Harley-Davidson rolls into MY2023 with its Fat Boy 114 which was last updated in 2021 unless you count the Electronic Cruise Control that now comes with the stock equipment as the only upgrade for this year-model. Now I don't consider this next bit to be an upgrade per se, but The MoCo put together a fabulous 120th-anniversary model that rolls with unique red paint and lots of painted details over lots of chrome and polished aluminum bits.
The Fat Boy has held a special place in bike culture ever since Old Arnie jumped a 1991 Fat Boy into a drainage sluice and rode it straight to our hearts during the blockbuster hit, “Terminator 2.” That's a cool footnote, but the Fat Boy has roots that go far deeper. The hydraulic-fork front end and faux rigid rear end call to mind a specific timeframe through the 1940s when the “juice forks” started showing up, but the swingarm-and-shock system was still a handful of years out, thus the premise of the Fat Boy's design. This makes it a sort of rolling history lesson with a genuine look based on long experience that is impossible to fake.
2023 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy
- Model
- Fat Boy
- Engine:
- 1,868 cc Milwaukee-Eight V-Twin
- Power Output
- 94 HP
- Torque
- 119 LB-FT
- Transmission
- 6-Speed
- Driveline
- Belt Drive
- MSRP
- $20,199
- Powerful Engine
- Low With A Relaxed Rider's Triangle
- Classic Design And Sweet Paint
- Heavy ForA Single Front Brake
- Pillion Pad Built For Looks Not Comfort
- There Is Such A Thing As Too Much Chrome
2023 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Performance And Capability
Cool looks and dated elements are fine and dandy, but here they are just the setting for the real gem, H-D's Milwaukee-Eight 114 powerplant. Another genuine article, the Mil-8 leaves the Twin-Cam engines and returns to the nosecone look of the classic Big Twins that relied on a single cam to actuate the valves, which gives it a cleaner look down low with the classic pushrod geometry restored as well.
In this case, those four pushrods actuate eight poppets in the top end and make for a free-breathing engine, though with the Screamin' Eagle air cleaner and exhaust components, it can open up even more post-sale. This is a long-stroke mill, as is usual for Harley, with a 102 mm bore and 114.3 mm stroke for a whopping 1,868 cc displacement and a middling 10.5-to-1 compression ratio.
The 2023 Fat Boy produces 94 horsepower and 119 pound-feet of torque. A chain primary and assist-type clutch couple engine power to the six-speed transmission with a Fat Boy top speed around the 110 MPH mark. A carbon-reinforced belt serves as the final drive and delivers quiet, low-maintenance power to the rear wheel.
Design
Folks, this here Fat Boy is the real McCoy with design elements that go way back. The sheet metal pared down at both ends makes the all-important connection to the custom culture. A wide front end is beefier yet with old-school chrome beercan fork skirts and a chrome headlight nacelle that also hails from way back in H-D's history up through current models.
There's no shortage of bling. The handlebar and its risers and clamp are all chrome, as is the speedometer housing and tank console which includes the trim piece at the bottom. The seat rests at a dead-low 26.6 inches off the deck, and if you weigh at least 180 pounds, that will settle to 25.9 inches high with your weight in the saddle.
A five-gallon fuel tank gives the Fat Boy some legs and runs with a teardrop profile that is also a long-standing staple of The MoCo's. Full footboards support the pilot's feet in a position that is forward of middle, just not as far forward as it could be to give the Fat Boy a nice, relaxed rider's triangle. Fold-up footpegs and a small pillion pad complete the passenger amenities.
In the rear, some chrome fender struts and chrome bullet lights finish out the shiny stuff. The license-plate holder is a side mount so as not to clutter up that clean rear end.
Specs & Dimensions
Length | 93.3 in |
Width | 38.8 in |
Height | 43.1 in |
Seat Height, Unladen/Laden | 26.6 in/25.9 in |
Wheelbase | 65.6 in |
Ground Clearance | 4.5 in |
Fuel Capacity | 5 gal w/ 1 gal reserve |
Curb Weight | 699 lbs |
Dry Weight | 671 lbs |
Chassis
The frame on the Fat Boy plays a role beyond just lending its structure. The geometry at the steering head and along the backbone down to the rear axle is similar to that of the originals to set up the look, but it's the faux rigid swing cage out back that really sells it. It's a lie, of course, there's a cleverly hidden pivot point. A shock tucked under the seat turns in a modest amount of travel for a modern ride in spite of the hardtail looks.
Rake and trail measure at 32 degrees and 4.1 inches respectively for a good deal of stability and solid tracking in crosswinds. Suspension travel is generous up front with a 5.1-inch stroke that'll take the edge off through the Dual Bending Valve feature that delivers event-driven damping adjustment and a ride far superior to plain vanilla shocks. Out back, travel is 3.4 inches, which is typical of Softail frames and a tad longer than the previous generation of FLST frames. As for brakes, the Fat Boy relies on a single 300 mm front disc and four-bore caliper to take care of business with a 292 mm disc and twin-pot anchor out back.
The rims are special. Enter H-D's machined Lakester rims that sport short spokes with large central discs, almost like someone started with solid rims, machined it down, and this is what's left. Really sharp looking, too, if you ask me. They come shod with Michelin Scorcher “11” hoops in a fat 160/60-18 ahead of an even fatter 240/40-18 for some seriously wide rubber.
Chassis & Suspension
Frame | Mild steel, tubular frame; rectangular section backbone; stamped, cast, and forged junctions; MIG welded; aluminum forged fender supports |
Swingarm | Mild steel, tubular sections, stamped x-member, forged axle junctions; MIG welded; removable belt spacer |
Front Suspension/ Travel | Dual-bending valve 49 mm telescopic with aluminum fork triple clamps; dual rate spring; "beer can" covers/ 5.1 in |
Rear Suspension/ Travel | Hidden, free piston, coil-over monoshock; 43mm stroke; toolless hydraulic preload adjustment/ 3.4 in |
Rake | 30° |
Trail | 4.1 in |
Lean Angle, Right/Left | 25.6°/25.6° |
Front Wheel | Machined, Lakester cast aluminum, 4.5 in x 18 in |
Rear Wheel | Machined, Lakester cast aluminum, 8 in x 18 in |
Front Tire | Michelin® Scorcher® "11" 160/60R18,70V,BW |
Rear Tire | Michelin® Scorcher® "11" 240/40R18,79V,BW |
Front Brake | 300 mm Split 7-spoke floating rotor, 4-piston fixed rotor |
Rear Brake | 300 mm Split 7-spoke floating rotor, 2-piston floating rotor |
ABS | Optional |
2023 Harley-Davidson Fay Boy Price And Availability
The 2023 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 starts at $20,199. That's for the Vivid Black colorway. The Bright Billiard Blue package will set you back another $525, and the two-tone Gray Haze/Silver Fortune adds $850 to the tally. The 120th Anniversary model comes in Heirloom Fade Red with a color-matched timer cover, air cleaner cover, derby cover, oil bag, and seat for a smooth $1,500 increase in price and a chance to own a piece of history.
Pricing & Features
Model ID | FLFBS |
Warranty | 24 months (unlimited mileage) |
Colors | Vivid Black, Bright Billiard Blue, Gray Haze/Silver Fortune, Heirloom Red Fade |
Price | $20,199, Color: $20,724, Two-Tone: $21,049, 120th Anniversary: $21,699 |
Competitors
It's hard to fake it when it comes to American-style sleds. In order to find an apple for my apple, I went to the only other game in town, Indian Motorcycle and its current Chief Bobber Dark Horse model.
Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse
Like the other side of the coin, the “CBDH” shuns the chrome in favor of blackout, with the polished cooling-fin edges as the only real bright spot to put the Indian deep in custom country. As the devilishly-clever name suggests, the sheet metal at both ends comes trimmed down to shave weight wherever possible.
It has a fat front end, but black is very slimming, so it has less of a visual impact to be sure. A solo seat certainly adds to the Indian's custom chops. Indian takes its own approach to the rear-end situation. While it isn't a full swing-cage like the Softail, the backbone takes the same path, and the covered rear shocks fill in the upper line of the triangle to give it a bit of a rigid vibe.
Indian powers its entry with the Thunderstroke 116 which churns out 120 pound-feet of torque for a single-pound advantage over the H-D, which isn't enough to feel the difference in the heinie dyno. Like the Fat Boy, the CBDH is the least expensive in black at $19,499, and that can range as high as $20,499 depending on color choice.
He Said
“Nevermind what it looks like from the history books, the Fat Boy has been around long enough to own its own legacy, and so it has. This is a popular choice for riders looking for a clean, classy build, but if you're inclined, a set of bags and barndoor windshield will turn it into an old-school tourbike, from back before the full front fairing became common. Pencil me in as a fan of the anniversary model, that's a great paint job, even by the King of Paint's standards.”
She Said
My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says,
“I can't fault the performance of the Milwaukee-Eight 114. It's grunty enough to pull stumps and there's roll-on anywhere in the rev range. The bright chrome update on the Fat Boy in 2021 replaced the satin chrome, and I like blingy better. The Fat Boy has the fattest tires in the lineup, and that adds to the muscular overall vibe.”
FAQ
Q: What is the top speed of the Harley Fat Boy?
The 1,868 cc Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine in the Fat Boy manages a top speed of 110 MPH.
Q: How much does a Fat Boy cost?
For 2023, the Fat comes in Vivid Black starting at $20,199. The Bright Billiard Blue color starts at $20,724 and the two-tone Gray Haze and Silver Fortune starts at: $21,049. A 120th-anniversary model in Heirloom Red Fade starts at $21,699.
Q: How much power does a Fat Boy have?
The 1,868 cc Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine produces 94 horsepower and 119 pound-feet of torque. The torque comes on low in the rev range for grunty performance and solid holeshots.
Q: Is the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy discontinued?
While the Fat Boy may not be available in all markets, it's still going strong in the U.S. For 2023, the Fat Boy comes standard with electronic cruise control.