New 2010 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Released

With its blacked-out controls, fat wheels, engine cases and air cleaner cover (along with other components), the Forty-Eight makes no bones about its membership in Harley's Dark Custom club, a lineup that includes other Sportster-based bikes like the Nightster and the Iron 883, along with the Street Bob Night Bob and Cross Bones.

Featuring a slammed suspension and the classic 2.1-gallon peanut fuel tank, the low-riding Forty-Eight further plays on the hot rod custom theme with a low, 26-inch solo seat, under-mounted mirrors, side mount license plate, clean rear fender and fat front tire.

In the vein of the bare-bones Iron 883, Harley has also shrewdly chosen to list the Forty-Eight at a reasonable $10,499 MSRP in Vivid Black. Of course, you can opt for a bit more buzz with Brilliant Silver or Mirage Orange paint schemes.

For more information on the Forty-Eight and the other Dark Custom bikes, check out www.harley-davidson.com/darkcustom. A portion of the official news release follows:

MILWAUKEE (January 22, 2010) - The new Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight 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 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.

Lying low from tire-to-tire, the Forty-Eight 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.

The Forty-Eight 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.

Forty-Eight 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

Tall and fat 130 mm Dunlop MT90 front tire

16-inch Black Steel Laced wheels

Low profile custom handlebar

New front forks with wide triple clamps

Blacked components including air cleaner cover, clutch and brake levers and turn signals

Two-year factory warranty