HARLEY DAVIDSON 48
Harleys Sportster 1200 family welcomes a new member.
HARLEY’S NEW FORTYEIGHT Special is a great place to be. Settle into the thick sofa-like seat, stretch out feet to those forward footpegs, and reach for the raised handlebar. There’s soft fuelling, but crack open the Special’s throttle and the 1202cc V-twin surges forward with cruiserweight acceleration and vibration. Comfortable with a sporty edge, then. Like a 1980s TV, you can sit back and use the remote, or lean forward and twiddle with the buttons. This new Sportster variant is based on the Forty-eight model, which means a 7.9-litre peanut tank, a fat 130mm front wheel, strong 49mm stanchions, feet-forward controls and that part-aircooled pushrod Evolution engine. The Special adds a ‘Tallboy’ raised handlebar and ’70s tank graphics. It’s vibrating as much as I remember too. No surprise there, the Evo engine is old tech. Sportsters have been continuously produced since 1957, and Harley say today’s brief is the same as it was then. So that’s a light, agile, simple riding experience. Wheels, engine and handlebar – everything you need and nothing you don’t. In 1985 the Ironhead engine (iron cylinder heads) was replaced by a new Evolution lump with aluminium heads and barrels. Harley added a fifth gear in 1991, changed from chain to belt drive in ’92, rubbermounted the engine in ’04 and introduced fuel injection in ’07. 2009 saw oil-cooled heads and a performance bump. A 2018 Sportster is still a five-speed belt-driven machine, so yes, this bike has history. But there’s also new-ish suspension, ABS and keyless
start. On this smooth, curvaceous Croatian tarmac, the bike feels mighty composed. Holding the Special’s raised ’bar feels natural and aggressive, and firm shock and cartridge fork help the Special turn quickly. Quick for a 256kg cruiser with a 30.2° rake and chunky front tyre, at least. Braking performance from the single front disc is adequate, but if you want more then test ride the £10,195 Roadster with dual front discs. What’s not to like? Well, the 7.9-litre tank might manage 100 miles (a man of Harley sneaks around at stops, brimming our tanks from a plastic jug). But all other issues – lack of wind protection, fuel level indicator, or pillion arrangement – are immaterial. None of it will matter on a Sunday afternoon in Yorkshire. For that kind of fun the Fortyeight feels every bit a proper motorbike. And it’s my favourite Sportster.
‘Light, agile, simple riding experience. Wheels, engine, and handlebar – everything you need and nothing you don’t’