Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

Brand new face of an all-American icon, now assembled in India

- Jehan Adil Darukhanawala

SO MUCH OF OWNING A Harley-Davidson is about the image that the brand has perpetuated and continues to perpetuate through the years. The bikes with the bar and shield have pushed the envelope of ‘cool’ for decades but when Arnold “Terminator” Schwarzenegger jumped his Fat Boy off a bridge, things couldn’t get cooler. Everyone who wanted to be a biker but wasn’t interested in sportsbikes dreamt of manhandling a HarleyDavidson Fat Boy. Over a quarter of a century later, the Fat Boy continues to dominate the psyche of most people aspiring to own a Harley. Hell, I have never wanted a Harley for myself and even in my head there couldn’t be a bike more quintessentially Harley than a Fat Boy. Naturally, when the chance to ride the new generation of this two-wheeled legend came along, I was only too happy to volunteer. 

The old Fat Boy was characterised by its wide stance that leant itself to enormous road presence. That design ethos still continues to be a strong part of the 2018 Fat Boy’s aura as it comes with a wide body and those humongous 18-inch solid Lakester rims. The bike sits low with a saddle height of 675mm, which when combined with the wide raised handlebars and those floor boards makes for a nice and cushy riding posture that’s typical of the Fat Boy. The wheel arches are wide for obvious reasons and gets theme appropriate pin striping. So does the petrol tank. To complete the look, the tank is embellished with the original H-D emblem. The tank mounted console also bears the chromium elements that are prominent on the mechanicals. Plus, you get the usual Softail standard tech like the LED headlamps, steering column mounted USB charging port, keyless ignition, security system and ABS. There is still no lockable fuel filler cap as standard equipment and that will be the first accessory Indian buyers will spring for.