Sportster Forty-Eight Dark Custom

2016 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight Dark Custom Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Built around Harley-Davidson's custom - cruiser motorcycle platform, the 2016 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight Dark Custom relies on a 1201.3 cc (73.3 cu in) air-cooled v2, four-stroke powerplant. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 66.6 HP (48.6 kW) at 6,000 rpm while maximum torque reaches 96 Nm (70.8 lb-ft) at 3,500 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 6-speed gearbox and belt final drive. With a specific output of 55.4 HP per liter and a 2,500 rpm working window between peak torque (3,500 rpm) and peak power (6,000 rpm), the engine character is prioritizing low-RPM tractability, mechanical longevity and relaxed throttle response over peak redline numbers.

On the scales, the Sportster Forty-Eight Dark Custom measures 260 kg (573 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.26 HP/kg (3.9 kg per horsepower). Rider ergonomics and chassis geometry center around a 710 mm (28 in) seat height — giving shorter riders and urban commuters confident flat-foot reach at traffic stops, combined with a 1,520 mm (59.8 in) wheelbase engineered for balanced agility and highway composure. The 7.95-liter (2.1 US gal) fuel tank paired with a rated consumption of 4.9 L/100 km provides an estimated theoretical range of roughly 162 km (101 miles) between fill-ups.

Within MotoLibrary's Harley-Davidson archive, this model family spans 5 indexed model years from 2013 to 2018, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.