Harley Davidson Iron 1200 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 Iron 1200

The Iron 1200 takes its name from the entry-level Iron 883 but adds the 1202cc engine. That boosts torque by 36% from 53.8lbft to 73lbft. And with a price of only £9395 in the UK it’s only £500 more than the 883 model. In America it’s $9999, which is $1000 more than the Iron 883. That’s for the black version. Red or white options add £250 to the UK price and $350 in America.

However, it doesn’t share the same style as the smaller Iron. As well as the Mini-Ape bars, there’s a black cowl around the headlight and a single-seat. Unusually, it’s almost completely bereft of chrome; the engine, forks, exhausts and wheels are all black. That 70s-style tank has a 3.3 gallon capacity, with black, red and white colour options. Wheels are nine-spoke alloys, with a 19in front and 16in rear.

A classic 3.3-gallon Sportster fuel tank features multi-colored striped graphics that wrap around the tank profile. The dark engine finish helps draw the eyes to the bright tank graphics. Fuel tank paint color options include Vivid Black, Twisted Cherry and Billiard White, always contrasting with Vivid Black on the speed screen and fenders.

The satin-black Mini Ape handle bar is an essential element of the garage-built chopper look that adds instant attitude and gives the rider a fists-in-the-wind posture. The gloss black speed screen framing the headlamp amplifies the attitude of the tall bars, is intended to offer some wind deflection at speed and provides a space for easy personalization. The fast-back Café Solo Seat flows to the rear fender and is shaped to help hold the rider in position when the torque of the Evolution 1200 kicks in.

The Harley-Davidson Smart Security System and anti-lock braking system (ABS) are factory-installed options for the Iron 1200 model.