Harley Davidson Forty Eight Special

Harley-Davidson^® (NYSE:HOG) adds to the long legacy of its Sportster^™ motorcycle line with the introduction of the Iron 1200^™ and Forty-Eight^™ Special models. The latest in a line of 100 high-impact motorcycles the company plans to introduce by 2027, these new high-bar Sportsters combine throw-back styling trends from the custom-bike scene with the solid foundation of the Sportster platform and the punchy performance of the Evolution 1200 V-Twin engine.

Since its introduction in 1957, Sportster motorcycles have been repeatedly reimagined in the hands of both the Motor Company and bike owners: The Sportster as a bobber, a chopper, a scrambler and a café racer; as a hero on flat tracks and drag strips and road-race courses; as an accessible entry-point for first-time riders, and as a custom-of-one cruiser.

“Since its inception, the Sportster has offered the perfect combination of size, power and character that makes it appealing to so many different riders,” said Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson V.P. of Styling & Design. “A Sportster is a relatively easy bike to strip down and reinvent. What we’ve done to create the new Iron 1200 and Forty-Eight Special is what Sportster owners have been doing with their own bikes for generations.”

New fuel tank graphics distinguish both the Iron 1200 and the Forty-Eight Special, and combine bold color stripes with a formal typeface, color and graphic elements originally popular in the 1970s.

“The art on these two fuel tanks reflect contemporary trends we are seeing on custom bikes and in design in general, a move away from more complex and intricate art to a look that’s very simple and clean,” said Richards. “It’s also important to note that these graphics respect the shape of the fuel tank and in the case of the Sportster, that tank shape is a classic design element in its own right.”

Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Special

The Forty-Eight Special is a high-barred, 70s-inspired design. However, it’s got a smaller 2.2 gallon tank, smaller, wider front wheel and the ape hangers are a different design. Richards said: “We specifically selected the Tallboy bar for its shape. It offers less pull-back than the Mini-Ape, a look that really works with the steamroller front end and the smaller fuel tank on the Forty-Eight Special model.”

That 2.2-gallon “peanut” Sportster fuel tank features rows of bold, horizontal stripes framing a simple Harley-Davidson text logo. The fuel tank is available in three color options: Vivid Black, Wicked Red, and Billiard White.

The burly front end of the Forty-Eight Special – a wide front tire framed by fat forks – looks especially menacing when topped with a gloss-black Tallboy handlebar.

The Evolution 1200 engine features a black top end over an expanse of brilliant chrome covers plus chrome muffler and exhaust shields. Chrome lower rocker boxes, pushrod tubes and tappet covers contrast with the black cylinders to highlight the V-Twin engine shape. High-performance Michelin Scorcher 31 tires front and rear are mounted on Black Split 9-Spoke Cast Aluminum wheels.

The Harley-Davidson Smart Security System and anti-lock braking system (ABS) are factory-installed options for the Forty-Eight Special model.

Features:

1200 Evolution® Engine

1200cc at your command to deliver tons of torque for an unforgettably fun ride.

Dark Custom Style

A balance of blacked-out and chrome finishes give it that authentic custom attitude.

Gas tank on a 2019 Forty-Eight Special motorcycle

Throwback 70’s Custom Tank Art

Authentic bold 70’s-inspired tank graphic and badge shows the bike’s retro roots.

Bold Muscular Attitude

A bulldog stance with a slammed speedometer and peanut tank, massive triple clamps, and 49mm front forks.

Handlebars on a 2019 Forty-Eight Special motorcycle

Tallboy® Handlebars

Ride with your fists in the wind with the black Tallboy® handlebars. Shaped to provide the ideal balance of rise and width.

Seat on Forty-Eight Special motorcycle

Optimized Seat Design

A ribbed, solo-style seat for all-day cruising comfort while maintaining the bike’s minimalist style.

Rear shocks on a 2019 Forty-Eight Special motorcycle

Emulsion Rear Shock With Screw Adjuster.

Features an Emulsion rear shock with a screw pre-load adjuster that soaks up every bump the street throws your way, and easily adjusts to fit your riding style.

Front tire on a 2019 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Special

Split 9-Spoke Cast Aluminum Wheels

Split nine-spoke wheels that are black as night from rim to rubber to compliment the Dark Custom look.