1990 Harley-Davidson 1,338cc FLSTF Fat Boy

Designed in a Missouri garage, by a mechanical engineer, Bill Davis, in the 1970s, the patent for the “softail” was purchased by Harley-Davidson, first incorporating it in to a purpose-built frame in 1984. Designed to look like a traditional hard tail, the rear of the chassis is a swingarm with cleverly concealed springs, allowing for a far more comfortable ride.

Introduced in 1990, the FLSTF Fat Boy combined components from the Softail Custom and Heritage Softail Classic in a futuristically styled (from a 1950s standpoint) package that proved instantly popular. Arnold Schwarzenegger famously riding one in Terminator 2 didn’t hurt the image, either. Thereafter, dealerships couldn’t keep them in stock and Milwaukee struggled to meet global demand. The popularity of the model, while ebbed and flowed, has never died and after a quarter century is still being made, testament to its enduring appeal.

The motorbike offered

This first-year Fat Boy hails from a substantial and discerning private California collection of significant Harleys. In very good overall condition, in defiance of the indicated 27,484 miles on the odometer. The bike is reported to be in fine running condition.