2016
Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight
The
redesigned 2016 Forty-Eight motorcycle comes at you with more low-slung Dark
Custom attitude than ever, from its fat front end to its new cast aluminum
wheels.
The
first time the world saw this gas tank was 1948. But the world has never seen
that iconic tank sitting atop anything quite like this. The Forty-Eight
motorcycle has been reborn. Everything that was great about it has been cranked
up to a more intense level. Better seat. Better suspension. New lightweight mag
wheels. Awesome brakes. And now the tank is sporting 70’s inspired graphics.
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.
It adds to the machine's low, powerful bulldog look, showing off the solid mass
of the engine and the rawboned style of the lean Sportster frame. We mount it
on a metal strip drilled with old-school “lightening” holes. Then top the works
with vivid graphics and a 3D metal badge rooted deep in the bike’s retro modern
culture. The peanut fuel tank is attitude and looks all balled up into one.
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.
The
front end of the Forty-Eight motorcycle comes at you like a left hook from a
bareknuckle boxer, loaded with raw power and bruising style. The eye starts at
the big balloon front tire, then immediately lands on the brawny 49 mm front
fork, accentuated by massive triple clamps and fork brace. There’s nothing else
like it on the street. The one thing that isn’t rough and tumble is the way it
all feels.
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 model Forty-Eight is available in Hard Candy Custom Cancun Blue
Flake and Hard Candy Custom Gold Flake. 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.
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. We
carefully crafted the rear end with retro-styled Stop-Turn-Tail lights and a
side-mounted license plate to leave the fender surface clean and uncluttered
for an authentically raw, custom look. 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.
Feast
your eyes on the 1200 cc 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. Right in the
center: a round air cleaner cover, covered in gloss black and loaded with retro
style. Surrounding it you have black powder coating on the cases and cylinders,
polished rocker covers, and a final touch of chrome pushrods to highlight the
iconic V-Twin shape. It's a jewel machined out of metal. Pure. Dripping with
power. The 1200 cc Evolution engine makes an ironclad statement about holding
on to what's right and staying true to what satisfies the rider.
