I love it! Bought it last Tuesday and I have 475 miles on it already. I have a 17 mile one way commute and I come home smiling ear to ear. You are spot on with your review.
Congrats! I am very much hoping that day has arrived for you. I take the weather for granted and have almost forgotten the absolute joy of having winter pass.
thank you for this. so many people think you have to pick between cruiser or sport bikes. Like some sort of one vs the other, But I never understood that, cause I like both. I just like motorcycles period. Different bikes for different moods.
I'll post a vid of mine soon. :D I may have mentioned this before, but I have a Memphis Shades Bullet detachable fairing that takes that wind off your chest above 70mph. It's great because it looks slick and can be popped off and on quickly.
My bike has both the key and fob! No abs, is a 96 ci motor! I spray silicone spray ,(approx. $10 0zzy dollars a can)on everything, except the gloss paint! It keeps the blacked out v twin engine n fins ,etc looking and smelling brand new! Please check out my other channel, the Lo , I'm riding had 41000 on the clock! Now has 123000 on the clock. The channel is called southernstingray ! Channel thumbnail is of my Harley with the sunrise behind it! RIDE TO LIVE LIVE TO RIDE
Madcatdave My 2017 did come with the FOB. But it also has a coke-machine style key to lock/unlock the steering column and the ignition switch. The FOB has to be near the bike for it to crank. I think they said about 5-10 feet, near it, before the bike will start. They said to note that should you be near the bike and someone starts it and drives away, it will still run all day as long as the bike is still running, but should they turn it off, it obviously wouldn't start again without the FOB. That concerned me some. But I just keep the FOB in my pocket and lock the ignition for quick run-ins and outs. I lock the steering column if I'm going to be away from the bike for more than 5 minutes. I hid a GPS tracker device on mine. Harley-Davidson offers this kit where they stamp various parts of the bike with black-light fluorescence paint numbers so the Police can identify it later should it get stolen. Added about $20 a month to the payments. I did not get that. Expensive and everyone knows about it. I bought the GPS tracker instead, not from HD though. Do some research on them and you can find one you like. I know the 2016 models come with FOBs too but I couldn't speak on any other model. Best of luck!
I hope you get a chance to ride the interstates across the farm/rust belt, straight flat higher speed. You can see see miles in front and miles behind. Nice riding, it looks like you've taken that silk road previously.
Great! Hope you're enjoying it. It's the one piece detachable tall sissy bar Part Number 52729-08A. I liked it better than a standard shorter backrest. It should look ok even with a solo seat.
Awesome review. It really is a amazing machine . Even going up some hills you don't even have to down shift just roll on the throttle a bit. It has more than enough power for any rider even with a passenger. I get a lot of complements from other rider of the appearance of the bike . Its nice to hear other enjoy the looks of the bike as well . I wouldn't mind getting deeper in the corners that would be my only complaint, but yet it dips into curves and turns easily . I have been on a few long rides/trips and the stock seat is very comfortable. I guess you could say I'm very pleased with the Fat Boy S . Can't wait for winter to be over !!
Thanks! Glad you're enjoying it too. The power is great. The seat was limiting my comfort during longer distances so it was just upgraded. I did a recent video on it. Lean angle is very limited. I agree that it's still easy to maneuver and turn.
Hey Minner, nice job with the videos. I've got the same bike. Looking at the Reinhart crossbacks soon. Mine is back at the dealer right now having the front end replaced. I hit a deer a few days ago and exploded it on my bike at about 55. Be safe and keep posting.
I really like the crossbacks. They didn't fit with the theme I was going for. Very, very cool pipes. I think the deer will stand a better chance with those installed. Glad you're safe.
Hello! New subsciber here from Eastern North Carolina. Very nice interested in what you think and experience with your Fatbob. Not at all interested in sport bikes, at least not right now anyway. I want to learn all I can about the different models and styles of Harley's. I want a Street Glide Special. I'm kind of a bagger fan. Have a 1982 Goldwing GL1100 Aspencade I'm restoring. Might have it road ready by the late spring. Love all the Goldwings too. RSMF.
Thinking about getting this bike, Gonna be my first bike but man the price. Its alot but im mainly worried about the down payment. Nice bike tho, wanted a fatboy for over 2 years now
The good thing is the Fat Boy hasn't changed much over the years. A 4 year old fat boy lo will have plenty of power and can be easily be made to look the same as the s. We lose 1-2 thousand dollars just for driving these things out of the showroom.
How tall are you and how do you like the fit? Also, do you like the forward peg position? It looks REALLY far forward and awkward to me, I'm used to mid peg positions. Thanks! Great video and beautiful bike.
Thanks for the comments! I'm 6'2" and I like the fit. It's very relaxed. I don't have the impression that my knees are in my face. A friend is 5'6" and although he enjoyed it, he would have preferred a seat that propped him forward more. Another friend at 5'11" fit perfectly. If I were to use it for more aggressive riding I would not like the forward foot boards. The weight of the bike and clearance don't support aggressive riding anyway - I use the super naked for that. The whole package just supports fast takeoffs, stability and a relaxed ride. I'll say more about the comparison with mid mount controls on lowrider s review I'm uploading later tonight.
Hey Man AWESOME bike!!!...i'm trying to decide between the Fat Boy S and the Softail Slim S. Did you get a chance to test ride the Softail Slim S? what is the ride difference and fell between the two? But i do love the rear on this bike!!
I did. The the Slim S feels very similar but a little quicker to turn in because of that tire size. The Fat Boy feels a little more planted in the straight line. Maybe the tires or a little extra weight? That doesn't mean the Slim didn't feel planted. The Fat Boy also had a passenger spot stock and I planned on taking my wife on rides. Otherwise, engine, brakes, stance were very similar.
rodrigo cisterna I sure would. I say that with tongue-in-cheek though. Riding a bike that is low to the ground can be a turn off to some people who have ridden other bikes. If you ride sport bikes, you get used to being able to flip the bike all over the place. Laying it almost sideways while taking a tight curve, things like that. You can hit the foot pegs during tight turns on this bike and that can be scary. If it happens, don't freak out, ease off the throttle and the turn goes quicker. I always suggest taking a motorcycle riders safety course, to anyone. I don't care if you have never sat on a bike, or even if you have ridden for 20 years. The course will bring your knowledge level way up and your skills will improve so much faster. If you have never ridden a bike before, you won't have to learn how to ride a lowered bike and it will feel natural. I've ridden for over 40 years and yes, it did take a few days for me to really get comfortable on this. But the last bike I drove was a Kawasaki K1000. Very different than this. But I love my Fat Boy. Call a local dealership and schedule a test ride. Most dealerships I know of will let you ride one on a walk-in basis. But if you take a riders safety course first, and show them your certificate, it will make things way more fun. It is worth the price of the course I promise.
rodrigo cisterna if it is not to late i would say no fat bo is not a starter bike.... if u are starting out id say 1200 or under the fat boy is one of the most powerful bikes in the Harley-Davidson line up and with the way it handles on curves i would say 2nd bike at least .....if u want that vibe of bike get the 48 or the iron maybe even look at fat bobs they handle curves a bit better but they are also an extremely powerful bike
I think I'm going to have to change my first assessment to your question and go with what husker cub wrote. Maybe best for a 2nd bike. We had temps up in the 80s yesterday here in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area, so I took about a 3 hour ride all around the area. I'm not from this area so a lot of where I went yesterday was all new to me. I was mostly all over downtown Fort Worth for most of the ride and there are a lot of places where there is road construction with tight areas in curves with those cement walls set up. I can see where a new rider on this thing could have had some trouble. I've ridden for over 40 years so it was not a problem for me. But I even scraped the floorboards running 40-50 mph. That would terrify most new riders. And if you cannot handle a fast curve on an opposite lean angle of normal roads, well, you get my point. With the larger tires this thing does not want to "turn in" a lot and you have to drive this thing, not just lean it. But that is also where taking a rider's safety course will help. No, I'm not affiliated with any of them, just taken them in my past. You really do learn a lot in the courses and over a short time, you will find yourself practicing what you learned and your skills will improve in exponential time over just learning on your own. That I can assure you. But I also have the FatBoy S model with the 110 engine and V&H pipes that are tuned. So my bike is really responsive to the throttle. No where near the speed you'll get out of a liter bike from Japan, but this thing is powerful and torquey like no other Harley I've ever ridden. And it is a low model. The new 2017 FatBoy S is a low model, even though it is not designated as a Lo in 2017. You had the FatBoy, the FatBoy Lo and the FatBoy Lo S in other years but in 2017, they just call it the FatBoy S. Anyway, if you are looking for a first bike, you might want to start with one that has a better lean angle until you gain some skills. That is not a slam on any new rider, just facts. And there are plenty of videos on here about mistakes new riders make. I'd watch them and with anything, always take them with a grain of salt. Don't rely on just one video. Watch a bunch of them and you'll start to pick out common problems. When you see that, take heed of it. Best of luck and ride safe!!!
husker cub ... Laughing my ass off here.... There is no such thing as a fast HD. In stock form especially the only bike that was ever even slightly fast was the Vrod and that is now being canned and will not be in the line up next year. A Fatboy is an absolute slug on the road. It's like trying to race a dump truck.. lol...
Steve M It's certainly not going to compete with a Ninja but the 110 S engine, with a simple Stage I mod, is no slug. It is a very torquey engine and very quick. For a 700 pound bike that is. And those of us who ride them are quite satisfied with them.
No. I've been enjoying it even more. I still ride it more than the fat boy. It feels incredible after riding a heavier bike. Like jumping back and forth between a cold pool and a hot tub.
+Minner Q oh! Good I'm glad you still have it. I was thinking about getting a Victory or an Indian as a second bike. But I'm still making payments on my BMW, so I have some time to decide which one I'm going to get.
+Saul T I loved the Indian. Unfortunately didn't try a Victory. I'm curious to see which direction you'll go. The BMW is incredible and I'll keep making videos on it.
A lighter bike with less power would make the transition a lot easier - I'm sure you've heard that before. Most new riders either drop the bike at slow speeds or nearly drop it and save it by muscling it up. The weight of this thing isn't in favor of muscling it up. That said, having a complete understanding that it could kill you is the most important thing. Everyone is different. I think there are many people that would do fine on it and many that would drop it and/or kill themselves.
Minner Q Thanks for the reply! Knowing my luck I would drop it. I was thinking about the Fourty-Eight as well but I am 6' and 240 pounds. I feel I'd make the 48 look like a toy.
Your size is in your favor. The dyna's are a little less clumsy and fit a broad spectrum of sizes. Another route would be to buy a used dyna (10-15 years old) for 5k - ish, build the confidence over a year then move on to something more expensive. In the end, life is short. Be smart and enjoy it. A new fat boy for someone your size isn't unreasonable.
Minner Q I really appreciate your knowledge and help. I will look around at a couple dealers near me and check used bikes that are easy for me to man handle. Thanks again!!
They don't tell you that the new Harley's are built in India and the over cam motors don't last worth crap, the cam chain adjusters go junk as little as 8 thousand miles. then it's metal on metal and the oil ports clog up and voids your warranty. If you buy a Harley now days you are buying an over priced crap bike. Oh the forks are made in Japan so why not buy a metric bike. Sorry but if Harley does not make a change in customer service and starts to make better bikes again they are doomed. There is a reason there a a zillion Harley's for sale now days and the Harley stock in in the toilet.
Last Tuesday I bought a Fat Boy S. Your video is one of the reasons it is now in my garage. Thanks for sharing.
I can only hope I didn't mislead you and that you're having as much fun with it as I am. Thanks for sharing Mark. Best of luck with your beast.
I love it! Bought it last Tuesday and I have 475 miles on it already. I have a 17 mile one way commute and I come home smiling ear to ear. You are spot on with your review.
So happy to hear it. One of life's loopholes is finding a way to enjoy the commute.
the salesman at the harley dealer is like, "If that bike doesn't get you laid, nothing will!" :D
I bought 1 in November 2018 never rode it yet it's been a long winter inToronto but any day now. I've watched this video every day waiting.
Congrats! I am very much hoping that day has arrived for you. I take the weather for granted and have almost forgotten the absolute joy of having winter pass.
thank you for this. so many people think you have to pick between cruiser or sport bikes. Like some sort of one vs the other, But I never understood that, cause I like both. I just like motorcycles period. Different bikes for different moods.
Love that exhaust note when wide open, even through a mic. Thanks for the vid.
It took me 4 years to find this but I really enjoyed that ride.
Thanks muchly
"Ya really gotta watch deez cownaz." Gotta be New York. Love it.
I'll post a vid of mine soon. :D I may have mentioned this before, but I have a Memphis Shades Bullet detachable fairing that takes that wind off your chest above 70mph. It's great because it looks slick and can be popped off and on quickly.
I did a demo ride on this model and I loved it. It's and awesome bike.
Great video! I've got a 2015 Lo and I really like it!
Thanks Mathieu! I'm sure it's a very similar to mine. Big, heavy bikes dragging the rear nice and Lo...
Awesome bike mate!!I got a 2010 lo ,I got 120000kms on the clock!Its a fukn mint bike mate !!!!RIDE HARD LIVE FREE
does the 2010 fatboy come with the keyless fob? I am trying to figure out what year to buy.
My bike has both the key and fob! No abs, is a 96 ci motor! I spray silicone spray ,(approx. $10 0zzy dollars a can)on everything, except the gloss paint! It keeps the blacked out v twin engine n fins ,etc looking and smelling brand new! Please check out my other channel, the Lo , I'm riding had 41000 on the clock! Now has 123000 on the clock. The channel is called southernstingray ! Channel thumbnail is of my Harley with the sunrise behind it! RIDE TO LIVE LIVE TO RIDE
Madcatdave My 2017 did come with the FOB. But it also has a coke-machine style key to lock/unlock the steering column and the ignition switch. The FOB has to be near the bike for it to crank. I think they said about 5-10 feet, near it, before the bike will start. They said to note that should you be near the bike and someone starts it and drives away, it will still run all day as long as the bike is still running, but should they turn it off, it obviously wouldn't start again without the FOB. That concerned me some. But I just keep the FOB in my pocket and lock the ignition for quick run-ins and outs. I lock the steering column if I'm going to be away from the bike for more than 5 minutes. I hid a GPS tracker device on mine. Harley-Davidson offers this kit where they stamp various parts of the bike with black-light fluorescence paint numbers so the Police can identify it later should it get stolen. Added about $20 a month to the payments. I did not get that. Expensive and everyone knows about it. I bought the GPS tracker instead, not from HD though. Do some research on them and you can find one you like. I know the 2016 models come with FOBs too but I couldn't speak on any other model. Best of luck!
I hope you get a chance to ride the interstates across the farm/rust belt, straight flat higher speed. You can see see miles in front and miles behind. Nice riding, it looks like you've taken that silk road previously.
I haven't had a chance to ride in that part of the country on a bike. It must be done. I'll look forward to it.
Whatever horse you ride, just do it, your riding skills DESERVE it. PEACE
Sweet bike , great video
evil_muscle muscled thanks!
I just bought my fatboy s yesterday. Great video what sissy bar did you get it looks great?
Great! Hope you're enjoying it. It's the one piece detachable tall sissy bar Part Number 52729-08A. I liked it better than a standard shorter backrest. It should look ok even with a solo seat.
Awesome review. It really is a amazing machine . Even going up some hills you don't even have to down shift just roll on the throttle a bit. It has more than enough power for any rider even with a passenger. I get a lot of complements from other rider of the appearance of the bike . Its nice to hear other enjoy the looks of the bike as well . I wouldn't mind getting deeper in the corners that would be my only complaint, but yet it dips into curves and turns easily . I have been on a few long rides/trips and the stock seat is very comfortable. I guess you could say I'm very pleased with the Fat Boy S . Can't wait for winter to be over !!
Thanks! Glad you're enjoying it too. The power is great. The seat was limiting my comfort during longer distances so it was just upgraded. I did a recent video on it. Lean angle is very limited. I agree that it's still easy to maneuver and turn.
Hey Minner, nice job with the videos. I've got the same bike. Looking at the Reinhart crossbacks soon. Mine is back at the dealer right now having the front end replaced. I hit a deer a few days ago and exploded it on my bike at about 55. Be safe and keep posting.
I really like the crossbacks. They didn't fit with the theme I was going for. Very, very cool pipes. I think the deer will stand a better chance with those installed. Glad you're safe.
Hello! New subsciber here from Eastern North Carolina. Very nice interested in what you think and experience with your Fatbob. Not at all interested in sport bikes, at least not right now anyway. I want to learn all I can about the different models and styles of Harley's. I want a Street Glide Special. I'm kind of a bagger fan. Have a 1982 Goldwing GL1100 Aspencade I'm restoring. Might have it road ready by the late spring. Love all the Goldwings too. RSMF.
Awesome review, thanks! Where were you riding?
Thank you sir. This was in Northern San Diego County off of route 76.
Great video, buddy! Nice motorcycle! Congratulation!
Thanks Matheus!
Thinking about getting this bike, Gonna be my first bike but man the price. Its alot but im mainly worried about the down payment. Nice bike tho, wanted a fatboy for over 2 years now
The good thing is the Fat Boy hasn't changed much over the years. A 4 year old fat boy lo will have plenty of power and can be easily be made to look the same as the s. We lose 1-2 thousand dollars just for driving these things out of the showroom.
How tall are you and how do you like the fit? Also, do you like the forward peg position? It looks REALLY far forward and awkward to me, I'm used to mid peg positions. Thanks! Great video and beautiful bike.
Thanks for the comments!
I'm 6'2" and I like the fit. It's very relaxed. I don't have the impression that my knees are in my face. A friend is 5'6" and although he enjoyed it, he would have preferred a seat that propped him forward more. Another friend at 5'11" fit perfectly.
If I were to use it for more aggressive riding I would not like the forward foot boards. The weight of the bike and clearance don't support aggressive riding anyway - I use the super naked for that. The whole package just supports fast takeoffs, stability and a relaxed ride. I'll say more about the comparison with mid mount controls on lowrider s review I'm uploading later tonight.
Hey Man AWESOME bike!!!...i'm trying to decide between the Fat Boy S and the Softail Slim S. Did you get a chance to test ride the Softail Slim S? what is the ride difference and fell between the two? But i do love the rear on this bike!!
I did. The the Slim S feels very similar but a little quicker to turn in because of that tire size. The Fat Boy feels a little more planted in the straight line. Maybe the tires or a little extra weight? That doesn't mean the Slim didn't feel planted. The Fat Boy also had a passenger spot stock and I planned on taking my wife on rides. Otherwise, engine, brakes, stance were very similar.
would you recommend this as a first bike? ride safe :)
rodrigo cisterna I sure would. I say that with tongue-in-cheek though. Riding a bike that is low to the ground can be a turn off to some people who have ridden other bikes. If you ride sport bikes, you get used to being able to flip the bike all over the place. Laying it almost sideways while taking a tight curve, things like that. You can hit the foot pegs during tight turns on this bike and that can be scary. If it happens, don't freak out, ease off the throttle and the turn goes quicker. I always suggest taking a motorcycle riders safety course, to anyone. I don't care if you have never sat on a bike, or even if you have ridden for 20 years. The course will bring your knowledge level way up and your skills will improve so much faster. If you have never ridden a bike before, you won't have to learn how to ride a lowered bike and it will feel natural. I've ridden for over 40 years and yes, it did take a few days for me to really get comfortable on this. But the last bike I drove was a Kawasaki K1000. Very different than this. But I love my Fat Boy. Call a local dealership and schedule a test ride. Most dealerships I know of will let you ride one on a walk-in basis. But if you take a riders safety course first, and show them your certificate, it will make things way more fun. It is worth the price of the course I promise.
rodrigo cisterna if it is not to late i would say no fat bo is not a starter bike.... if u are starting out id say 1200 or under the fat boy is one of the most powerful bikes in the Harley-Davidson line up and with the way it handles on curves i would say 2nd bike at least .....if u want that vibe of bike get the 48 or the iron maybe even look at fat bobs they handle curves a bit better but they are also an extremely powerful bike
I think I'm going to have to change my first assessment to your question and go with what husker cub wrote. Maybe best for a 2nd bike. We had temps up in the 80s yesterday here in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area, so I took about a 3 hour ride all around the area. I'm not from this area so a lot of where I went yesterday was all new to me. I was mostly all over downtown Fort Worth for most of the ride and there are a lot of places where there is road construction with tight areas in curves with those cement walls set up. I can see where a new rider on this thing could have had some trouble. I've ridden for over 40 years so it was not a problem for me. But I even scraped the floorboards running 40-50 mph. That would terrify most new riders. And if you cannot handle a fast curve on an opposite lean angle of normal roads, well, you get my point. With the larger tires this thing does not want to "turn in" a lot and you have to drive this thing, not just lean it. But that is also where taking a rider's safety course will help. No, I'm not affiliated with any of them, just taken them in my past. You really do learn a lot in the courses and over a short time, you will find yourself practicing what you learned and your skills will improve in exponential time over just learning on your own. That I can assure you. But I also have the FatBoy S model with the 110 engine and V&H pipes that are tuned. So my bike is really responsive to the throttle. No where near the speed you'll get out of a liter bike from Japan, but this thing is powerful and torquey like no other Harley I've ever ridden. And it is a low model. The new 2017 FatBoy S is a low model, even though it is not designated as a Lo in 2017. You had the FatBoy, the FatBoy Lo and the FatBoy Lo S in other years but in 2017, they just call it the FatBoy S. Anyway, if you are looking for a first bike, you might want to start with one that has a better lean angle until you gain some skills. That is not a slam on any new rider, just facts. And there are plenty of videos on here about mistakes new riders make. I'd watch them and with anything, always take them with a grain of salt. Don't rely on just one video. Watch a bunch of them and you'll start to pick out common problems. When you see that, take heed of it. Best of luck and ride safe!!!
husker cub ... Laughing my ass off here.... There is no such thing as a fast HD. In stock form especially the only bike that was ever even slightly fast was the Vrod and that is now being canned and will not be in the line up next year. A Fatboy is an absolute slug on the road. It's like trying to race a dump truck.. lol...
Steve M It's certainly not going to compete with a Ninja but the 110 S engine, with a simple Stage I mod, is no slug. It is a very torquey engine and very quick. For a 700 pound bike that is. And those of us who ride them are quite satisfied with them.
Are you from Boston?...
So, I guess you've sold the s1kr?
No. I've been enjoying it even more. I still ride it more than the fat boy. It feels incredible after riding a heavier bike. Like jumping back and forth between a cold pool and a hot tub.
+Minner Q oh! Good I'm glad you still have it. I was thinking about getting a Victory or an Indian as a second bike. But I'm still making payments on my BMW, so I have some time to decide which one I'm going to get.
+Saul T I loved the Indian. Unfortunately didn't try a Victory. I'm curious to see which direction you'll go. The BMW is incredible and I'll keep making videos on it.
Would you suggest this for a beginner that plans on being quite careful?
A lighter bike with less power would make the transition a lot easier - I'm sure you've heard that before. Most new riders either drop the bike at slow speeds or nearly drop it and save it by muscling it up. The weight of this thing isn't in favor of muscling it up. That said, having a complete understanding that it could kill you is the most important thing. Everyone is different. I think there are many people that would do fine on it and many that would drop it and/or kill themselves.
Minner Q Thanks for the reply! Knowing my luck I would drop it. I was thinking about the Fourty-Eight as well but I am 6' and 240 pounds. I feel I'd make the 48 look like a toy.
Your size is in your favor. The dyna's are a little less clumsy and fit a broad spectrum of sizes. Another route would be to buy a used dyna (10-15 years old) for 5k - ish, build the confidence over a year then move on to something more expensive.
In the end, life is short. Be smart and enjoy it. A new fat boy for someone your size isn't unreasonable.
Minner Q I really appreciate your knowledge and help. I will look around at a couple dealers near me and check used bikes that are easy for me to man handle. Thanks again!!
Good luck. Have fun with it. Don't be afraid to walk away. They'll probably call back with a better price.
✅✅✅
I guess you don't know how to downshift !
act like a lady
They don't tell you that the new Harley's are built in India and the over cam motors don't last worth crap, the cam chain adjusters go junk as little as 8 thousand miles. then it's metal on metal and the oil ports clog up and voids your warranty. If you buy a Harley now days you are buying an over priced crap bike. Oh the forks are made in Japan so why not buy a metric bike. Sorry but if Harley does not make a change in customer service and starts to make better bikes again they are doomed. There is a reason there a a zillion Harley's for sale now days and the Harley stock in in the toilet.