Harley Davidson Fat Boy

The Harley-Davidson Fat Boy has received a complete overhaul for 2018. It now carries a new design, a new engine and an all-new chassis. The front carries a cleaner and bolder look thanks to a large LED headlamp draped in chrome. The rear looks cleaner than before as it now comes with turn indicators that are integrated within the brake lights. The new design complements the rear tyre, which is by far the widest seen on any production-spec Harley. Sadly, there’s no backrest for the pillion and the rear seat is best reserved for shorter rides. Thankfully, the riding position is comfortable thanks to the stretched out handlebar and forward-set footboards. The rider’s seat is plush a bit on the softer side. The electronics package on the 2019 Fat Boy comprises of ABS and not much else. Yes, there’s no traction control or cruise control available with this brawny cruiser. The Fat Boy is offered in a total of seven colours - Vivid Black, Black Tempest, Industrial Grey, Bonneville Salt Pearl, Wicked Red, Legend Blue and Blue Denim.

Powered by an all-new 1745cc Milwaukee-Eight 107, air-cooled, V-twin motor, the 2018 Fat Boy makes 144Nm at just 3000rpm. It gets a 6-speed transmission with tall gear ratios. Refinement levels are far improved than its predecessor, but the 6-speed gearbox still feels clunky. Fuel tank capacity of 19.1 litres is the same as the Heritage Classic, with the bike weighing 322kg in running order. The chassis is from the all-new Softail lineup and is lighter and more rigid. Seat height is 670mm, while ground clearance is a low 115mm. So expect to scrape the bottom on most of our speed breakers in town, especially with a pillion on board. The suspension setup includes front forks with Showa dual bending valves for faster responses and a rear monoshock with remote manual adjustment for preload. True to the classic theme, the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy gets 18-inch spoke wheels finished in chrome and come wrapped in 160/60 and 240/40-section tyres. Braking is via a single disc at both the front and rear.

Triumph Thunderbird Storm: The Thunderbird comes in both Roadster (Storm) and Classic (LT) trim. The Storm carries a dark age look with the black paint scheme spread all across its body and components. It costs Rs 14.45 lakh, which undercuts the Fat Boy and Indian Chief Classic by a big margin. There’s no compromise on power though. The 1699cc, parallel-twin motor produces 94PS and 151Nm. Like its rivals, it too is belt driven and is packed with similar features. However, it too misses out on cruise control. The Triumph Thunderbird Storm is backed by a better network coverage in comparison to other two mentioned here.

Indian Chief Classic: Like the Fat Boy, the Indian Chief comes with a V-twin engine layout. It, however, gets a larger 1811cc motor that is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The peak torque output is rated at 150Nm @ 2900rpm. It is priced at Rs 22 lakh, which is Rs 4 lakh more than the Fat Boy that offers almost similar fit-finish, quality and performance while being a lot lighter. Plus, the Fat Boy is backed by a stronger service network than the Indian.

The Fat Boy will get you the most eyeballs in your direction with premiumness that very few bikes can match. However, thanks to its imposing bulk, heavy handling characteristics and the sheer heat that it emanates in traffic, the Fat Boy is not something you can easily live with on a regular basis. If pillion comfort and riding long distances is your priority, then we do recommend checking out the H-D Heritage Classic. That is if you are keen on owning a Harley. If not, then the Triumph is worth the look. That said, on outright charm and poser value, there’s really no outdoing the Fat Boy.