VOL. 54 ISSUE 47 NOVEMBER 28, 2017 P53
of that naked bike stance
for a more controlled feel
when cornering hard, be-
cause riding this bike with
real vigor makes you feel
like a true badass.
That's what this bike
is—an absolute badass.
And the reason I like it
is because it's so unlike
previous bikes bearing
the name on the tank. The
new 'Bob is the kind of
Harley non-Harley rid-
ers will get, because it
handles, goes and looks
better than anything made
by Harley before it. People
will still scoff at the spec
sheet, and their arguments
against lighter, faster oppo-
nents cannot be ignored.
But to judge by the spec
sheet is to miss the point
of the new 'Bob, because
this bike is more than the
sum of its parts. The proof
is in the ride experience,
and I stand by my declara-
tion that indeed, the 2018
Softail Fat Bob 114 is the
best Harley-Davidson ever
made. CN
2018 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SOFTAIL
FAT BOB 114 ($18,699)
ENGINE: ............... Milwaukee-Eight 114,
V-twin, liquid-cooled
DISPLACEMENT: .......... 114 c.i (1868cc)
BORE X STROKE: ...........102 x 114.3mm
COMPRESSION RATIO: .................... 10.5:1
CLUTCH: ........................ Wet multi-plate
TRANSMISSION: ........................6-speed
CHASSIS: ........................... Tubular steel
FRONT SUSPENSION: ....... 43mm Sowa
inverted fork
REAR SUSPENSION: ........Single Showa
shock absorber, preload adjustable
FRONT BRAKE: ........... 4-piston calipers,
ABS as standard
REAR BRAKE: ......... Twin-piston caliper,
ABS as standard
FRONT TIRE: .......... 150/80-16,71H, BW
REAR TIRE: ........... 180/70B16,77H, BW
RAKE: ................................................. 28°
WHEELBASE: .............................. 63.6 in.
SEAT HEIGHT: ................................28 in.
FUEL CAPACITY: .........................3.6 gal
WEIGHT: ......... 676 lbs. (wet, claimed).
COLOR: ....... Vivid Black, Black Denim,
Red Iron Denim, Bonneville Salt Denim,
Industrial Gray Denim
S P E C I F I C A T I O N S
(Above) We're
extremely sad
to be handing
this one back to
Harley-Davidson.
(Right) If you're
going to buy a
Fat Bob, you'll
want this little
badge.
