AUTHENTIC THROWBACK SOUL MEETS A MODERN RIDE.

2018 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Special Review: 

Retro cool. Modern swagger. Commands attention with a bulldog stance, beefy forks and that classic peanut tank with 70s flair. Starts with a low, rumbling flurry of black and chrome, finishes with a metal-flake uppercut.

A new school twist on the choice ride for those who know how to have fun.

Forty-Eight® Special Motorcycle Features:
◾Chrome powertrain bottom-end shows off the 1200 Evolution® engine
◾Authentic bold 70’s-inspired tank graphic and badge shows the bike’s retro rootsA balance of blacked-out and chrome finishes give it that authentic custom attitude
◾A bulldog stance with a slammed speedometer and peanut tank, massive triple clamps, and 49mm front forks
◾New Fists in the wind attitude with Tallboy® handlebars
◾A ribbed, solo-style seat for all-day cruising comfort while maintaining the bike’s minimalist style
◾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
◾Split nine-spoke wheels that are black as night from rim to rubber to compliment the Dark Custom look

2018 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Special Totalmotorcycle.com Key Features

NEW FOR 2018

Colors: Vivid Black Wicked Red Billiard White

STYLING + FEATURES
IT COMES WITH CUSTOM ATTITUDE RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

ENGINE
AIR-COOLED, EVOLUTION®

ENGINE TORQUE
73 FT-LB

WEIGHT, AS SHIPPED
547 LB.

SEAT HEIGHT, LADEN
26.2 IN.

2018 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Special Totalmotorcycle.com Features and Benefits

NEW HARLEY-DAVIDSON FORTY-EIGHT SPECIAL AND IRON 1200 SPORTSTERS FUSE THROW-BACK DESIGN WITH MODERN PERFORMANCE
High Handlebars, Cool Graphics, and Garage-Built Attitude

Harley-Davidson 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.”

Iron 1200™    
The Iron 1200 recipe starts with power. A 1202cc Evolution® 1200 V-Twin engine delivers 36 percent more torque (73.0 ft. lbs. vs. 53.8 ft. lb.) than the 883 Evolution engine that powers the Iron 883, the original urban brawler in the Sportster family. The Iron 1200 brings more punch to the street fight – more power to blast away from green lights and more mid-range to muscle through traffic. More power means more rowdy fun.

The satin-black Mini Ape handle bar is an essential element of the garage-built chopper look that adds instant attitude. This 1.0-inch diameter handlebar offers an 8.75-inch rise, 32-inch spread and 6.5-inch pull back, that opens the rider triangle with a fist-in-the-wind posture. The gloss black speed screen framing the headlamp is a West Coast styling influence that 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.

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 the Vivid Black speed screen.

The entire powertrain has been styled with a popular color: black upper and lower rocker boxes, black exhaust and muffler shields, and black timer, primary and derby covers. Chrome pushrod tubes and tappet covers are the only brightwork and highlight the V-Twin engine shape. The Iron 1200 is finished with all-black 9-Spoke wheels (19-inch front and 16-inch rear diameter) and a solid black belt guard and rear sprocket.

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

Forty-Eight® Special    
The burly front end of the Forty-Eight Special – a 130mm front tire framed by 49mm forks secured in massive forged aluminum triple clamps – looks especially menacing when topped with a gloss-black, 7.25-inch high Tallboy handlebar.

“We specifically selected the Tallboy bar for its shape,” said Richards. “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 Evolution 1200 engine features a black top end and an expanse of brilliant chrome below, including chrome primary, inspection and derby covers, and solid 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 (16-inch diameter front and rear).

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

2018 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Special – Totalmotorcycle.com USA Specifications/Technical Details
US MSRP Price: $11,299 to $11,649 USD

PRICING⁶

VIVID BLACK $11,299

COLOR $11,649

ABS OPTION $795

SECURITY SYSTEM OPTION $395

CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS $100

FREIGHT $360

ENGINE

ENGINE ¹Air-cooled, Evolution^®

BORE 3.5 in.

STROKE 3.8 in.

DISPLACEMENT 1,202 cc (73.4 cu in)

COMPRESSION RATIO 10:01

FUEL SYSTEM ³Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)

EXHAUST Black, staggered exhaust with slash-cut mufflers

DIMENSIONS

LENGTH 85.2 in.

SEAT HEIGHT, LADEN ⁷26.2 in.

SEAT HEIGHT, UNLADEN 27.8 in.

GROUND CLEARANCE 4.3 in.

RAKE (STEERING HEAD) (DEG) 30.2

TRAIL 5.3 in.

WHEELBASE 58.9 in.

TIRES, FRONT SPECIFICATION 130/90B16 73H

TIRES, REAR SPECIFICATION 150/80B16 77H

FUEL CAPACITY 2.1 gal.

OIL CAPACITY (W/FILTER) 2.8 qt.

WEIGHT, AS SHIPPED 547 lb.

WEIGHT, IN RUNNING ORDER 564 lb.

PERFORMANCE

ENGINE TORQUE TESTING METHOD J1349

ENGINE TORQUE ²73 ft-lb

ENGINE TORQUE (RPM) 3,500

LEAN ANGLE, RIGHT (DEG.) 27.1

LEAN ANGLE, LEFT (DEG.) 27.1

FUEL ECONOMY: ESTIMATED CITY/HWY ⁵48 mpg

DRIVETRAIN

PRIMARY DRIVE Chain, 38/57 ratio

GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 1ST 9.315

GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 2ND 6.653

GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 3RD 4.948

GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 4TH 4.102

GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 5TH 3.517

CHASSIS

WHEELS, FRONT TYPE ⁹Black, Split 9-Spoke Cast Aluminum

WHEELS, REAR TYPE Black, Split 9-Spoke Cast Aluminum

BRAKES, CALIPER TYPE Dual-piston front, Dual-piston rear

ELECTRIC

LIGHTS (AS PER COUNTRY REGULATION), INDICATOR LAMPS ⁸High beam, neutral, low oil pressure, turn signals, engine diagnostics, low fuel warning, low battery, security system (if equipped), ABS (if equipped)

GAUGES Handlebar-mounted electronic speedometer with odometer, time-of-day clock, dual tripmeter, low fuel warning light, low oil pressure light, engine diagnostics readout, LED indicator lights

1. Recommended 91 octane or higher fuel (R+M)/2.
2. Values shown are nominal. Performance may vary by country and region.
3. Standard and optional fuel systems may vary by country.
4. See motorcycle owner’s manual for complete details.
5. Estimated from fuel economy tests on a sample motorcycle from the corresponding family conducted by Harley-Davidson under ideal laboratory conditions. Not all motorcycle models undergo fuel economy testing. Fuel economy and mileage may vary among motorcycle models within a family. Your mileage may vary depending on your personal riding habits, weather conditions, trip length, vehicle condition and vehicle configuration and other conditions. Break-in mileage may vary.
6. Prices listed are the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices for base models. Options such as color are available at additional cost. Prices exclude tax, title, licensing, registration fees, destination charges, added accessories, and additional dealer charges, if any, and are subject to change. Harley-Davidson reimburses dealers for performing manufacturer-specified pre-delivery inspection and setup tasks. Dealer prices may vary.
7. Measurement reflects 180 lb. (81.7 kg) operator weight.
8. North America security system includes immobilizer; outside North America the security system includes immobilizer and siren.
9. Standard and optional wheels may vary by country and region.

2018 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Special – Totalmotorcycle.com Canadian Specifications/Technical Details
Canada MSRP Price: $12,999 to $13,399 CDN

PRICING

VIVID BLACK $ 12,999

COLOUR $ 13,399

ABS OPTION $ 915

SECURITY SYSTEM OPTION $ 455

ENGINE

ENGINE ¹Air-cooled, Evolution™

BORE 88.9 mm

STROKE 96.8 mm

DISPLACEMENT 1,202 cc

COMPRESSION RATIO 10:01

FUEL SYSTEM ³Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)

EXHAUST Black, staggered exhaust with slash-cut mufflers

DIMENSIONS

LENGTH 2,165 mm

SEAT HEIGHT, UNLADEN 705 mm

GROUND CLEARANCE 110 mm

RAKE (STEERING HEAD) (DEG) 30.2

TRAIL 135 mm

WHEELBASE 1,495 mm

TIRES, FRONT SPECIFICATION 130/90B16 73H

TIRES, REAR SPECIFICATION 150/80B16 77H

FUEL CAPACITY 7.9 l

OIL CAPACITY (W/FILTER) 2.6 l

WEIGHT, AS SHIPPED 248 kg

WEIGHT, IN RUNNING ORDER 256 kg

PERFORMANCE

ENGINE TORQUE TESTING METHOD J1349

ENGINE TORQUE ²99 Nm

ENGINE TORQUE (RPM) 3,500

LEAN ANGLE, RIGHT (DEG.) 27.1

LEAN ANGLE, LEFT (DEG.) 27.1

FUEL ECONOMY: ESTIMATED CITY/HWY ⁵4.9 l/100 km

DRIVETRAIN

PRIMARY DRIVE Chain, 38/57 ratio

GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 1ST 9.315

GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 2ND 6.653

GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 3RD 4.948

GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 4TH 4.102

GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 5TH 3.517

CHASSIS

WHEELS, FRONT TYPE Black, Split 9-Spoke Cast Aluminum

WHEELS, REAR TYPE ⁸Black, Split 9-Spoke Cast Aluminum

BRAKES, CALIPER TYPE Dual-piston front, Dual-piston rear

ELECTRIC

LIGHTS (AS PER COUNTRY REGULATION), INDICATOR LAMPS ⁷High beam, neutral, low oil pressure, turn signals, engine diagnostics, low fuel warning, low battery, security system (if equipped), ABS (if equipped)

GAUGES Handlebar-mounted electronic speedometer with odometer, time-of-day clock, dual tripmeter, low fuel warning light, low oil pressure light, engine diagnostics readout, LED indicator lights

1. Recommended 91 octane or higher fuel (R+M)/2.
2. Values shown are nominal. Performance may vary by country and region.
3. Standard and optional fuel systems may vary by country.
4. See motorcycle owner’s manual for complete details.
5. Estimated from fuel economy tests on a sample motorcycle from the corresponding family conducted by Harley-Davidson under ideal laboratory conditions. Not all motorcycle models undergo fuel economy testing. Fuel economy and mileage may vary among motorcycle models within a family. Your mileage may vary depending on your personal riding habits, weather conditions, trip length, vehicle condition and vehicle configuration and other conditions. Break-in mileage may vary.
6. Measurement reflects 180 lb. (81.7 kg) operator weight.
7. North America security system includes immobilizer; outside North America the security system includes immobilizer and siren.
8. Standard and optional wheels may vary by country and region.

2018 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Special – Totalmotorcycle.com European Specifications/Technical Details
Europe/UK MSRP Price: £9,995 to 10,245 GBP (On The Road inc 20% Vat)

PRICING⁵

VIVID BLACK £9,995

COLOUR £10,245

ENGINE

ENGINE ²Air-cooled, Evolution™

BORE 88.9 mm

STROKE 96.8 mm

DISPLACEMENT 1,202 cc

COMPRESSION RATIO 10:01

FUEL SYSTEM Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)

EXHAUST Black, staggered, shorty exhaust with dual mufflers

DIMENSIONS

LENGTH 2,165 mm

SEAT HEIGHT, UNLADEN 705 mm

GROUND CLEARANCE 110 mm

RAKE (STEERING HEAD) (DEG) 30.2

TRAIL 135 mm

WHEELBASE 1,495 mm

TYRES, FRONT SPECIFICATION 130/90B16 73H

TYRES, REAR SPECIFICATION 150/80B16 77H

FUEL CAPACITY 7.9 l

OIL CAPACITY (W/FILTER) 2.6 l

WEIGHT, AS SHIPPED 248 kg

WEIGHT, IN RUNNING ORDER 256 kg

PERFORMANCE

ENGINE TORQUE TESTING METHOD EC 134/2014

ENGINE TORQUE ³96 Nm

ENGINE TORQUE (RPM) 3,500

LEAN ANGLE, RIGHT (DEG.) 27.1

LEAN ANGLE, LEFT (DEG.) 27.1

FUEL ECONOMY TESTING METHOD EU 134/2014

FUEL ECONOMY: ESTIMATED HWY/CITY 5.2 l/100 km

CO₂ EMISSIONS TESTING METHOD EU 134/2014

CO₂ EMISSIONS 120 g/km CO₂

DRIVETRAIN

PRIMARY DRIVE Chain, 38/57 ratio

GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 1ST 9.004

GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 2ND 6.432

GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 3RD 4.783

GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 4TH 3.965

GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 5TH 3.4

CHASSIS

WHEELS, FRONT TYPE ⁷Black, Split 9-Spoke Cast Aluminium

WHEELS, REAR TYPE Black, Split 9-Spoke Cast Aluminium

BRAKES, CALIPER TYPE Dual-piston front, Dual-piston rear

ELECTRIC

LIGHTS (AS PER COUNTRY REGULATION), INDICATOR LAMPS ⁶High beam, neutral, low oil pressure, turn signals, engine diagnostics, low fuel warning, low battery, security system, ABS

GAUGES Handlebar-mounted electronic speedometer with odometer, time-of-day clock, dual tripmeter, low fuel warning light, low oil pressure light, engine diagnostics readout, LED indicator lights

1. Availability of colours may vary from dealer to dealer and is subject to change without further notice.
2. Recommended 95 octane or higher fuel (R+M)/2.
3. Values shown are nominal. Performance may vary by country and region.
4. See motorcycle owner’s manual for complete details.
5. Prices shown are suggested retail prices only. Please contact your nearest dealer for further details.
6. Security system includes immobiliser and siren.
7. Standard and optional wheels may vary by country and region.

Manufacturer Specifications and appearance are subject to change without prior notice on Total Motorcycle (TMW).