HOW bad do I feel? I made a little girl cry today. I didn’t mean to, you understand, but she was too scared to cross the zebra crossing in front of me. Black Harley, black leathers, black visor. I even tried turning off the engine, but the tears flowed and the heels dug in harder.

You see, the new Fat Bob is quite the bad boy. It has a huge engine, custom bug-eye headlamps and a fearsome exhaust note. It’s also a mean ride. Where it differs from other Dynas in the range is in its wide 130-section front tyre, which is how it came by its ‘Fat’ moniker. It shares the same rubber-mounted 1584cc engine as its bigger brothers in the touring range, but is tuned for extra low-down grunt and performance.

This is combined with a steel frame that was modernised in 2006 for better handling. The Fat Bob carries its weight well and swings through the corners with relative ease, partly due to its not-over-the-top 180-section rear tyre. And in this respect, it’s actually a revelation. In no time at all, I was taking far more liberties with the Fat Bob than ever before with a Harley.

Sure, it’s not as quick in a straight line as a V-Rod, but what it will do is go round corners. And pretty well, I might add. In fact, I’m considering putting in a claim against Harley-Davidson for a new pair of boots, having taken a good quarter of an inch off the heels on both sides.

Acceleration is not the fastest -- it’s never going to be from such a heavy, air-cooled unit -- but it’s still great fun. With the same ferocity as a gorilla beating its chest, the 2-1-2 Tommy Gun exhausts bellow as the Fat Bob launches its torque-laden assault on the Tarmac. Head out of a built-up area onto a stretch of open road, haul the throttle open, and it’s like being hit from behind by a freight train. The low-down, thumping power drives your body backwards and makes you glad of the sculpted seat to keep you firmly in the saddle. The wide drag bars are well positioned too for clinging on, while the forward pegs feel totally natural after just a couple of rides.

First gear gives effortless grunt away from the lights and is good for 45mph, while second will readily shove you up to 70mph before the rev limiter kicks in. Third and fourth take the strain with ease, while fifth and sixth make for truly relaxed overdrives. The gearbox is reassuringly clunky, but there’s no uncertainty. You kick it up or down and you know it’s gone in. Short-shifting, however, is best avoided. Cruisers are designed for smoothness rather than speed, and use of the surprisingly light clutch makes for a much sweeter ride.

There may not be much room for your gloved hands under the mirrors, but the mirrors themselves are first-class. Unlike the brakes, sadly, which are a bit of a nervy affair. There’s a lot of weight to slow down here, and despite the braided hoses, the long 28-degree fork rake makes them vague when cold, although better when warmed up. ABS is available as an option on this bike, and I think I’d take it.

Slotted disc wheels, tank-mounted clocks and self-cancelling indicators round off the accomplished package, and the European street fighter look is sure to appeal to UK buyers.

With more chrome than a 56 Caddy, the Fat Bob has a distinctive, brash appearance that offers a real twist on traditional Harley style.

Article written: December 3, 2007

The Harley-Davidson Fat Bob was kindly loaned by Riders of Bath Road, Brislington. For more information about test rides, call Riders on 0117 958 8777. Or see the website at www.ridersofbristol.co.uk.

OUR STEER ON THE HARLEY FAT BOB

Price: £10,525 (@ Jan 2009)

Engine: 1,584cc air-cooled twin cam

Power: 65bhp @ 5,200 rpm

Torque: 91 lb ft @ 3,125 rpm

Transmission: 6-speed, carbon fibre belt drive

Weight: 305kg

Fuel capacity: 19.3 litres

Top speed: 110mph (est)

Seat height: 663 mm

by Jon Bennett