2018 Harley-Davidson Fat Bob- What else can you buy?

Harley Davidson has launched the 2018 Fat Bob in India at Rs 13.99 lakhs (ex-showroom, India). The bike directly competes with the Indian Scout and the Triumph Thunderbird Storm. In that price range, the Indian two-wheeler market offers bikes across various segments. There are a few adventure tourers, streetfighters, and cruisers and there also is a supersport. Here is what the list looks like.

Since the Harley- Davidson Fat Bob is a power cruiser, let’s look at bikes that are closely similar to that segment. Cruisers like the Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber and Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer, like most Italians, are complete head-turners. Their distinctive looks and unique transverse-mounted V-twin engine make the bikes stand out. Both have a price tag of Rs 13.22 lakhs.

You can also look at streetfighters like the BMW R1200 R and Aprilia Dorsoduro 900. The BMW is powered by 1170cc boxer-twin liquid-cooled engine that develops 124bhp of power and 125Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox that sends power to the rear wheels through a shaft drive. It is priced at Rs 14.61 lakhs. The Aprilia Dorsoduro 900 is the manufacturer’s only entrant in this list. It uses an 896cc V-Twin engine that is mated to a six-speed gearbox and puts out 95.2bhp and 90Nm of torque. The bike is priced at Rs 13.45 lakhs. 

Another popular segment is the adventure touring segment. For the price of a Fat Bob, you could lay your hands on five motorcycles from this segment. There is the Honda Africa Twin which uses a 998cc parallel-twin engine that produces 86bhp and 92Nm of torque through a six-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT). It carries  a Rs 13.14 lakhs price tag. Triumph also offers dedicated off-road adventure motorcycles in the form for the Tiger XCA and Tiger XCx. The XCA is the most expensive Tiger 800 in India at Rs 14.37 lakhs and is loaded to the brim, while the XCx has lesser features and costs Rs 13.41 lakhs. Both the bikes sport an 800cc three-pot engine. This engine delivers 94bhp and 79Nm of torque through a six-speed transmission.

The above mentioned bikes come shod with wire wheels to accentuate their off-road capabilities. On the other hand, Ducati offers bikes that are more focused on touring than off-roading. On offer is the Multistrada 950 and its elder sibling, the Multistrada 1200. The Multistrada 950 uses a 937cc Testastretta liquid-cooled L-twin engine that produces a maximum power of 113bhp and maximum torque of 96Nm. The Multistrada 1200 also sports a Testastretta L-Twin although this unit is 1,198cc. It produces 157bhp and 136Nm of torque. The smaller Multistrada is priced at Rs 13.34 lakhs while the 1200 is priced at Rs 14.46 lakhs.

Another offering from Ducati is the supersport 959 Panigale. The bike is fully track-focused and uses a L-twin Superquadro engine displaces 955cc, and produces 157bhp and 107Nm of torque. It is priced at Rs 14.87 lakhs.

All prices are ex-showroom, Mumbai.