Harley announces new 48

The new Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight motorcycle is a Factory custom bike in the legendary tradition of the hot rod Sportster line with the raw, elemental appeal of the Dark Custom bikes.

Riding low with a slammed suspension and featuring the classic 2.1-gallon “peanut” fuel tank, the Forty-Eight model backs up its “bulldog” appearance with the performance of its blacked-out and polished rubber-mounted Evolution 1200 cc V-Twin engine. The low solo seat, under-mounted mirrors, side-mount licence late, clean rear fender, and tall and fat front tire emphasize the Forty-Eight motorcycle’s focus on chiselled customization.

With radical attitude and straight-on style, the Forty-Eight model will not break the bank, starting at just $12,479 Canadian MSRP in Vivid Black.

“With its classic ‘bulldog shoulders’ stance, the Forty-EightT [model] strikes a distinctive look and low profile that could only come from Harley-Davidson [Motor Company],” said Ray Drea, Senior Director of Styling at Harley-Davidson. “The Forty-Eight model has a collective past-life experience and broken-in look that is raw and authentic.”

As a Harley-Davidson Dark Custom motorcycle, the Forty-Eight bike is ready to ride as a radical custom and is also primed to take on its rider’s character and personality. Dark Custom accomplices of the Forty-Eight bike include the Nightster, Iron 883, Cross Bones, Fat Bob, and Street Bob models. Check out more on Dark Custom motorcycles at www.harleycanada.com.

Harley-Davidson Sportster models like the Forty-Eight bike have retained an aura of rebellion since their introduction in 1957, when the foundation of custom culture was laid by hot rod gearheads hanging out on city street corners, in gritty garages, or at dusty drag strips. Sportster motorcycles became an iron canvas for many legendary choppers of that hot rod era and beyond.

Lying low from tire-to-tire, the Forty-Eight model showcases more of its black 1200 Evolution radical attitude and straight-on style V-Twin engine with polished accents and other components with a clean look, highlighted by the traditional “peanut” fuel tank, small solo seat, and lightening holes in the backbone mounting bracket.

With a smooth ride on new front fork sliders, a tall and fat front tire and slammed rear suspension, the Forty-Eight bike has more than just custom cool styling.

With Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) and performance tuning with a broad torque curve, the Forty-Eight motorcycle delivers a powerfully responsive ride with smooth clutch effort. The pipes on the chrome shorty dual exhaust pound out the distinctive Harley-Davidson American V-Twin sound.

The Forty-Eight model embraces the street up front with forward foot controls, a low-profile custom handlebar, under-mounted mirrors, fork-mounted turn signals, a slammed speedometer mounting bracket, and a fork brace with lightening holes. A unique dual texture solo seat with a height of 26 inches fits the lone rider, while a passenger pillion, footpegs, and a backrest are some of the many accessories that can be added.

The black chopped rear fender with combination stop/turn/tail lights and a side-mounted licence plate help to show off the 150 mm rear tire and 16-inch Black Steel Laced wheels. The front tire also rides on a wide black wheel.

NOTE: The Canadian model actually deviates from what's written here slightly - It has a centre mounted licence plate and a centre mounted tail light.

The Forty-Eight model comes in Vivid Black, Brilliant Silver, and Mirage Orange Pearl colours, and with a Canadian suggested Retail price of $12,479 for black and $12,819 for pearl colours, it will be available soon at Harley-Davidson Retail locations across Canada.

Forty-Eight Features and Highlights:

- Blacked-out rubber-mounted Evolution 1200 cc V-Twin engine with polished covers

- Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)

- Steel 2.1-gallon peanut fuel tank with lightening hole mounting bracket

- One-piece, solo Sportster classic seat 26-inch seat height

- Tall and fat 130 mm Dunlop MT90 front tire

- 16-inch Black Steel Laced wheels

- Low-profile custom handlebar

- Under-mounted mirrors

- New front forks with wide triple clamps

- Chopped front fender mounted on fork brace with lightening holes

- Blacked components including air cleaner cover, clutch and brake levers and turn signals

- Chopped rear fender

- Stop-turn-tail lights

- Side-mounted licence plate

- Two-year Factory warranty

- Optional Harley-Davidson Smart Security System