Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 (2023)

When it comes to motorcycles, few names hold the same level of respect and admiration as Harley-Davidson. Known for their powerful engines, timeless designs, and iconic status, the Harley-Davidson models have a special place in the hearts of riders worldwide.

In this article, we delve into the world of the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114, the beloved model that has captured the imagination of motorcycle enthusiasts for years. Discover the rich history and background of this legendary bike, explore its design and aesthetics, examine its performance capabilities, uncover its comfort and ergonomics, and learn about the impressive features and technologies it boasts. Buckle up and join us on this journey as we dive into the world of the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114, a motorcycle that truly embodies the spirit of freedom on the open road.

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 (2023) – An American muscle car on two wheels

The Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 (2023) holds a special place in the motorcycle culture since Arnold Schwarzenegger drove it into the hearts of millions in his blockbuster hit “Terminator 2”. This is just a sweet footnote but the bike’s roots go far deeper than that. The hydraulic-fork front end and faux rigid rear end call to mind the specific timeframe through the 1940s when the juice forks started showing up but the swingarm-and-shock system was a handful of years out, hence the premise of the Fat Boy’s design. The Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 (2023) is an impressive bike that comes with an upgraded Electronic Cruise Control.

2023 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 Review

The Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 (2023) is the two-wheeled equivalent of the American muscle car. It is big, brash, powerful, and has an unmistakable style. Over the bike’s 30-year life, there have been many changes and iterations but the bike has remained true to the vision that started the line. The latest Fat Boy 114 is an impressive bike that has become one of the favorites of many riders. In this review blog, you will get to have an in-depth look into what the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 (2023) has to offer –

Engine and performance

Cool looks and dated elements are definitely fine and dandy but they’re merely the setting for the real gem – Harley-Davidson’s Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-Twin powerplant. The Milwaukee-Eight leaves the Twin-Cam engines and returns to the look of the classic Big Twins that relied heavily on a single cam to actuate the valves, giving it a cleaner look down low with the classic pushrod geometry restored as well.

The four pushrods actuate eight poppets in the top-end and deliver a free-breathing engine, although, with the Screamin’ Eagle air cleaner and exhaust components, it can open up more. It is a long-stroke mill, as is usual for a Harley-Davidson, with a 102 mm bore and 114.3 mm stroke for a massive 1,868cc displacement and a middling 10.5:1 compression rate.

The Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 (2023) is capable of producing 94 horsepower and 161 Nm of torque at 3000 RPM. With a chain primary and assist-type clutch with the engine power to the six-speed transmission, a Fat Boy 114 can reach a top speed of 110 MPH mark. A carbon-reinforced belt will serve as the final drive and result in quiet, low-maintenance power to the rear wheel.

Design

The Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 (2023) is the real McCoy with design elements that go all the way back. The sheet metal is installed at both ends and makes a connection to the custom culture. The wide front end is beefier yet with old-school chrome beercan fork skirts and a chrome headlight nacelle that hails from way back in Harley-Davidson’s history up through current models.

There will be no shortage of bling. The handlebar, its risers, and clamp are all chrome and so are the speedometer housing and tank console, including the trim piece at the bottom. The seat rests at a dead-low 26.6 inches off the deck and if you weigh 180 pounds, it’ll settle to 25.9 inches high with your weight in the saddle.

A five-gallon fuel tank will give the Fat Boy 114 (2023) some legs and runs with a teardrop profile, which is also a long-standing staple of Harley-Davidson. Full footboards support the pilot’s feet in a position forward of the middle, just not as far forward as it can to give the Fat Boy a nice, relaxed rider’s triangle. The passenger amenities are completed by the Fold-up footpegs and a small pillion pad.

In the rear, some chrome fenders strut and chrome bullet lights finish off the shiny stuff. The license plate holder is a side mount so that it does not clutter up the clean rear end.

Chassis

The frame of the Fat Boy plays a key role beyond merely lending its structure. The geometry at the steering head and along the backbone down to the rear axle is very similar to that of the originals to set up the look. However, it is the faux rigid swing case out back that sells it but what many people don’t know is that there’s a hidden pivot point. A shock tucked under the seat will turn in a modest amount of travel for a modern ride despite the hardtail looks.

The rake and trail measure 32 degrees and 4.1 inches, delivering a good deal of stability and solid tracking in crosswinds. The suspension travel is generous up front with a 5.1-inch stroke that takes the edge off through the Dual Bending Valve feature, delivering event-driven damping adjustments and a ride superior to plain vanilla shocks.

At the back, travel is 3.4 inches, typical of Softail frames and a bit longer than the previous generation of FLST frames. As for the brakes, the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 (2023) relies on a single 300mm front disc and four-bore caliper to work with a 292mm disc and twin-pot anchor out back.

The rims are another special aspect of this bike. Harley has machined Lakester rims sporting short spokes with large central discs, almost as if someone started with solid rims, machined it down, and this is what remains. Really sharp looking as well, they come shod with Michelin Scorcher “11” hoops in a fat 160/60-18 ahead of a much fatter 240/40-18 for seriously wide rubber.

Pride and availability

The Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 (2023) comes with a starting price of $20,199 for the Vivid Black colorway. The Bright Billiard Blue package will cost you another $525 while the two-tone Silver Fortune/Gray Haze will add a further $850.

The Harley-Davidson Motor Company has put together an impressive 120^th-anniversary model and it rolls with a unique paint job and lots of painted details over the chrome and polished aluminum bits. The 120^th anniversary has seen Harley-Davidson releasing a limited edition of Fat Boy, with only 3000 copies being released. Here is what Jochen Zeitz, the President, Chairman, and CEO of Harley-Davidson had to say upon the launch –

“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. We’re excited to share the first release of 2023 Harley-Davidson motorcycles, with more to come later in the year. 2023 is going to be an unforgettable milestone for the Company, celebrating the history, culture and community of Harley-Davidson – we hope you can join us.”

The 120^th-anniversary model comes with an Heirloom Fade Red with a color-matched timer cover, derby cover, air cleaner cover, oil bag, and a seat for a smooth $1,500 increase in price and the prospect of owning a piece of history.

What makes the 2023 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 so special?

A large, impossible bike that is as unmistakably Harley-Davidson as any of its predecessors throughout Harley-Davidson’s long and storied history, the Fat Boy 114 is something special. There are various aspects that make this bike one-of-a-kind. Here are some of the aspects that make the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 (2023) such a special motorcycle –

#1. The Harley-Davidson Fat Boy offers tremendous power

When the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 got upgraded to the 114ci Milwaukee-Eight engine, things were certainly not going too backward in the performance stake. Delivering 100 horsepower and more importantly, a mountainous 119 pound-feet of torque, this is the 699 lbs monster the most surprising performance. The bike’s fat rear tire will rip up in the tarmac away from the lights and there is a lot of acceleration regardless of what gear you’re in or what speed you’re going at. However, the engine does it all with little fuss or excessive vibration. It has got to be the best Harley-Davidson engine yet.

#2. An icon in its own right

There are only a few motorcycles that are instantly recognizable even by non-motorcyclists but the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 is definitely one of them. Even without its appearance in Terminator 2, this bike would have still turned heads due to its unique design. If the sheer size of the thing wasn’t enough, then the solid dished wheels look like nothing else on the road. Even the re-designed wheels on current models, with large holes around the rim, are an uncompromising design statement.

#3. Friendly on the spine

It may look like it has a hardtail design with no rear suspension but the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy has a Softail chassis where the rear shock absorbers sit near horizontal underneath the seat. The swingarm is a triangular affair as the pivot down behind the gearbox and the shock mounts under the seat.

Interestingly, it was designed by an independent engineer in his spare time. In fact, he offered it to Harley-Davidson and the company initially refused it before purchasing the rights to it later on. And the rest, as they say, is history. It does not deliver the longest rear-wheel travel but it is a darn sight better than having no suspension. Best of all, it will make the rear end look net and clean.

#4. Excellent overall quality

While memories are long and some people remember the days of the 70s when Harley-Davidson’s quality and reliability heavily suffered under the ownership of AMF, the real truth is that since the buyout in the early 80s, things have gotten better each year.

The Harley-Davidson bikes today are a million times better than the AMF years and you’ll be able to include the Fat Boy in that assessment. You can look as closely as you want but you won’t find a flaw in the paintwork of either the bodywork or the frame and the chrome is miles deep. In terms of chemical reliability, the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 117 (2023) is as good as anything. You can purchase one and you will be able to enjoy the Fat Boy for a long time.

#5. The solid wheels aren’t dangerous in cross-winds

It is a myth that seems to have become believed through constant repetition that in cross winds, the solid wheels act like sails and catch the wind, making the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 (2023) veer off course, with potentially disastrous results. You can forget about it because it is far from the truth.

When a wheel is spinning, it produces a wall of air around it, meaning that any wind that comes at it from the side gets diverted around the wheel. The Fat Boy is no more unstable in cross winds than any other bike and probably appreciably less than the bikes with large areas of bodywork, not to mention adventure motorcycles that can be as much as twice the height of the low-slung Fat Boy.