Harley has unveiled the Fat Boy Gray Ghost, a 1990 tribute limited-edition Icons model celebrating 35 years of the legendary Fat Boy with cutting-edge tech and a striking Reflection finish. Check out the spec's and details...
Harley-Davidson has pulled the covers off the fifth release in its Icons Motorcycle Collection, revealing the Fat Boy Gray Ghost, a limited-edition model celebrating 35-years of the legendary Fat Boy. Ride away pricing is set at $41,750 AUD / $45,995 NZD…
Originally launched in 1990, the Fat Boy broke the mold with its slammed stance, disc wheels and unmistakable styling.
Known for its unmistakable silhouette and cultural significance, the 2025 Gray Ghost edition pays homage to the original 1990 Fat Boy with exclusive finishes and updated technology, and it will be limited to just 1,990 units worldwide.
Fat Custom Legacy
Originally launched in 1990, the Fat Boy broke the mold with its slammed stance, disc wheels and unmistakably bold styling. It drew from post-war design DNA while adding a modern industrial edge—traits that helped cement it as a design icon. Harley-Davidson Vice President of Design and Creative Director, Brad Richards, describes it as a modern reinterpretation of the 1949 Hydra-Glide that found lasting appeal with a new generation of riders.
Read out Harley-Davidson Fat Boy review here…
“The original Fat Boy took the look, proportions and silhouette of a 1949 Hydra-Glide and completely modernised it for a new generation of riders,” said Richards. “Those riders appreciated our post-war design DNA but were also drawn to the clean simplicity of contemporary industrial design.”
Initially intended to be short-lived, the Fat Boy has endured for 35 years, surviving three powertrain generations and a complete Softail chassis redesign. Throughout, it has retained its unmistakable presence and powerful design language.
The Fat Boy has endured for 35 years, surviving three powertrain generations and a complete Softail chassis redesign.
Dipped in Chrome: Reflection Finish
The Gray Ghost model’s reflection finish is its centrepiece. This chrome-like effect covers the fuel tank and fenders, created using a Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) process – a first for Harley on parts of this scale. Traditionally used on smaller components like tank medallions and exhaust shields, this advanced coating results in a mirror-polished surface that meets Harley-Davidson’s high standards for corrosion resistance. The aluminium-alloy PVD process uses opposing electric charges to transfer material in a vacuum environment, followed by a clear coat. The result: a finish that looks machined from solid billet.
Adding to the effect, the Gray Ghost features chrome side covers and a bright silver powder-coated frame. Nostalgic touches include a round air cleaner, yellow accents on the lower rocker covers and tank console insert, a leather seat valance with lacing and tassels, and a black leather tank strap.
Revised combustion chamber shapes, oval intake ports and low-profile intake valve seats…
Three-dimensional tank badges replicate the original Fat Boy winged emblem, while a numbered console insert and Icons Collection medallion on the rear fender denote its limited-edition status. The unmistakable Lakester cast aluminium wheels remain exclusive to the Fat Boy, wrapped in chunky Michelin Scorcher 11 tyres – 160/60R18 up front and 240/40R18 at the rear.
a numbered console insert and Icons Collection medallion on the rear fender denote its limited-edition status.
Upgraded Power and Performance
The Gray Ghost model receives the same performance upgrades as the 2025 Fat Boy, including the new Milwaukee-Eight 117 Custom engine. Producing 101 horsepower (75kW) and 122 lb-ft (171Nm) of torque, it offers a 7 per cent increase in horsepower and 3 per cent more torque over the 114ci V-twin. The engine features a 2-into-2 exhaust with individual catalysts and mufflers engineered with lightweight material to cut high-frequency noise while emphasising the low, deep note Harley fans love.
Performance tweaks also include revised combustion chamber shapes, oval intake ports and low-profile intake valve seats, all aimed at improving fuel economy and output. A frame-mounted oil cooler routes oil through the cylinder-head, optimising rider comfort in slow-moving traffic or hot weather.
“Producing 101 horsepower (75kW) and 122 lb-ft (171Nm) of torque, it offers a 7 per cent increase in horsepower and 3 per cent more torque over the 114ci V-twin.”
The suspension package has also been refined for 2025. Dual-bending valve 49mm front forks improve road contact and rider comfort, while the under-seat hydraulic preload adjustment allows for quick tuning to suit different loads and road conditions.
Technology Boost: Ride Modes & Rider Aids
The Gray Ghost comes equipped with Harley-Davidson’s latest ride technology. Selectable ride modes – Road, Rain, and Sport – let the rider customise throttle response and traction intervention. Each mode alters performance characteristics and the level of rider-assist intervention.
Rider Safety Enhancements Include
Cornering and Straight-Line ABS (C-ABS)
Cornering and Straight-Line Traction Control (C-TCS)
Cornering Drag Torque Slip Control (C-DSCS)
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
All lighting is LED for improved visibility, while a new 5-inch console-mounted display combines an analogue speedometer with a digital LCD. A Trip button on the handlebar lets riders scroll through various information screens.
Practical additions include a USB-C port, located under the fuel tank on the left side for easy device charging and compatibility. Heated gear connectors have been moved to a more accessible position under the seat, atop the rear fender.
Harley-Davidson has not only paid tribute to the past, but pushed forward with modern technology and a bold new finish…
The Fat Boy’s legacy was set in stone the moment it burst onto the scene in 1990. At a time when sportbikes were dominating headlines, Harley-Davidson took a bold step with a fat-tyred, silver-painted cruiser that defied the era’s obsession with speed.
Its roots trace back to a custom Softail built at Harley-Davidson Montréal by Duc Dufour and Denis Lavoie. Their creation, the “Lowboy,” featured disc wheels, a slammed suspension and wide bars. Spotted by H-D exec Jerry Wilke, the custom was shipped to Milwaukee and inspired the in-house design team, led by Willie G. Davidson and Louie Netz.
According to Davidson, it was the solid disc wheels and all-silver colour scheme that gave the bike its identity. “We needed something bright to set it off. I added yellow trim to the rocker boxes, the derby cover, the timer cover and the ignition switch,” he recalled. “We built a prototype and took it to Daytona to get feedback from riders.”
As for the name Fat Boy, Davidson was quick to clear up the myths: “We wanted something unusual and even a little irreverent. The bike had a massive ‘fat’ look. So the folks in marketing came up with the name Fat Boy.”
Fat Boy Timeline Highlights
1990: Debut in Fine Silver Metallic with Evolution V-Twin.
1991: Global recognition through its role in “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” with one of the film’s Fat Boys now residing in the H-D Museum.
2000: Twin Cam 88B engine introduced with counterbalancers.
2005: Limited-run CVO Fat Boy debuts with slammed suspension and a 103ci engine.
2010: Fat Boy Lo lowers the seat height dramatically with slammed suspension.
2016: Fat Boy S gets a Screamin’ Eagle Twin Cam 110 and dark styling.
2018: Full Softail redesign with monoshock rear and Milwaukee-Eight V-Twin.
2020: 30th Anniversary Fat Boy 114 limited to 2,500 units with dark bronze finishes.
More than three decades since it changed the face of factory customs, the Fat Boy continues to evolve. With the Gray Ghost, Harley-Davidson has not only paid tribute to the past, but pushed forward with modern technology and a bold new finish.
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Gray Ghost Icon Collection Video
Harley-Davidson FLSTFI Fat Boy Gray Ghost (Icons Collection) Specifications
Price: $41,750 AUD ride-away (2025)
Warranty: Two years, unlimited kilometres
Colour: Reflection Chrome (limited-edition finish)
Production: 1,990 units worldwide
Claimed Power: 75kW
Claimed Torque: 171Nm@3250rpm
Wet Weight: 315kg
Fuel Consumption (Claimed): 4.8L/100km
Fuel Capacity: 18.9L
Engine: Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-Twin, 1923cc (117 cu. in.), 103.5 x 114.3mm bore x stroke, 10.3:1 compression ratio, 2-into-2 offset shotgun exhaust with lightweight mufflers Gearbox: Primary drive Chain, 34/46 Six-speed ratios – 1st: 9.593, 2nd: 6.650, 3rd: 4.938, 4th: 4.000, 5th: 3.407, 6th: 2.875 Final drive: Belt 34/46 Clutch: Wet, multi-plate, cable actuation.
Chassis: Frame – Mild steel tubular frame
Rake: 30° Trail: 104mm
Suspension: Front: SHOWA 49mm dual-bending valve telescopic forks, dual-rate springs, alloy triple clamps, “beer can” covers, 130mm travel. Rear: Hidden SHOWA coil-over monoshock, 43mm stroke, free piston, tool-free hydraulic preload adjustment under seat, 86mm travel
Brakes: Front: Four-piston fixed caliper Rear: Two-piston floating caliper, Black Split 7-spoke floating rotors ABS: Cornering ABS (C-ABS), Drag Torque Slip Control System (C-DSCS), Cornering Traction Control (C-TCS) Wheels & Tyres: Lakester cast aluminium (exclusive to Fat Boy) Tyres: Michelin Scorcher 11 Front: 160/60R18 Rear: 240/40R18
Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 1665mm
Seat Height: 675mm
Ground Clearance: 125mm
Overall Length: 2365mm
Overall Height: 1120mm
Overall Width: 965mm
Instruments & Electrics: 5-inch console-mounted analog speedo with multi-function LCD display (gear position, odometer, trip, range, fuel level, tachometer), LED lighting system: LED headlamp with signature DRL, tail/brake lights, multi-function LED indicators. Rider Safety Enhancements: C-ABS, C-TCS, C-DSCS, TPMS. Selectable Ride Modes: Road, Rain, Sport USB-C Power Port.
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