I just purchased a 2018 Fatboy 114. I went in oringally to buy the new lowrider s, but I saw the Fatboy sitting in the showroom and could not take my eyes off it. I took it for a ride, and came back within 5 minutes and purchased the bike. One of the most unique feeling rides, and I do not undertand why people complain about the handling. I feel the people that make those complaints need to just learn how to ride better and understand counter steering. I will most likely never sell this bike
Just purchased a 2022 Vivid Black Fat Boy and I love it, plenty of power and kind of comfortable. I do think before next summer when I plan to ride some longer distances I'll probably but a different seat. My butt gets pretty sore after riding for an hour or so. I've got that front disc brake clunk going on which I've read several other Fat Boy owners have run into. I hope Harley steps up the the plate and fixes it, it is quite noticeable when stopping, it's pretty loud. Other than that I do love the bike, the disc problem is not a deal breaker and I could learn to live with it. I'm going to put on the cruise control, heated grips, different seat along with detachable leather bags and windshield . I like naked Harleys, like the clean look and they're also lighter. The Fat Boy has 100 horsepower and I'm glad it finally got up there. Excellent review, I like that you talked about every aspect of the bike, very thorough, Thank you!
Got a 2023 fatboy it's a comfortable ride handles the curves just fine I've owned choppers and 6 different harleys by far the most comfortable harley I've owned
Thanks so much for this highly informative video. Am close to pulling the trigger on a 23 FB or a 22 Heritage Classic in New Zealand. The HC has bags of course and a screen but I would add a screen to the FB at purchase. Appreciate the more sporty look of the FB for the reasons you gave. Thanks again.
Great review, bought this exact model and color a few weeks ago. Added the detachable Windshield and some handlebar speakers, and V&H Slipons. I don't get the reviews about the handling as it handles very well to me. I'm smiling every time I ride.
Would love to hear the v&h slip ons and the windshield would be an awesome addition! Glad to hear someone else was as impressed with the handling as I was. Stay safe on your new bike and enjoy turning all those heads because it really is beautiful. Thanks for watching! Aaron
You wanna get to America with it. Take it for a spin around the Utah badlands. Great feeling. Hardly anyone around and the roads pretty much go on forever. Nevada is a good shout too.
Ordered mine, in the shop now getting stage 2, s&s 465 with freedom straights along with tail tidy etc. One badass cruiser CAN NOT WAIT! Not worried about the naysayers, love the new wheels, emblem and single cap. Just don't like paying top dollar and having to fork out more for cruise. Thanks for the review
Sounds like a beast in the making! We’re super keen to hear what you make of the S&s cam, johns considering a stage 2 and I wouldn’t rule out swapping my screaming eagle cam for something with a bit more punch so keep us posted! Thanks for stopping by and stay safe on that absolute beast when you collect it 🤙 Aaron
Actually really enjoyed this review. Currently on my 3rd GS (first being the old 1150), after deciding just over 15 years ago that I need to slow down a bit and give sports bikes a miss - family commitments changed my perspective I suppose. That said, I’ve always been drawn to HDs for some reason and look forward each year to the new model releases. Now in my mid 50s and think that I just need to bite the bullet and order a FB - my preferred model - before I get any older. The only fly in the ointment has always been the handling reviews, but I think you have put my mind to rest. My only other concern is will they drop the M117 into next year’s model? PS. Originally from NI but now live in the Canary Islands so won’t be hampered by the rain 😎
Yeah they are an awesome machine. Yes that is the only drawback is that they used the 114ci instead of taking it up to 117ci. Canaries! very jealous! great riding weather there! We have to make do with what we have :( Thanks for watching the video man, really appreciate that and hopefully you stick around on the channel! :) - John
I have a 21, and it's a great bike. The 2022 rims look like they came off of a 1990s Nissan---Horrible The bike hasn't changed from 21 to 22 (except the rims) it rides great. I'm 6'1 and it fits me perfectly. It's much more nimble than it looks. Best bike I've ever owned.
Your size and weight would be an important factor in how this bike handles with such big tires. For smaller and lighter riders it probably would be more challenging.
I'd love to see the heal shifter back on this bike, I'd also love to see some slow manovers at walking pace. We all know what the handling at higher speeds are. If nothing else at least with the rim cut out you can put a chain around it Nice review.
Hey Dan! Heal shifters are massively under rated, only ridden one bike before that had one but have to say I really do like them! Slow manoeuvres you would be taking a poor turn circle due to the lean angle being relatively limited but balance of the bike etc is all very good! We may have to factor this in to some of our reviews going forward! Thanks for the feedback and for stopping by! 🤙
Funniest comment: "I think it's got enough power for a passenger". Lmfao. It's a 1.8lt engine. My ute has a 1.9lt and my wife's car a 1.3. Pretty sure a motorbike with a 1.8lt donk can handle two-up
great review ,, you seem quite overwhelmed,,,,, , after all like you say the low rider s should be THE sporty quick handling harley,,,, but the fatboy is right up there too if your not scared of the overall mass ;;;
Hey Ron! Found the handling to be very nimble and responsive but restricted lean angle can have its drawbacks like you say, although it honestly doesn’t take long to adjust entry and exit points to allow for the beast to cruise through those bends 🤙
Aw man the solid wheels were made for this bike, made it more "fat" (badass) IMO :) Brad Richards, one of the designers, confirmed that the crosswind thing was all myth and there were no issues at all with that ( ua-cam.com/video/w9uI_aO0bxM/v-deo.html ). Interesting to hear a super positive take on the handling for a change, I've always suspected that the critics were a bit hasty. Beautiful, beautiful bike. Great vid too, I always enjoy reviews from ordinary folk (as opposed to youtube big shots).
Thanks Andrew! Interesting to hear that the cross wind thing is physically not an issue and again maybe over hyped by people who don’t like the general design. We understand that a lot of people preferred the solid rims and to an extent I can completely see why but the great thing about the cut outs is that you can actually appreciate the sheer width of the bike from its side profile too! Thanks for watching 🤙 Aaron
I had my 1200 sporty fitted with 2 solid fat boy wheels off a evo fat boy .Rode it for about 8 years to work and back 40 mile a day , and over a long high bridge .Never had a prob with wind in regards to the solid wheels .
I cant decide wich bike to get (fatboy va heritage classic). Im afraid of not getting used to the FB handling because of the fat tyres. But also I dont like that the heritage Is on inner tube tyres wich are in my mind dangerous in case of a puncuture at high speeds on the road, my local dealer does not offer test rides, so what do you think Is better for me? Get used to the fb handling or change the wheels of the heritage un order to have tubeless tyres?
I'm very much considering this. I have a Low Rider S (2021) but don't feel it as comfy as I want it to be, just want a big/beefy cruiser for slow, mellow rides through the countryside. The FXLRS can be pretty agressive but I have a different bike for that. Would you recommend the FB for that?
Absolutely but you might still want to consider a windshield as you are quite exposed to any head winds which might take away from the comfort aspect, other than that this bike is perfect for chilled out rides 🤙 Aaron
@@flexfreedom1969 thx a lot, lots of people recommend the heritage because it has smaller tires and a better rear shock but I like the look of the FB a lot more. do you think it will def be more comfy than my LRS?
Having experienced both I would say the ride position is very similar, the heritage had softer suspension which made for a comfier ride but I thought it took away slightly from the handling responsiveness personally. In hindsight though I never adjusted the preload on the fatboy It all depends on your height, reach etc, but personally at approximately 6ft I found the ride position on the fatboy a lot less strenuous on my upper back than on my low rider s. I would definitely recommend test riding each bike on the same day so you can compare and contrast yourself We would love to hear what you thought of them both! Aaron
@@flexfreedom1969 going to test ride a 2021 FatBoy next tuesday. dealer has a new 2022 in stock which he is keeping reserved for me until after the test ride. pretty much certain I'll swap my FXLRS. Just want something comfy and cool looking.
I know Jonathan, the stock pipes are awful aren't they! We are in Europe so we have to comply with Eu5 regulations for emissions etc which sucks! But all stock Harley pipes are rubbish, Stage 1 minimum is the requirement for us! lol
Keen to hear from others what their first impressions of the new 2022 Fat Boy are, and would you buy one? Let us know in the comments!
I just purchased a 2018 Fatboy 114. I went in oringally to buy the new lowrider s, but I saw the Fatboy sitting in the showroom and could not take my eyes off it. I took it for a ride, and came back within 5 minutes and purchased the bike. One of the most unique feeling rides, and I do not undertand why people complain about the handling. I feel the people that make those complaints need to just learn how to ride better and understand counter steering. I will most likely never sell this bike
Just wanted to say that I loved the fact you recorded in 4:3 aspect ratio. I've not seen anything from the last 15 or so years filmed in 4:3.
Just purchased a 2022 Vivid Black Fat Boy and I love it, plenty of power and kind of comfortable. I do think before next summer when I plan to ride some longer distances I'll probably but a different seat. My butt gets pretty sore after riding for an hour or so. I've got that front disc brake clunk going on which I've read several other Fat Boy owners have run into. I hope Harley steps up the the plate and fixes it, it is quite noticeable when stopping, it's pretty loud. Other than that I do love the bike, the disc problem is not a deal breaker and I could learn to live with it. I'm going to put on the cruise control, heated grips, different seat along with detachable leather bags and windshield . I like naked Harleys, like the clean look and they're also lighter. The Fat Boy has 100 horsepower and I'm glad it finally got up there. Excellent review, I like that you talked about every aspect of the bike, very thorough, Thank you!
Got a 2023 fatboy it's a comfortable ride handles the curves just fine I've owned choppers and 6 different harleys by far the most comfortable harley I've owned
These bikes are solid. I own the fatboy2021. It’s an AMAZING machine
Couldn’t agree more! Ride safe and enjoy your fatboy 🤙
Thanks so much for this highly informative video. Am close to pulling the trigger on a 23 FB or a 22 Heritage Classic in New Zealand. The HC has bags of course and a screen but I would add a screen to the FB at purchase. Appreciate the more sporty look of the FB for the reasons you gave. Thanks again.
Great review, bought this exact model and color a few weeks ago. Added the detachable Windshield and some handlebar speakers, and V&H Slipons.
I don't get the reviews about the handling as it handles very well to me. I'm smiling every time I ride.
Would love to hear the v&h slip ons and the windshield would be an awesome addition! Glad to hear someone else was as impressed with the handling as I was. Stay safe on your new bike and enjoy turning all those heads because it really is beautiful.
Thanks for watching!
Aaron
You wanna get to America with it. Take it for a spin around the Utah badlands. Great feeling. Hardly anyone around and the roads pretty much go on forever. Nevada is a good shout too.
Ordered mine, in the shop now getting stage 2, s&s 465 with freedom straights along with tail tidy etc. One badass cruiser CAN NOT WAIT! Not worried about the naysayers, love the new wheels, emblem and single cap. Just don't like paying top dollar and having to fork out more for cruise. Thanks for the review
Sounds like a beast in the making! We’re super keen to hear what you make of the S&s cam, johns considering a stage 2 and I wouldn’t rule out swapping my screaming eagle cam for something with a bit more punch so keep us posted!
Thanks for stopping by and stay safe on that absolute beast when you collect it 🤙
Aaron
@@flexfreedom1969 I've ridden my mates fat Bob with the 475, quick af. Will let you know the differences once I've cleaned my trousers
Great video I love mine! have a hundred miles on mine so far so good. The pipes intake and other goodies are here so gotta go!
Awesome! They are an awesome machine! Have fun with all your mods and thanks for watching the video, hope you stick around :) - John
just watched this again , surprised about the handling , will have to try one .;;;
Sweet looking bike. Im thinking of getting one once i get my full and if i ever have the funds to buy one outright
Is there any way to get a smaller license plate ??
Excellent review!
Great video guys 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻😍
Thanks for watching 🤙
Actually really enjoyed this review. Currently on my 3rd GS (first being the old 1150), after deciding just over 15 years ago that I need to slow down a bit and give sports bikes a miss - family commitments changed my perspective I suppose.
That said, I’ve always been drawn to HDs for some reason and look forward each year to the new model releases. Now in my mid 50s and think that I just need to bite the bullet and order a FB - my preferred model - before I get any older. The only fly in the ointment has always been the handling reviews, but I think you have put my mind to rest. My only other concern is will they drop the M117 into next year’s model?
PS. Originally from NI but now live in the Canary Islands so won’t be hampered by the rain 😎
Yeah they are an awesome machine. Yes that is the only drawback is that they used the 114ci instead of taking it up to 117ci.
Canaries! very jealous! great riding weather there! We have to make do with what we have :( Thanks for watching the video man, really appreciate that and hopefully you stick around on the channel! :) - John
I have a 21, and it's a great bike. The 2022 rims look like they came off of a 1990s Nissan---Horrible The bike hasn't changed from 21 to 22 (except the rims) it rides great. I'm 6'1 and it fits me perfectly. It's much more nimble than it looks. Best bike I've ever owned.
Love it, ride mine to work, rain hail and shine.
Your size and weight would be an important factor in how this bike handles with such big tires. For smaller and lighter riders it probably would be more challenging.
I'd love to see the heal shifter back on this bike, I'd also love to see some slow manovers at walking pace. We all know what the handling at higher speeds are.
If nothing else at least with the rim cut out you can put a chain around it
Nice review.
Hey Dan! Heal shifters are massively under rated, only ridden one bike before that had one but have to say I really do like them!
Slow manoeuvres you would be taking a poor turn circle due to the lean angle being relatively limited but balance of the bike etc is all very good! We may have to factor this in to some of our reviews going forward!
Thanks for the feedback and for stopping by! 🤙
I've had no problems with tight u turns on my '18.
I actually think where the fatboy shines is in slow speed manuevers. With the fat tires, the bike is extremely stable during slow speed manuevers
@@RyGuyLifts fat tires, thin tires, its all technique anyway. I have no issues at road speed or slow speed
How much I should pay for this motorcycle!??if I want to buy
£22,000
What an absolute beast 😳🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Insane! Even more impressive in person 🔥
Funniest comment: "I think it's got enough power for a passenger". Lmfao. It's a 1.8lt engine. My ute has a 1.9lt and my wife's car a 1.3. Pretty sure a motorbike with a 1.8lt donk can handle two-up
great review ,, you seem quite overwhelmed,,,,, , after all like you say the low rider s should be THE sporty quick handling harley,,,, but the fatboy is right up there too if your not scared of the overall mass ;;;
Hard to keep in check on bends- something a rider needs to be aware of
Hey Ron! Found the handling to be very nimble and responsive but restricted lean angle can have its drawbacks like you say, although it honestly doesn’t take long to adjust entry and exit points to allow for the beast to cruise through those bends 🤙
Up the tyre pressures by 2lb front and back .it makes a diff to cornering.
Aw man the solid wheels were made for this bike, made it more "fat" (badass) IMO :) Brad Richards, one of the designers, confirmed that the crosswind thing was all myth and there were no issues at all with that ( ua-cam.com/video/w9uI_aO0bxM/v-deo.html ). Interesting to hear a super positive take on the handling for a change, I've always suspected that the critics were a bit hasty. Beautiful, beautiful bike. Great vid too, I always enjoy reviews from ordinary folk (as opposed to youtube big shots).
Thanks Andrew! Interesting to hear that the cross wind thing is physically not an issue and again maybe over hyped by people who don’t like the general design. We understand that a lot of people preferred the solid rims and to an extent I can completely see why but the great thing about the cut outs is that you can actually appreciate the sheer width of the bike from its side profile too! Thanks for watching 🤙
Aaron
I had my 1200 sporty fitted with 2 solid fat boy wheels off a evo fat boy .Rode it for about 8 years to work and back 40 mile a day , and over a long high bridge .Never had a prob with wind in regards to the solid wheels .
If i had to have number plate tht big I would leave the country
I cant decide wich bike to get (fatboy va heritage classic). Im afraid of not getting used to the FB handling because of the fat tyres. But also I dont like that the heritage Is on inner tube tyres wich are in my mind dangerous in case of a puncuture at high speeds on the road, my local dealer does not offer test rides, so what do you think Is better for me? Get used to the fb handling or change the wheels of the heritage un order to have tubeless tyres?
I'm very much considering this. I have a Low Rider S (2021) but don't feel it as comfy as I want it to be, just want a big/beefy cruiser for slow, mellow rides through the countryside. The FXLRS can be pretty agressive but I have a different bike for that. Would you recommend the FB for that?
Absolutely but you might still want to consider a windshield as you are quite exposed to any head winds which might take away from the comfort aspect, other than that this bike is perfect for chilled out rides 🤙
Aaron
@@flexfreedom1969 thx a lot, lots of people recommend the heritage because it has smaller tires and a better rear shock but I like the look of the FB a lot more. do you think it will def be more comfy than my LRS?
Having experienced both I would say the ride position is very similar, the heritage had softer suspension which made for a comfier ride but I thought it took away slightly from the handling responsiveness personally. In hindsight though I never adjusted the preload on the fatboy
It all depends on your height, reach etc, but personally at approximately 6ft I found the ride position on the fatboy a lot less strenuous on my upper back than on my low rider s.
I would definitely recommend test riding each bike on the same day so you can compare and contrast yourself
We would love to hear what you thought of them both!
Aaron
@@flexfreedom1969 going to test ride a 2021 FatBoy next tuesday. dealer has a new 2022 in stock which he is keeping reserved for me until after the test ride. pretty much certain I'll swap my FXLRS. Just want something comfy and cool looking.
They are tuned differently from the factory
I always wondering who is paying $20k for this bike?
Yeah big money but it is some machine! Must be a market for it because it is selling big!
They still go for £8000 in UK when over 20 years old.
Cross wind was a myth.
Wtf is Harley doing with the pipes
I know Jonathan, the stock pipes are awful aren't they! We are in Europe so we have to comply with Eu5 regulations for emissions etc which sucks! But all stock Harley pipes are rubbish, Stage 1 minimum is the requirement for us! lol
@@flexfreedom1969 all love! You guys rock! Are you listening Harley?! Are ya!? Haha much love!
@@jonathanvermillion7263 haha thanks man!
These bikes are hard to find
True.I managed to get one 20 years old 11000 miles .looked like it was just wheeled out the factory .
They are out there.
This is same fuckinng bike