Yamaha Road Star S vs Harley-Davidson FLSTF Softail Fat Boy (2016)

Side-by-side spec comparison, pricing, and a plain-English breakdown of how the Yamaha Road Star Sstacks up against the Harley-Davidson FLSTF Softail Fat Boy. Numbers pulled from manufacturer spec sheets — click either bike for the full review.

Spec comparison

SpecYamaha Road Star SHarley-Davidson FLSTF Softail Fat Boy
Model year20162012
Price$12,990$16,349
Engine1674 cc1688 cc
Torque134 Nm
Weight315 kg
Seat height28 mm25 mm
Fuel capacity4.8 L5.0 L
Fuel typepetrolpetrol
Transmission5-speed6-speed
Front brakesDouble disc. Hydraulic. Single disc. 4-piston caliper. Optional ABS.
Rear brakesSingle disc. Hydraulic. Single disc. 2-piston caliper. Optional ABS.
Tires130/90-M16 / 150/80-B16 140/75-R17 / 200/55-R17

Yamaha Road Star S vs Harley-Davidson FLSTF Softail Fat Boy — which should you buy?

Picking between the Yamaha Road Star S and the Harley-Davidson FLSTF Softail Fat Boy usually comes down to the numbers you care about most. On paper, the Yamaha Road Star S brings its published horsepower, while the Harley-Davidson FLSTF Softail Fat Boy counters with its own power figure at 315 kg. On price, the Yamaha Road Star S has the lower MSRP.

Our spec tables above highlight the winning number on each line. For the full rider-focused reviews including real-world fuel economy, service costs and available colors, click into either bike: