Harley-Davidson would launch the 2019 Forty-Eight Special (Sportster) and the Street Glide Special (Tourer) in India on March 14. The special edition models add a bunch of updates over the standard variants. The models were introduced in the international markets in 2018 while they would make their debut in India next month.

Hardware upgrades to the Forty-Eight Special include a Tallboy handlebar, and graphics and badge on the peanut fuel tank are inspired from the 70s. The combination of black and chrome adds to its custom persona. The motorcycle continues to feature a rider-only saddle. The Emulsion rear shock comes with screw pre-load adjuster while at the front are 49 mm telescopic forks.


Mechanical specifications remain unchanged, and the Forty Eight Special uses a 1,202cc, V-twin cylinder, air-cooled Evolution engine that delivers 98.9 Nm of peak torque at 3,500 rpm. Dual-piston calliper on both wheels perform the anchoring tasks.

The 2019 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special, on the other hand, uses a 1,868cc V-Twin Milwaukee-Eight motor that delivers 165.4 Nm of peak torque that kicks in at as low as 3,000 revs. Enthusiasts who follow American cruisers brands would know that the manufacturers do not disclose the maximum power numbers. Stopping power comes from 4-piston fixed front and rear callipers.


The luxury tourer packs a massive feature list that includes a Boom! Box GTS infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity. The 6.5-inch touchscreen screen can be used for GPS navigation and control various music and call related functions of the connected smartphone. The onboard speakers can play AM, FM and music from the smartphone. It also supports SD card, flash drive and MP3 - via USB connection. It also features voice recognition for phone and media functions. Luggage solutions include stretched saddlebags.

The outgoing Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special retails for INR 30.53 lakh in India. Expect the 2019 model to get a marginal premium over the 2018 version. Similarly, expect the Special badge Forty-Eight to carry a premium over the standard version’s INR 10.58 lakh tag.