For too long Harley-Davidson
gearboxes have been nothing short
of shithouse, but this 'Bob's box is
as equally impressive as the motor.
Engaging first gear is no longer a
case of slamming two opposing
pieces of metal together—it's a much,
much smoother experience—a new
click to the old clang. And if you don't
get too greedy with the revs and your
eagerness to find the next cog, the
box's action will remain delightfully
smooth and quiet.
You can get a little greedy, however,
when you go hunting for twisty
bends because even though ground
clearance is limited (it is a Harley,
after all), you can seriously hustle
the 'Bob in a fashion that belies its
stretched out 63.6-inch wheelbase
and claimed 676 pounds. She's a
plus-size model, no doubt, but that's
not to say ol' Bobbie can't get up and
boogie. The new frame is a whopping
65 percent stiffer than the old 2017
'Bob—that means its more composed
when being thrashed and allows for
much more sport riding than ever
before. Showa has graced the 'Bob
with their 43mm inverted Dual Bend-
ing Valve fork and its performance is
exemplary—whether you're used to
old H-D's or not—and when matched
to the excellent performance of the
single monoshock out back, the ride
is smooth and enjoyable but capable
of sustaining a good canning when
required.
The overall ride is substantially
stiffer than before, which is a good
thing in my book, but it might put off
a few H-D purists in that the 'Bob
(Left) You can really
get after it on the new
Softail Fat Bob but like
all Harleys, it has its
limits. (Right) The wide
and flat bar makes for
great controllability
and comfort.
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