2024 Fatboy vs. 2024 Road King Special

[@timbutler3213]

I really liked the road king classic, with the chrome and the white wall tires… That’s the bike I dreamed of for many years when I owned Honda Magna’s.

[@canadiansa1nt309]

Too bad they got rid of it.

[@mark2graves-MC]

Back in 2006 (I think) , I rode a new Fat Boy from Rockford ILL to Sturgis SD, spent a long weekend in the Black Hills, then rode back. It was a ton of fun, I was comfy on the bike even with the original seat, and it did everything I asked of it. Now I own a 2014 Road King and it does everything the Fat Boy did, but it's a noticeable amount more top heavy and a noticeable amount taller (I'm 5' 6" and am never flat-footed on the RK). I enjoy the locking, bigger, and hard bags. I enjoy the suspension. The handling is similar once you're on the go. But I miss the nimble slow speed maneuverability and the lighter weight of the Fat Boy. Both of the bikes are great. I give a slight edge to the Fat Boy if you're rarely going to be 2-up for more than 100 miles and spend most of your riding in traffic with occasional road trips. I give the edge to the Road King if you ride 2-up often and go on several long trips per year.

[@canadiansa1nt309]

Agreed 👍

[@Jluck78]

I’ve ridden both and own a Touring HD. The Road King uses the Touring chassis with full 13” shocks - it sits flat (the way a bike should). The Road King is definitely one of the sportiest handling Harley’s they do well in the twisties; good ground clearance, good brakes (linked) and the chassis is level. The touring frame has done exceptionally well in King of the Bagger racing series, it’s a stout frame.

[@Warthog71]

Excellent breakdown. I do love my 24 Sharkadoo. It truly is a freight train

[@canadiansa1nt309]

Thanks boss 👍

[@darwinortiz6394]

Great and honestly video. I own a 2012 dyna wide glide. I love doing highway riding. I would have to pick the road king. Its fits my riding style more.

[@canadiansa1nt309]

Nothing wrong with a “King”. Classic Harley Davidson 👍

[@ed.t.hansen6499]

ez to add the hammock seat, that is the best I've seen. Wish both had bigger lean angles.

[@innerverse1809]

Idk, I'd argue the road king standard is one of the most iconic

[@innerverse1809]

Fat boy certainly is right there next to it though

[@revfreemoto]

Great video!! Two amazing motorcycles!!

[@canadiansa1nt309]

Thanks boss 👍

[@thomaskavney4656]

I have the road king special and I do agree with you in my opinion the road king and the fat boy have got to be 2 of the best Harleys I mean don't get me wrong harley davidson makes a nice line of motorcycles it just happens that my 2 favorite are the road king and the fat boy

[@canadiansa1nt309]

Definitely agreed 👍

[@jwright1776]

They need to offer the fat boy blacked out. That’d be AWESOME. And the RKS in chrome for all the old school chrome lovers out there. The lack of options is criminal

[@canadiansa1nt309]

I wouldn’t see an issue with that. The 30th anniversary blacked out Fatboy in 2020 looked pretty good.

[@sleezy5914]

If you dont mind me asking, what relocation kit did you use to change where the license plate is? On Harley's website they show the licenseplate on the side near the breaklight.

[@canadiansa1nt309]

I didn’t have to move it. Models for Canada come with the plate on the back already. I believe it is because of our regulations here.

[@sleezy5914]

@@canadiansa1nt309 Gotcha, thanks for the quick response. I am sure someone has made a video or something about it.

[@theatwaters7675]

Fatboy is my bike of choice. I love the aggressive look to it. I fell in love with that sportier look which made me purchase the 2023 model last year. I find myself looking at the other bikes, but the Fatboy has me like the Matrix 😂.

[@canadiansa1nt309]

I don’t blame you. It’s a fantastic bike.

[@2021FLHRXS]

Never ridden a fatboy but probably is a great riding bike. But I like my RKS great comfort for them longer rides

[@canadiansa1nt309]

You’d probably like the Fatboy if you like the RKS.

[@seanpenny4580]

very informative. passed it along to a friend who was torn between the two. helped him make up his mind hopefully :) Personally I'd go wit the Fat Boy because I already enjoy and love 2 other fat tire bikes and have a deep respect for the iconic Fat Boy styling

[@canadiansa1nt309]

Sounds good to me 👍

[@rjmockett]

Both great bikes . Thanks for posting

[@canadiansa1nt309]

No problem boss

[@Telewest792]

Great comparison i have just traded 2 2013 Cvo Harley’s for a new fat boy in shark skin blue and i love it ,the seat on my Cvo road glide was by far more comfortable but i switched out the fat boy standard seat for a sundowner solo seat and it is a lot better for longer distances ,in all the fat boy is a trip back to the old school no fuss riding that we started on back in the day no screen no bags just the wind and you riding the back roads love it .

[@canadiansa1nt309]

Definitely agreed 👍

[@mickeygaines007]

I have not been on an M8 Fat Boy but I do hear that monoshock is really good. I traded my 110 Twin Cam Fat Boy S for my current 22 Road King Special. It was hard to let that Fat Boy S go, amazing looking bike. Just wanted an M8, more touring comfort, and storage right of the showroom floor. I take lots of longer rides and live in Iowa where you have to carry extra clothes most of the year. Did a Stage 2, LePera seat, and a whole list of other things to it and love it.

[@canadiansa1nt309]

The Fatboy S is a fine bike. But it sounds like you found the right ride with the King 👑

[@mark2graves-MC]

What armored gloves are those?

[@canadiansa1nt309]

They are Mechanix tactical gloves. I’ve had them for several years and I don’t think they make that exact type anymore. But their M-Pact series is close.

[@cornbread8246]

RKS is the way to go. So many options open to that platform. I ride a RKS and would not consider owning any other HD.

[@canadiansa1nt309]

👍

[@bramblr]

BEAUTIFUL and comfortable GOLDENPEARL

[@jaycosta7204]

Great video and comparison!! But to me , the Fat Boy is my favorite. Don't get me wrong, I love the Road King, definitely has that old school styling of the old FL style bikes. But you can put on as much miles on a Fat Boy as you would on a Road King, and do a lot of touring on one also ( which I have done ). All you have to do is get a better seat upgrade, maybe some new handgrips, ect. I have gone on many long trips on my 02 Fatty. My very first long road trip ( for me ) was from Southeastern Massachusetts to Lake George NY, 450 miles one way , took the backroads. Awesome ride. On the way home we switched it up and rode some highway to break it up a little. I would call the Fat Boy a crusier/touring model. That's just my opinion. And with a little imagination and customization, you can have a BAD ASS looking bike . Also, thank you again for showcasing my bike back in early May. Much appreciated 💯🤘🏻!! Keep up the great work and ride safe 💯🤘🏻

[@canadiansa1nt309]

Thanks boss. You too. 👍

[@shawnjoseph7522]

Can't wait for road king 117 standard version

[@canadiansa1nt309]

Hopefully in another year or two.

[@Bkamaclean]

I had the 2021 RKS in snake venom...I did a stage2 with Zippers 468 cam...I rode it for 3 seasons...40,000 kilometers. I tried the cruise control just to see if it worked...the RDRS didn't seem necessary to me. Loved the bike...just got tired of the same thing after riding for 3 seasons...I have a Streetbob now with a 5 gallon Fatboy fuel tank on it...I'll ride for 3 seasons again and see what I want to do after that...a Fatboy or Breakout may be next on my list. You are right..the softail and RKS are similar in ride...the RKS suspension isn't the greatest as it comes from the factory...I upgraded the rear shocks as well. Not sure why the RKS had a big price increase from around $27500 to over $30000 when no changes were made to it as the other touring models. The other touring models had major upgrades but the prices dropped for 2024.

[@canadiansa1nt309]

Sounds like you’ve had some sweet rides 👍

[@Bkamaclean]

@@canadiansa1nt309 yeah I think I am on bike 42...probably 80% of them Harleys.

[@MrBigjdub76]

Fatboy, for the chrome. If the RK still came in chrome trim then I would pick that.

[@canadiansa1nt309]

It would be nice if the King came in chrome again.

[@aace6000]

it does!

[@Hellbentbiker]

Couldn’t agree more. A lot of it comes down to your typical use, which one visually pleases you most, and which one puts a bigger smile on your face. I may be in the minority here but I think I am going to trade in my street glide for the fat boy. I love the look of the fat boy and very much miss the simplicity and rawness of an open front. Longer trips never bother me much on a cruiser compared to a touring bike either.

[@canadiansa1nt309]

Nothing wrong with trading the glide for a fatty 👍

[@javonbrandon]

Have you done a trike video yet

[@canadiansa1nt309]

Funny you should ask. I’ll be putting up a video on the Freewheeler this Saturday.

[@kingkrimson8771]

One major difference in the engines in these two models that wasn't mentioned - the Road King uses a rubber-mounted engine with a single counterbalance shaft, and the Fat Boy uses a solidly-mounted engine with twin counterbalance shafts. Less parasitic power loss in the RK would account for the difference in HP ratings for the two engines.

[@canadiansa1nt309]

👍

[@georgiosmaragkoudakis5570]

Another major differrence but very well hidden is the cylinders exhaust valves OIL COOLING of the "air cooled" M8's touring models (with the very low mounted oil coolers) versus "originaĺ air cooled" with standard type oil coolers for applicable cruiser models. I believe that's the major reason for differences in Screaming Eagle products between cruiser and touring models.

[@bramblr]

I ride a 06fatboy cvo 103 comfortable with the riding I do have done sme 3 to 5 hundred miles

[@canadiansa1nt309]

Those CVO Fatboys had some wild colours.

[@alexisvillaroman]

👍👍👍

[@Weirdalbertan]

Now we got to get you to ride an Indian Springfield dark horse and compare it to these two??

[@canadiansa1nt309]

Get a dealer to get me one, haha!

[@oldsparky14]

I own a stage 2 RKS , if I wasn't loosing my job soon , I would buy a Fatboy as 2nd HAD, I will never sell the King

[@canadiansa1nt309]

I have the Fatboy and I would buy an RKS for another bike 👍

[@sonyladesvalery5731]

Fatboy is always be my bike

[@canadiansa1nt309]

Mine too!

[@timbutler3213]

Are you making g any decisions on a new seat for your fat boy yet? You’re right, the seat is uncomfortable after about 15 minutes.

[@revfreemoto]

I recently purchased the Sundowner seat but have yet to install it. I’ll hopefully be doing a review on it soon once I get it installed

[@canadiansa1nt309]

I haven’t really put a lot of thought into it this far

[@canadiansa1nt309]

👍

[@frank-f4l]

i think you are getting itchy to get a roadking

[@canadiansa1nt309]

Nope. Not gonna happen.

[@Freedomone153]

Yep... more rip off for paint. That's just fkec

[@canadiansa1nt309]

That’s true