Harmonious Concept Guides Fat Boy Build

Makeover Meaning

The Harley-Davidson Fat Boy radiates attitude. It struck a chord with enthusiasts when it debuted in 1990 and has been a bestseller ever since. Treated to a makeover in 2018, the Motor Company pushed the iconic design into the contemporary. Thunderbike in Hamminkeln, Germany, took the concept one step further, blending a harmonious approach with personal meaning.

Photos courtesy of Thunderbike

Custom Motivation

For Jay, Thunderbike's customer, the custom bike carries a heavy, but cathartic significance. He once owned an early Softail Fat Boy but sold it when he met his wife so they could have a little money together. Sadly, his wife recently passed away. On Thunderbike's YouTube channel, Jay explained his motivation behind wanting to do a custom build.

Shiny Preference

Already the owner of four other Harley-Davidsons, Jay shared that this project was his way to “deal with the grief.” Unlike the current trend for matte finishes, he opted to keep the Fat Boy shiny, stating “chrome is my thing.” He qualified his preference with, “I'm a child of the Easy Rider era,” noting that he had attended the 1969 movie theater premiere.

Rich Scheme

To complement the chrome, Thunderbike had Kruse Design apply the bike's rich tones. Masterpainter Ingo Kruse has run his shop in Kamen, Germany for over forty years. Inspired by another Thunderbike build, Jay opted for the same scheme of red tones on black, with gold accents. He emphatically stated, “These are exactly the colors I wanted but on a Fat Boy.”

Aluminum Offering

The other big visual change to the Fat Boy was with the rolling stock. Jay decided to swap out the trademark solid cast rims for a set of 'Spoke Wheels.' Machined from aluminum, the fifteen spoke design is one of many proprietary offerings from the Thunderbike catalog. The same look is now reflected on the 2022 Fat Boy with its 'Lakester' wheels.

Muscular Workout

To further accent the chunky forks, Thunderbike bumped up the stock 18'' front wheel to 21''. The taller front end was balanced out by fitting a wider cross-section tire to the rear, along with a cut-down fender. A Thunderbike 'GP Style' chin fairing rounds out the overall look. The whole design workout gives the Fat Boy a more muscular appearance.

Attitude Switch

The 114 cubic-inch Milwaukee-Eight motor was left stock, minus a few Thunderbike dress-up items. Retaining the factory look and sound, a Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde exhaust system was mounted. The stealthy setup allows for quiet running or a decibel-pumping open pipe at the flick of a switch. A set of angular Flip II handlebars provide just the right amount of attitude adjustment.

Mega Harmony

Thunderbike described Jay's bike as “Sitting low, fists in the wind, lots of chrome and colorful paint. What a mega appearance!” As for Jay, he was stoked. Despite it being a chilly day he took the reworked Fat Boy on a long ride—a fitting way to celebrate the past, while adding some (V-Twin) harmony to life.

>>Join in the conversation about this Fat Boy build right here in Harley-Davidson Forums.

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