• Only 5601 miles covered from new

 • Originally built to bespoke standard by Harley-Davidson’s Custom Vehicle Operations

 • Matching numbers larger-displacement 1687cc engine

 • Over £3000 of customised parts added in the previous ownership

 • The perfect personalised plate – CV04 FAT

The American motorcycle industry is known more than anything else for torquey, lazy cruiser bikes, large-engined machines which will transport you from sea to shining sea in the utmost comfort and style. Harley-Davidson has defined the breed for most of its existence, modern-day cruisers being the spiritual descendants of the earliest V-twin Harleys from the 1930s.

Tastes shifted towards primarily smaller bikes in the 1960s, but by the 1980s a sense of nostalgia for the great road kings of the past began to sweep across the motorcycle industry and the cruiser was born. It gave Harley-Davidson an opportunity to return to the forefront of the American market, having been overshadowed by Japanese manufacturers for several years. The Heritage Softail catered for the die-hard 1950s lovers, with its authentic styling and glitzy detailing, while the Fat Boy was a little more modern – retro-inspired but minimalist and tough, part cruiser and part bruiser.

Beneath the styling, the Fat Boy still had much in common with the popular Softail, like the concealed rear shock absorbers, the prominent and sturdy front forks, and footboards, so it really was a comfortable cruiser despite its stripped-back appearance.

Enthusiasts were in for a treat in 1999, when Harley-Davidson launched its Custom Vehicle Operations, building limited-edition and bespoke bikes for owners who wanted something even more distinctive. Benefitting from many detail changes as well as a larger engine than that fitted to ordinary 2005 Fat Boys, this bike has been further customised and promises to be a real head-turner. What could be better for summer cruising and ride-outs?

 • Originally constructed to a special high specification by Harley-Davidson’s Custom Vehicle Operations

 • Imported into Britain in 2011

 • Purchased by the vendor in early 2022 from a car dealer in the south of England who used it for personal transport and added his own custom touches

 • The vendor, a BMW motorcycle mechanic for 41 years, changed the oil and fluids, gave the bike a tune-up and tested it on an 80-mile run, but it must now be sold for health reasons

 • Paperwork includes a V5, several MoT certificates including the current one (valid until August), and a small collection of invoices

 • Special two-tone CVO paint finish with metal-grind pinstriping

 • Immaculate paint and chrome

 • More recent custom accessories include the touring screen and double seat

Harley-Davidsons completed by the CVO department were collectors’ pieces from the very beginning and destined to be cherished from new. We can see that that has been the case with this one, which is presented in beautiful, like-new condition. We very much suspect that the bike has been garaged its whole life, because that would account for the superb state of preservation of the paint and chrome. The seat is in exceptional condition, too.

Of course, with only 5600 miles covered the bike hasn’t really had an opportunity to deteriorate. While it isn’t quite ‘factory fresh’ – you will find a few very small marks on the frame and mudguards – it is a remarkable survivor and one of the very best Fat Boys you’re likely to find for sale.

Custom touches by CVO include the special paint finished with the very stylised pinstriping and vast expanses of chrome on more or less every part that isn’t painted. The engine and the polished wheels shine brighter than a diamond and really do make the bike look spectacular on a sunny day.

Further custom or extra-cost accessories include the double seat with backrest, touring screen, pannier bags. These all contribute to the comfort of touring, so this Harley should be a genuinely enjoyable road bike as well as a show-stopper at motorcycle meets and ride-outs.

 • Equipped from new with the larger-than-standard 1687cc engine

 • Special-option curved exhaust pipes

 • Freshly serviced by the vendor, a professional motorcycle mechanic

If you were ever familiar with standard Fat Boys, you might think that a 2005 model should come equipped with a 1450cc version of the Twin Cam engine, not the 1687cc version which didn’t appear until several years later. You’d be overlooking the role of CVO, though, which constructed its bikes to the upgraded Screamin’ Eagle specification, previewing engines which were not set to join the ordinary Harley-Davidson line until several years later.

This bike retains its original, matching-numbers engine, confirming its authenticity as a special edition, so it’s sure to attract interest and perhaps just a bit of envy from the Harley-Davidson cognoscenti. It runs well and should be a dream to ride, with those telescopic forks and hidden rear shocks guaranteeing comfort, and suitably large brakes to bring the heavy old Harley to a stop.

Freshly serviced just a few months ago by the vendor with new oil and fluids and a bit of a tune-up, the vendor took it on an 80-mile test run on which it proved highly satisfactory but, unfortunately, personal circumstances have prevented it from really being used and enjoyed.

The Harley has been MoTed every year since 2017 without accruing a single advisory point, so you should get many miles of happy motorcycling out of it. The current MoT is valid until 7th August 2022 and we very much expect you’ll pass with a clean sheet again.

The Harley-Davidson Fat Boy has been one of the best-selling cruisers since it was launched in 1990, but this example is even more special than usual on account of its custom specification by CVO, with the larger Screamin’ Eagle engine and limited-run paint finish.

Evidently cherished from new, this ultra-low-mileage bike survives in superb condition and represents one of the best and most interesting Fat Boys currently on the market. Whether you like to show your bikes or just ride them and ride them, this one will be an absolute pleasure and a guaranteed head-turner.