Hey guys, first off I do plan on test riding each in a couple weeks, but wanted the "experts" opinion. What is the difference in handling between the deluxe and fatboy? How much do the bigger tires effect the handling on the fatboy? I am leaning towards a fatboy but not going to count out the deluxe till I ride one. I will probably get flamed for this but I hate those white walls

Thanks

 

none!

 

I have an 06 fatboy, my dad has an 08 deluxe. He swears his bike is ten times heavier and mine can dip better. I think I'm just a better rider and he's trying to justify spending so much more money than me hah.

I personally like my fatboy, it seems more sporty and young to me than the deluxe. I'm 22 my dad's 48, I think they both fit us well.

 

NO WW's on mine either..

 

I've ridden both bikes blind folded.....I couldn't tell the difference.

 

they should be virtually the same to ride being two softails of the same traits and characteristics only diferrentiated by the accesories and rims.
ALTHOUGH the disc wheels of the fatboy do affect handling during transversal winds u can feel it on the handlebar since the wind won't pas thtough the front tire as it would on the spoked deluxe, but this is not so harsh,when an 18 wheeler passes by u, u can feel the bike shake from the wind and u have tokeep it steadier,but that's about it,it's no real concern,I drive a fatboy and that sort of thing has never affected my riding,hope it doesn't keep u down.
Never the less,it's a difference between both

 

i rode the heritage and the roadking and the fatboy. the fatboy road like the heritage but the big difference was the radial tires and the feel of the turns and the smoothness of the bumps.

 

i just got the 2010 fatboy lo nice bike seats nice and low for me took it out a couple of times rides nice . i think my 2009 lowrider was a little top heavy..

 

Fatboy, Deluxe and Heritage are all the same basic bike. They all have the same rake, trail and almost the same lean angles. The newer fatboys have the larger rear tire so there may be some difference in the "feel" into and out of corners. But since softails are not really designed to crave the twisties its probably not really noticeable. Biggest difference I feel when riding them is the initial fit. there are differences iin the seat position, handlebars and relationship on the floorboards.

Ride them all and pick what you like.

 

I have a 2009 Fatboy, and I think the 17" radial tires handle excellent. I'm not a big fan of the 200mm rear tire, but it handles great. They will last much longer (mileage) than the old tube-type 16" tires the deluxe has. And, if you needed to "plug" a tire out on the road, you could with the tubeless tires vs. the old tube type. Just my 2 cents.