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1998 Evo Fatboy or 2000 TC Fatboy

  • Adam76
    Adam76
    21 days ago
    Hey guys, 
    After many years of riding twin cams and even owning an M8 for a short while, I'm looking to go back to something old school, classic, carburetor and easy to work on. 

    Is there any love for the Evo bikes out there still? are they still a sought after year / era bike? Do they hold their value?

    I know the early 2000 - 2002 softail TCs had the good crank and the CV carb which I like. And you can do a 95" / 98" big bore kit pretty easily with the 88" motors. But being a Twin Cam they're a completely different animal. 

    Both in good condition seem to be priced similarly. 
    Any thoughts appreciated. 
    Cheers. 
  • Hilly
    Hilly
    21 days ago
    98 Evo is a solid choice, all the bugs ironed out by 14 years of on road development 😁
    2000 twin cams biggest bugbear is the cam chain tensioners, but honestly if you stay on top of them they can't hurt you, being a B engine it does have counterbalance shafts though and they are chain driven with tensioners, for a keeper between the two I think I would favour the 98, choices aye 😁
  • Adam76
    Adam76
    21 days ago
    Hi Hilly, 
    Thanks for your input. 
    I've replaced cam chain tensioners in 99-06 TCs before and it's really not that big of a deal. Although the counterbalancers in the B motor is something to think about with the twin cams. 
    I like the fact that with an Evo you're dealing with a single gear driven camshaft instead of two chain driven cams which is simpler and cleaner. 
  • Benno
    Benno
    20 days ago
    "Is there any love for the Evo bikes out there still? are they still a sought after year / era bike? Do they hold their value?"

    You don't see a whole lot of them around my area (FNQ) anymore, but they always catch my eye when I do see them. I would like to think they are still sought after, I have two of them and I luv riding them. I think they would me more popular with older riders at the moment, although a couple of younger chopper guy's I know are starting to put them in ridgid frames, a lot less spanner work required than shovels and pans. They run a bit cooler than my TC wide glide up this way.
    Long live the Evo's. 
  • Adam76
    Adam76
    20 days ago
    I've found a very tidy, low km 1998 Fatboy on Bike Sales, but the guy is asking $18,900...

    I don't know what they're worth, but I could buy a slightly used M8 for that price. 
    What do you reckon it's realistically worth? 
  • Benno
    Benno
    20 days ago
    Quoting Adam76 on 09 Dec 2025 04:07 AMedited: 09 Dec 2025 06:13 AM

    I've found a very tidy, low km 1998 Fatboy on Bike Sales, but the guy is asking $18,900...


    I don't know what they're worth, but I could buy a slightly used M8 for that price. 
    What do you reckon it's realistically worth? 

    If it's the blue one, yes it looks to be in good condition alright. I'm not really a Fatboy fan, now if it was a Grey Ghost well that's collectable. There are plenty of Evo Fatboys on the market of similar age to the one I think your looking at, and most of them are 2-3k cheaper. How much do you luv it, I suppose that will help you with a final offer price range. Used bike sales are very slow at the moment, it's more of a buyers market, I know, I am holding off selling for the time being, hoping prices and demand get better.
    Start the conversation with him, see how keen he is to sell.

  • speedzter
    speedzter
    20 days ago
    Last time I rode an Evo Fatboy, I couldn't get off it quick enough .
    Bad Vibes, and crap handling - maybe it was a dud example !
    Maybe look at a road King ? 
  • Hilly
    Hilly
    20 days ago
    That's a hard one mate, it is a very nice fatty going by the photos and 20000km is low if it's the original speedo, does the service history back it up ?
    I guess you have to work out what you are comfortable with and be prepared to let it go, I've seen them as low as 15k and as high as new M8 prices for other dreamers.
    Photos can hide a lot of "blemishes" as well so if you are buying it sight unseen be aware that many people's idea of looks like new might not be the same as your take.
    Easy for me to say but with the asking price in your pocket turn up in person for a look and make your offer.

  • Adam76
    Adam76
    20 days ago
    Quoting speedzter on 09 Dec 2025 05:54 AM

    Last time I rode an Evo Fatboy, I couldn't get off it quick enough .
    Bad Vibes, and crap handling - maybe it was a dud example !
    Maybe look at a road King ? 

    Hey Speedzter, 
    Yeah they are not the best handling bikes out there! The extra vibes don't really bother me that much. 
    You mentioned a Road King, but the Evo and early TCs had the early frame and swingarm design that was supposed to handle pretty badly compared to the 2009 up model changes. 
    I guess I could change out the front and rear suspension on an old RK to make it handle better?
  • Adam76
    Adam76
    20 days ago
    Quoting Adam76 on 09 Dec 2025 04:07 AMedited: 09 Dec 2025 06:13 AM

    I've found a very tidy, low km 1998 Fatboy on Bike Sales, but the guy is asking $18,900...


    I don't know what they're worth, but I could buy a slightly used M8 for that price. 
    What do you reckon it's realistically worth? 

    Quoting Benno on 09 Dec 2025 05:53 AM

    If it's the blue one, yes it looks to be in good condition alright. I'm not really a Fatboy fan, now if it was a Grey Ghost well that's collectable. There are plenty of Evo Fatboys on the market of similar age to the one I think your looking at, and most of them are 2-3k cheaper. How much do you luv it, I suppose that will help you with a final offer price range. Used bike sales are very slow at the moment, it's more of a buyers market, I know, I am holding off selling for the time being, hoping prices and demand get better.

    Start the conversation with him, see how keen he is to sell.

    Thanks Benno, yes it's a buyers market for sure. 
    Cheers
  • 408
    408
    19 days ago
    Quoting speedzter on 09 Dec 2025 05:54 AM

    Last time I rode an Evo Fatboy, I couldn't get off it quick enough .
    Bad Vibes, and crap handling - maybe it was a dud example !
    Maybe look at a road King ? 

    Quoting Adam76 on 09 Dec 2025 06:21 AM

    Hey Speedzter, 

    Yeah they are not the best handling bikes out there! The extra vibes don't really bother me that much. 
    You mentioned a Road King, but the Evo and early TCs had the early frame and swingarm design that was supposed to handle pretty badly compared to the 2009 up model changes. 
    I guess I could change out the front and rear suspension on an old RK to make it handle better?


    I have a 98 Softail Custom and a 2009 CVO fatbob.
    The 98 was my second harley and my first harley project. I have done a bit of work to the top end and upgraded brakes but done nothing to enhance the handling. I don't have a problem with vibration or handling but it is not as good as the TC in that regard. I feel safer at $200 on the Fatbob. I have picked up two dyno trophies with it, but it has been reliable and trouble free. I have ridden it to Margaret River and back from Tassie, and did an Iron Butt ride from Melbourne to Brisbane. My preferred seat is Lepera Bare Bones.
    I love the look and the sound and probably will never sell it, but if I did I would be looking for close to $20,000.
  • obisteve
    obisteve
    18 days ago
    Quoting speedzter on 09 Dec 2025 05:54 AM

    Last time I rode an Evo Fatboy, I couldn't get off it quick enough .
    Bad Vibes, and crap handling - maybe it was a dud example !
    Maybe look at a road King ? 

    Quoting Adam76 on 09 Dec 2025 06:21 AM

    Hey Speedzter, 

    Yeah they are not the best handling bikes out there! The extra vibes don't really bother me that much. 
    You mentioned a Road King, but the Evo and early TCs had the early frame and swingarm design that was supposed to handle pretty badly compared to the 2009 up model changes. 
    I guess I could change out the front and rear suspension on an old RK to make it handle better?

    If you get an Evo RoadKing, TruTrack will be able help sort out most handling inadequacy under flat out mountain road riding. Will you need it? Well are you an enthusiastic rider that now scrapes floor boards, frame or primary cover or needs to hang off to avoid that now? If so, you might need to spend money with them.
  • obisteve
    obisteve
    18 days ago
    Quoting speedzter on 09 Dec 2025 05:54 AM

    Last time I rode an Evo Fatboy, I couldn't get off it quick enough .
    Bad Vibes, and crap handling - maybe it was a dud example !
    Maybe look at a road King ? 

    Quoting Adam76 on 09 Dec 2025 06:21 AM

    Hey Speedzter, 

    Yeah they are not the best handling bikes out there! The extra vibes don't really bother me that much. 
    You mentioned a Road King, but the Evo and early TCs had the early frame and swingarm design that was supposed to handle pretty badly compared to the 2009 up model changes. 
    I guess I could change out the front and rear suspension on an old RK to make it handle better?

    If you get an Evo RoadKing, TruTrack will be able help sort out most handling inadequacy under flat out mountain road riding. Will you need it? Well are you an enthusiastic rider that now scrapes floor boards, frame or primary cover or needs to hang off to avoid that now? If so, you might need to spend money with them.
  • Adam76
    Adam76
    18 days ago
    I'm still keen on finding a nice Evo... Will just have to be patient until the right one comes up at the right price. 

    I had a 1996 Heritage Nostalgia a while back. Best bike I've owned and I wish I'd never sold it...

    Cheers. 
  • 408
    408
    17 days ago
    Quoting Adam76 on 11 Dec 2025 05:15 AMedited: 11 Dec 2025 05:16 AM

    I'm still keen on finding a nice Evo... Will just have to be patient until the right one comes up at the right price. 


    I had a 1996 Heritage Nostalgia a while back. Best bike I've owned and I wish I'd never sold it...

    Cheers. 


    You have answered your own question.
  • Adam76
    Adam76
    17 days ago
    Quoting Adam76 on 11 Dec 2025 05:15 AMedited: 11 Dec 2025 05:16 AM

    I'm still keen on finding a nice Evo... Will just have to be patient until the right one comes up at the right price. 


    I had a 1996 Heritage Nostalgia a while back. Best bike I've owned and I wish I'd never sold it...

    Cheers. 

    Quoting 408 on 11 Dec 2025 08:18 PM


    You have answered your own question.

    Yeah, I guess I did. 

    Thanks. 
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