2021 Harley-Davidson Fat Bob - First Ride Review
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- čas přidán 23. 07. 2024
- When I first saw the new Harley-Davidson Fat Bob, I was immediately drawn to its looks. It's a brutish, squat muscular looking bike, which now has the equally brutish 114 cu in Milwaukee 8 motor. So not being a particular Harley or cruiser type of rider, what did I make of it? What's it like to ride, how does it perform, is it just form over function? I aim to explore all of these aspects of the 2021 Fat Bob during this video.
In this video I'm wearing;
Goldtop 72' Easy Rider Jacket - tinyurl.com/72easyrider
Bike Shed Protective Jeans - tinyurl.com/BSMCjeans
Arai Profile V Helmet - tiny.one/ProfileV
360 Bike footage was shot on an Insta360 One X2 - tiny.one/OneX2deal
Helmet and Bars footage on a GoPro Hero - Huge deal on Hero 10 - tinyurl.com/hero10deal
Intro 00:00
Engine, Gearbox & Controls - 00:40
Build Quality & Style - 02:50
Seat Height, Weight and Handling - 04:03
Is is comfortable? - 05:04
Price - 06:23
But its slow right? - 07:36
Equipment - 08:15
Ride Quality - 09:51
Who's it for? - 10:52
Any negatives? - 11:49
Conclusion - 12:55 - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Hi Tony, I have had mine for just over 2 years now. i had a stage 1 done and added heated grips and cruise control and i have put on a Memphis shades windshield on it and an engine guard. love it
The only HD I would have. Seeing your review I think I want one even more!
I own a fat Bob 114 with Vance and Hines mufflers and stage 1, simply brilliant!!!!
Bought one in this colour about 5 months ago. Absolutely love it! 2500km’s so far and enjoy more and more each ride.
Great to hear!
I almost bought one of those after a test ride. This bike destroyed all my presumptions about HD. Currently riding a KTM 790 Adventure, I never would have thought I would like a HD. This bike did it! It's still in my radar if I can save a few bucks and open up some garage space.
As a fellow 790 Adventure owner, I felt the same!
I've been lusting after this bike for years - revisiting this video was a joy, one of the best reviews I've watched and I didn't thank you enough the first time round - top job mate. I can see that it really did pull at the heartstrings for you too!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it, yep it could have dragged me into the Harley-Davidson world
Thanks for this great review, just myself the exact bike and look forward to some great driving!
Enjoy!
lovely review mate! I loved the Fat Bob 114 when I test rode it for a review - the most comfortable and best looking softail in my opinion!
Cheers
The “tractor” joke at the end made me laugh out loud 😆👍!
Another great review Tony. This Harley and the new Indian chief both look great. They are definately trying to step up for the next gen riders. I may finally trader my bobber in for one.
Cheers Stuart
Brilliant review Tony. I loved that bit of camera gyroscope you did at 11m20s in. If I could afford another bike I’d buy a cruiser. Something like this or perhaps an Indian bobber.
Cheers Jamie, yep I like the look of the Indian too, but I can’t seem to get hold of them to review any more
Excellent review. I really like these bikes but my lower back doesn't allow me to get on with the low seat height/feet-forward combination. I think it's a stunning-looking bike, though, and I even like the look of the exhaust. The most attractive visual aspect is the drag bars and where the clock is.
I chopped in my Tiger 800 for a Fat Bob 114 a few weeks ago after wanting one for a couple of years. I love it.
I did the exact same thing, Tiger 800 for the Fat Bob, had mine 3 weeks awesome bike
Just watched this again. Great bike. Looks fantastic: the bars, the clock... Good review, Tony. 1990 [Nick J]
Cheers Nick
Hi Tony, Had mine delivered yesterday went out on a short ride today what beast of a bike. Will be changing the rear mufflers to black Vance & Hines just to get a stealthier look and powder coat the exhast covers black too. Great review.👍👌 Atb.
Hi Jay, nice and yes thats definitely the first thing i'd do too.
Brilliant review.
Brilliant video and quality.
Brilliant bike as I understand. Nicest of HD line-up as concerns for me.
Only pitty that the green military color is not available in 2024 or can you do a professional paint job?
Agree with your comments on the exhaust system which I think I'd prefer blacked out. Fuel tank is too small for styling purposes. I'd change that for a 5 gallon tank as on the Low Rider. Some beefier sounding end cans would be nice, nothing too raucous. Not a fan of forward controls, definitely have to fit mids. Trash the drag bars for shoulder high Z bars that encourage you to sit back a bit and enjoy the scenery. I've seen some handle bar fairings that give some good wind protection. Toss up between one of these and a Pan America. Some interesting camera angles which you've gone to considerable trouble and expense to get. Thanks, much appreciated.
The fuel range is frustrating at times, I’ve got one in the same spec as the test bike. It’s got a short shots one it which sounds great. Super comfortable on long distances however if you’re 5’10” or under, you will definitely want more relaxed bars
@@stickers8447 I'm 5'8 of stocky build. I was told with cruisers the most comfortable bar position is should high . Drag bars look as though they pull you too far forward. I like the twin disc front end on a big, heavy bike like the FB.
@@MrAndrew1953 you’ll definitely want to change the bars then. On the FB you’ll find you’ll have a slight constant lean forward to have a comfortable grip on the bars. If you’re going to do lots of touring definitely get a front fairing for it though. The brakes are great too. I doubt you will be disappointed in the bike, I’ve had mine for 4 months and I never want to get off it. It’s such a great bike and you’ll get heaps of comments on it, especially if you buy the denim green. It really is an awesome bike that I feel is underrated
When I was young I took the piss outta these.
Now I'm old I want one.
That was me as well especially this model
Same! Have 3 other bikes in the garage but absolutely itching to get a Harley and most likely the Fat Bob. Turning 40 this year so that must be it!
I really like this one and i agree totally about the colour, it absolutely suits that bike perfectly. I would love to own one but i am somewhat limited by my short legs, the seat height is ok but i am wondering if the foot pegs are adjustable rearwards, and i would probably need the bars to be swept back a little more.
I think the pegs would be fine as they are not a reach, maybe sweeping the bars back more would help, but the pegs I think would be fine
Nice review, would it be suitable for long rides? lets say Spain or Portugal? Still cannot decide between Street bob, Sport Glide or this one.
Great review and video thanks. Is that a photoshop edit on the exhaust pipes? Matte black powder coat is quite common but a gloss black finish would be awesome. The latter is a very tricky proposition due to the high heat and I haven't found any readily available options out there, although Harley did manage to pull it off on a 2018 CVO Road Glide...
Thanks and yes that was a photoshop mock up
Hi all I am looking at getting a fatbob ready for this spring I would like to ride to Spain during the summer can anyone let me know how it fairs on long motorway run thanks
I’m planning to buy another bike but im torn between 2017 NIGHTROD and 2020 FATBOB. What do you guys think?
Excellent review. I own a 2016 Softail Slim S and love it for all the reasons you stated in the video, and I'm an old fart to boot.
Cheers
Great video mate, I'm 6,2 with a 33 inch leg do you think it would still be suited for me? Cheers. Keep it up
Cheers, yep no problem I would say
It has one big issue…..what to do with the luggage. This ans the more comfortable seating postion makes me go with the sport glide
Couldn’t agree with you more about the bike I bought one 👍
Nice!
Nice, I’ve just reviewed the Fat Boy on our channel very similar bikes 👍
What a ‘jolly good review’ 😂
I'm not sure if its me or what Harley are doing nowadays, but I do find myself looking at a lot of their modern bikes going Mmmmm! Don't get me wrong, it would still need to be a lottery win dream garage deal, as I still think they're a little over priced, I'm just not down with the "brand buy in" price hike, but when I find myself making that list they do seem to be working their way up the table. Think its only a matter of time before one makes it into the top half of that list. OMG, whats going on!!!
It’s funny - I spent 20 years on Harleys and have just changed over to a KTM 1290 super adventure . Who knew that bikes could be so good ….
Which dealer did you use Tony, or supplied direct from HD UK. Picked up my GT EasyRider jkt from Joe today. Really pleased with it.
It was from the HD UK press fleet. Nice! Enjoy the jacket, I’ll be wearing mine and riding the Fat Bob into the shop tomorrow!
@@mancavemoto damn I’m working, punting the boss’s Roller about with him
Tough life 😂
Sorry’ where can you get the jacket from?
Which do you prefer riding and why this or the sport glide? Thanks.
@Matty Cook Thanks
I prefer the Fat Bob, the 114 motor does make a difference.
Loved this bike on the test ride, but couldn't figure out how it was priced as high as it is. Seems like it should be about 2k less.
I think you can say that about most HD's?
Had the old twin shock fat bob, it handled horribly, but it was still a hoot to ride, I have a bit of a soft spot for Harleys.
Try the Slim.
Nice bike but i hate that rear number plate holder and for almost £17k you get a cable operated clutch rather than hydraulic.....would still like one tho.
Lovely motorcycle .....
Was watching this thinking some of the roads look familiar..... Essex if I'm not mistaken.
It is indeed
@@mancavemoto I test rode one of those from Lakeside HD before it disappeared, thought it handled weirdly and wasn't keen. I did like riding the Sport Glide though.
A year and a half later and that base price has gone up by 2 grand!
ouch!
Now I have one of these. Bought in 2018 new. I wouldn't say that I've been particularly happy with the rubbish build quality and suspect reliability. Definitely the 'worst' recent brand that I've owned for this. My local dealership were a joke too. Just be aware that after 10k I'm having to powder coat all the things that are rusting like mudguards, etc. But the warranty list has been huge. I think that most people buy into the lifestyle so much that they are forgiving of the shit standards - I am not. And I would never buy another unless it was very used and proven. That being said though, I've lost far too much on it to sell it and on the right day its fun.
On that note - How has the 790 been? Any issues?
Thanks for sharing, the problem with only having a bike for a couple of weeks to review is that I don't get to see the long term ownership experience. Touch wood I've had no problems with the 790 other than the well known condensation in the display, but that doesnt happen often and its very minor when it does.
@@mancavemoto The condensation in the display on my fatbob was so bad that I couldn't see the speedo. 🙄 On the subject of exhausts, I put some black s&s slip ons on mine and powder coated the heat shields. The slip ons are rusting too so my advice would be that it you get one avoid American parts and maybe try S C project. I'm a fan of their exhaust on my Ducati and they seem to be built better.
It has a soul it feels like it's alive .... lol
I want one of these so bad but I think I’m too big and fat
can you be too big & fat for a harley?
The FAT Bob will take you anywhere mate , I have one and love it . Go treat yourself friend 😎
Quite desirable 😎
Prefer the Indian Chief but it’s the best Harley…