Harley-Davidson marks Fat Boy 30th birthday

Harley-Davidson is celebrating the 30th birthday of one of its most famous models, the Fat Boy, with a special 114-cube limited-edition model.

The Fat Boy 30th Anniversary Limited Edition will sell for $A35,995 ($NZ38,495) ride away which compares with the current Fat Boy S with 114 cube at $33,995.

This model also includes special bronze and black paint, satin black Lakester wheels, blacked-out engine and special logos.

It is limited to 2500 bikes, each serialised with a number plate on the tank console.

A Harley-Davidson Australia spokeswoman says there will be an allocation coming here based on expressions of interest.

“So we encourage anyone interested to head into their local dealerships,” she says.

The mid-year model release comes as Harley has also announced a Road Glide will be added to the 2020 CVO range.

Fat Boy birthday

The Fat Birthday Boy is one of the most iconic models in Harley’s long list of bikes.

It was actually introduced in 1989 as a 1990 model and designed by legendary Harley stylists Willie G. Davidson and Louie Netz.

In 1991, it was ridden by Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2: Judgement Day which featured a chase scene in which the bike performed a spectacular jump in the LA sewers. Read more about that famous jump here.

In 2018, one of the film’s Fat Boys ridden by Arnie sold at auction for $US480,000 (about $A631,500).

Last year Lego even honoured the model with a special scale-model toy standing 20cm high, 18cm wide and 33cm long and made of 1023 pieces.

Harley styling boss Brad Richards says the Fat Boy was a modernised version of the 1949 Hydra-Glide.

“For this 30th Anniversary Limited Edition model we wanted to create something very special, so we leaned into the popularity of darker finishes and a limited run/serialised strategy to make the bike truly unique and exclusive.”