Forty-Eight Sportster

The new 2010 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight (48) motorcycle is a factory custom in the legendary tradition of the hot rod Sportster line with the raw, elemental appeal of the Dark Custom bikes.

Riding low with a slammed suspension and featuring the classic 2.1-gallon "peanut" fuel tank, the 2010 H-D Forty-Eight backs up its bulldog appearance with the performance of its blacked out and polished rubber-mounted Evolution 1200 cc V-Twin engine. The low solo seat, under-mounted mirrors, side mount license plate, clean rear fender and tall and fat front tire emphasize the Forty Eight's focus on chiseled customization.

"With its classic bulldog shoulders stance, the Forty-Eight strikes a distinctive look and low profile that could only come from Harley-Davidson," said Ray Drea, Harley-Davidson Senior Director of Styling. "The Forty-Eight model has a collective past life experience and broken-in look that is raw and authentic."

As a Harley-Davidson Dark Custom motorcycle, the 2010 H-D Forty-Eight is ready to ride as a radical custom and also primed to take on its rider's character and personality. Dark Custom accomplices of the Forty-Eight include the Nightster, Iron 883, Cross Bones, Fat Bob and Street Bob.

Harley-Davidson Sportster models like the Forty-Eight have retained an aura of rebellion since their introduction in 1957, when the foundation of custom culture was being formed by hot rod gear heads hanging out on city street corners, in gritty garages or at dusty dragstrips. Sportster motorcycles became an iron canvas for many legendary choppers of that hot rod era and beyond.

Lying low from tire-to-tire, the Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight motorcycle model showcases more of its black 1200 Evolution V-Twin engine with polished accents and other components with a clean look highlighted by the traditional peanut fuel tank, small solo seat and lightening holes in the backbone mounting bracket. The Forty-Eight has more than just custom cool styling with the smooth ride on new front fork sliders, a tall and fat front tire and slammed rear suspension.

With Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) and performance tuning with a broad torque curve, the Forty-Eight motorcycle delivers a powerfully responsive ride with smooth clutch effort. The pipes on the chrome, shorty dual exhaust pound out the distinctive Harley-Davidson American V-Twin sound.

The 2010 H-D Forty-Eight motorcycle embraces the street up front with forward foot controls, low profile custom handlebar, under-mounted mirrors, fork-mounted turn signals, slammed speedometer mounting bracket and fork brace with lightening holes. A unique dual texture solo seat with a height of 26 inches fits the lone rider, while a passenger pillion, footpegs and backrest are some of the many accessories that can be added.

The black chopped rear fender with combination stop/turn/tail lights and a side mounted license plate help show-off the 150 mm rear tire and 16-inch Black Steel Laced wheels. The front tire also rides on a wide black wheel.

The 2010 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight model comes in Vivid Black, Brilliant Silver and Mirage Orange Pearl colors and will be available soon at Harley-Davidson dealers.

2010 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight (48) motorcycle features and highlights:

* Blacked out rubber-mounted Evolution 1200 cc V-Twin engine with polished covers
* Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
* Steel 2.1-gallon peanut fuel tank with lightening hole mounting bracket
* One-piece, solo Sportster classic seat
* 26-inch seat height
* Tall and fat 130 mm Dunlop MT90 front tire
* 16-inch Black Steel Laced wheels
* Low profile custom handlebar
* Under-mounted mirrors
* New front forks with wide triple clamps
* Chopped front fender mounted on fork brace with lightening holes
* Blacked components including air cleaner cover, clutch and brake levers and turn signals
* Chopped rear fender
* Stop-turn-tail lights
* Side-mounted license plate
* Two-year factory warranty
* Optional Harley-Davidson Smart Security System

And while the 2010 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight (48) motorcycle model may break bad when it comes to radical attitude and straight-on style, it won't break the bank starting at just $10,499 MSRP in Vivid Black.