When it comes to iconic motorcycles, Harley-Davidson is a name that stands above the rest. With a rich history dating back over a century, each model from this legendary brand holds a special place in the hearts of motorcycle enthusiasts. In this article, we delve into the world of the Harley-Davidson Fat Bob 114, a beast that is set to leave a lasting impression on riders. As one of the latest additions to the Harley-Davidson lineup, this bike combines power, style, and innovation like never before. Join us as we explore its design, performance, comfort, features, and more. Get ready to experience a ride that will turn heads and ignite your passion for the open road.
Harley-Davidson Fat Bob 114 (2023) – A historic bike inspired by the classic Softails
When the Fat Bob made its debut in 2008 as a part of Harley’s Dyna class, die-hard riders could not get enough of it and the bike has been a staple in the cruiser lineup ever since. This Softail has evolved in terms of design, performance, and power over the years and it hasn’t shown signs of slowing down.
The Harley-Davidson Fat Bob 114 (2023) is a display of power and potency. It features a Milwaukee-Eight 114 motor sending 118 ft-lbs to torque to a meaty 180mm Dunlop Harley-Davidson D429 rear tire. The 16-inch wheels and around 5 inches of suspended wheel travel at each end, with the seat height being a casual 28 inches. A fist-forward, flat-bend handlebar is matched with forward-mounted foot controls. The bobbed fenders add to the attitude alongside a 3.5-gallon peanut tank. There is nothing subtle about the exhaust system, with a couple of brazen mufflers handling the spent high test.
2023 Harley-Davidson Fat Bob 114 Review
With the Harley-Davidson Fat Bob 114 (2023), Harley-Davidson taps into its deep historical roots, embedded in the soil of the custom culture of yesteryear, bringing the FXFBS Fat Bob 114. As the clever name implies, the sheet metal is chopped heavily like the gassers of old. In a similar spirit, the powerful V-twin engine delivers the goods for your stoplight-burning adventures and the same look as its forebears.
2023 marks the 120th anniversary of Harley-Davidson and the year has seen several exciting models released. The Harley-Davidson Fat Bob 114 (2023) is one of the most in-demand models in this lineup. The sentiment can be summed up by the words of Jochen Zeitz who was thrilled upon the launch of Fat Bob 114 (2023).
“Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has pioneered American motorcycle design, technology, and performance, and today marks the beginning of a year-long celebration of Harley-Davidson’s 120th Anniversary,” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO of Harley-Davidson.
The current Fat Bob lineup first began in late 2017 around the time the company decided to retire its aging Dyna platform in favor of the second-gen Softail chassis. If you’re looking to go for a Fat Bob 114 (2023), you will want to learn more about it. In this review blog, you will get to learn about the Harley-Davidson Fat Bob 114 (2023) in a more in-depth manner.
Engine and performance
The Harley-Davidson Fat Bob 114 (2023) is capable of producing 160 Nm of torque at 3500 RPM. Best of all, the grunt tends to top out at a low 3,000 RPM so that you’re able to count on the tractable power as soon as you’re able to rev up past idle speed, which helps secure the holeshots as you come off the light.
The Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-Twin powers the newest generation of Harley-Davidson’s V-Twin lump and it has a smaller sibling. Gassers were all about performance, which meant that the larger engine size was the right move. The Milwaukee-Eight engine itself marks a stark return to the norm after years of Twin-Cam’s reign as it has a single cam to time the pushrods for both heads. It means that the old nosecone cam cover design once more graces the right side of the engine.
The pushrod geometry returns to the old arrangement, making it a good-looking bike indeed. Power flows through the slip-and-assist clutch that delivers a light lever pull and offers anti-back torque protection. A six-speed tranny also does its thing with the carbon-reinforced belt drive and gives the Fat Bob a top speed of around 110 mph.
| Model Name | Softail® Fat Bob® 114 |
| Year | 2023 |
| Engine Size | 1868 cc (114 ci) |
| Engine Type | Milwaukee-Eight™ 114 V Twin |
| Horsepower | Not provided |
| Torque | 160 Nm @ 3500 RPM |
| Dry Weight | 653 lbs (296 kg) |
| Wet Weight | 675 lbs (306 kg) |
| Length | 92.1 in (2340 mm) |
| Wheelbase | 63.6 in (1615 mm) |
| Ground Clearance | 4.7 in (120 mm) |
| Fuel Capacity | 3.5 gallons (13.2 liters) |
| Fuel Efficiency | 47 US MPG (5 L/100km) |
| Seat Height | 28 in (710 mm) |
| Price | MSRP: $18,899 |
| Cooling | Oil |
| Valve Configuration | OHV – Pushrod |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 |
| Starter | Electric |
| Fuel Type | Gas |
| Fuel Requirements | Premium |
| Fuel Injector | Yes |
| Transmission Type | Manual |
| Number Of Speeds | 6 |
| Primary Drive (Rear Wheel) | Belt |
| Front Suspension Type | Inverted Fork |
| Rear Suspension Type | Twin Sided Swing Arm |
| Front Brake Type | Dual Hydraulic Disc |
| Rear Brake Type | Hydraulic Disc |
| Anti-Lock Brakes | Optional |
| Seat Type | One-Piece |
| Number Of Seats | 2 |
Design
Back in the day, motorcycle builders tried maximizing performance by chopping off anything that didn’t directly contribute to performance. This was borne out in the teeny-tiny front fender, lighting holes in the exhaust shield as well as the heavily whacked rear fender that barely reached the end of its struts. The fat hoops are another old-school custom item that pairs up nicely with the copious blackout treatment found throughout. The inverted fork lends it a sporty air with blackout coverage of its own to go along with the monochromatic headlight housing and tripletree.
The cockpit is dark with black risers, mirrors, handlebar, and bullet turn-signal housings. Even the tank-mount instrument console and filler cap come in black, which is a great place for it. Nothing can be more annoying than chrome trying to put your eyes out when you’re under harsh lighting, be it natural light or otherwise. The 3.5-gallon fuel tank carries along a classic teardrop profile with contrasting paint panels to the side. This makes it pop against the backdrop of the trio of sheet-metal colorways.
A deep-scoop seat cradles the pilot’s bum at 27.7 inches off the deck, providing that you weigh at least 180 lbs to get the suspension compressed properly. This seat is a Mustang-style unit having a built-in pillion pad that tapers off sharply. The focus is primarily on the looks and not passenger comfort. An LED lightbar joins with the blackout bullet housings on the fender and struts. The tag mounted to the left side does not clutter up the clean rear end.
Chassis
The chassis of the Harley-Davidson Fat Bob 114 (2023) contributes a lot to the looks. Since it is a Softail, the frame geometry is very similar to the ones in the early 40s when rigid rear ends and hydraulic front ends used to overlap. The triangular swing-cage style swingarm mimics the rigid-bike geometry but it comes hinged with modern suspension for a modern ride. This second-gen frame addresses the problems with the original, namely poor handling and comfort issues for a smooth, sporty ride.
The high-tensile steel makes up the skeleton and features a full dual-downtube/double-cradle section supporting the engine as a non-stressed member with a rectangular cross-section steel backbone for strength. The rake and trial measure 28 degrees and 5.2 inches for a more custom look and stable handling, even in blustery crosswinds. The inverted 43mm forks float the front end on fixed damping values. Meanwhile, toward the back, a single hidden shock makes the true magic happen with a hand-adjustable preload feature with quick tweaks in response to the cargo/passenger weight changes.
The cast-aluminum, 16-inch wheels round off the rolling chassis. The wheels come shod in the Harley-Davidson Series black walls in a 150-80 ahead of a 180/70 for oodles of visual weight down low. The curb weight is up there in cruiser territory as it is around 675 pounds wet. It should come as no surprise that the manufacturers opted for dual front brakes with 300mm front discs and four-bore calipers. At the back, there will be a 292mm disc and twin-pot binder.
Price and availability
The Harley-Davidson Fat Bob 114 (2023) costs around $18,899 for the glossy Vivid Black color. For the color choices of Gray Haze or Redline Red, you will need to add another $525 to the price. If you’re looking to include ABS, you should shell out a further $950. Security system and cruise control come standard.
What makes Fat Bob 114 (2023) so special?
What happens when one takes raw muscle and mixes it with performance? You get Harley’s fast and agile cruiser, the Harley-Davidson Fat Bob 114 (2023). Many aggressive buyers often turn to the latest Fat Bob model. But what makes this bike so special? Here are some of the reasons the Harley-Davidson Fat Bob 114 (2023) is so special.
#1. The embodiment of power and high-performance
There are many motorcycles in Harley’s lineup that are known for being torque-heavy and pushing the red line. However, the Harley-Davidson Fat Bob is the most qualified in terms of balancing speed and agility. It is capable of producing an impressive 160 Nm of torque, the rider has control over the amount of power being generated by the Milwaukee-Eight 114 cubic-inch engine.
It should not come as much of a surprise when there is an extra kick felt after taking off from a red light. This motorcycles to go but it also wants you to command it. The motorcycle is known for its nimble handling to weave in and out of turns with ease. Not to mention that it makes great use out of its front 43mm inverted forks and its single, free piston mono-shock suspension in the rear with 56mm stroke coming with a hand-adjustable hydraulic preload.
#2. An all-purpose cruiser
Just as impressive on the straightaway as it is on the twisting back roads, the Harley-Davidson Fat Bob 114 (2023) is the sort of bike that can gel with any kind of riding style. It is this motorcycle’s nature that makes it such an impressive option among riders of all styles. If you’re looking to satiate your need for speed on the highway, the Fat Bob 114 can do it. Meanwhile, if you’re a laid-back, afternoon cruise-type rider, this bike can do that as well. It should come as no surprise that this motorcycle is as comfortable in the city as it is on the open road.
#3. Features a rugged design
When it comes to getting the attention of passers-by, the Harley-Davidson Fat Bob 114 (2023) owes its head-turning appeal to its post-apocalyptic, Mad Max-style. While many models in Harley’s Softail class favor the smooth, classic aesthetics, the Fat Bob 114 (2023) shows up like the black sheep at every family reunion.
It has got chunky tires, a horizontal LED headlamp, an upswept 2-1-2 exhaust, and race-style forks. It is clearly a motorcycle that marches to the beat of its own drum.
#4. A multitude of aftermarket options
The Harley-Davidson Fat Bob 114 (2023), similar to the rest of Harley’s lineup, serves as a blank canvas for the rider’s personal expression. For folks looking to improve Fat Bob’s performance can upgrade the suspension, brakes, and exhaust from a plethora of options under Harley-Davidson and third-party vendors. The same applies to those looking to dress up the motorcycle to make it a true, one-of-a-kind ride like T-risers, saddlebags, custom seats, lighting options, and more.
#5. Powered by the mighty Milwaukee-Eight 114
Any high-performance motorcycle needs a lot of torque and horsepower and the Fat Bob’s Milwaukee-Eight 114 has a lot of both. As the beating heart of this bike, many flock to this model for this reason.
What is even more special about the bike’s Milwaukee-Eight 114 is the amount of power it is capable of generating after a few improvements. With a maximum stage 4 engine upgrade of 131 cubic inches, adrenaline-seekers would be more than impressed with the massive amounts of power getting generated by this 675-lb bike.
#6. Adds comfort into the equation with forward controls
While the Harley-Davidson Fat Bob 114 (2023) prides itself on being an agile, power-hungry motorcycle, it manages to deliver a degree of comfort for its riders too. The biggest indication of this will be with the addition of forward controls on all stock models fresh from the factory.
This is highly favored among taller riders and those looking to laid-back cruise over a full-throttle burnout. By positioning the controls toward the front of the motorcycle, the rider is able to keep their legs much more relaxed while being able to operate the gear shift and rear brake. In the event that mid-controls are much more desired, there’s a conversion package available.