Featured Der Dicke Robert

Well I pondered for a while, if I should post this, but what the heck. Even if I reach out to a total Triumph aficionado, it might be nice to have some feedback about what‘s going on elsewhere in the biking world.

Today I just came back from my second tour on the new Fat Bob and I must admit that I am deeply impressed.
I would compare the bike to the Thunderbird Storm which I rented out for a weekend last year.
If you need a punchline: they both deliver. And this they do very well.
As to the differences: I think Harley did a great job with the new suspension. My Road King was comfortable, but the Fat Bob is sporty at the same time (and I would not have thought, I‘d use the word ‚sporty‘ in connection with a H.D.)
The bike runs very agile when cornering and you do not need to convince it to make any kind of turn.
It is like the Thruxton or MV Agusta Brutale: you think: „turn“ and turning it does.
The seat is very comfy and the instruments are typically Harley. You find them on the fuel tank in front of you and so you always do a little nodding whenever you read them.
I am still braking her in and so I do not exceed 3500 rpm. Fuel consumption is at 5 litres per 100 kilometers.
This gives me a range of 270 km, which is fine with me but could be better.
What really surprised me was the fact that the bike is pretty easy to handle when parking or pulling in backwards: the center of gravity has been lowered significantly and you really feel this, especially when comparing to the touring models which also have the Milwaukee Eight.

To sum it all up: it is one of the most hilarious bikes I have ever laid my hands on.
If you are curious, just book a test-ride and if you hate Harley, then you won‘t be interested anyway

Enjoy spring and: HAPPY EASTERN!

 

Thanks Jez!

You cannot see it on the pics, but it is a matt grey (they call it Industrial Grey Denim, see pic below) and no, there’s no shiny paintjob available (well, Harley’s Vivid Black would be non-matt).
About the tire, I’d have to do some research but I read somewhere that it is a special design...

EDIT: here we go...
„The 2018 Harley-Davidson Fat Bob and Fat Bob S will come with Dunlop’s new D429 front and rear tires. Utilizing an aggressive scrambler-like tread pattern developed by Dunlop in conjunction with Harley-Davidson, the D429 features a computer-optimized tread profile to help promote even wear. Like the D401T, the D429 features Harley-Davidson/Dunlop branding on the sidewalls.“

 

Well it is NOT Dilli's bike
But it is not stock either: I fitted the Screamin' Eagle Exhausts and left the db-killers in for it to be street-legal.
Now it sounds very bassy (!?) and has a nice growl to it. It is about 25% louder than the Stock Bonnie T120 that I had.
Me, I love the sound but the average Harley person probably would go for louder...

 

Here‘s a video by Harley Parma which captures the sound quite good. (If you want to skip all the talking, go to 02:50 min.)

 

No Dougie, he‘s got the same that I have: Screamin‘ Eagle (by HD). And he claims in the notes below the video
(if I have my Italian right ) that the db-killers are in.
Well, it sounds pretty much as mine does.

Another note: Those exhausts are in the region of 700,-€, while KessTech or Vance and Hines charge about 2700,-€ for their electronically adjustable systems. A totally different league.

 

Don't worry, I cannot pull it off either...

Do not even have a tattoo, or a beard
Whenever I stop next to a - say - Moto Guzzi, and actually TALK to the guy, they are totally flabbergasted.
But what do you say? Some members on here claim, I were the only German with any humour , so I guess, it figures.

 

I should add: me too. It is feckin addictive

 

Yeah, Dilli...
...and there is so much great stuff to pick from!
In Germany we say: Wer die Wahl hat, hat die Qual. (May the Force be with you)