Harley-Davidson Fat Bob

The Harley-Davidson Fat Bob has largely remined unchanged since its debut. Top-end bikes like the Fat Bob usually aren't updated frequently. It's part of the Milwaukee-headquartered company's Softail family and is mounted on the same basic frame. But it has been tweaked for the purpose. The motorcycle got a cosmetic update in 2022. It now looks more solid and muscular. It's a head turner all through. It's designed to appeal to European riders who value a bike based on its ability to turn sharp corners as well as cruise on a straight line. The Fat Bob is the sportiest model in Harley-Davidson's Softail range but still retains the cruiser elements with the 16-inch cast-aluminum wheels and fat balloon tyres. The bike has been beautifully put together and its finishing matches the entire Harley-Davidson range. The Fat Bob has a lean and taut appearance that emphasizes its sporty nature. It's a superb combination of classic Harley-Davidson styling and modern touches. The lack of chrome helps the overall styling. The exhaust headers get a bronze finish and feeds into dual-stack mufflers with a matte-aluminum cover. The handlebar is straight and wide.

The Harley-Davidson Fat Bob is a low and mean cruiser. The 28-inch hight seat gets some amount of suspension travel. The rear wheel has 4.4-inch travel, courtesy the smart-damp and sprung shock-spring preload adjustable by turning a knob, in case there's a pillion rider. The front forks have more than five-inch travel. The high-profile Dunlop tyres with Harley-Davidson's branding, gives a lot of protection from bumps and potholes. The suspension, geometry, tyres, and the chassis make short work of obstacles. The motorcycle offers a comfortable ride throughout. The wide handlebar has an odd downward droop that counteracts the bar risers. But it's easily reachable and the grips are there where they should be. The seat is wide and all-day comfortable. The foot pegs are forward-set but not excessively. The seating position is straight and lends a feeling of authority and comfort. Riders won't get fatigued even after continuous long hours of riding. Mounting and de-mounting the Harley-Davidson Fat Bob is easy.

The Harley-Davidson Fat Bob is equipped with a two-cylinder, air-cooled, 1.9-litre, Milwaukee-Eight engine that produces 155 Nm peak torque. The motor is mated to a six-speed transmission.   Acceleration is almost instant. But thanks to the slow-turn throttle, the powertrain isn't jumpy. The Fat Bob isn't a lightweight bike by any means. The 296 kg weight and the fat 16-inch wheels are initially a bit daunting. It lends a sort of reluctance to turn corners. But once the rider gets used to muscling around, bends are nothing to be feared during high-speed turning.

The Harley-Davidson Fat Bob's rear brake isn't much strong. The 300mm dual-disc brakes on the front wheel get four-piston calipers. The Dunlop tyres offer great traction and is capable of serious deceleration without triggering the antilock-braking apparatus. Riders who constantly monitor their speed, and it isn't a bad thing to do, won't be happy with the tank-mounted display. The digits sometime get blurred to read. 

At a starting price of ₱1.41 million, the Harley-Davidson Fat Bob is the most expensive bike in its segment. It's targeted at young customers but lacks some of the standard features that its rivals have. The Fat Bob is also expensive to maintain. Nonetheless, it's a comfortable bike to ride, though its performance is a bit underwhelming. Harley-Davidson bikes are a lifetime asset and the Fat Bob certainly fits the bill.