Sportster Forty-Eight Special

2019 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight Special Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

At the heart of the 2019 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight Special custom - cruiser motorcycle, Harley-Davidson utilizes a 1202 cc (73.4 cu in) air-cooled v2, four-stroke layout. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 65 HP (47.4 kW) at 6,000 rpm while maximum torque reaches 99 Nm (73 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 54.1 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 Special measures 255.8 kg (564 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.25 HP/kg (3.94 kg per horsepower). Rider ergonomics and chassis geometry center around a 706 mm (27.8 in) seat height — giving shorter riders and urban commuters confident flat-foot reach at traffic stops, combined with a 1,495 mm (58.9 in) wheelbase engineered for balanced agility and highway composure. The 7.9-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 161 km (100 miles) between fill-ups.