Fatbob running costs

[Squashed Nose]

Hello,

I'm thinking of buying a new Fatbob but I'm slightly concerned about the Harley only tyre sizes. Is there a choice of rubber? How do tyres last? What is their cost?
I'm a fast but sensible sports bike rider and I'm used to getting average 13000 from a front and 10 ish from a rear.

How do belts last? I really hate the mess from chains and my only shaftie was a Guzzi V11 Le Mans whose bevel box siezed!

What sort of MPG could I expect? I'd really like a bike that does three days between fills rather than the usual two. My only three day bike thus far was the aforementioned Guzzi which spent a quarter of its life in the workshop being 'repaired'. I would need a range of 180 miles to achieve this.

SN

[Ming the Merciless]

Hi SN

Don't worry about the choice of rubber, as there are plenty of European alternatives to the OE Dunlops. It sounds as though your riding style should deliver reasonable tyre mileages too. Tyre prices vary, but look for a deal that includes all the extras and fitting on your bike - our members will make recommendations for your local area.

The toothed belt is a fantastic product - I've done 50,000 trouble free miles. Loose stones or incorrect tension can destroy a belt though, so look after it and it wll look after you.

MPG of 45 plus should be achievable, again depending on your riding style. Tank ranges of over 150 miles should therefore be commonplace. Get yourself a test ride for a few hours and test the fuel consumption yourself.

Good luck in your quest.

Pete (ex Guzzi 1000 G5 )

[grbrown]

As Pete points out, you have nothing to be concerned about. If you look around here you will see that tyre brands get debated, also the merits of chain over belt. The latest Harley tyres are at last quite decent, but all the European brands make alternatives. Belts are quiet, last ages, don't require frequent maintenance and are more efficient than chains.

Harleys are far more refined bikes than their image might suggest. They're great things and let us know when you have yours!

[Dodzi]

Avon do tyres for the fat bob - a venom/cobra combination is what they've suggested when I mailed them. Have a mate who's running venoms front and rear on an 833 and he loves them! MPG - went out Sunday and thrashed the arse off the fatbob and got 50mpg! - Tank range 180 miles - low fuel light came on at about 160 miles so looks to match your wants all round. Belts pretty much maint free (but keep an eye on the tension just in case). Mucking about with oiling a chain is something I don't miss! Service intervals are 5000 miles - Minor services are pretty much an oil and filter and check round though. I paid £163 at the main dealer for my first 5000 service a couple of weeks ago - which is cheaper than I've paid for services with Jap bikes!

[banquo]

I am on my 4th rear and 2nd front after 35,000 miles. The first front was a Harley Dunlop, from the era in which they were hard wearing but awful (believe they are better now) all the later rears were Metzeler, and the most recent front is a Cobra, which is not as good in the 21" size as the Metzeler (noticeably more tramlining). The wider tyres on the Bob may be completely different though. I am slow, don't do burn ups, and am light on brakes. I get 40 mpg with carb. but travelling with a 96" Glide, he was getting nearer 50, two-up, on mostly motorway at 80 mph.
Servicing is cheap if you do it yourself, expensive at main dealer, if they do it by the book, and reasonable at a good Indy. Mine was dealer serviced during warranty, and they charged far less than the book price by doing only what they considered necessary (like if the engine mountings were already tight, why bother dismantling half the bike to tighten them all over again?0. Make of that what you will.
No problems with belt so far, and is still on the same adjustment for past 25,000 miles, 95% two-up.
Maintenance parts are mostly reasonable, and bolt on goodies are extortionate if you buy Harley parts.
Taking low depreciation into account, it's been an economical choice, although that's not why I bought it, and presumably not why you're buying yours...

[devon.john]

your coming round to may be a more sensible bike choice???
be prepared for the flack from some of your friends, you will get all the tractor jokes .
But also you will find that the old tractor ant as bad as they might think!!
the modern HD IS A GOOD ALL ROUND BIKE most who knock then has never ridden one
if they did there attitude would be a little different, as most of us here have owned and
ridden most makes of bike and have come to love the old v-twin theres an old saying
"theres no substitute for cubes" and i would add to that torque low revving torque
your best bet is go and try as many models as possible there all good in different ways
get your bike then join this club you will be most welcome.
belt done 52,000
consumption 45-50 mpg
170mls per tank
tyres 10,000 back 14,000 front(avon venoms)
oil filters £7
plugs £4each
john

[Squashed Nose]

Thanx geezers,

No, I'm not buying it for economy but I don't want to be lumbered with an expensive lemon (been there, done that). I already love big twins, before my crash last year I took a Yamaha MT01 for a blast and what a hoot! Of course I can't get on one now and their tank range is only about 90 miles (fill up every day!). The Guzzi, when it was running, was absolutely lovely. Took it across Europe and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thanks for the advice, I'm going to arrange a test ride, for sure.

[XL Ged]

Just got 54mpg on my FatBob over a 190 mile ride, 75 on the motorway, 60 on the A roads and a fair few minor roads in the Yorkshire Dales going as fast as was safe.
Don't get caught out by the ground clearance after you've been riding a sports bike, but riding a Harley at 70 on minor roads is as fulfilling as doing the same roads on a sports bike at warp 3.
I've only Harleys for a couple of years now, a Sportster and now the Fat Bob, before that I had a VFR 800 which was brilliant in every way but soooo boring until going fast enough to get you into prison.
Enjoy the test ride.

[Stephen]

if u can aford a new fatbob u can aford to run it, if u r that concerned about cost u would not be thinking about buying one.

Get your services done in warrenty durring the winter months when the dealers
have special offers after warrenty I will be doing my own.

My tyres are 5k old and still have at least another 3k life in the rear, I will get he dealer to change them and check the belt at the same time but I will change the oils,filters brakes ect.

I was concerned about belt life and read they are good for up to 50k unless u pick up a stone and shred it that sods law.

Not sure what my FB does o the gallon,its not as good as my K75 hack I would say 45 ish at a guess it might be more, to be honest I dont care the grins are worth the pennies.

I had an EV1100 a brilliant underated bike not sure if it was any more economical than the FB.
You could go down the same route as me cheap hack for work and winter good bike for fun.

[Dodzi]

I'd be careful about getting te dealer to swap the tyres. Spoke to the service guy at what was Eddie's and he pretty much told me without coming out with it to go else where. He was indicating a £200 about cost for the tyre swap! He also said I'd get the tyres cheaper elsewhere as Harley screwed them down on the price. The guys on here suggest either doing it yourself or taking it to a independent.