We love motorcycles because they’re quick. There’s no doubt about that. We love that they have crazy power-to-weight ratios, and let you experience everything while you ride around on them. Sure, it might be a downer when it rains, but on a warm summer’s day, there are few better feelings than riding down your favorite road on your motorcycle.
And that’s the most important thing about them – the way motorcycles make us feel. It is very easy to lose sight of that in the spec sheet wars. It is but human for us to forget that riding a motorcycle is an essential part of evaluating it. It isn’t always how quick they are, but how they make you feel every time you swing your leg over them that counts.
Cruisers Invoke Emotions Like No Other Motorcycle
Cruisers don’t care what the spec sheet says. They’re usually not out to be the quickest; their enjoyment comes from the feel they offer. The way they look, the beat of the torquey engine beneath the rider, the attention they draw… It’s all part of the experience of owning a cruiser. Some do it better than others, of course, and as with any product, there are luxury cruisers. That means they cost a pretty penny, though.
Harley-Davidson Dominates This Space
In the luxury cruiser space, it is Harley-Davidson that enjoys popularity like no other. The Softail lineup in particular has some brilliant retro cruisers on offer, full of swagger, mighty engines, and unmatched V-twin charm. That means an ownership/riding experience like no other cruiser on the market.
The Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Is The Luxury Cruiser That’s Worth Every Mile
This was an easy one to come to. The Fat Boy is an icon for many reasons, and one of them is now the fact that it is a great motorcycle to ride, with enviable reliability. Its design is so well known that it is now part of pop culture, and it has all the safety features that Harley-Davidson has to offer in its range. Additionally, it has massive scope for customization, being part of the Softail platform, so your Fat Boy can be a Fat Boy as well as a unique model after you’re done making it just the way you like it. It is little wonder then that the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy is the luxury cruiser that’s worth every mile.
A Premium Price Is Expected
This is an iconic Harley, so it is little wonder that the Fat Boy is priced like a premium product. The base model retails for $22,599. However, you’ll want better paint, which can run up to $1,100 for the dual-tone green and black one. We also recommend the Ohlins rear suspension upgrade; it simply makes life with the Fat Boy so much better. All in, you’re probably looking at a $25,000 product before you add other small things outside of these two upgrades. But it is still worth every mile!
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The Milwaukee-Eight 117 Is One Of Harley’s Best Engines
The Fat Boy has always been one of Harley’s crowning jewels, so it has got the best it has to offer. The Milwaukee Eight 117 might not be the biggest or best engine in the lineup today, but it definitely is the one to have if you need it to power a Softail. You get a middle-of-the-road variant, one that uses oil to cool the engine heads. The oil cooling system has its own radiator, so expect much more reliable performance from this version of the engine.
Well Over 100 HP To Play With
It displaces 1,917 from its 45-degree V-twin, has air cooling for the cylinders, and a compression ratio of 10.3:1. It makes 104 hp at 4,800 RPM and 126 lb-ft at 3,000 RPM, and runs it through a six-speed gearbox and belt drive to the wheel. Harley-Davidson claims 47 MPG from this combination, which is impressive for a big, heavy cruiser like the Fat Boy.
Softail Chassis Is Part Of The Luxury
The Fat Boy has a conventional cradle frame, which forms the basis for all the Softail cruisers. The suspension consists of conventional but beefy 49 mm front forks with dual-rate springs and the unforgettable ‘beer can’ covers. The rear monoshock is hidden under the seat, giving it a hardtail look. There is a hydraulic preload adjustment with the stock shock.
The brakes consist of a single 300 mm disc and a four-piston fixed caliper at the front and a 292 mm disc with a two-piston floating caliper at the rear. The wheels are 18-inch rims at both ends, an odd size for a traditional cruiser. They’re instantly recognizable, though, as the Fat Boy’s disc wheels.
Long And Low, Just Like You Like It
This is a quintessential American cruiser, with a long, low look, with front forks that look kicked out. It is over 93 inches in length with a wheelbase that is 65 inches. The laden seat is fairly low, at 25.9 inches, but the unladen ground clearance of 4.9 inches isn’t enough for bad roads with that big wheelbase. It weighs a smidge under 700 pounds, at 694, so it is a heavy bike.
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Most Of Its Features Are Under The Skin
The Fat Boy is definitely eye candy, but the bulk of its features lie under its distinctive skin. The instrument cluster is as traditional as it gets: it is a circular tank-mounted analog speedometer. The warning lamps are housed inside the speedo, and there is a reverse LCD screen at the bottom that offers other information like the fuel level, odometer, and tripmeter. This is a similar instrument cluster to that found on other Harleys like the Low Rider S and Nightster. Other standard features include a USB-C charging port and an adjustable front brake lever.
Class-Leading Electronics Are Also Present
There is a by-wire throttle and six-axis IMU here, so the Fat Boy gets Harley’s full electronics suite. It includes four ride modes, ABS, traction control, engine drag torque slip control, and cruise control. The cornering functions are available where applicable. A tire pressure monitoring system is fitted by default. To sweeten the pot, there is a massive accessories list, and we’ve already pointed out the rear shock upgrade and dual-tone paint. Among these are different seats, backrests, a detachable windshield, luggage, engine protection, and air filter upgrades.
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The Competition Has Varied Approaches to Luxury
It is fascinating to see how different manufacturers approach solving the problem of delivering value with their luxury cruiser. Indian follows in Harley-Davidson’s footsteps by tugging on the nostalgic heartstrings, offering the delectable Indian Chief Vintage that is almost good enough to be an art piece. Despite the throwback looks, it has a TFT screen and modern conveniences like a by-wire throttle, rear cylinder deactivation, and connected features.
Triumph offers its value with a superbike-like output of 180 horsepower from the largest displacement engine fitted to a production bike in history. The Rocket 3 Storm GT is a big, heavy bike, but there is something incredibly naughty yet satisfying about something this big being able to move this fast.
Ducati takes a different approach, offering the XDiavel, which is probably the most exciting cruiser among the premium products other than custom cruisers. It has massive horsepower, a full electronics suite, and the chassis to keep it all together. We’d pick this one if you had to have a stock cruiser and wanted to go around a corner quickly, as well – although its party piece is its acceleration. It remains one of the quickest-accelerating bikes to 60 MPH even today.
Source: Harley-Davidson USA