The Fat Boy Harley Davidson motorcycle was introduced in 1984. This model of Harley Davidson motorcycle is popular and is known as a "softail". The softail was Harley Davidson's more comfortable version of the "hardtail" motorcycle. A hardtail did not have a rear suspension and was meant to give the Harley Davidson motorcycle a cleaner look but, as you can imagine, riding a motorcycle with no rear suspension was not very enjoyable so the softail was introduced. The Fat Boy incorporated a rear suspension hidden under the engine while maintaining the lowered clean look and became a hit among Harley Davidson motorcycle riders.

In 1990, the model evolved into the FLSTF Fat Boy with solid disc wheels and a exhaust system contributing to the Fat Boy style and look combined with the wide tires and general low slung appearance of the bike. This Harley Davidson motorcycle was the best selling model of the 1990's and was the bike Arnold Schwarzenegger rode in the hit movie Terminator 2. Harley Davidson really hit on a winner with this motorcycle and many motorcycle enthusiasts count this Harley among the true American classics.