I’ve Never Seen a Harley-Davidson Special Edition Motorcycle as Uniquely Stunning as This One

Some 35 years after the launch of the iconic Fat Boy, the just-announced Gray Ghost is truly a vision in silver.

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Published May 8, 2025

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Updated May 8, 2025

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Though it appears on screen for less than three minutes total, the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800 rides in Terminator 2: Judgment Day should arguably be billed as one of the stars of the film.

(The LA River chase scene alone is practically Oscar-worthy.)

harley-davidson icons fat boy gray ghost hero — Though the Fat Boy was famously ridden by a T-800, this one taps more into the T-1000’s liquid metal.

While most cinephiles can ID that bike as a Harley, what they might not know is that the 1991 film was essentially a coming out party for a motorcycle that had just been added to manufacturer’s line the previous year: the one and only Fat Boy.

Now, 35 years after its launch, that nameplate becomes the fifth bike to join Harley’s rarefied Icons Motorcycle Collection.

The unique look is the result of a physical vapor deposition (PVD) treatment, also known as a thin film coating, where a solid material is vaporized in a vacuum and deposited onto the surface of a part, in this case the tank and fenders.

As gorgeous as some of its brethren (particularly 2022’s Low Rider El Diablo) are, the 2025 Fat Boy Gray Ghost is the most eye-popping of the bunch — and quite honestly, one of the most dazzling factory bikes I’ve ever seen.

Wherever I chrome

I’ll get into some function-focused stuff later, but let’s be real: what really pops on this bike is the “dipped in chrome” Reflection finish.

This unique look is the result of a physical vapor deposition (PVD) treatment, also known as a thin film coating, where a solid material is vaporized in a vacuum and deposited onto the surface of a part, in this case the tank and fenders.

harley-davidson icons fat boy gray ghost back end — The fenders’ PVD treatment blends perfectly with other silver touches, notably the twin chrome exhaust pipes.

There’s some serious science involved here, as a positive charge is applied to that material (an aluminum alloy) while a negative charge is applied to the parts, which are then painted with a standard clear coat finish.

That treatment complements chrome stretching from the mirrors and bars to the fork and pipes, an intricately laced and tasseled black leather seat, commemorative accents and 3D tank medallions replicating the original Fat Boy’s iconic winged graphic.

A bold flex by any measure, it’s also a fitting tribute to a bike with an interesting history and a surprising life span, considering it was originally intended to be a limited-edition release.

harley-davidson icons fat boy gray ghost saddle — As striking as all the silver looks, I’m kinda glad they went with classic black leather for the saddle.

For the moto geeks out there, the Fat Boy was inspired by the Lowboy, a Softail-based custom Harley built by Harley-Davidson Montréal general manager Duc Dufour and technician Denis Lavoie in 1987.

When a Harley exec spotted it, an example was shipped to Milwaukee, where Willie G. Davidson, Louie Netz and the rest of the H-D styling team pushed things even farther with loads of silver, plus yellow accents, for a very distinct look.

That 1990 bike was nicknamed the Gray Ghost, and officially branded with a self-deprecating moniker that simply stuck.

Just a year later, a largely black-and-chrome Fat Boy was helping save a young John Connor from a psychotic, semi-driving T-1000.

Shiny side up

Beyond its looks, this bike offers a number of performance features as well.

At just over 1917cc, the Milwaukee-Eight 117 Custom V-twin engine it tuned to make 101 horsepower (75 kW) and 122 lb. ft. peak torque — with a distinctive rumble, of course.

harley-davidson icons fat boy gray ghost v-twin engine — This modern engine blows the original Fat Boy’s 1,338cc, 67hp and 72 lb. ft. peak torque out of the water.

While these numbers fall slightly shy of what the standard 2025 Fat Boy boasts (104hp and 126 lb. ft.), they do significantly top what the 2024 bike offers.

The bike also offers updated suspension with dual-bending 49mm forks up front and hydraulic pre-load adjustment in back, adapting shock absorption to the load and road.

Meanwhile, three selectable ride modes (Road, Rain and Sport) and rider safety enhancements including ABS, traction control, drag torque slip control and tire pressure monitoring boost your confidence and safety in the saddle.

harley-davidson icons fat boy gray ghost badge — Each bike gets its own unique serialization number, out of 1,990, in honor of the Fat Boy’s launch in 1990.

Rounding out the modern touches are easier-access heated gear connectors, a USB-C power port, a 5-inch console-mounted instrument integrating an analog speedometer and multi-function LCD display and all-LED lighting.

This last feature, the brand says, helps “enhance conspicuity.” Whew, that’s a relief. Here I was thinking this bike isn’t conspicuous at all…

Availability and pricing

Production of the Fat Boy Gray Ghost model will be limited to 1,990 total motorcycles globally, with an MSRP of $25,399.

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Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Gray Ghost

Starts at $25,399

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.