I have a 2016 Fat Boy Lo which is one of the most comfortable bikes I've ever been on. Unfortunately, it handles like a truck. I figured that just came with the territory but I've since been on a Fat Bob and a Heritage Classic (with mini ape hangers - loved it) and they handled great. 

Does anyone have any suggestions on what modifications I can do which might help?

Try a forum search on suspension upgrades for softail mate. Plenty on here. Your options are varried from the relatively cheap progressive suspension to costly air ride systems. Gold emulators for the forks or complete cartridge type replacements.

Agree with Hudson. And the fatter rear wheel on your fatboy is never going to corner as easy as the skinnier heritage rear wheel.

Correct me if I'm wrong but asking a fatboy to handle is like asking a sumo to pole vault isn't it

Just checked the specs on the HD website. The 2016 Fatboy low has a 200mm rear tyre. Just like my 2008 FXST.

It's a cunt of a size for a rear tyre. Ok for a car but for a bike just a shithouse decision in the design department. Unless you ride where there are no corners. Then they are great! and feel really solid on the road.

Have not seen many/any threads about trimming down that lard arsed back tyre on this forum yet. No doubt it can be done with $$$$$. Be interesting to see how a 150-160mm back tyre would improve things.

Remember reading an article about riding fast in a magazine not long ago. The summary went some thing like this "If you want to ride faster, forget bike modifications.....take an advanced riding course at a racetrack".

There is an element of truth in that too. Although there are just some cunts who can fricken RIDE!. One very unsavoury character I know could beat me in a race if he were riding my bike and I was riding the fastest bike in the world. Handling sometimes has nothing to do with it.....maybe it's the fear of death?

Oh yeah, welcome to the forum Ptlop. Generally it's considered good manners to do an introduction first before going, "Straight for the clitorous" as Monty Python might say.

I had a 2005 Fatboy that handled pretty good, you had to work it to run the twisty's. The previous posts are right, plenty of good information on this Forum. I would go to the expense of air shocks on the rear and 2 inch over on the front with heavier springs. I went with Progressive Heavy duty front and rear with the 2inch over. {just a foot note, if you do go progressive suspension make sure it's American or some shops give you cheap shit called Progressive suspension from Asia and charge the full price.} This changed the way it steered slightly, however much better around the corners. The suspension was firm with the progressive. You said you like your comfortable set up so spend a bit more for the Air adjustable suspension. Park it or right it in a straight line with that low mean look or jack it up for the corners. The only thing you have to ask yourself is, do you air ride just the back or front and back.

Thank you all for some good advice. I did search for discussions about "handling" but didn't find what I was looking for. Will certainly check out suspension discussions.

Sorry for going straight for the clit. I'm not usually one for posting on forums so this is all new to me.

As for the intro - I've been riding for about 13 years on my old Yamaha XVS650A (otherwise known as the Yamaharley) but only now have had the money to finally get my real Harley. You aren't wrong Far Canal about fear. As I said before, the fatboy Lo is very comfortable - just the right fit for me even though I was very keen on the Deluxe or even the Road King, but I've also shat myself more than once at how easy it is to scrape those floorboards on even medium bends. I've only scraped the floorboards on my old bike maybe 3-4 times in 13 years but the fatboy has scraped maybe half a dozen times in the few months I've had it.

Might just have to slow down a little, enjoy the view and just like myself, accept that being fat and Lo means we don't move as well as those skinny bastards.

For all the people who say a 200 rear tyre is sh!t for handling please tell me how nearly all the later model sports bikes run a 190 tyre. There is not that much difference made by 10 mm. Yes they have different suspension setups and more lean angle but come on, if that was the case then why are mall the sports bikes riding on a 240 rear like the breakout. If that size tyre (190/200) was so rubbish for handling then all the jap sports bikes would be running a 150/160. NONE of the HD cruiser handle great compared to a sports bike. Like wise none are that quick compared to a 1000cc plus sports bike.

But that's not why most people buy them. Spending the $$ to make a Fatboy or any Harley have better handling can only increase the fun factor. And isn't that what its all about?

"...and the fatter rear wheel on your fatboy is never going to corner as easy as the skinnier heritage rear wheel" Hudson, do you not reckon that the skinnier rear wheel will corner easier than the fatter one?

From my personal experience I'd have to agree that to put a "perfect" size on a tyre it would be 180. Yes Fatbat I would agree the 150/160 are easier to handle at lower speeds or without putting in much effort but once you get motoring through some corners personally I think the extra grip from a 180 to 200mm tyre comes into its own.

In all honesty I think the 200 has enough good handling and the great looks of a fat rear. Where as if you go to a much wider and squarer rear like on the Breakouts then yeah you've lost the great cornering abbillity. Again you can probably fiddle the setup on a Breakout to make it better but it's still not going to be as good as a well sorted setup on a 180ish tyre.

I can say that changing my rear from a 140 to a 200 did increase the effort I needed to use to make it turn at a slower speed. But once I was above 60kph I didn't notice the difference much at all. Mind you This was just on a quick "test ride" (without a rear guard or lights on it lol) to much sure everything was working how it should. Again at the end of the day it's a personal choice thing. For me I just like the look of a 200 and don't think they handle that bad.