Stability is the key on the Fat Boy S. Find out why inside
IT’S ONLY WHEN you haven’t jumped on a Harley-Davidson for a while, you appreciate how good they really are. Like returning home after a holiday to your favourite chair, or remembering why you love a certain restaurant’s lasagna after shunning it for the new place down the road, absence certainly does make the heart grow fonder. Okay, they can be more expensive compared to the competition and the styling isn’t for everyone, but in terms of quality, both build and ride, this week’s 2017 Fat Boy S confirmed our devotion to the marque.
It’s not even a result of the fact it has one of the most powerful engines for a cruiser on the road right now. No, this bike is all about cornering and stability. Okay hot-rods we can hear your snorting from here. Probably the least glamourous aspect of getting a Fat Boy S, we know, but when you’ve been on other bikes you begin to realise the importance of feeling totally secure in the bends. No matter how tight the swerve, the riding position on this machine is beyond reproach. It’s as comfortable as sitting on a leather couch, though with the footrests out in front, you sit upright almost like a knight riding into a joust. It gives you a commanding presence, maximum visibility and the confidence to lean further into the turn.
That massive air-cooled, Screamin’ Eagle Twin Cam 110B 1800cc engine then comes into its own. You can roar off down the straight till your heart’s content. Combined with those trademark Fat Boy tyres, we have never felt more stable on such a big bike (333kg) at such intense acceleration. Okay, if speed is your ultimate ambition, as always you’re going to look elsewhere, but if you want to enjoy your long ride while still getting up to a road legal 120 - 140km/h without even breaking a sweat, you are simply going to adore this bike.