Larger than life

Marking 35 years of an iconic Harley-Davidson^® Softail^® cruiser

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”: It’s a turn of phrase that Harley-Davidson^® motorcycles embody. Take, for example, the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy^®, which has been a staple in the lineup for 35 years. Designed by Willie G. Davidson and Louie Netz, the Fat Boy has become one of the Motor Company’s most popular models since it debuted in 1990.

That popularity isn’t confined to the riding community. The Fat Boy has appeared in several films and television shows – most famously Terminator 2: Judgment Day. It can also be spotted in Sons of Anarchy, Wild Hogs and CSI: Miami.

The original Fat Boy model boasted a silver powder-coated frame to match its monochromatic paint. Yellow accents subtly accentuated the engine, while laced leather and a distinctive logo gave it a handmade look. It was a true rolling art piece that stood boldly upon front and rear solid-cast disc wheels. It was the first H-D^® model to feature shotgun exhausts and gently flared fenders.

For two years prior to its release, the design underwent rigorous testing and customer feedback. Willie G. rode a prototype to Daytona in 1988 and again in 1989. These trips were essential to improving the bike and contributed to its eventual popularity.

As the Fat Boy rolls into its 35th year, it has matured technologically while remaining faithful to its original design. For its first 10 years, the Fat Boy touted an 80 ci (1310 cc) Evolution^™ engine. At the dawn of the new millennium, the model switched to the balanced Twin Cam 88^® engine and added an option for fuel injection.

The 2000s saw the Fat Boy become even more popular as some models diverged from the base platform: a couple of Screamin’ Eagle^® models, Anniversary Editions, and the Fat Boy Lo in 2010. After multiple powertrain upgrades during the Twin Cam era, the Fat Boy underwent its biggest change in 2018, when the powerful Milwaukee-Eight^® engine was stuffed into a totally redesigned Softail^® chassis.

After 35 years, the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy’s burly form remains unmistakable. It truly is an uncontested icon.