Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-eight. Admission ticket

Harley Davidson Forty-Eight 2020

The Harley Davidson Forty-Eight comes in two versions: the Special with a more upright riding position, and the typical Standard. They are identical in terms of specifications, minus the seat height, weight and handlebar height. But on the move the sensations are different - and I’m happy to tell you why.

Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-eight. Admission ticket

Among the Harley-Davidson motorcycles, which for most people far from the topic of motorcycles personify motorcycles in general, the Sportster family stands out: the very first and today the smallest “Harleys”

Natalya Umnova
Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-eight. Price: from 280,000 rub. On sale: Since 2013 Among the Harley-Davidson motorcycles, which for most people far from the topic of motorcycles personify motorcycles in general, the Sportster family stands out: the very first and today the smallest “Harleys”.

We rode the 2013 Harley-Davidson model range in the vicinity of Marseille at the end of March, while the majority of Russian motorcyclists were still suffering with all their might from “mototoxicosis” due to the excessively prolonged winter.

Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-eight. Photo: Harley-Davidson

This year, the company from Milwaukee presented a real new product - Softail Breakout, but we will postpone the story about it a little: we need to keep you in the juice of impatience and curiosity! Let’s start getting to know the legendary Harleys more closely from the Sportster family: motorcycles with this “surname” for many become an “entry ticket” to the world of Harley-Davidson and motorcycling in general.

Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-eight. Photo: Harley-Davidson

The Harley-Davidson Sportster family dates back to 1957. Today it includes six models (not counting two “limit” versions), three of which are equipped with an 883 cm3 engine, the other three with a 1200 cc unit. Otherwise, the “Sportsters” differ little: some are a little longer, others a little shorter, lower and higher, the steering wheel is flatter or ape hanger, plus different body kits and trims. But the essence is the same - a short wheelbase, a “skinny” tank, relative lightness and excellent (for a cruiser) handling.

The Sportster is equipped with engines of 883 and 1200 cm3. Photo: Harley-Davidson

You sit on the Sportster Forty-Eight and at first you feel awkward: it is too narrow and short. Big guys will feel uncomfortable on it, especially in a single-seat saddle, when you can’t even move back. But for girls or men of average build, it’s fine. Although it must be said that the notorious customization is built into “Harleys” almost constructively: no matter how many I rode, I couldn’t ride one comfortably for a long time: my shoulders were numb, then my arms, then my legs. The Sportster Forty-Eight has a special riding position: the legs and arms are extended forward almost parallel to each other. And if any part of the body does not meet the driver’s “standards” laid down in the model, then after a few tens of kilometers you will feel it. But it is much easier to reconfigure the HD for yourself than any other motorcycle: thick catalogs of branded and related parts were not created in vain.

An analogue speedometer and a few lights are simple and tasteful. Photo: Harley-Davidson

The 1200 cc V-twin engine of the Evolution, and even more so the 883 cc, of course, is no match for the large 1690 cc “twin” that is installed on other Harleys, but the racially correct traction at the bottom is also present in the Sportsters. As well as the legendary vibrations at idle (although not as legendary as those of the Dyna family of motorcycles), which occur because the engine is suspended from the frame on silent blocks, that is, on rubber bands, due to which it moves noticeably. But the sound! In the Sportster, unlike most of its larger brethren, the sound remains almost “the same,” classic, not drowned out by all sorts of catalysts.

You quickly get used to the strangely located mirrors under the steering wheel, and if you adjust them correctly, you get a good view. Photo: Harley-Davidson

The Sportster may be small in size, and may not look like a real Harley, and is considered a motorcycle for girls, but it rides great! Acceleration is decent, it doesn’t wobble on a straight line, it stands tightly, it’s easy to turn into turns up to the pegs and below, fortunately the pegs are folding and the tires allow it. It's a thrill, and that's all! It is easy to maneuver in the city. And, perhaps, this is the only type of Harley that is really convenient to move around in traffic jams. As for the suspension, despite its visible presence in the form of two classic shock absorbers, all road unevenness, bumps and holes are clearly felt by the driver - but this is a “feature” of all Harley-Davidsons (“bugs” are not present in these motorcycles for obvious reasons maybe), except for tourers and maybe V-Rod. But we'll tell you about them another time.

Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-eight. Photo: Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-eight. Photo: Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-eight. Photo: Harley-Davidson

Modern retro Last year, the Sportster family was replenished with a new model - the Seventy-Two. This “serial custom” is designed in a retro style and resembles a classic bobber and at the same time, due to the forward fork and high steering wheel, a chopper from the 1970s. The new Hard Candy Custom paintwork is reminiscent of the same era - metallic with large glitter flakes. The device is comfortable, handles well and looks expensive, despite the low (relative to other Harley-Davidson) price characteristic of the entire Sportster family.

Specifications

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Hi all. I decided to share my experience of using the Sportster 48. The motorcycle was purchased in 2016. The purchase was impulsive, the market was not studied. I came to the dealer, saw a little used device in stock and bought it. The motorcycle was from 2014, with a mileage of 5k km and almost in stock.

After driving it a little, I got my first operating experience: no suspension, doesn’t move, but otherwise it’s cool. At the beginning of the 2022 season, the springs were replaced in the “workshop”, the tank was slightly raised, the zero gear was installed, and the St1 firmware was filled in. and little things, like everyone who bought their first Harley))) - handles, footrests, skulls. The motorcycle rode a little more comfortably and more fun. because There is also a minigoose f650gs available for country trips, but during the 2022 season, the Sportster only drove about 5k km around the city, mostly with a friend in a custom BMW K100. By the way, I used it as a reference motorcycle to understand the dynamics of movement. The BMW drove away from Harley up to 150 km/h, there was no point in pushing further. At the same time, moving forward in a hand-foot position turned out to be more convenient for me than in a shrimp-like position with clip-ons. From my feelings at the end of the season: the motorcycle is not for fast travel, 140 max is for relative comfort, it’s not suitable for long-distance trips (even super-minimum ones, 100 km), the rear gets numb, the back hurts from the bumps, the head is buzzing from the exhaust. Consumption is about 6 in the city, the tank is enough for 130 km. With my travels, it's a fill-up once a day. But it doesn't bother me. There are enough dynamics, more than enough in the city, it’s narrow, it’s very convenient in the aisles, it fits in a lot of places. I finished the season with these thoughts and decided to cut the moto a little. For 2022, more minor modifications were made, such as: - horsepower intake - Bassani road range 2 exhaust - N4 shafts - tuning of all this - and a few external changes, rear wing, drag bar, seat, 7-inch headlight The following results were obtained Well, a little graphs with the settings of all this. What is the result. I don’t like the appearance of the seat, I wanted to redo it, but it turned out to be too comfortable. This season I won’t touch it anymore. The rear wing is short and now flaps up in wet weather. The ride was more fun, but I had to twist a little. Cutoff at 7.4k. The exhaust is loud. I still can't figure out if I like the sound of it. The tank in the city is now enough for 100 km.

What's the result? The motorcycle is cool, but for me it is subjectively inconvenient for every day (especially after modifications). The suspension is still stiff. Loud, no panniers. But charismatic, although small compared to large Harleys. The mirrors under the steering wheel are cool, but uncomfortable; you have to take your eyes off the road to look at them. Switching and in particular the inclusion of the first with a heavy metallic sound pleases at every traffic light. Keyless entry, i.e. Starting the engine and arming/disarming the alarm are very convenient. This is a must-have for all motorcycles. Just right for evening rides (I never wanted to drive on plastics). But any trip out of town involves the use of other equipment. Considering the money invested and the simplicity of the design, it now seems like I’ll have it forever, which I’m not too upset about.

Harley and Davidson reloaded their .48

There are probably no motorcyclists who would be indifferent to Harley-Davidson. The only dispute can flare up only about what exactly is considered a real, iconic “Harley”. In the first corner of the ring is a shiny chrome 400-kilogram “electric chandelier”, the Electra Glide tourer. And right opposite it is a laconic forty-eighth, Harley-Davidson 48 Sportster. And now we are talking about him.

The company of William Harley and Arthur Davidson introduced the first Sportster in 1957, so very soon it will be possible to celebrate the model’s half-century anniversary. Already in the debut bike, those visual features were announced that would become the trademark of this line for many years - a short fork, a low and also short handlebar, a massive front wheel, plus a characteristic shortened saddle, suggesting a vertical rider position.

The Harley-Davidson 48 itself appeared in 2010 as one of the heirs of this line, and the name of the bike was given by its proprietary gas tank - a peanut gas tank, as they say in the company itself. The fact is that a tank of this shape was first introduced in 1948, and for some reason none of the competitors have even dared to copy it.

The 2016 version of the Sportster 48 has retained and developed all the iconic features of the model, including the original location of the rear-view mirrors - on the forty-eighth they are located under the steering wheel. The Sportster also does not provide space for a passenger, nor does it provide the ability to carry luggage. And of course, no chrome or decorative elements. The 48 is a hymn to minimalism, a motorcycle stripped down to its essence.

“It's about returning to the principles of simplicity and directness. Two wheels. And the V Twin engine in between,” says Ben McGinley, the designer behind the new look Sportster 48.

By the way, Harley’s 1.2-liter V-Twin is the second reason to love the forty-eighth. Talking about this motorcycle, automobile columnist Johnny Lindgren from Pattaya compared the engine size with that of his Nissan March and even clarified the bike's fuel consumption. But both of these comments are, to say the least, incorrect. Comparing a Sportster 48 to a subcompact is like comparing the 50 kg weight of an MMA champion to the same weight of a high school nerd. It’s completely pointless to talk about Harley’s fuel consumption. You don’t count the consumption of gunpowder in the cartridge, do you? And the forty-eighth is precisely a loaded cartridge, and by no means a small caliber.

Peter Thygesen took the new Sportster 48 for a test drive for us and Pattaya Today, taking the route from Bangkok to Hua Hin and back.

“Of course, you can call it an entry-level Harley, but just start this bike and the vibrations along with the characteristic rumble will leave you in no doubt that this is the real thing. The shortened rear suspension, saddle height and forward-mounted footpegs dictate an upright, aggressive riding position. It seemed to me somewhat commanding, but when driving for an hour or more, it is not very convenient, because it is impossible to transfer the weight. But just find a straight stretch of road, twist the throttle, and the massive torque will really make the bike shoot. The power is impressive, yet the transmission to the wheels is reassuringly smooth. When you release the clutch at a traffic light, your face naturally stretches into a smile,” Peter said after the test ride.

“My verdict after two days and 550 kilometers is this. The Harley-Davidson 48 is an American classic in look, feel and sound. And although I am more of a fan of tourers, I enjoyed the ride on the forty-eighth. And the younger generation of urban (or less experienced) riders who are fans of Harley-Davidson will definitely not be disappointed with it,” concluded Peter.

Phuket News thanks Johnny Lindgren for the materials provided for the preparation of the text. His review of the Harley-Davidson Sportster 48 and other cars and motorcycles can be found at www.pattayatoday.net.