Fatboy Owners Discussion

[x1rider]

Originally Posted by Buddy Seat

x1rider-

Looks sharp..
What is not practical about this bike ?? Is it just a show bike now or what ?? You need to ride that baby !!! I ride with dudes with more radical bikes.....

PS: Who makes those rims ?? & how wide is the front rim ??
I like that rim.....

Hi, the reason why it's not practical has mostly to do with the road conditions here. I'm from northern Ontario and the frost in the winter just ruins the asphalt (there is not much suspension on the bike and some of the surfaces we have here are really dangerous).
The wheels are from Eurocomponents (imported from Germany).
http://www.eurocomponentsusa.com/whe....php?id=3189S3
I got the last wheel they ever made in a 16x9 format (to fit the 240 Metzeler). You can only get them in 18" now.
The front rim is 4" wide (it makes the front wheel look bigger).

[Jerry L]

Great looking bike, x1rider! Have always liked that 240-16 tire but hardly ever see one on a bike. Wish more (any!) places made rims besides wire laced for it. Bike looks Heavy Duty!
Jerry

[x1rider]

Originally Posted by Jerry L

Great looking bike, x1rider! Have always liked that 240-16 tire but hardly ever see one on a bike. Wish more (any!) places made rims besides wire laced for it. Bike looks Heavy Duty!
Jerry

Thanks, I prefer the 240-16 as well because I like to see some sidewall on the tire rather than a low profile type tire.
Exile cycle makes a 16x7 inch wheel, FatBoy disc style that can accomodate the 240 Metzeler.
http://www.exilecycles.com/index.php?section=33

[Buddy Seat]

x1rider-

Oh, I understand about short suspension & your bad roads.. I don't blame ya..Sharp Machine !!! That front end is Sweet !!!

I run 3.5" wide rims & I agree with you about your 4" it does balloon the tires up nicely..

I also agree about having some sidewall, looks BEEFIER !!!

How does having that 240 on back handle ?

Bikes I have built (for others) or rode seemed to me that about 200was about the biggest without really affecting handling..

What's your experience with it ??

[x1rider]

Originally Posted by Buddy Seat

x1rider-

Oh, I understand about short suspension & your bad roads.. I don't blame ya..Sharp Machine !!! That front end is Sweet !!!

I run 3.5" wide rims & I agree with you about your 4" it does balloon the tires up nicely..

I also agree about having some sidewall, looks BEEFIER !!!

How does having that 240 on back handle ?

Bikes I have built (for others) or rode seemed to me that about 200was about the biggest without really affecting handling..

What's your experience with it ??

The 240 doesn't really affect the handling around town. On the highway, it seems to shift the rear end around a bit when you hit bumps (taking into account the kind of "bumps" we have here). When I let go of the handlebars, the bike pulls a tiny bit to the left, but I don't notice it when riding, it's really just when I let go of the bars. I think it's because to fit the 240, the primary is pushed out, my rear wheel has offset spokes to the left, and I have the rear brake caliper on the drive pulley, therefore a considerable amount of weight is shifted to the left.
My only complaint is that I have to slow down in curves because the bike wants to stand up, it takes more effort to lean it. I think that is due to the 240 and to the fact that the front end has a 5 degree rake built in the triple tree.
Other than that, the bike is very stable, I've ridden in southern Ontario where the roads are nicer and I have absolutely no complaints (other than the slowing down in curves thing).

[Jerry L]

Originally Posted by x1rider

Thanks, I prefer the 240-16 as well because I like to see some sidewall on the tire rather than a low profile type tire.
Exile cycle makes a 16x7 inch wheel, FatBoy disc style that can accomodate the 240 Metzeler.
http://www.exilecycles.com/index.php?section=33

Thanks, x1! I didn't realize Excile made wheels other than 15". I'll have to keep that in mind. Wish they did chrome tho, lol.
Jerry
PS I just saw they have a chrome option for $250! My bad. Got me thinking now!

[Buddy Seat]

x1rider-

"My only complaint is that I have to slow down in curves because the bike wants to stand up, it takes more effort to lean it. I think that is due to the 240 and to the fact that the front end has a 5 degree rake built in the triple tree".

Yep, that's what I was meaning..Very common. The reason as I see it is with the 240 & regular front leaned on angle for turning puts the center line on 2 separate parallels.. Instead of 1 straight line.....Kinda working against each other.

Since the rear on angle is much farther out from skinny front on angle = 2 parallels..

I built an S&S Pan clone for a guy, he wanted a 230 on back & a 1.75x21 on front. With suicude shift.. Turning a corner would always an freaky experience......

[x1rider]

Wow, I can imagine that all those modifications plus a suicide shift must require all your attention when going into curves!
The two parallel lines theory makes a lot of sense. I remember from my service manual (2000 FLSTF) that the FatBoy, for some reason, has an offset between the front and rear wheel in stock form (they don't line up). This is probably accentuated by the big rear tire. I know that the guy who worked on my bike had a bit of a hard time centering the fender on the tire without showing that the fender was off to one side a bit more, and then even more of a hard time fabricating a seat pan on top of that.
You can feel a bit of difference in the gap between the tire and fender on each side but visually, he did a pretty good job.
Pics from the back.

[Grumpy5061]

Nice ride.
I didn't see in your posts, how long was the build on this bike?

[x1rider]

Originally Posted by Grumpy5061

Nice ride.
I didn't see in your posts, how long was the build on this bike?

Thanks, the work was spread over 2 winters (long winters here).
The first year, the 120ci Zippers kit was done, the gas tank, front and rear fenders (clean fenders with built in brake light in the rear fender), handlebars with controls, dual carb kit and exhaust (it was another exhaust then). I'll try to scan some pics of the intermediate step.
The second year the 240 went in, we had to redo the rear fender and replace the front one because the 4" front wheel caused some rubbing in the front fender, painted the frame, and other minor things (different exhaust, etc.).
Needles to say doing it in two steps caused a lot of wasted money and spare parts but I just couldn't afford the time and money to do it all in one winter (I would have had to have no bike for a whole summer).

[rphelpsagain]

Hi I just bought an 04 fatboy-love it! I have had several different models over the years and this one fits me well. I have the screamin eagle II slip on's and the passenger peg sticks out from between the two as you know. My sister is the first to have a new scar(yesterday) i really don't want my daughter to get hers. Best solution is to watch out! But?? Anyone use a extension or adjustable bracket or? to get your foot out of the way(melted shoes also). I may change the exhaust in the future. Thanks so much-Robin

[hemiuk]

I have a 91 Fatboy brought it used in 97 when I removed the primary cover I found the build date inside 19/08/91 my birthday! who wud have thunk it. It's the reason I havent replaced her with a newer model, if I did it would be another Fatboy.Oh and my first Harley was a 61 Pan (the year I arrived on this here rock we call earth)

[Big Joe]

FAT BOY's ROCK!!!!

This is my 2006 330 Fat Boy Named CHBBY!!!!

[Big Joe]

Originally Posted by x1rider

Wow, I can imagine that all those modifications plus a suicide shift must require all your attention when going into curves!
The two parallel lines theory makes a lot of sense. I remember from my service manual (2000 FLSTF) that the FatBoy, for some reason, has an offset between the front and rear wheel in stock form (they don't line up). This is probably accentuated by the big rear tire. I know that the guy who worked on my bike had a bit of a hard time centering the fender on the tire without showing that the fender was off to one side a bit more, and then even more of a hard time fabricating a seat pan on top of that.
You can feel a bit of difference in the gap between the tire and fender on each side but visually, he did a pretty good job.
Pics from the back.

SWEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Big Joe]

Originally Posted by ridingcoreman

Thanks,you get it.
Thanks to you too Carrie,The apes are 16's

This bike ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!