Harley-Davidson Softail Fat Bob Dark Custom vs Harley-Davidson Softail Fat Boy Special (2018)

Side-by-side spec comparison, pricing, and a plain-English breakdown of how the Harley-Davidson Softail Fat Bob Dark Customstacks up against the Harley-Davidson Softail Fat Boy Special. Numbers pulled from manufacturer spec sheets — click either bike for the full review.

Spec comparison

SpecHarley-Davidson Softail Fat Bob Dark CustomHarley-Davidson Softail Fat Boy Special
Model year20182016
Price$16,049$21,945
Engine1690 cc1690 cc
Horsepower80 hp78 hp
Torque135 Nm132 Nm
Weight305 kg320 kg
Seat height23 mm26 mm
Fuel capacity5.0 L5.0 L
Fuel typepetrolpetrol
Transmission6-speed6-speed
Front brakesDouble disc. ABS. 4-piston. Double disc. 4-piston. ABS.
Rear brakesSingle disc. ABS. 2-piston.Single disc. 2-piston. ABS.
Tires130/90-B16 / 180/70-B16 140/75-R17 / 200/55-R17

Harley-Davidson Softail Fat Bob Dark Custom vs Harley-Davidson Softail Fat Boy Special — which should you buy?

Picking between the Harley-Davidson Softail Fat Bob Dark Custom and the Harley-Davidson Softail Fat Boy Special usually comes down to the numbers you care about most. On paper, the Harley-Davidson Softail Fat Bob Dark Custom brings 80 hp in a 305 kg package, while the Harley-Davidson Softail Fat Boy Special counters with 78 hp at 320 kg. On price, the Harley-Davidson Softail Fat Bob Dark Custom has the lower MSRP.

Our spec tables above highlight the winning number on each line. For the full rider-focused reviews including real-world fuel economy, service costs and available colors, click into either bike: