Harley Davidson XL1200X Forty-Eight

The Iron 883™ motorcycle takes attitude to a dark place. Reflecting the style of riders who want a quality ride with no hassles, the blacked- out, back-alley bruiser is the "anti-chrome" Harley® model. The Iron 883 is for those who want their first taste of that ride-hard-and-put- up-wet lifestyle. It's for those who want to tear up asphalt and backroads instead of polishing paint and chrome.

With straight cut, dual shorty mufflers, a slammed, drag-style handlebar, front fork gaiters, chopped rear fender and solo seat, the Iron 883™ is a raw, stripped-down, aggressive bike that gives the rider an authentic, throwback riding experience. And with a very aggressive price point, it makes a perfect gateway into the world of Dark Custom™ motorcycles.

Key Features

NEW Paint color options and tank graphic
NEW Front and rear brakes with a larger front rotor, more-rigid front and rear calipers with larger pistons, and braided stainless steel brake lines
NEW Optional ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
NEW Trip switch function allows odometer to display gear indicator and rpm
NEW Optional keyless H-D® Factory Security System with a proximity-based, hands-free security fob
NEW Integrated electrical system including new hand controls, speedometer, updated wire harness, oil tank, and side covers
• Black side covers to match bodywork finish
• Michelin® Scorcher® front and rear tires
• Blacked out rubber-mounted Evolution® 1200 cc V-Twin engine with polished covers
• Muscular bulldog front stance and slammed rear suspension
• Classic 2.1-gallon peanut fuel tank with lightening hole mounting bracket
• 16-inch Black, Steel Laced wheels
• Chopped front fender mounted on fork brace with lightening holes
• Chopped rear fender
• Tall and fat 130 mm Dunlop MT90 front tire
• Blacked-out components including air cleaner cover, clutch and brake levers and turn signals
• One-piece, Sportster® classic solo seat
• 26-inch seat height
• Low profile custom handlebar
• Under-mounted mirrors
• Side-mounted license plate
• Combination stop/turn/tail lights
• Evolution V-Twin powertrain with Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
• Rubber-mounted powertrain to reduce vibration
• 5-speed Transmission
• Chrome, shorty dual exhaust with slash-cut mufflers
• Forward-mounted foot controls

Features and Benefits

Fat Front Wheel

A beefy front end with a tall, fat MT90 tire gives the Forty-Eight® model a grounding visual equal to that of a 1950 Mercury. Custom rubber reminiscent of the lead-sled culture. A dominating presence up front that provides a smooth ride and solid handling.
 

The slammed black drag-style handlebar with speedo and under mount mirrors adds to the stripped down, minimal look of the Forty-Eight® motorcycle. Inspired by the way hot rod pioneers used to slam their rides, the drag style handlebar is an old school garage feature that demands a forward, aggressive riding position.

When the look is fast and smooth, details count and clutter doesn’t make the cut. And while the lamps may look old-school, it's their new-school engineering that keeps things clean, packing stop, turn and running beams into each bullet.

First appearing on a Harley-Davidson® motorcycle back in 1948—and providing the inspiration for the Forty-Eight® model name—the small 2.1 gallon tapered peanut fuel tank holds strong today with its traditional styling and modern attitude. A low, powerful bulldog look that gives way for showcasing more engine, the peanut fuel tank is attitude and looks all balled up into one.

Hard Candy Custom™ paint is a large metal flake finish that’s more than just paint job, it’s a shining declaration of independence—bright, bold and unique. The Sportster Forty-Eight® is available in Hard Candy Chrome Flake and Hard Candy Volcanic Orange. Recalling the iconic rebel styling of ‘70s custom bikes, Hard Candy Custom™ paint marks another milestone in The Motor Company’s legacy of innovation. We start with several passes of 200 micron flake over a black base, then clear coat it, hand-lay the graphics, and apply the many layers of clear coat to allow the flake to shine through. It’s a painstaking process that delivers a premium custom look straight from the factory, so you can start flying your colors with no waiting or extra effort.

The Evolution® engine—known in certain crowds as the Blockhead—was first bolted to the frame of a Harley-Davidson® motorcycle back in 1984. Born from legendary Shovelhead and Ironhead engines, the Evolution® engine broke new ground in displacement innovation while maintaining the hunger for power, durability and proven reliability that The Motor Company was built on.

Evolution® Engine Innovation

Air-cooled and durable as hell, the 1200cc Evolution® engine is yet another nod to the unwavering work ethic that drives advancements in motor technology at Harley-Davidson. Aluminum heads and cylinders lighten the load of the bike and improve air-cooling efficiency. Electronic fuel injection says goodbye to carburetors and boasts increased reliability and less routine maintenance. Bottom line: the rubber-mounted Evolution® engine runs hard and rides smooth for thousands of miles so you can just worry about taking in the freedom of the open road.

Feast your eyes on the 1200cc Evolution® engine and there's no mistaking its roots. This is authentic Harley-Davidson style through and through with an attention to detail you won't find from any other motorcycle company. Black powder-coated cylinders and cylinder heads are topped off with chrome rocker covers, while chrome pushrods highlight the iconic V-Twin. It's a jewel machined out of metal. Pure. Dripping with power. From the classic edge of the cooling fins to the clean lines of cases and covers—the 1200c Evolution® engine makes an ironclad statement to holding on to what's right and staying true to what satisfies the rider.

Like riding itself, you can never go too far when it comes to improving a bike’s brakes. This is why for 2014 we gave the brake system of each Sportster model a complete overhaul designed to improve performance, fit and finish. We increased the size of the brake rotors from 292mm to 300mm, and added a more powerful, stylized front caliper with 34mm pistons, and stylized rear caliper to match. Other system features include an improved all-aluminum integrated rear master cylinder with reservoir, new all-aluminum front master cylinder with reduced friction and higher efficiency, and stainless steel braided lines. It all adds up to more confidence on the road, and more power and predictability when you squeeze the brakes.

When the burrito exit comes out of nowhere, you’ll need a little extra braking power. That’s why we’re proud to introduce optional anti-lock brakes (ABS) on all Sportster models. ABS improves overall braking performance, and keeps you from locking up under heavy braking. Plus, the entire system is smartly integrated into the design of the bike, so nothing gets in the way of your steel work of art. Because what’s the point of stopping if you can’t make a few heads turn?

If your hands feel good on the controls you’ll feel good on the bike. Which is why when you twist the throttle of a Harley-Davidson, you just know. You feel more dialed in, comfortable and attuned to the road and everything around you. In designing the new hand controls we went the extra mile to make sure every operation is as intuitive, fluid and effortless as possible. So you can keep your eyes on what’s over the next ridge and not what’s under your thumb. Things like self-canceling turn signals that are right where you want them to be and brake levers that are easy for all riders to reach. We’ve added new features, too, like a trip switch and vehicle “start” switch on keyless models. Details that may seem small but make a huge difference on the road. Because it’s tiny things like these that make a Harley-Davidson a Harley-Davidson.

Coursing through every 2014 Sportster model is a new body controller with updated routing. It has a cleaner look and reduces the number of wiring harnesses, switches, relays and fuses. Which is a fancy way of saying less fuss. We’ve also added a new voltage regulator with modified fins and integrated connectors to improve heat rejection. Like you, the 2014 Sportster® motorcycles are wired and ready to chase wind and eat up miles of pavement.

Designed to meet future worldwide emissions standards, and the standards of future generations of Harley-Davidson riders. The new closed loop exhaust system delivers heart-pounding performance in the key of the trademark Harley-Davidson rumble. With its robust, soul-stirring big twin design, new durable mufflers with exhaust shields, a catalyst and mini heated oxygen sensors that improve emissions and drivability, this system is not only better for the environment, it makes riding better.

The factory installed next-generation security system features a hands-free fob that automatically arms and disarms the vehicle electronic security functions as you approach and walk away from the bike. Stick the fob on your ignition key ring and let it do all the work. It's this attention to details and security that make Harley-Davidson® motorcycles unique.

Even though none of us would want to admit it, from time to time, we've all had to kick our shift lever back down to 1 to figure out what gear we were in. This year the Sportster® models get a new speedometer with a gear indicator readout and a tachometer you can active with your trip switch. Now you've got all the information you need to keep it in the power band at the touch of a finger.

The combination of a lowered front and rear suspension together with a low solo seat—just 26 inches high—provides confidence for riders of all sizes and experience. A responsive ride for whipping through town or busting out onto the interstate.

New Michelin® Scorcher™ Tires provide the superior performance, sensational grip, impressive durability and excellent handling expected on a race-bred bike. The exclusive deep-cut tread design improves grip and water evacuation capability. Grip performance and durability is also enhanced by the tire's rubber compounds, which use the latest generation of Michelin synthetic polymers. Under the rear rubber, aramid belts are used to stabilize your ride, which helps inspire confidence in handling.

With the custom forward-mounted controls on the Forty-Eight® model, you can kick back a little and stretch your legs for the ultimate cruise through town or across the state line. It's time to take in the open road the way you were meant to—on a two-wheeled machine that's built to outdo the rest