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Harley Davidson XL1200X Forty-Eight

The all-new Forty-Eight™ is an urban brawler that drips attitude from every element; from the fat, balloon tires to the all-steel peanut tank to the solo seat. Custom touches define this bulldog of a bike. A slammed speedometer, under bar mounted mirrors and 26-inch seat height offer a low profile, while the peanut tank and big 16-inch wheels combine for a menacing look that could only come from Harley-Davidson.

Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight 48 Model Highlights

NEW Paint color schemes
NEW Front forks and wide triple clamps
o Blacked out rubber-mounted Evolution® 1200 cc V-Twin engine with polished covers
o Muscular bulldog front stance and slammed rear suspension
o Classic 2.1-gallon peanut fuel tank with lightening hole mounting bracket
o 16-inch Black, laced steel wheels
o Chopped front fender mounted on fork brace with lightening holes
o Chopped rear fender
o Tall and fat 130 mm Dunlop MT90 front tire
o Blacked-out components including air cleaner cover, clutch and brake levers and turn signals
o One-piece, Sportster® classic solo seat
o 26-inch seat height
o Low profile custom handlebar
o Under-mounted mirrors
o Side-mounted license plate
o Combination stop/turn/tail lights

Key Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight 48 Key Features

The all-new Forty-Eight™ is an urban brawler that drips attitude from every element; from the fat, balloon tires to the all-steel peanut tank to the solo seat.
Custom touches define this bulldog of a bike. A slammed speedometer, under bar mounted mirrors and 26-inch seat height offer a low profile, while the peanut tank and big 16-inch wheels combine for a menacing look that could only come from Harley-Davidson.

o Evolution V-Twin powertrain with Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
o Rubber-mounted powertrain to reduce vibration
o 5-Speed Transmission
o Chrome, shorty dual exhaust with slash-cut mufflers
o Forward foot controls
o Optional Harley-Davidson® Smart Security System with hands-free security fob 

Test Drive

Daytona, Florida. With post-war Harley looks and Sportster heritage that dates back to the 1950s, the 48 is quite a stunner, standing out from the row of new bikes when I picked it up for this test in Daytona. Based on the Sportster 1200, this bike stands out with a small orange tank, called a “Peanut” tank by Harley people and introduced in 1948 – hence the model name. Add a retro solo seat, a truncated rear fender with no taillight as well as some massive tires, and you have the look and feel of the 50s – in a modern, reliable machine. In my humble opinion, all these elements make the 48 one of the sharpest-looking Harleys out there.

Nice fat tires, a small headlight, that unique peanut tank and, a solo seat and these inverted rear view mirror mounts - all 50s stuff. It gets much better when you add a disc brake, fuel injection and today's much better tires. 

An effective engine… with the right character
Powered by the latest evolution of the 1200 Sportster V-twin, a pure Harley engine in every sense of the word, the 48 definitely has some bite. Silent bloc insulated mounts handle the characteristic but non-intrusive engine vibrations below 2,000 rpm — as required by Harley aficionados.

Take off and you will benefit from the best that The Motor Company offers, with a strong, convincing thrust at low revs, to the point of giving off a larger-displacement feel. The clutch lever felt heavy, surprisingly so given the work by H-D engineers to lighten the effort on the lever and thus facilitate operation by less muscled riders. In typical H-D fashion, the tranny delivers quick, precise shifts, and benefits from well chosen ratios, wide enough to take advantage of the generous torque from 1500, and a flat curve from 2000 to the peak of 79 lb-ft at 4000 rpm. This means that five ratios can do the job and reduce the tap dance on the shift lever that less torquey engines require. As is the norm with most manufacturers, there is no word from H-D about peak power, which likely hovers around 66 hp at 6000 rpm.

Form over function
One-up riding only is what the beautiful American is about, stretching the rider’s legs and upper body forward in the process — maybe a bit too much for me (5’9’’). The firm yet nicely sculpted seat is great for shorter stints, and I do mean short, as the lack of comfort up to my expectations, and limited tank capacity (8 litres).

Riding in style
For Harley lovers, straddling the 48 feels almost instinctive, with an ultra-low seat and narrow handlebar making the first ride – and every one after that – always a pleasure. Of course, the easy-to-love engine helps. Despite coming from a lineage of competent models with a “Sporty” name, this bike is neither sporty nor really fast.

In fact, the engine does give up rather early after the initial torque rush – at least too early for me or those used to even the more humble Japanese or Euro offerings, say the SV650, Ninja 650R, or retro Triumphs. But use the bike in its habitat, like city or nice country roads, and it will deliver the enjoyable ride and mellow performance it was built for.

Around Daytona, bumps are few and far between, making the ride a fun, relaxing experience, especially if you like the wind in your face, as there is no protection against the elements on the stock model.


The latest evolution of the Sportster V-twin, a pure Harley engine in every sense of the word, and now cleaned up with all the taps, wires and fuel lines hidden from view. Still, as long as you ride on well-maintained roads, the sweet 48 will happily give you enough time to admire the scenery, or cruise down the strip to a trendy little café to see and be seen. Remember to stop by the gas station if you’re out for longer than an hour, though.

Bottom line
The 2010 Harley-Davidson 48 packs a lot of character and mechanical presence, not to mention a clean, slammed look that projects a form of delinquent youthfulness. If you want to make a clear Harley statement during short rides in and around the city, and if you put styling at the forefront of your decision criteria, you need to have a close look at this baby.

Source moto123.com