2010–2011 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
Disc Wheels, Genuine American Thunder
The Fat Boy is Harley's boulevard statement made literal. Solid cast disc wheels, a fat 200-section rear tire, and a wide, muscular stance give it presence you can read from across a parking lot. Underneath sits the counterbalanced 1584 cc air-cooled 45° V-twin, sending 94 lb-ft to the rear belt through a 6-speed box. The hidden Softail rear suspension keeps the clean hardtail silhouette while soaking up the road. At 728 lb it carries its metal proudly, and in this segment that mass is the point, not an apology.
On the road it trades outright pace for character. Sixty-six horsepower won't hurry you, but the low-rpm torque and 27.5-inch seat make relaxed cruising effortless, and the low center of gravity settles the weight once you're rolling. It's built for riders who want the look, the sound, and the ritual more than corner speed or touring range. The honest caveats: it's heavy at walking pace, the fork offers no adjustment, and the 5.0-gallon tank keeps your legs stretched between fill-ups. Buy it for what it is and it rewards you daily.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 66 hp (49 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 94 lb-ft (127 Nm) @ 3,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 1584 cc |
| Engine | 45° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 292 mm |
| Front tire | 140/75R17 |
| Rear tire | 200/55R17 |
| Wheelbase | 64.5 in (1638 mm) |
| Seat height | 27.5 in (699 mm) |
| Wet weight | 728 lb (330 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.0 gal (18.9 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Safety
Thumb the starter and the V-twin settles into that unmistakable lope, loud enough to announce you without shouting. The engine is rigid-mounted, so a fine tremor comes up through the tank and pegs at idle, then smooths as the revs climb. Your feet sit forward, your back stays upright, and your hands fall to a wide bar that puts you in command without strain. Pull onto the open road and the Fat Boy plants itself, tracking arrow-straight while the belt drive runs quiet and clean beneath you. From the saddle the solid wheels and thick castings fill your view, and every glance down confirms the money went into the metal rather than the brochure. It sounds and feels like a machine with weight behind every word.
None of this comes from my own saddle time. It's what I've gathered from riders over the years, in talk at gatherings, chats with owners, and the notes people send me directly. Line it up and the Fat Boy tells one steady story.
Two things dominate nearly every conversation. Owners point first to the look, those cast disc wheels and beefy front tire giving it a presence they say nothing else matches. Right beside it, the big V-twin wins them over with generous low-rpm torque and a lope that makes relaxed cruising the appeal. Many are surprised how cooperative it stays in slower bends for something this size, and on longer days the seating keeps rider and passenger comfortable, two-up included.
The complaints are fewer and land softly. Low-speed work draws the most: some owners admit the mass takes real effort at parking pace until confidence builds. The concealed rear end earns its own mention for offering little give, so a sharp bump can reach you in the seat. And a few highway riders notice the wide wheels catching a strong crosswind, enough to keep them nudging the bar straight.
Body Control Module (BCM) water intrusion (2011 recall)
Certain 2011 Softail models built between June 7 and October 8, 2010, may have an improperly sealed Body Control Module (BCM) that allows water intrusion, which can cause the engine to stall. A recall was issued to replace the BCM.
Where this Harley-Davidson Softail Fat Boy FLSTF 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 Softail Fat Boy FLSTF is actually built for.
This is your bike. Sound, presence, and those solid disc wheels read right from every angle, and you're buying into a culture the Fat Boy delivers at full volume.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
For quiet two-lane miles through small towns, the low seat and lazy torque suit the pace. Just plan your stops around the 5.0-gallon tank and settle into the rhythm.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
Big cross-country miles two-up are a stretch here. No wind protection, a 5.0-gallon tank, and 728 pounds mean you'll work for it. Great for shorter hauls, not the long grind.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2007–2009
Solid Discs, Zero Apologies
Compare to the previous model →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 Softail Fat Boy FLSTF. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Successor · 2012
The Original Fat Custom Icon
Competitor · 2010–2012
Factory Chopper, No Apologies
Same Platform · 2010–2011
Slammed, Blacked-Out, Built Mean