Harley-Davidson Fat Boy (FLSTF)

.Budgie
Reviewed: 12 November 2008

FAB BIKE

Have been to France and Spain serveral times on my 2000 Fatboy and not a hitch, the hog do in Fuengirola in June 07 was a brill run

Peter Bruce
Reviewed: 12 August 2008

CRUSING WITH A PERMANENT GRIN

Great engine, comfy as an old armchair, and looks the dogs thingeys. Just completed around 1000 miles touring Brittany and Loire Valley with missus on pillion; bike didn't miss a beat and we could have ridden for hours longer each day. A real icon and attracts attention whether riding past or parked on the side of the road. The Harley 'add-ons' are never ending and spending on the fat boy, whilst expensive, is mitigated by excellent depreciation and resale values.

The stock pipes are awful. I thought I'd jumped on a Vespa when I picked it up from the showroom. Some Vance & Hines pipes improved the sound and performance, but at a price. The handling is not brilliant but you get what you would expect from a Harley; if you want sports bike performance buy another Harley, an MV Augsta for example

Great fun, easy cruising and touring, and fantastic looks

erizo
Reviewed: 10 January 2008

GOOD BIKE - BUT OVERPRICED

first and foremost, it´s a harley. if you want to buy an iconic motorcycle that will get everyone from schoolkids to old fogeys stopping to gape, this is it.
despite a market full of japanese cruisers, the fat boy will always get attention.

the new brakes fitted to the latest models are a VAST improvement over the first models!

the gearbox is a bit agricultural to say the least. shifts are positive, but very slow and noisy

compared to the evo engined fat boy, the tc88 engine is just too smooth. riding one feels a bit like riding a vulcan 1500 with a clunky gearbox.

ground clearence is more limited than on the jap cruisers. fine if you take it easy, but not for `enthusiastic´cornering.

personally, it´s a bike i like. i´ve ridden various example with different engines and enjoyed them all.

on the new tc96 models, budget also for a new filter and silencers as the OEM ones are very restrictive, and the bike feels choked. just changing these items liven things up considerably

for me though, the biggest fault is the price. when you are looking at 4 grand less for a large capacity cruiser from japan, the faults it does have (though not glaring faults) do seem a bit inexcuseable.

Vytalis
Reviewed: 10 January 2008

THE ORIGINAL MARMITE BIKE

Stunning engine. performance - that might seem surprising but you need to recalibrate your brain away from sportsbikes to enjoy a bike like this. Think more in terms of low down grunt and it makes sense. Riding this bike is an event and just zipping down to the shop means I'm giggling like a loony without exceeding 30mph. Ironically, its also pretty reasonable to run (40-45mpg) and insure.

Riding position, fit and feel are all spot on - I know its an old design but it just works. You get very used to bimbling and enjoying just being out on it rather than attacking every corner.

The feel when you open the garage door and see this behemoth is worth every penny - which is handy because they aren't cheap, although it holds its value very well (see next bit for the downside though)

Holds its value very well, although that turns you into a weather and polishing obsessive. I've had it four months and in that time the sight of a gritting lorry now sends me into a shudder. But then I love it enough to get the sponge and bucket out after every ride and I NEVER do that for anything...

Its fairly poor on the sweepers, the foot boards touch down early and the brakes are weak - but then if performance is important then this isn't the bike for you.

I wavered long and hard when buying this bike - I was worried by the negative perceptions that many bikers seem to have about Harley riders. But then as soon as you hit the start button it all makes sense. Ride one asap, you'll either love it or hate it.