'New Sportster® Model Brings Brawn as Chiselled Custom
with Power and Performance'
SYDNEY The new Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight motorcycle is a factory custom 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 eight litre “peanut” fuel tank, the Forty-Eight 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, clean rear fender and tall and fat front tyre emphasise the Forty-Eight’s focus on chiselled customisation.
And while the Forty-Eight model may break bad when it comes to radical attitude and straight-on style, pricing won’t break the bank.
“With its classic bulldog shoulders stance, the Forty-Eight strikes a distinctive look and low profile that could only come from Harley-Davidson,” said Ray Drea, Harley-Davidson Senior Director of Styling. “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 is ready to ride as a radical custom and also primed to take on its rider’s character and personality. Dark Custom accomplices of the Forty-Eight include the Nightster®, Iron 883™, Fat Bob®, and Street Bob®.
Harley-Davidson Sportster models like the Forty-Eight have retained an aura of rebellion since their introduction in 1957, when the foundation of custom culture was being formed by hot rod gear heads hanging out on city street corners, in gritty garages or at dusty dragstrips. Sportster motorcycles became an iron canvas for many legendary choppers of that hot rod era and beyond.
Lying low from tyre-to-tyre, the Forty-Eight model showcases more of its black 1200 Evolution 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. The Forty-Eight has more than just custom cool styling with the smooth ride on new front fork sliders, a tall and fat front tyre and slammed rear suspension.
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 embraces the street up front with forward foot controls, low profile custom handlebar, under-mounted mirrors, fork-mounted turn signals, slammed speedometer mounting bracket and fork brace with lightening holes. A unique dual texture solo seat with a height of 66 cm fits the lone rider, while a passenger pillion, footpegs, and backrest are some of the many accessories that can be added.
The Forty-Eight model comes in Vivid Black, Brilliant Silver, and Mirage Orange Pearl colours. 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 eight litre peanut fuel tank with lightening hole mounting bracket
• One-piece, solo Sportster classic seat
• 66 cm seat height
• Tall and fat 130 mm Dunlop MT90 front tyre
• 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
• Two-year factory warranty
• Harley-Davidson Smart Security System
• Two-year Harley Assist™ 24/7 roadside assistance
The Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight motorcycle will be available in Australia and New Zealand from 1 September, 2010.
Source: Harley-Davidson