wild on the streets 25 years ago ? It was the Japanese sportbikes that were ubiquitous , heck BMW didn't even build a sportbike back then . As for the fat tires on cruiser bikes , it was the Japanese that started that also , bikes like the Kawasaki Mean Streak were there first . Heck , one of the reasons HD's from 20 years ago felt lighter on their feet than Asian cruisers was that HD kept their tire sizes rational . Sorry if you can't see the cues that are so blatantly there .

 Dusty

[fotoguzzi]

 Is that the new Star ?

 Dusty

this is


Star Low Fat Bob

[Kev m]

You are aware of the fact that sometimes you tend to be blind to the obvious . Yeah , the USD fork was not invented by the Japanese , but just how many Ducatis or KTM's were running wild on the streets 25 years ago ? It was the Japanese sportbikes that were ubiquitous , heck BMW didn't even build a sportbike back then . As for the fat tires on cruiser bikes , it was the Japanese that started that also , bikes like the Kawasaki Mean Streak were there first . Heck , one of the reasons HD's from 20 years ago felt lighter on their feet than Asian cruisers was that HD kept their tire sizes rational . Sorry if you can't see the cues that are so blatantly there .

 Dusty

USD suspensions aren't a styling cue they're a functional choice.

The closest thing you have to an argument is that for decades JAPanInc. produced "cruisers" that where a bit like caricatures of Harleys so if Harley steps outside their usual styling cues they risk becoming caricatures of themselves.

But your points were patently ridiculous.

Fat tires are JAPanInc? Really?

The exhaust is JAPanInc?

[emoji23]

[oldbike54]

USD suspensions aren't a styling cue they're a functional choice.

The closest thing you have to an argument is that for decades JAPanInc. produced "cruisers" that where a bit like caricatures of Harleys so if Harley steps outside their usual styling cues they risk becoming caricatures of themselves.

But your points were patently ridiculous.

Fat tires are JAPanInc? Really?

The exhaust is JAPanInc?

[emoji23]

 On a cruiser bike yes USD forks are a styling cue , as are the use of those oversized tires .

 Dusty

[Kev m]

On a cruiser bike yes USD forks are a styling cue , as are the use of those oversized tires .

 Dusty

Maybe try riding before you decide.

Not everything Harley builds is automatically a cruiser, even if most have a cruiser bent.

[oldbike54]

Maybe try riding before you decide.

Not everything Harley builds is automatically a cruiser, even if most have a cruiser bent.

 Actually with rational sized tires , and a rational seating position I'm sure it would be a wonderful motorbike in a 1990's kind of way  Look , we see this differently , you love HD's , I don't . Still, that doesn't change the fact that we have come full circle , NTTIAWWT  Dusty

 

[Kev m]

Actually with rational sized tires , and a rational seating position I'm sure it would be a wonderful motorbike in a 1990's kind of way  Look , we see this differently , you love HD's , I don't . Still, that doesn't change the fact that we have come full circle , NTTIAWWT  [emoji23] Dusty

What you seem to fail to comprehend is that I LOVE MOTORCYCLES. I don't have a blind spot for any one brand though I do tend to enjoy more traits of some brands more than others.

Ironically I got very close to buying a new Virago instead of a new Sportster. The reason for strongly considering the Virago at the time was strictly functional/mechanical differences.

[oldbike54]

What you seem to fail to comprehend is that I LOVE MOTORCYCLES. I don't have a blind spot for any one brand though I do tend to enjoy more traits of some brands more than others.

Ironically I got very close to buying a new Virago instead of a new Sportster. The reason for strongly considering the Virago at the time was strictly functional/mechanical differences.

 Kev , I live and breath motorbikes also , my friends and family call me a monomaniac 

 One question , if the Virago was functionally superior , why did you buy the Sportster ?

 Dusty

[Kev m]

Kev , I live and breath motorbikes also , my friends and family call me a monomaniac  [emoji23]

 One question , if the Virago was functionally superior , why did you buy the Sportster ?

 Dusty

I didn't say it was functionally superior, it had some functional design points that were better and some that were worse.

In the end I went with one that had more check marks in my wants column and most of those are functional considerations.

[oldbike54]

I didn't say it was functionally superior, it had some functional design points that were better and some that were worse.

In the end I went with one that had more check marks in my wants column and most of those are functional considerations.

 More vibration , less performance , and weaker brakes ? It's OK Kev , we know you loooove HD 

 Dusty

[Kev m]

More vibration , less performance , and weaker brakes ? It's OK Kev , we know you loooove HD 

 Dusty

Now about the new Curtiss Motorcycles, why the name change?