Harley Expands Sportster Range

Harley-Davidson’s new product onslaught continues, and the latest offering in the Motor Company’s plans to bring 100 new motorcycles to market by 2027 is a pair of reimagined Sportsters.

The ‘Iron 1200’ and ‘Forty-Eight Special’ were unveiled in February and while both are based on the Evolution 1200cc Sportster platform, each has its own identity, thanks to clever use of wheels, paint, graphics and bolt-on bits. 

With more than six decades of heritage to dip into (the Sportster arrived in 1957), both new Sportsters have taken specific inspiration from the ‘Disco Decade’.

The stripes and use of a “formal” font for the Harley-Davidson tank decal on both new models is a clear nod to the 1970s and H-D’s AMF era. 

Those that remember models like the 1976 XLH Sportster and the little SX-125 2-stroke from 1974 when they were new will spot the origins of this style immediately. 

Harley says this shift – from 1960s to 1970s styling influences – is a reflection of the latest trends in the custom scene.

“The art on these two fuel tanks reflect contemporary trends we are seeing on custom bikes and in design in general, a move away from more complex and intricate art to a look that’s very simple and clean,” said Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson V.P. of Styling & Design.

“It’s also important to note that these graphics respect the shape of the fuel tank and in the case of the Sportster, that tank shape is a classic design element in its own right.”

In addition to tank graphics, each new Sportster also features chopper-style high bars, selected use of blackout finishing and individual treatments of things like the fork, wheels and saddle. 

“What we’ve done to create the new Iron 1200 and Forty-Eight Special is what Sportster owners have been doing with their own bikes for generations,” Richards adds.

Iron 1200 – Bigger, Bolder. . . Blacker

While the “Iron” Sportster is currently only available here in 883cc form, the Iron 1200 will take that model and give it the larger Evolution v-twin from the Forty-Eight and Custom 1200.  

The 1202cc Evolution engine delivers 36 per cent more torque (73.0 ft/lb vs. 53.8 ft/lb) than the 883 engine, with that power focussed on the bottom end and midrange, according to Harley-Davidson.

Almost the entire powertrain has been given the blackout treatment, with a black finish on the upper and lower rocker boxes, timer cover, primary and derby cover.

Chrome pushrod tubes and tappet covers are the only brightwork on the engine, while the staggered shorty exhaust gets satin black headers and mufflers. 

Keeping the theme going, all-black 9-spoke wheels (19-inch front and 16-inch rear – same as the Iron 883) are matched to gloss black mudguards, a solid black belt guard and black rear sprocket. 

A classic 3.3-gallon (12.5lt) Sportster fuel tank features the aforementioned C1976 multi-coloured striped graphics that wrap around the tank profile.

Aside from gloss Vivid Black, there are also Twisted Cherry and Billiard White paint options, which come with matching paint on the front and rear guards, and also change the tank stripe colours to complement.

Regardless of paint choice, a Vivid Black speed screen is standard, which the Motor Company says is a West Coast USA styling influence that, in this case, amplifies the impact of the standard jet-black Mini Ape handlebar. 

This 1.0-inch diameter bar offers an 8.75-inch rise, 32-inch spread and 6.5-inch pull back (222.25mm, 812.8mm and 165.1mm, respectively).

While a styling touch first and foremost, the Vivid Black screen does offer a degree of wind protection, as well as space for easy personalization, according to Harley.

The standard ‘Café Solo Seat’ flows to the mudguard and features a rear hump to keep you planted in the saddle.

Mechanically, the Iron 1200 is stock Sportster 1200, so that means 97Nm @ 3250rpm from the air-cooled v-twin, ESP fuel injection, a five-speed transmission and belt final drive.

Seat height is listed at 735mm (25mm lower than the Iron 883), ground clearance at 140mm, 27/28 degree (right/left) lean angles and a wet weight of 256kg. 

ABS and Harley’s Smart Security System are both standard.

Local pricing for the new Iron 1200 starts at $16,495 ride away ($16,995 NZ); a $500 premium over the Iron 883 ride away price.

Forty-Eight Special – Darkness and Height
Whereas the standard Forty-Eight Sportster is all about Bobber influences and keeping things low-slung, the new Forty-Eight Special lifts the bars, adds some ‘darkness’ and alters the colour palette, too.

With similar chopper stylings to the Iron 1200, the Forty-Eight Special’s main point of difference over the standard Forty-Eight is the handlebar; instead of Mini Apes, a Tallboy bar has been applied.

“We specifically selected the Tallboy bar for its shape,” Richards explained. “It offers less pull-back than the Mini-Ape, a look that really works with the steamroller front end and the smaller fuel tank on the Forty-Eight Special.”

That smaller tank that’s paired to the 7.25-inch (184.15mm) Tallboy bar is a 2.2 gallon (8.32lt) ‘peanut’ unit, which is available in Vivid Black, Wicked Red or Billiard White.

Tank striping colours vary depending on tank colour, with blue/orange/red and tri-tone grey on both the Vivid Black and Billiard White tank, while tri-tone grey striping adorns the Wicked Red tank. 

Unlike the Iron 1200, the Forty-Eight Special doesn’t colour match mudguards to the tank, so they’re black at both ends. There’s also a solid (ie. non-perforated) belt guard.

Shuffling the chrome and blackout elements from the existing Forty-Eight, the Forty-Eight Special features more brightwork below and less above, specifically chrome primary, inspection and derby covers, plus solid chrome muffler and exhaust shields.

There are also chrome lower rocker boxes, pushrod tubes and tappet covers, which contrast with the black cylinders and upper rocker boxes.

According to H-D data, the Special delivers 1Nm less than the standard Forty-Eight (97Nm vs 98Nm), but max torque comes on slightly earlier in the rev range (3250rpm, instead of 3750rpm).

The five-speed transmission and gearing are unchanged, but ABS is standard.

The split 9-spoke 16-inch front and rear wheel package from the standard Forty-Eight remains, but the Special does away with the machined highlights near the hubs.

The fork set-up and compact headlight with its chrome trim ring and black shell are as per the standard Forty-Eight.

Seat height on the Special is slightly lower than the standard Forty-Eight at 705mm, and the new model is also a kilo heavier at 248kg dry (256kg wet), but all other dimensions and measures are the same.

Local pricing for the Forty-Eight Special is unaltered from the standard Forty-Eight, at $18,995 ride away ($19,750 NZ).

You can find more information here: https://www.harley-davidson.com/au/en/index.html