Motorcycle specifications Harley-DavidsonXL 1200 X SPORTSTER Forty Eight 2018 Second chapter of the Fifties

The Sportster Forty-Eight has all the makings of a little rascal. Shady, stocky, uncluttered, it's a machine that wants to be pushed around, but not necessarily to be pushed around. And it's not in the suspension department that Harley has built its reputation. This revised version of the 1200 Forty-Eight should improve handling. But how? By adding a 49 mm fork with cartridges and a pair of preload-adjustable shock absorbers. Nothing exceptional, but we applaud the gesture, especially if it improves day-to-day performance. This stronger front end, both visually and technically, necessitates the installation of thicker aluminum fork crowns.
A little touch of design goes a long way towards getting us back on track. New spoked wheels, a redesigned and more comfortable seat, heat shields on the exhausts, a more compact pie-shaped air filter, different recesses on the belt guard and a new deco identify this evolution of the Sportster 48. In 2018, a special "115th anniversary" Legend Denim Blue color is offered for an additional €1,000

Since 2014, the Sportster 48 has been equipped with the HD Smart safety system, featuring keyless ignition and ABS as standard. A number of braking modifications have also been made this year... Calipers bite a larger front disc (300 mm), while the rear disc (260 mm) remains unchanged. The aluminum master cylinder has been changed, for less friction and more feel. The Sportster also features a new electrical system, with redesigned controls and a switch on the left to navigate the new speedometer display. The exhaust and oil tank were also upgraded.

genesis: What a strange name for a Sportster! Just two words that sound like an old Elvis record, with delicate scents of rubber, a hint of rebellion and the fumes of a bad Chicago alarm clock. Like its little cousin 883 Iron, the 1200 Sportster Forty Eight doesn't like to be disturbed when it comes to giving the street a thrill. Vintage and bobber in style, chewing on a chew of the past with a black eye on the horizon, this H-D production would kick you in the shins with a crutch if you looked at it the wrong way. For now, it seems to be quietly waiting for its coffee, thinking back to the year 1948.

that's how it got its name. It's all in the tank, the 7.95-liter "peanut" model created in 1948, just after the war. Low, dark and long, this Harley is particularly aimed at young bad boys, those who swear by the essential. For them, the 48 will put down its cup of coffee and let the rebel approach.

this front tire is disconcerting. It seems to crush the asphalt, finely held on a 16" rim. With its 130 mm hip circumference, it's almost as bulbous as the rear section. Convinced by black, the Sportster 48 has taken to it. Fork covers, gearbox housings, engine, wheels, mudguards, frame, oil tank, handlebars, controls... they're all as dark as night. As a result, exhausts, cylinder head covers and rocker arms are illuminated. The attention to detail extends from the handlebars to the stern. The menacing front end can be distinguished by its shortened mudguard held in place by a lacquered bracket, the selfish rear end by a single-seater seat.ste rear end (the saddle is single-seater) is remarkably uncluttered, with the headlight-indicator cluster integrated into the end of the mudguard, as on the Iron and Nightster. Authentic yet different - and this is evident right down to the mirrors, which are mounted in an inverted position, further distinguishing the silhouette.

introductions made? The 48 has loosened its coffee, and its big, tumbling twin can take care of you. For him, it's all about big torque and carefully measured vibrations. He won't sleep, and neither will you!

M.B - Manufacturer's photos