AUTHENTIC THROWBACK SOUL MEETS A MODERN RIDE.

2019 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Special: 

The Forty-Eight® Special model is vintage 70’s-style freedom on wheels. Check out the throwback tank graphics and blacked-out tallboy handlebars. They leave no question about the era this machine brings rolling into the here and now. Underneath, it has plenty of modern function. Legendary engine, rock-solid suspension and brakes.

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.

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.”

2019 FORTY-EIGHT® Special

1200cc Evolution® V-Twin engine. Quick handling. And throwback 70’s art on the tank to let everyone know it wasn’t born yesterday.

CUSTOM ATTITUDE RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX

2019 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Special Totalmotorcycle.com Key Features

Engine

Air-cooled, Evolution®

Engine Torque

73 ft-lb

Weight, As Shipped

547 lb.

Seat Height, Laden

26.2 in.

2019 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Special Totalmotorcycle.com Features and Benefits

1200 Evolution engine on a 2019 Forty-Eight Special motorcycle
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 a 2019 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.

2019 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Special – Totalmotorcycle.com USA Specifications/Technical Details
US MSRP Price: $11299 – $11649 USD
Canada MSRP Price: $12999 – $13399 CDN
Europe/UK MSRP Price: £ GBP (On The Road inc 20% Vat)
Australia MSRP Price: See Dealer for Pricing in AUS

2019 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Special – Totalmotorcycle.com Canada Specifications/Technical Details

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