2020 Harley Davidson Fat Boy Review FROM a NON-Harley guy! 

Overheating hasn't been a problem since the Shovelhead era, that was 3 motor families ago my friend. Other than that you are a sport bike guy and that's rad but as far as Harley's you don't seem to get it.

It is not a sports bike, it is a cruiser. I have ridden many japanese bikes. Last was a Yamaha MT-10. Great bike for riding fast. Got the 2019 Fat Boy last year never looked back. Great bike for cruising. That is what it is made for. Never feel the need to ride fast through corners, to go fast on the highway, go knees down in the twisties. Just what I needed after all these years of being hyper on these fast powerfull bikes. BMW's aren't my cup of tea, japanese cruisers feel like copies. The only other brand I'd consider would be a Ducati. Had the Streetfighter 1098. Brakes on the Fat Boy are sufficient, power is sufficient, torque is up there. When you get used to the characteristics it is not so hard to ride. I got of the MT-10 and rode the Fat Boy without pain. Did not even had to adjust to the speed it is not capable of. The MT-10 I usually rode hard even if I wanted to "cruise". With the Fat Boy I want to cruise, not race. So I do not miss that. The Fat Boy feels special, the MT-10 didn't.

If you don’t see the attraction, you never will. back to your video games Leroy

It seems when people rate Harley’s they compare them to sport bikes. Harley’s are cruisers. They’re not meant to be the fastest thing on the road. It’s not supposed to outperform a R1 or some shit. It’s to cruise. I liked this review cause he compared it more to an Indian.

My first bike ever. Actually, bought it while having my ride class for the drivers license. HUGE change compared to my "Class bike". I struggled for few weeks with the weight and wide tire. But now, after 6 months, it is just awesome. Don't feel the weight neither the wide tire anymore. IT IS GORGEOUS to even just look at. Hope it won't brake too often , as people say. Even after 6 months parked in the garage for the winter, it still feels super natural, despite of the massive beast looking machine.

Love mine. I think the point your missing most here is that with wide tires like those on the Fatboy, it’s not going to handle like a sport bike in anyway. It’s a cruiser... readjust the suspension for a better ride. And this bike has a ton of torque throughout the gears.

So much silliness. 1. If you're stuck at a light in 100F, the HD will cut off the rear cylinder to keep you cool. If you're stuck behind an accident, flip the kill switch. I do that on water cooled bikes too. All big engines get hot sitting still. 2. Peak HP is meaningless unless you're riding at the redline. Peak engine torque tells you the HP at the rpm it's taken. It doesn't matter either. When you got on the bike, you twisted the throttle and noted "pretty good" "not bad at all." That's what matters. 3. This bike handles a little heavy because of the oversized tires. The guy should have put you on a Heritage as they steer much quicker and easier. Though no faster than you ride, it wouldn't be a big deal to get used to the big tires. If you rode the Fat Boy for a month and then got on something with normal tires, you'd probably think that the normal sized tire bike felt skittish. 4. The taut suspension is a reasonable critique, but coming off any sporty bike, it's a pillow by comparison. HD put the "slammed" shock on this Fat Boy for style. You can get a 1" longer version that is much more comfortable. Ride the Heritage. It has the full travel shock and feels like a feather bed. 5. I was never a big fan of the two button turn signals. I was happy when BMW nixxed them. I got my first HD last fall. Now I'm totally used to the two buttons and reach for it on the right when riding my standard bike. And what's worse is the self cancelling HD signals have spoiled me and I never remember to kill the signals on my other bike now! 6. You aren't trying very hard to move around. There's a reason 90% of bikes you see traveling down the road are HDs. The seating position is wonderfully comfortable for long periods of time and the floorboards allow you to move your feet around as well. Throw an AirHawk pad on that seat and add a windscreen and you could ride it across the country as easy as hopping in your Lazyboy. On the good side, you did a nice job with the sound effects.

I’m totally shocked that they gave you the Fatboy and said it was good in the twisting. NOT. They should have given you a Fatbob to try it has a more nimble ride abs handling. If you want to learn about Harley’s and review, ride them all to feel the difference in them ., then review them one against another. Not just one Harley amongst all other bikes. Ty.

I was dying laughing.. these bikes overheat.. it’s about 65 degrees outside... we should be good. Really?? So, why even mention that? There is no way it would overheat at 65 degrees.

Can’t believe you say it’s low power wide open ... What rpm did you shift ? Looks 2000 rpm 😂 You wanna get on a back seat for a ride ?

Heh, no offence mister and thank You for You honest review - I do not think that You approach things from the same sphere as, for example, me. You are speaking about minor technical nuissances which I could not give a less damn about. The way machine make me feel, emotions it sparks with it's every characteristics and detail is 'the attraction' for me. Those technical nitpicks You spent time talking about I do not consider even worth looking up. It's meaningless for me. In short - machines like Harley make me happy, every detail of them feels in my bones like a charming smile - that is all - and that is also all I need to know, really. Vibrations, numbers, modern conveniences, comparisons etc...? ; ) I do not think most people even looked for those things in Harley in first place. We are not looking for a best offer on a discounted driller here.

I don't ride Harley but, they are cool. When some bike passes by, it is just a bike. When Harley passes by, it is Harley. I'm hoping to demo ride few. They are pricey and not my cup if tea but, I would like to have one just to get it out of system.

I bought my first HD FB 107 in 2019, and it is best ride I ever had, but not more than 2hrs at time. Any longer feels like punishment.

Actually you really don’t get it! I’ve been riding mostly 1 liter sport bikes for over 40 year’s. Bought/rode my first Harley(Road King) 1 year ago. I give Harley a 9.5 out of 10. In the past 13 months I put 5000 miles on my Road King and 1 mile on my GSX-S1000.

The stock Harley grips transfer some vibration. A grip change will dramatically improve comfort. Fat boy is a great bike and nice cruiser.

1st time i ever heard anyone say a harley is good in twisties.

Great review, about the bumps, I wondered if you set the preload on the bike. May have been set fot last rider. Could have contributed to an uncomfortable ride

Good honest review. The understeer, doesn't want turn in, is because of the 240 rear tyre. I like

If you don't get it after one ride then you just won't get it. Those who know what I'm talking about know what I'm talking about 🥴

Wow, why did you waste everyone's time.

Doesn’t sound like you adjusted the rear shock before going for a ride. Is this also a 114, because they definitely have power.

I have ride both sport bikes and Harley each has their personalities and i like them both. Apples to oranges.

Last non harley review I’ll watch.

I have a 2019 Fat Boy I highly recommend you ride it again set the preload and use counter steering. That bike handles very well you must counter steer for best results unless you are going less than 15mph I’m sure your rating won’t be a 4. Give it a try you might take it home lol. Ride Safe

Riding cruiser and harley for 30yrs I want to now sport cruise, like the Kaw Versys 1000

Had mine for two years and have nothing to complain about. Fully stock with only home made adjustments. It's not a sports bike, it's a cruiser. You gotta feel it. Maybe you got a broken one...

$20 k good for tooling around?

So you have a shock adjustment knob, that’s easy to adjust. It probably sit on 4 for the way it was bouncing you around . Yes in the corners it going to want go straight . Cause of the fat Front and rear tire . But that’s OK you can drag the Floor pans around the corner and it will track

Have a 2004 at my house and they haven’t changed much 😂

You can fix vibration especially if you are gonna put in a new bar setup..

An aftermarket exhaust will fix that quietness. So you don't need to twist the throttle to hear the actual sound

Harley Davidson Fat Boy is not a high performance bike, it’s supposed to handle poorly, feel heavy, lack acceleration, overheat, have mediocre brakes and vibrate. I have a Fat Boy and had a Dyna Wide Glide which had similar performance and same issues. With Harley Davidson,you will not get it unless you actually own one and send some time with it until someday you will have a feeling unlike anything else on any other brand or bike. BTW, you have much praise to the Indian which I also owned one and hated everything about it and how cheap the materials are.

I like going fast but short bursts are plenty good…. The fat boy isn’t known for its great riding experience as say.. the lowrider or … you just answered your own question.. they are cool looking bikes

I like the Harley styles but should a bike be overheating brand new? Love how they look but not too confident about the reliability. I’ve also heard the m8 has issues And the warranty is outrageously priced.

On a scale of 1 to 10 I give this review ?

Um that wasn't wide open throttle. My lame old 1980's shovelhead accelerates faster than that.

Non Harley rider riding a HD for the first time. Meh on opinions.

Orange and black is a 2019 Model. This i the bike im planning on getting, its a dope bike.

Only Terminators can ride Harleys well

I have my 2009 fatboy and it’s cool! But!!! Street glide or Road glide is we’re it’s at!!!

H-D ain't rock new riders but it definitely fulfill vets.

I've been riding Harley's for 27 years and the vibration of today's Harleys is significantly less on the newer Harleys. I own a 2022 Harley Fat Boy and the vibration is just where I want it, I mean, I enjoy the amount of vibration on my Harley and wouldn't want it to be any less. The sounds you plugged into your ride made me jump a few times, not very good on the nerves. You said you don't really understand the allure of the Harleys, I've been riding motorcycles since 1973, 50 years now, I've ridden Kawasaki's, Hondas, Suzuki's, Yamahas and Harley's, I currently own the 2022 Fat Boy and a Honda CB1100 and they're two totally different bikes. I'm digressing a bit but if you go to a Harley shop you see beautiful chrome and detail to the bikes you don't see on a lot of other bikes, I think it's this attention to detail, the vibration of the bikes and the sound is what true Harley riders like and it seems you're just not into that, so suffice to say, you're not a Harley rider. Thank you for the review of the Fat Boy, good honest take on this bike.

If that first time on a Harley.. you should notice torque right away…

Stick to your sport bike buddy. Leave the Fatboy to us. We have no complaints 😊

They look great, but not one of the best handlers in the current HD line-up. Try a streetbob or slim, I think you will be surprised at the handling differences.

700lb bike and a single front disc brake🤔 one would think that wouldn’t be sufficient

It doesent wash out. It has basically touring tires. It will hold but you have to get used to it. Took me a little bit before I scraped on my fatbob. Dyna platform

Sounds like you're from the metric world...refined but boring unless you're over 5k RPM ripping! Owned and tuned a lot of them in the past. Loved the reliability and speed but I'm way over (older) that now. In stock form, I'd give the Fatboy a 6. 10 for looks...girls love it! Its okay stock but rather boring (weak Government cams...remember there were mask during COVID19). Harley taxes paid, i.e., Screaming Eagle Stage 4 kit (warrantied) creates a whole new experience! Like going from good xxx to great xxx! From 4 to 9! I love the power and no one duplicates the sound of a Harley with a cam! ... Can You Fly Bobby?" ...Yes sir I can! ... 2019 Fatboy Stage 4 ...HDOG

Can I ask how you were able to get your hand on a Scorched Orange?

How does it compare to nightrod?

Fatboys rule

agree 100%. Looks stunning no doubt, but try a roundabout and its looking for pasture. I expected the big tyres to be heavy handling but they don't inspire cornering confidence. Neither do the brakes.

Over heating is non-existant with the m8 motors. They run significantly cooler than the twin cam's. Been in 110+ degreen stuck in traffic on my 2018 fatboy and never had an issue with over heating. You should ride the twin cam motor then compare the vibration also lol. The m8 vibrates signifincatly less than the twin cam generation

We’re are you riding at what state

Try counter steering the turns a faster speeds.

Nice use of counter steer just before complaining about how it doesn’t turn…

Were you expectin a cruiser to behave like a yamaha M09 or something??? It is a big CRUISER bike, if you want speed and better handling in the twisties, get a triumph speed twin or something like that.

A 160 front and 240 rear do not make a good bike for the twisties. Great in a straight line though.

I appreciate a review that rips a bike. Every review of a bike which praises every aspect of that bike I already know is bias. Every bike has flaws. All these people commenting that you are comparing this bike to a sport bike are idiots. I know what you are talking about with regard to handling. Some bikes (cruiser type) can hold a line in a curve better than others. Why people can't understand that is beyond me. You commented in the video that you can't understand the appeal of a Harley but then several times later declared "I get it". Which is it?

That engines over 1,000 ccs. That's not slow or underpowered lol.

sorry, I didn't even make it halfway. why dont you go ride a Goldwing and call it a day

Men, this isn’t a review!

If you want to buy couch on wheels by couch on wheels if you wanna Harley that’s what this is all about

Wrong bike for someone that dont like HD... maybe fat bob, or low rider s...

Great review. I say this because as a new 2021 Fat Boy and first time Harley owner, I can confirm that this bike is a piece of s**t. I've had many brands of bikes over the years and currently have an Indian in my garage along with this Fat Boy, and this Harley is awful. I lost 10% power & torque across the board as soon as the dealer installed the Harley tuner and pipes! They acted surprised that this happened (they're either lying or stupid) and agreed to put it back to stock form and refund my money. Then, the front tire won't stay inflated (they will fix this too). Then the bike "shakes" at 45- 55 mph which they haven't yet solved. Then, every turn is a wrestling match. I hate this thing and plan to sell it asap.

I give it a 3

Awesome review man, you're very detailed, and the edit is fun!! Would love to see a review on the new Rocket 3! Keep it up dude! Cheers

Can tell you’re not a Harley rider lol but hood video.

Your review was sub-par, clearly, you are way off base on every aspect of that bike.

Too camp looking over the last dozen years or so. Tailored more toward the rainbow community.

Four 😳

“Sounds like a Harley…🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣yeah no shit. And vibrations, maybe you should test ride an 883 rubber mounted sporty that’s been converted to 1275 then talk about vibration. Just being beyond brutally honest Some people get it others like yourself obviously don’t. Again not judging, just being beyond brutally honest.

I've got a 2018 Fat Boy and it's beautiful to look at and to ride. You ride like a "girl" (I would say bitch but I'm trying to be nice). With this particular bike, you have to get use to it before you criticize it. Ride it for a couple of days at least, then rate it. Don't be so picky....(again, you ride like a ...........girl. (You experience lady riders, I'm not talking about you) Enough said...

🤭🤐🎲

/rode my first Harley also about 2015 it was a fat boy 100 anniversary model 03 model? on the the highway at about 65 mph ish dropped to 4th gear and pinned it 65....66 67 68 69 70 71 72 slow as my grammas vega from the 70's why do people pay the money that they do for school bus acceleration no handling no braking i do not understand this cult!!!!! so so slow f the heritage and history get on the ball give someone their monies worth...... 40 thousand for a CVO with the same motor you want the sound???? BUY A HOME STEREO

seems like you don't like Harleys

Yawn sorry dude some of the things you go on about like the seat (very comfy I thought) and torque (Has loads) and you didn't even push the bike, at least ride the bike how it should be ridden before having a go at it. Very bland review I thought.

Just stumbled upon this video. I have a 2019 Fat Boy 114 and dont understand the turning comments. All bikes have certain characteristic's and you simply need to adapt to turns on this bike. I never understood the comments that Harleys a "torque monsters". I have a 2018 Vmax that will smoke every Harley made and I didn't have to modify it in any way. The only people who comment about how fast their Harleys are usually have more money than brains, tiny penises or both.

20k and does not break or handle well.HD image? Cult status? Be part of the tribe? or buy something that is cheaper handles better and costs thousands less!Have Suzuki 109 Yamaha old raider Kawasaki 1700 etc

I WILL NOT PAY 20 KS FOR A POS BIKE

Any bike that emits annoying vibration in this day and age is a piece of junk. And for the amount of money they want for that load? Sorry, those days are gone.

How and why is it that the damn dealerships are pricing a USED 20 HD at 25 K when the MSRP WAS ONLY 21k??