looking at a new seat for my 2011 fatboy ... can i put on a 2011 fatboy low seat and get a difference in ground clearance reach etc ( basically i wanna go down about a inch with out messing with the bikes shocks etc ) ... if not what are the differences ?

 

I don't think it's the seat that makes it a Lo, I think it's the suspension.

 

Could look into a thinner seat. Like my LePera Bare Bones

 

yea ive had a bare bones ... height wise is great ... long rides .. not so great

 

when i bought my 2010 fatboy , i couldnt put my feet flat on the ground.
but i fit perfect on the fatboy low.
low seat is a little narrower at the front so my legs werent spread out as far.

i asked dealer to switch seats for me. he told me low seat wouldnt fit and offered to order an aftermarket seat($$$) i passed.

i took bike home and couple days later i stopped at another dealer and asked parts guy if i could try the low seat on my bike.
it fit perfectly.

i found someone on ebay selling brand new seat( he ordered mustang seat for bike)

so yes, a fatboy low seat will fit on a fatboy.

BUT....
since the seat is narrower at the front, the inside of my right thigh rests against the oil tank. gets pretty hot!!

 

HD makes all sorts of "reach seats" that should help you. Most dealers have test fitting in their shops and seat rental programs to help you decide.

 

yea the idea is .. a friend of mine out west has one .... he wants to give me .. but i dont want to waist his time and money shipping me the seat if its no different than my original one

 

My wife has a 2012 lo. The fat boy lo seat not only has a norrower front, it also moves you forward and inch or so. I can't remember if I've tried but the mounts looks the same as my 2007 Fat Boy. Be aware that the different geometry of the lo seat means you need to use the matching lo pillion, the stock fat boy pillion won't fit right with the lo seat.