Harley Davidson Fat Boy Motorcycles

The History of the Harley Fat Boy

Although the Fat Boy wasn’t manufactured until 1990, the impetus for the bike’s design has its roots in the 1960’s. It was 1969, actually, when Japan began flooding the U.S. market with low-priced motorcycles that were taking American bike riders by storm. In the years between 1969 and 1989, these Japanese imports, plus some quality and manufacturing problems that the Harley factory was having, nearly drove Harley Davidson out of business.

Things changed in 1990 when Harley Davidson was tired of losing market share to Japanese motorcycle manufacturers. It gave their design engineers “word” that senior management wanted them to create an “Import Killer.” That was the year that the Fat Boy was born. In one fell swoop, Harley turned the tide on the Japanese and Harley leapt back into first place for domestic motorcycle sales. Harley still retains that position today.

Some people think that it’s much more than a coincidence that Harley named their new bike Fat Boy. But consider the history. Harley Davidson was engaged in a market war with the Japanese and the name Fat Boy sounds suspiciously like a mixture of “Fat Man” and “Little Boy” which were the nicknames of the atomic bombs that were dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima to bring about the end of WWII, and you can see the problem. Harley denies the relationship and claims it’s simply a coincidence. We’ll probably never know the truth.

The Harley Fat Boy is a step up from the entry-level Sportster model and a step below the classic Harley cruising bikes. The Fat Boy doesn’t resemble any other Harley. It has a look of its own thanks to the solid disc wheels, customized metal fenders, dual exhausts, textured leather seat insert, hand-laced leather tank panel, floorboards, and wide handlebars. The Fat Boy comes with a Twin Cam 1450cc engine, 5-speed transmission, and has a 26 inch (66 cm) seat height. The gas tank holds 4.9 U.S. gallons and the bike gets around 46 MPG highway and 37 MPG in the city. It comes with a suggest retail price of $15,280 but street prices tend to run lower. Because Harley has sold so many Fat Boys, you can usually find a good used model at a reasonable price.

One of the Harley Fat Boy’s chief claims to fame is that it’s a rugged and tough bike that can be ridden hard. While they are not made for extended cruising like the Electra Glide, for example, they are comfortable enough to take day and weekend trips without wearing out your butt and back. They’re designed to carry a passenger and still perform well.

Fat Boys continue to be a Harley “Best Seller” thanks to the unique design, outstanding performance, and a price that’s within reach of most people who want a better-than-average motorcycle but aren’t ready to spring for the “big bucks.” For many people the Fat Boy is their first Harley and they buy it once they are ready to dump their Honda or Yamaha. Once you climb up onto a Fat Boy you’ll understand why it’s still making history.