Harley-Davidson Fat Boy gets Icon treatment for 2025

Harley-Davidson has revealed its newest limited edition Icon motorcycle, with the legendary Fat Boy getting the desirable Icon treatment for 2025.

Harley-Davidson's yearly Icon limited edition motorcycle is always something to get excited about, with the Motor Co often dropping a slick paint job and extra special features for the bike in question. For 2025, that bike is one of the more modern bikes to attain Icon status without the limited-edition Icon treatment - the Fat Boy.

Harley-Davidson is calling the gleaming new Fat Boy the Gray Ghost model, with it being the fifth instalment in its Icons Motorcycle Collection. This new, limited-production Icons model celebrates the 35th anniversary of the introduction of the Fat Boy, a motorcycle that, despite its hilarious name, remains a cultural icon within the American motorcycle community and one of the most recognisable bikes to ever roll down the road.

Harley is only producing a limited number of 1990 examples worldwide, and while we don't yet know how many are allocated for the Australasian market, we do know that it'll cost $45,995 to make one yours if you come across one.

While 1990 seems an odd number for a limited run of bikes, Harley hasn't lost the plot there. 1990 was the first year that the Fat Boy was produced.

“The original Fat Boy model took the look, proportions, and silhouette of a 1949 Hydra-Glide and completely modernised it for a new generation of riders,” explains Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson Vice President of Design and Creative Director, Motorcycles.

“Those riders appreciated our post-war design DNA but also found themselves drawn to the clean simplicity of contemporary industrial design.”

Giving the Fat Boy Gray Ghost its unique looks is a special physical vapour deposition (PVD) process, also known as thin film coating, in which a solid material is vapourised in a vacuum and deposited onto the surface of a part, in this case the fuel tank and motorcycle fenders. This is accomplished by applying a positive charge to the solid material (an aluminium alloy) and a negative charge to the motorcycle part. Following the deposition process, the part is painted with a standard clear coat finish.

PVD has been used in the past by Harley-Davidson to finish some small parts such as tank medallions and exhaust shields. Its use on the Fat Boy Gray Ghost model fenders and fuel tank is the first time PVD has been used on parts this large for a production Harley-Davidson® model. The precision of this coating results in a stunning finish that is chrome-like in appearance but is more comprehensive than chrome plating and thus will meet Harley-Davidson standards for corrosion resistance that are not possible with chroming on these parts.

Chrome side covers complete the bike’s overall bright finish, complemented by a frame finished in bright silver powder coat. Styling cues inspired by the original Fat Boy model include a round air cleaner, yellow accents on the lower rocker covers, powertrain covers, and tank console insert. Additional details—such as a leather seat valance with lacing and tassels, and a black leather tank strap with laced edging—add to the nostalgic aesthetic. Three-dimensional fuel tank medallions replicate the iconic winged graphic from the original Fat Boy. A commemorative tank console insert is etched with the bike’s unique serialisation number, while the Icons Collection medallion is positioned on the rear fender.

Lakester cast aluminium wheels, exclusive to the Fat Boy model, emphasise a bold stance.

At the time of writing we're still awaiting news from Harley-Davidson Australia & New Zealand on how many we can expect to reach Kiwi dealers. But knowing some of the dedicated Harley dealer principals, we're sure they'll have put their orders in to bring the Gray Ghost to Kiwi Harley fans.