Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Anniversary Model 2020

HARLEY-DAVIDSON A STYLE
ICON WITH THE NEW FAT BOY 3OTH ANNIVERSARY

The anniversary model appears in a limited edition

MILWAUKEE (02/03/2020) – The introduction of the Fat Boy 30th Anniversary honors a rolling legend. The anniversary bike is covered in deep dark paint with bronze accents and is powered by a black-coated “Milwaukee-Eight 114” engine. Only 2,500 of this limited edition will be made and each machine will have a numbered plaque on the fuel tank console.

“Fat Boy” was an unusual name for a motorcycle that caused quite a stir when it was introduced in 1990. “We modernized the look, proportions and silhouette of a 1949 Hydra Glide for a new generation of riders,” said Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson vice president of styling and design.

“Fat Boy buyers liked our post-war design DNA, but were also drawn to the clean lines of contemporary industrial design. We have also incorporated both elements in the current look of the Fat Boy, which the machine has had since the 2018 model year. But we wanted to create something very special for our style icon's 30th birthday. That’s why we gave the anniversary bike a completely dark finish and strictly limited the edition to make this machine even more extraordinary and exclusive.”

The Fat Boy 30th Anniversary

The Fat Boy 30th Anniversary, offered in a limited edition, celebrates three decades of powerful, fascinating design and combines its fascinating reinterpretation with a classic Harley paint job in Vivid Black.

Its Lakester alloy solid disc wheels are finished in Satin Black with milled edges and the black "Milwaukee-Eight 114" drivetrain is equipped with covers in Gloss Black, while the bronze colored lower rocker covers and the lettering on the timer cover add strong accents. Harley-Davidson coated the exhaust system in Black Onyx, a robust vapor deposition finish that reveals the underlying chrome layer depending on the light. Vivid Black headlight housings, handlebars and foot controls and new bronze tank logos complete the dark look that sets this machine apart from traditional Fat Boy production models.

FAT BOY 3OTH ANNIVERSARY HARLEY-DAVIDSON MODEL 1

FAT BOY 3OTH ANNIVERSARY HARLEY-DAVIDSON MODEL 2

FAT BOY 3OTH ANNIVERSARY HARLEY-DAVIDSON MODEL 3

FAT BOY 3OTH ANNIVERSARY HARLEY-DAVIDSON MODEL 4

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FAT BOY 3OTH ANNIVERSARY HARLEY-DAVIDSON MODEL 6

The Fat Boy is a member of the Softail family and since the introduction of the new Softail platform in the 2018 model year, the latest generation of the Fat Boy makes the powerful presence of the original 1990 model even more noticeable. Its massive front end is crowned by an LED headlight in a newly shaped housing. The Lakester alloy solid disc wheels are also reminiscent of the very first Fat Boy and at the same time accentuate its style. A 160 at the front and a 240 at the rear underline the cool factory custom look.

The Softail frame and suspension components create a rigid and lightweight chassis that contributes to handling and performance that will impress even the most demanding cruiser fans. Thanks to the triangular swing arm and the central spring strut hidden under the seat, a classic line is achieved that is reminiscent of a rigid frame. The spring base of the monoshock can be adjusted hydraulically by hand depending on the load.

The Fat Boy 30th Anniversary is powered by a Milwaukee-Eight 114, the most powerful engine that Harley-Davidson offers in the Softail model family. The V-Twin has a decisive influence on the look, sound and feel of a Softail. Since it is rigidly connected to the frame, it also increases chassis rigidity. Two balancer shafts reduce its vibrations to the level that Softail fans appreciate.

The birth of an icon

In 1989, Harley-Davidson presented the first Fat Boy, a machine for the 1990 model year. Its look came from the pens of designers Willie G. Davidson and Louie Netz, who combined classic Harley-Davidson style elements with a look that was as clean as it was contemporary. To give the impression that the machine was made from solid metal, the Fat Boy was given a monochrome paint finish in Fine Silver Metallic and a frame coated in the matching light color. The bike rolled on alloy solid disc wheels that would become a signature feature of the Fat Boy models, and the rear wheel was perfectly positioned thanks to the Softail frame. The look was extremely massive and powerful, from the fat front tire under the trimmed fender to the wide handlebars to the seven-inch chrome-plated FL-style headlight. Willie G. Davidson also designed the winged tank logo, which has since been reserved for the “Fat Boy” models.

In 1991, the Fat Boy conquered Hollywood when Arnold Schwarzenegger jumped into her saddle for spectacular scenes including a dramatic chase in the blockbuster “Terminator 2: Judgment Day”. The film became a global success and cemented the Fat Boy's reputation as the most powerful statement of the Harley-Davidson brand in markets around the world.

The name Fat Boy

Only Harley-Davidson could have come up with the idea of calling a motorcycle Fat Boy. Willie G. Davidson describes how this came about in his book “100 Years of Harley-Davidson”:

You might be wondering how we came up with the name “Fat Boy.” I've heard many stories about this, and they're almost all wrong. Here's the real story: It's not easy to find a name for a motorcycle that will be known and loved by our fans. So the first question we always have to ask ourselves is: “What will the fans out there on the street call the bike?” We were looking for something unusual and maybe even slightly disrespectful, because after all, your own work should make you grin every now and then bring. For me and for several other insiders who we showed the bike to before the presentation, the machine had a bulky, almost “fat” look. So the marketing people came up with the name “Fat Boy” – and the fans liked it.

Like the entire Softail series, the “Fat Boy” models were repeatedly updated over time and adapted to the requirements of the time. The third generation was released in the 2018 model year - with a completely new chassis and a new engine, the Milwaukee-Eight. Stylistically, the current Fat Boy remains true to its predecessors, from the wide tires to the disc wheels to the huge headlight, and yet it takes their look to the extreme. A Fat Boy is still one of the most impressive motorcycles in the Harley-Davidson portfolio.