2024 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 Review: The Truest Harley Among All

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy is among the most popular motorbikes produced by the company. This bike has everything that makes it a true Harley. It offers superior comfort, power, aesthetics, and attractive sound. This bike doesn’t fall short of anything.

The H-D Fat Boy 114 has always remained one of the best-selling motorcycles in the Harley lineup. It has also appeared in the Terminator series, ridden by Arnold Schwarzenegger and other co-actors.

Introduced in the 1990s, the Harley Fat Boy has evolved many times. However, this bike still looks like the original and classic Harley motorbike even in 2024, and this is what the fans love about it.

Like every other model in the 2024 H-D lineup, the 2024 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 doesn’t have anything new. The 2024 model only comes with new color options that the rider can choose from.

However, the H-D Fat Boy 114 is a joy to ride, even in its current form. Continue reading this article to learn in detail about the performance, design, handling, and comfort of the 2024 H-D Fat Boy 114.

Unfortunately, there is nothing new on the 2024 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 except for the new color options.

One of the most interesting facts you will find on the internet regarding the H-D Fat Boy is its name. The name sounds quite odd and exciting at the same time. It is not typical for a major motorcycle brand to name its top cruiser contender as “Fat Boy.”

There is a controversial theory behind the bike's Name. According to a group of people, the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy was named after the two atomic bombs that the U.S. dropped on Japan during World War II.

One of the atomic bombs was “Fat Man,” and the other was named “Little Boy.” So, the name “Fat Boy” became controversial as some people believed it was named to poke Japanese motorcycle brands.

In the late 1980s, Japanese motorcycle manufacturers, including Honda and Suzuki, introduced one of their best cruiser lineups in America. Honda introduced its Shadow lineup, and Suzuki introduced its Intruder series. Introducing Fat Boy was a way to respond to the competition offered by Japanese motorcycle manufacturers.

However, later in 2015, the product development and styling head of Harley-Davidson, Scott Miller, turned down such speculations.

As per the justification provided by the company’s officials, the name “Fat Boy” came from the motorcycle’s wider and bulky appearance.

Also, the name “Fat Boy” had nothing to do with the atomic bombs and Japanese rivals.

The Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 is among the best-looking classic Harley cruisers. Certain unique elements of this bike make it stand out from the rest of the lineup.

This book is available in chrome trim to keep it looking original and stay true to its roots. Considering the type and design of the Fat Boy 114, the blacked-out trim may look better than the chrome.

Let’s start with its super wide and appealing front-end design. The 2024 H-D Fat Boy 114 takes all the attention due to its bulky and wider look. This bike's front end is full of chrome. The front forks feature Beer Can covers for a beefier look.

The Fat Boy 114's headlight is round and small. However, it is beautifully placed inside the protruding chrome nacelle integrated with the front forks.

The beefier front forks are quite raked out to lower the bike’s stance and improve linear performance.

The handlebar installed on the Fat Boy 114 has also received a chrome finish. To complement the overall motorcycle’s design, the handlebar is also quite wide, stylish, and reasonably pulled-back.

However, they are not as much sweptback as other classic cruisers and touring bikes. The chrome side mirrors and bullet-style front turn signals are mounted to the handlebars.

The gas tank installed on the 2024 Fat Boy 114 also has a wider geometry. It has a smooth design with no sharp curves and edges, as found on most aggressive motorbikes. The gauges are also mounted on the gas tank behind the handlebars clamp.

The 2024 H-D Fat Boy 114 is equipped with a two-piece saddle for two-up riding. The foam on the rider seat is adequately scooped to ensure a low seat height . It is designed to be a bit wider and flatter than other Harley models. The passenger seat is also less padded. For a comfortable two-up riding experience, you may be required to update the stock Fat Boy’s seat with an aftermarket one.

The front and rear fenders are chopped to keep the weight low. Still, they are designed perfectly to not compromise on their looks. The rear fender is quite wide, with a narrow bar-shaped LED tail light attached.

The most prominent feature of the Harley Fat Boy 114 is its machined and solid Lakester cast aluminum disc wheels. To complement its overall wider look, a wider rear tire is installed.

Harley-Davidson motorcycles are all about torque. These motorcycles are tuned to produce a substantial amount of torque to pull these bikes with a greater force. Likewise, the Harley Fat Boy 114 is not an exception.

This bike produces exceptional torque of 161.34 Nm at 3,000 rpm. The Fat Boy 114 may not be the fastest as it is not designed for it. However, you will feel the grunt and thrust as soon as you twist the throttle.

The torquey engine, lower stance, and wider tires provide substantial traction and grip, making rides more fun and enjoyable. You will never feel bored riding the Fat Boy 114 on a straight road.

The acceleration that this bike produces is also more than sufficient to keep the experienced riders engaged in the experience.

If you have previously ridden a Harley with a Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine, you will not find the Fat Boy 114 falling short of power. The Milwaukee-Eight 114 installed on the 2024 Fat Boy 114 is no less when it comes to producing sheer torque and power that can compete with an M-8 117 engine.

The 2024 H-D Fat Boy 114 also produces a decent horsepower of 94 hp at 4,750 rpm, which may not be impressive but is still enough for a smooth ride.

The Fat Boy 114 was initially designed for cruising. You can cruise on this bike all day long without being uncomfortable. You can ride it at 60-70 mph on motorways and straight roads without requiring more. However, you can also pick the pace up, as it offers enough grunt.

As the name suggests, the sound produced by the H-D Fat Boy 114 is deep, throaty, and quite addictive. You will never get enough of this sound, which is too good to hear. The throaty sound it produces justifies the wide and fat look of this bike. Undoubtedly, the H-D Fat Boy 114 is among the best-sounding Harleys for most fans and enthusiasts.

You must avoid the urge to keep pushing this bike fast, not only because it is powerful but because the exhaust note sounds too addictive.

Stability is one of the most notable aspects of this bike. The Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 is among the most stable cruisers you will find in the market, thanks to its wide tires. You can comfortably cruise at highway speeds without being worried about getting unstable.

The Fat Boy 114 feels the most comfortable and easy to ride on straight roads. This bike also has a cruise control feature that can be turned on.

Considering these features, the Harley Fat Boy 114 gives riders a tough time when it comes to turning corners. The low-centered mass, heavier front end, and low ground clearance make it difficult for this bike to turn and change direction.

It is challenging to ride this bike, particularly on a twisty road, if you are new to motorcycling. The rider requires great experience, skills, and strong muscles to force this bike to change direction.

It is not like the H-D Fat Boy doesn’t want to turn because it is bulky and fitted with wide tires. You can still make small turns and lean this bike comfortably if you are experienced in handling a heavyweight bike.

The Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 is designed to be something other than nimble. If you want a sportier performance from a cruiser, this bike is not for you. You must go for the sports cruisers if you want both comfort and sportier performance.

Before you buy this bike, you must familiarize yourself with it first. Considering its build and style, this bike is perfect for cruising and linear performance. It has a substantially wider rear tire and a quite wide front tire. The seat height is quite low, and so is the ground clearance.

The best part about the H-D Fat Boy 114 is its top-class comfort and ergonomics. It is one of the most comfortable cruisers on the market. You can cover miles on this bike in a single go without having to worry about back pain and fatigue. This bike knows how to keep your back and buttocks happy on longer rides.

Talking about the rider triangle, the Fat Boy 114 offers the most perfect riding position . The rider can comfortably place their feet on the forward-mounted floorboards while cruising. The foot controls are neither too far away nor mid-mounted, ensuring a perfect spot for riders to place their feet.

The handlebars are quite wide for better control over the bike while handling. They are nicely swept back with a pulled-back angle that doesn’t make riders sit in a slouched or too relaxed riding position. The seat position and handlebars make riders sit upright, which is comfortable for long rides.

The seat height is low, reaching only 25.9 inches above the ground. This, along with the perfect handlebars and foot control positions, makes the H-D Fat Boy 114 ideal for riders of all sizes.

The coolest thing about Harley-Davidson motorcycles like the Fat Boy 114 is their ability to be customized. They are built to be readily customizable, and the availability of hundreds and thousands of aftermarket and original Harley parts makes the Fat Boy 114 a great option.

In the stock form, the Harley Fat Boy 114 is a classic cruiser. With a few upgrades and additions, it can be turned into a phenomenal touring bike for long-distance. All you need to do is to add a windscreen, saddlebags , sissy bars , and crash bars to take this bike for long-haul tours.

There is nothing that needs to be changed in terms of ergonomics or rider triangle, as the Fat Boy is built with comfort as the main priority.

The 2024 H-D Fat Boy 114 has a base price of $21,999, which seems quite a lot for someone who is not a Harley fan. The 2024 model year costs $800 more than the 2024 model year, which is quite a lot, considering there is no upgrade in the latest model.

The Fat Boy 114 is one of the most classic models in the Harley lineup, not only in terms of appearance. This bike also has nothing more to offer than the standard ABS and cruise control in the tech package.

Considering such a basic tech package, this bike falls under the expensive category. However, it is a Harley with loads of chrome, classic style, and comfort.

The wide tires installed on the H-D Fat Boy make it a hard-to-ride bike. It is an overall bulky bike with low seat height, low ground clearance, and better linear performance. There is no problem riding a Fat Boy 114 as long as the road is straight.

However, as soon as you hit a road full of turns and twisties, the ride will become challenging. Considering the size of its tire, the Fat Boy 114 doesn’t support sharp turning. The rider has to take wider turns than usual on the Fat Boy 114.

As long as you are riding in a straight line, the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 is a fast motorbike. It picks up the pace pretty nicely. The 1,869 cc Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-Twin engine makes this bike reach a top speed of 110 mph .

Harley-Davidson always stays in the trend. These bikes are still the most popular in the U.S. Considering their value for the money, brand image, and quality, Harley-Davidson motorcycles are noted to retain their worth.

The depriciation rate of Harley-Davidson motorcycles is found to be slow. They have a high resale value compared to other motorcycles.

It is good to see that Harley-Davidson sticks to its tradition and heritage with the Fat Boy 114. This bike is considered to be the truest Harley among all models. Its style, design, build, performance, and comfort will remind you of the true Harley-Davidson soul and character.

For those who love canyon carving and take corners confidently, there are better bikes than the Harley Fat Boy 114. It loves to be ridden on linear roads. The wide tires installed on the Fat Boy 114 make it difficult to operate on twisty roads. It doesn’t change direction easily, mainly if you are new to motorcycling.

Nonetheless, the H-D Fat Boy 114 offers substantial torque and acceleration for an exciting riding experience. There is a lot of grunt available as you twist the throttle, and the engine sound is addictive.