2009–2012 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
All Attitude, All Custom
The Fat Bob's whole case is stance. Fat 130/90-16 front and 180/70-16 rear rubber on slotted disc wheels, a cut-down rear fender, and a 27.0 in seat put the mass low and the attitude high. Underneath sits the air-cooled 45° V-twin, 1584 cc making 77 hp and 92 lb-ft through a 6-speed box and a belt. Nothing is hidden or apologized for here. The metal is the point, 705 lb wet is the price you pay for it, and the chassis was built with more cornering clearance than the silhouette lets on.
Ownership is old-school in the good way: belt drive, air cooling, and a chassis with nothing to recalibrate. The flip side is that there is no ABS, no traction control, and no cruise control, so your right wrist and the levers are the entire safety net. The front fork takes no adjustment of any kind and the rear shock offers preload only, which means setup ends roughly where the factory left it. This one is for the rider who wants a Harley that looks and sounds like one and still handles a good road. Anyone shopping for distance comfort or electronics should keep walking.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 77 hp (57 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 92 lb-ft (125 Nm) |
| Displacement | 1584 cc |
| Engine | 45° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Front tire | 130/90-16 |
| Rear tire | 180/70-16 |
| Seat height | 27.0 in (686 mm) |
| Wet weight | 705 lb (320 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.1 gal (19.3 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Start it and the beat sets the tone before you have moved an inch. At idle the whole bike rocks gently on its mounts and the pulse comes up through the pegs and the tank, slow and deliberate. Pull away and it thins out into something you feel more than hear, with the exhaust note filling in behind you. The riding position is open and upright, the seat low enough that both boots land flat, and the wide front tire gives the bars a purposeful weight you steer with rather than fight. Bring it up to road speed and the whole thing planes out and sits still. You notice the mass most below walking pace in a parking lot, and least once the road opens up.
None of this is my verdict. It comes from years of listening to riders: talk at rallies and club nights, owners comparing notes after a ride, and the letters and messages that arrive directly. What comes back on the Fat Bob is steady enough that the shape of it is easy to see. The praise is broad. The complaints are few and very specific.
Handling comes up first with most of them. Riders report that the bike changes direction more willingly than they were ready for from a cruiser, and they point at the fat rubber and the chassis when asked why. The engine gets the same level of agreement. Owners describe torque sitting there low in the range, so a roll-on works without winding anything out. Riders piling on the years add durability to the list, saying the motor and drivetrain simply keep going when the servicing gets done.
Ask about the downsides and the answer is usually the back end. Owners talk about bumps arriving undiluted at the seat, and the heavier ones say it turns punishing on bad surfaces. Riders who like to modify raise something different: there is less on the shelf to bolt onto this one than they had counted on. Low-speed weight surfaces now and then, from noticeably fewer voices.
Front fork spring recall (2010)
A small number of 2010 models were assembled with incorrect fork springs, which can compromise handling and safety.
Fuel tank vent tube recall (2009)
A defective ultrasonic weld on the anti-slosh valve in the fuel tank can separate, potentially causing a fuel leak if the motorcycle is tipped over. Fire risk.
Drive belt misalignment and engine mount wear
Worn rubber engine mounts or improper rear wheel alignment can lead to drive belt misalignment, causing accelerated belt and pulley wear. Inspect belt and mounts on used models.
Front brake clunk when cold
Some owners report a clunk or cracking noise from the front brake when applied cold, which usually disappears after a few uses. Often traced to steering head bearings needing adjustment.
Electrical system gremlins
A few owners have experienced complete electrical system replacement before 30,000 miles, with lingering minor issues like intermittent warning lights.
Where this Harley-Davidson Dyna Fat Bob FXDF pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Dyna Fat Bob FXDF is actually built for.
This is your bike. It looks the part parked in a row of them, it sounds right at low speed down a packed main street, and it still holds its own on the road out of town.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
For unhurried days on old highways it works well, with enough clearance for real corners. Just plan around 5.1 gal and a bike that offers nothing in the way of weather protection.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
Honest answer: this is the wrong tool for big days. No cruise control, no luggage, no windscreen, and 5.1 gal of fuel means you're stopping long before your legs want to.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Harley-Davidson Dyna Fat Bob FXDF. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
