End Of An Era: Goodbye, Harley-Davidson Fat Bob

Summary

• The Fat Bob offers excellent performance, agility, and design that will be sorely missed.
• Harley-Davidson is discontinuing the Fat Bob 114 in America in 2024.
• There is hope Harley-Davidson will release an even better version of the Fat Bob in the future.

There are very few Harley-Davidsons that balance all the aspects that make motorcycles great, like performance, handling, comfort, design, and versatility. The Fat Bob is one such motorcycle. It ticks so many boxes for so many riders. Be it rubber-melting torque, canyon-carving credentials, mile-munching comfort, or a head-turning design, it does it all with little compromises.

However, we have some unfortunate news. Its absence from the company’s 2024 lineup announcement stirred rumors, and now, Harley-Davidson has confirmed the Fat Bob will no longer be available in North America. So let’s take a look at the iconic cruiser, as lovers of this gorgeous motorcycle. It might not be the full stop that it seems like; perhaps it is only an ellipsis and Harley may have something more to say soon enough.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Harley-Davidson and other authoritative sources, including Motorcycle News.

The Fat Bob Goes Off Sale In America For 2024

The Harley-Davidson Fat Bob moniker, first announced way back in 1979, has earned a lot of recognition. Yes, it’s the black sheep of the Harley family, but it has grabbed eyeballs since the beginning. Whether you want an urban cruiser or a nimble Softail, the Fat Bob seemed like an easy pick.

Unfortunately, the American giant doesn’t seem to share the same sentiment. The company has confirmed the Fat Bob 114 will be absent from the North American lineup in 2024. When we reached out to the company for confirmation, all we got was a simple confirmation without any in-depth remarks on the matter. There can be many reasons here, such as low demand, expensive production costs, or emission woes. Interestingly, the Fat Bob continues to be on sale in Europe, Britain, and Asia as we speak.

We’ll Miss The Performance And Agility

Torque Output: 118 LB-FT @ 3,500 RPM

The Milwaukee Eight 114 engine is pretty versatile, but in the Fat Bob 114, the engine feels at home. The bike produces mountains of torque right from 2,000 RPM and doesn’t let go until the higher mid-range — the range where bikers spend most of their time. Suffice it to say, giving the Fat Bob the beans is as good as testing out your grip strength and road traction conditions. Combine the torque and horsepower figures, and it’s easy to see this Harley can haul its rear end much better than what you’d expect from a cruiser.

Don’t mistake the Fat Bob for a one-trick pony, either. It is also one of the most qualified Harleys in terms of agility. This bike wants to go fast, but it wants you to be in control. This is partly due to its shorter wheelbase and shallower rake compared to other cruisers, which allow it to be nimble. You can also corner hard on this (at least for a cruiser), with a cornering clearance of 31 degrees to the right and 32 degrees to the left.

It’s not a light missile by any means, though. Coming in at over 650 pounds, the bike is quite heavy for most of us. But it sheds its weight well. Credit goes to the excellent suspension setup. It makes good use of the 43mm USD forks at the front (a rarity on Harleys) and a rear monoshock for precise and confidence-inspiring handling. Then, there are the brakes. You get two four-piston calipers and disc brakes at the front, something not even the Sportster S has. These aren’t things you’d say about Harley-Davidsons often, are they? But that’s the Fat Bob 114 for you and why we’ll miss it so much.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Harley-Davidson and Motorcycle News)

Harley-Davidson Lineup Will Miss A Jewel

A terrific balance of agility and speed isn’t the only thing Harley-Davidson is taking off its shelves; it’s also taking off one of the jewels that shined the brightest in recent years. The lineup still has some gorgeous motorcycles — Low Rider ST, Fat Boy, and Nightster — but none have the aesthetic appeal of the Fat Bob. This turns heads more with its design than its exhaust note.

Unlike other Softail motorcycles, this one does not favor smooth lines and a classic fly line. Instead, with no apology, the Fat Bob is a taut, lean motorcycle that focuses on sportiness and modern styling. The bronze exhaust headers, distinct headlight, twin stacked mufflers, and a lack of chrome — need we say more? It even makes the sports bike and ADV riders among us take a second look.

Design Highlights

• Chunky tires that give the bike a muscular stance
• The sleek horizontal LED headlights that look modern and sharp
• Bronze finish headers and stacked mufflers further elevate the design
• The design exposes the Milwaukee Eight 114 engine in all its glory
• Subtle elements across the bike remind you it’s still a true Harley

But Not All Hope Is Lost Just Yet

The Harley-Davidson Fat Bob is a type of rare cruiser that gels with any kind of riding style. Whether you are someone who’s looking for a mile muncher or a canyon carver, or whether you are looking for an urban prowler or a meet-up head-turner, this bike ticks the right boxes. Heck, it’s even one of those cruisers that can turn sports bike riders into cruiser lovers. And it achieves this feat without sacrificing design or comfort, either!

Harley-Davidson On Fat Bob

Tarmac-eating traction, pothole-devouring suspension, agile cornering, and a blacked-out take-no-prisoners look make the Fat Bob a groundbreaking motorcycle that could only come from Harley-Davidson.

This is how Harley describes Fat Bob, and we completely agree. But like all good things that come to an end, so does this beloved piece of engineering. Yet, not all hope is lost. Harley-Davidson did something similar with the Breakout a couple of years ago, which was another bike that captivated riders with its uncompromising dragster-type styling.

After a brief hiatus (in America; it stayed on sale elsewhere), the Breakout was resurrected in 2023, in a better-than-ever avatar. The vintage-inspired frame geometry is plush, the bike handles well for its dimensions, and it’s got a design that’s just as loud as its engine. Unlike its predecessor, the new Breakout is comfortable, too!

Seeing this, all we can do is hope Harley-Davidson pulls something similar out of the bag for the Fat Bob. So let’s not lose hope just yet. It’s such an iconic model that H-D might just bring out a Fat Bob that’s lighter, faster, and meaner than it has ever been. Sure, it could take a couple of years, but let’s keep those fingers crossed!