The all-new FatBoy (FLFBS) is one fat and fun motorcycle. I took this video on the sales floor a few hours ago and went through the benefits of some of the new features on the motorcycle in a virtual 360 degree tour.
These are the widest tires to ever be put on a FatBoy. 240mm in the rear and 160mm in the front. The front tires are even wider than the rear tires of some touring models! The solid disk wheels made a return to this model after a 10 year hiatus. These new polished aluminum wheels are called the "Lakester Solid Disc Wheels".
The frame is lighter and stiffer but the ride is not. It is a very smooth and comfortable ride. The new mono shock rear suspension is the heart and soul of the Softail line up and it can be adjusted with an external rear shock pre-load adjustment. It's located conveniently where the oil tank used to be just below the seat.
The dash on the tank also received a re-design this year as well. The analog speedometer, digital speedometer and tachometer are condensed into one easy-to read gauge on the top of the tank. The tank and dash also feature satin chrome finishes throughout.
The freight-train sized headlight is still front and center and comes standard (much like the other Softails) with an LED Daymaker headlamp.
Just when I thought the Fat Bob® was on the ropes for Harley-Davidson®, it came roaring back to life in a bold new way! Though I’m a bigger rider, the Fat Bob® always had a place in my heart. It “fit” me.
The new 2018 Fat Bob® “fits” even better with it’s 114 Milwaukee Eight® Engine. It’s a powerful smooth-running engine with a responsive throttle that is sure to make you hold on tight for a white-knuckled thrill ride. The model that I was able to test-ride was a 114, but the Fat Bob® also comes in a 107.
One of the things I was most excited to try out was the new suspension for the all new Softail® line-up this year. The mono-shock felt great. It was much more smooth than the Dyna’s® and Softail’s® of the past. The all-new suspension combined with the new inverted front forks deliver better handling.
Another feature of the Fat Bob® that I’ve always been a fan of were the Cast wheels with Fat tires along with dual disc brakes for better stopping power. In Pittsburgh, we have a lot of potholes and uneven surfaces. These features make the ride much smoother.
When Harley-Davidson® announced that the bike would be 35lbs lighter, I didn’t think that would make much of a difference. I take back my thoughts on that. The bike is very light and nimble, and I wouldn’t hesitate to put a first-time rider on it.
The final design changes were in the aesthetics of the motorcycle. The 2-1-2 upswept exhaust is really cool to look at. I remember when they originally came out with the Tommy Gun exhaust a few years back and thought that it was neat. This new exhaust gives it a high-performance look.
I also am very impressed with the new LED headlight design. Looking through the brochures when it was first announced gave me the feeling that it looks weird and out of place. After getting my hands on the new Fat Bob®, I really can appreciate the high visibility of that light in the daytime when going into oncoming traffic, and it lights the road up at night.
This bike is designed for the next generation of Harley-Davidson rider, and I think the Motor Company hit this one out of the park!
Monday, August 28, 2017
By: Charles Fleming, LA Times
Harley-Davidson has released a batch of 2018 motorcycles, eight of them sharing a new chassis, new suspension and new engines. The company says the machines are lighter and more powerful, and handle better, than the models they replace. I’ve ridden two of them, and I agree.
For 2018, Harley has folded its Dyna line into its Softail line, and emerged with a field of new Softail motorcycles, retiring a few bikes (the Sportster 1200T, the VROD Muscle and Night Rod Special, and the Wide Glide) and renaming a couple (the Heritable Softail Classic is now the Heritage Classic).
It’s not just nomenclature. The Motor Co., America’s bestselling motorcycle brand, is losing market share and watching an increasingly elderly customer base age out of the sport. The new machines, designed to address current owner complaints and prospective customer concerns, are an effort to reverse eroding sales and attract new riders.
Harley has done some homework. The company said that “the most extensive research and development program” in its history had revealed three areas of importance.
Current and prospective riders told Harley’s CIA division (it stands for Customer Insights and Analytics) they wanted the bikes to be lighter and more powerful, and they wanted them to handle and corner better. Harley has responded with bigger engines that produce more torque, on a chassis that offers better suspension, and motorcycles that weigh less and steer and corner more easily.
The new frames and chassis are stronger, stiffer and lighter than on 2017 models, the company said in announcing the 2018 models. Some weigh as much as 35 pounds less than previous units. Many have improved lean angles, allowing for better cornering. Some, such as the Heritage Classic, feature a return to old-school styling, with details that include spoked wheels, blacked-out rims and period-correct headlight bezels.
All the 2018 Softails are powered by the Milwaukee-Eight 107 V-twin or — available as options on the Fat Bob, Fat Boy, Breakout and Heritage Classic — the larger Milwaukee-Eight 114. That means more grunt. The 107-cubic-inch engine makes 109 pound-feet of torque, while the 114 engine kicks that up to 119 pound-feet. (The 117-cubic-inch engine, available on some touring models, makes 125 pound-feet.)
Harley calls the Milwaukee Eights “the most powerful engines ever offered” in its Big Twin cruiser category.
They power bikes that are modernized in other ways, too. Upgrades such as LED headlights, keyless ignition and USB ports come standard on all models. Cruise control is standard on Heritage Classic bikes and optional on all other models. ABS is standard on Fat Boy, Heritage Classic, Deluxe and Breakout, and optional on all other models. Earlier this week I was able to spend about an hour each on the Heritage Classic and Fat Bob models — swapping back and forth between the two bikes during a spirited run up and back down Angeles Crest Highway.
For full disclosure, I am not fundamentally a Harley guy. I tend to gravitate away from foot-forward cruisers and bobbers. While I’ve enjoyed some of the company’s biggest road hogs — like the 2017 Ultra Limited — I had low expectations for the new batch of Softails. But I was pleasantly surprised. The two bikes performed as advertised. They do feel lighter, more nimble and easier to ride, and the new engines are a delight.
The Heritage came with the 107-inch engine, the Fat Bob with the 114. Both emitted the traditional Harley “potato-potato-potato" sound, and both had low-end torque and power to pull hard in any of the six gears from, seemingly, any speed.
Harley has reengineered its signature V-twin power plant by adding a second counter balancer. It’s designed to reduce engine vibration, which it does, but it also allows for a lower idle speed, which in turn reduces engine noise and heat when the machine is at rest.
When it’s in flight, the power dials on with confidence, and the new suspension makes the power more manageable. Trucking up the Crest at a lively clip, cornering, I cleared every apex but one without any footpeg or floorboard drag. And, that once, I may have been going faster than I should.
The Softails, with engines of either displacement, share the same clutch and gearbox, which I found friendlier and less clunky than on previous models. Both the Heritage and Fat Boy sit low, making them appropriate machines for a smaller rider who still wants a bigger bike. Both featured adjustable rear suspension -- though nonadjustable front shocks. The Heritage Classic I rode was fitted with saddlebags big enough to carry a half-helmet, but not a full-face lid. The Heritage also comes standard with a nonadjustable windshield.
I found that, for a rider my size, age and disposition, the Heritage offered better ergonomics than the Fat Bob. But Harley’s extensive parts and accessories catalog contains many seat and handlebar configurations for its new Softail models, making them partly customizable for a rider’s size and reach. The knock on Harley-Davidson, by people who don't favor the brand, is that its motorcycles lack sophistication and finesse. Loud and lumpy, they’re big, blunt bikes, critics say, for big, blunt people.
Over the years, as it has tried to address those concerns, the company has risked alienating its base by dragging its motorcycles up to present standards — and dragging its core customer, kicking and screaming, behind. More than one company official, on more than one occasion, has told me he received blowback from traditional Harley owners when the company first introduced now-common new technology such as electric starters, fuel injection or ABS braking systems.
And some Harley riders still say they don’t trust those new-fangled options — though they are almost universally welcomed as technologically superior — and reject the modern Harley as not quite the real thing. The new bikes may not convince any of those old-schoolers. One observer said this week that they may not have a positive effect on sales, either.
“This model year lineup may not be enough to reverse Harley's U.S. retail sales declines, now in their third consecutive year,” USB analyst Robin Farley said.
My crystal ball doesn’t predict sales. But it can predict that a prospective rider who tested last year’s Dyna or Softail models would be wise to give the 2018s a fresh look. These are better bikes.
Pricing on the 2018 models will range from a low of $14,999 for the Low Rider or Street Bob to $20,299 for the Heritage Classic or Fat Boy with the 114 engine.
I received a question via Facebook from an old high school friend who now lives in Allentown.
Hey, Rocky,
I need some advice. I just got my motorcycle license a few months ago. I love being a passenger, but now I'm nervous as the driver and I know that's not a good thing. I have a Harley Sportster and it probably wasn't the best choice for a first bike, but I got a good deal and it is in great shape with really low mileage ... and it's a Harley!
So I guess I just need some wise words from an expert. It's a heavy bike and I think that's one of the things that makes me nervous, but I don't want to dump it. Can you help an old friend out?
Thanks
Karyn
Karyn,
Congratulations and welcome to the saddle. You should be LESS nervous because you're in total control. A Harley-Davidson Sportster really isn't a bad bike to get started on. Some people make the mistake of starting out on a bike that is too small, get frustrated within a year, and when they go to upgrade, they lose equity in their trade. If you are a fan of a specific brand, and if the motorcycle fits you, then go for it.
You'll learn something new about yourself and the bike with each trip out of the garage. I'm constantly experimenting on my bike.
I wouldn't worry about dropping it. It happens to the best of us! It's nothing to be ashamed about. In fact, last month I dropped my bike. It happens. It's a 1989 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide. It has so many extras like saddlebags, the faring and the windshield that could get damaged with one slip up in the driveway.
Fortunately, when I dropped my bike, it didn't cause any damage. One of the great things about the Electra Glide is that it comes with guards especially made for that. Not only does it protect key components to the bike, it also prevents your leg from getting pinned beneath your bike when it falls over.
If you don't have one already, my suggestion would be to get an engine guard for your bike. They aren't that expensive, and it will more than pay for itself should you drop the bike.
Once you get your engine guard, you may want to take your bike into a flat spot in your yard and gently lay it down ... and pick it back up. Practice it a few times. It's easier than you think. Lift with your legs and use as much leverage as possible.
Once you pick your bike up, you'll get the feeling that it's not as heavy as you originally thought. You'll also establish a feeling of control (there is that word again) in your mind, that you can handle the bike whether it's upright or lying on its side.
Picking up a 500-pound bike may sound tough, but motorcycles are very well balanced. Don't think of it as picking the total weight of your motorcycle off the ground. You're simply shifting it to a neutral position to where you can put the kickstand down and assess the situation.
Remember when you first started riding your bicycle how wobbly you were until you pedaled faster? The same rule applies. Dropping a motorcycle due to weight happens because of an unexpected shift in balance at very slow speeds, so the good news is if you do drop it, the risk of injury or damage to the motorcycle will be minimal.
It seems as if most people in the Pittsburgh area are up in arms about all the rain we've been having, especially the motorcycling community. I'm on board... I want to go riding just as bad as everyone else, but the weather "is what it is" (never liked that saying). But instead of all the moaning about the rain, let's focus on what we CAN do.
We have two choices: ride in the rain or keep it parked. I'm thinking that the first choice may not be all that bad when you sit back and think about it. The rain that we do get isn't usually an all-day rain. It's more like an afternoon rain, which is sorta like Hawaii. Maui gets one good rain in the afternoon whether it needs it or not. That doesn't stop tourists from riding.
Given the fact that most of the rain is in the afternoon, we're not getting wet on the ride into work, but rather on the way home. Okay, I can live with that. Nobody wants to sit in wet clothes all day plus it's not like you have see anyone with the exception of maybe your spouse and kids and chances are they've seen you in things less flattering than wet clothing.
You can, however avoid the wet clothing by investing in a good set of rain gear from Hot Metal Harley-Davidson. The reason I say to get it from the dealership and not a hunting/fishing store is that the pants in the rain suit are made for riding. This means they are less likely to melt to the exhaust or engine and get ruined. I've also noticed that the Harley-Davidson riding gear keeps you dry around the neck if it is zippered and closed properly.
You can also do a full-face helmet. This too will help around the neck line and it will help keep the rain pellets bouncing off your face at 55mph. Trust me, it's a much better ride with a full-faced helmet in the rain. You can also use the helmet in the cooler months.
I've written numerous articles about riding in the rain before and they mostly concentrated on safety. Things you have to watch out for are debris on the road, potholes, steel (manhole covers, bridge joints, railroad tracks, etc.), and painted surfaces near stop signs and traffic lights. If you look back into the archives, you can get the specifics on how to tackle each one of those obstacles.
My advice: Let's suck it up and ride! (Now there is a slogan I like--I'm getting the derby covers made up as we speak!)
Many people love to get on their motorcycles, head off into the sunset and just ride alone. It's great therapy for clearing one's mind. Even though I enjoy taking the long way home by myself to blow off steam from work before I walk in the door to see my wife and kids, I prefer to ride with a passenger. When my wife is available to ride, we are on the road and loving every minute of it. When she can't ride, then one of the Motor Clothes associates will ride with me. (Tough job, but someone has to do it.) I'm not sure why my preference is to ride with a passenger, but it works for me and that's what's important.
Although it's great to have someone along for the ride, adding a passenger brings with it some challenges. The two main challenges are mechanical and physical. The mechanical challenges deal with the way the bike handles with the added weight and the physical challenges are the way in which you, the rider need to compensate for having someone on the back seat.
With a passenger, the weight distribution on the bike is changed. The weight is not only placed very high up on the bike but it is placed at the back of the bike too. This changes the handling dynamics. The bike will turn differently with a passenger on board. You may not be able to maneuver around parking lots and tight spaces as well as you would by yourself.
You most certainly will need more distance to stop. Don't follow too closely behind the vehicle in front of you. Remember the two-second rule? You will have to increase it to the three-second rule when riding with a passenger.
The feel of the bike will be different as well. You can compensate by adjusting your suspension as most bikes have a pre-load adjustment on the rear shocks. You can adjust the shocks to a firmer setting for carrying a passenger.
You will also want to check the tire pressure. Remember, you are adding 120-160 pounds of extra weight to a 700 pound vehicle. That's a 23% increase. Make sure the tires are properly inflated, because after all, two square inches of rubber are the only thing that separates you and your passenger from the asphalt below.
It may not be a bad idea to go over some of the rules of the road with your passenger. Some of the things that may seem like no-brainers to you may not be as obvious to your passenger. Here is a brief list of things to mention to your passenger:
" They shouldn't get on the bike until you've taken off of the kick stand and are in a secure upright position.
" The passenger should wear the same protective clothing as yourself. Although I encourage the use of helmets, the choice is yours. If you choose not to wear a helmet, but your passenger does, be prepared for a head-but during a sudden stop or even shifting through the gears.
" Holding onto your waist is the best place for your passenger's hands. Even though some bikes have grab rails or back rests to hold on to, you are the best thing your passenger can hold on to. This helps especially when it comes to fighting gravity in the turns.
" The passenger should keep their feet away from all hot parts, especially exhaust pipes and keep them on the foot rests at all times, even when the bike is stopped.
Remember, they may not be as seasoned as you when it comes to riding a motorcycle and this may seem very obvious to you, but it's really important they know what to expect from their riding partner. Which brings me to another point: Don't try to impress your passenger with your riding ability. I know it's hard not to show off, but you don't want to scare your passenger away. You want them to ride with you again.
Motorcycles are a beautiful thing. I've been riding for more than 25 years now and to this day throwing my leg over a bike never gets old. Motorcycling is fun, invigorating, and gives you a sense of freedom.
As we all know freedom isn't free. Motorcycles, especially Harley-Davidson motorcycles come with a solid price tag, and for good reason. They are manufactured in the USA, they are built well, have been around since 1903 and typically hold their value compared to metric motorcycles.
That being said, how do you know which bike is right for you? A bike that looks good in a magazine or on a showroom floor may not be the right 'fit' for you. I thought I'd always like a FatBoy because of the look. I found after riding one that even though it looks great, the ride wasn't quite right for my needs. My wife and I like to ride together, and I enjoy listening to music while I ride, so I found that the Ultra was perfect for us, and more comfortable too.
That's not to say that the FatBoy isn't comfortable... it is VERY comfortable, but it just didn't fit my specific needs. How did I find out? I took a FatBoy for a demo ride solo and with my wife. It felt okay by myself, but was more awkward when my wife was on the back.
If I didn't take that demo ride, I would have made a purchase that wasn't quite right for me and my needs. Buying a motorcycle is much different then buying a car. There are so many more factors that go into the feel of the ride and how comfortable you are operating a two-wheeled machine as opposed to a four-wheeled vehicle.
Some dealers allow you to take demo rides as long as the weather is nice. Others do not. My advice is to go to a dealership that allows demo rides and ask a sales person to pick out two or three models that interest you. Make sure you discuss with the sales person what type of riding you plan on doing, how far you plan on traveling, and if you will be riding solo or with a passenger. Listen to their feedback, suggestions, and experiences.
Once you take a ride on the model(s) that fit you perfectly, then you can make an informed decision on the bike that best suits your needs and feels the most comfortable.
