Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight | Visordown Road Test
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ย. 2015
- What do you think of the Harley Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight and do you agree with our verdict? Tell us in the comments below.
Harleys: not fast and often not particularly practical. So why do so many people love them? Visordown Editor Steve Farrell looks for answers on the launch of the 2016 Sportster Forty-Eight in Barcelona.
Read the full review here: bit.ly/2z2J7vS
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I have been riding my 2014 "48" for two years now. I have had no problems and totally enjoy it. It's my 3rd. Sportster since 1975. I did switch the peanut tank to a 4.5 gal. tank and added a pair of Vance and Hines short shot staggered exhaust with a stage one download...that added some pep! I'm totally satisfied.
Where did you get your tank from? I wanted to get a 48 soon and that peanut tank concerns me lol if I'm guna be riding with buddies,I gotta be able to go the distance with them
I purchased mine on line from E-Bay.It came from Drakes Air Brushing in Huntington Beach,Calif., It had a custom airbrush paint job and cost me $600.00 US dollars. The basic tank in primer from Harley is $600.00. If you don't want to pay that much there are a number of 4.5 gal. tanks for Harley on E-Bay cheaper. Make sure you get the one for fuel injection if your bike has it. You didn't say if you were buying new or used.
Instructions to replace the tank can be found here on You Tube or you can take it to a Harley dealer, they will charge you for about two hours labor. BUT it's done right.
Another glowing review for the Forty Eight lol
I've had mine for a little over a year and I have 26k miles on it. Loved every mile.
Sure I've made some changes to it (that's part of the fun). This bike is a stripped down cruiser. The aftermarket is loaded with options for whatever you want to do. If you're looking for handling, upgrade the suspension. Need more comfort? Get a better seat. Etc... People who are looking for practical, look elsewhere. The Forty Eight is about something different than that and it delivers.
This isn't a glowing review.
Sarcasm much?
What is that supposed to mean, CR?
Aww see I've been going back and forth between the 48 and an Indian Scout. Rode both,loved both, but Harley has got my number one pick in the looks department,nice to see that there are people who DO actually like the 48,I have a lot of hating biker buddies who say don't do it lol
Always enjoy your informative reviews. Good job.
my first Harley after always sports bikes (mine is last year's 48), but it's bug daft grin thunderous noise with vance hines pipes and everywhere I go, people come and chat to me about it. it's impractical and low range per fill, but for the occasional short blast, which is why I bought it... it's a hoot!
big daft grin!
The problem with this review, is the guy's assessing it as if it were a sport touring bike. This isn't meant to be a bike to do your errands on. It's impractical on purpose, meant to be ridden to the bar (pub) after work and to work once and a while. Not an ideal primary vehicle but a great choice as a second vehicle if you have the means to afford such luxuries. I've ridden the forty eight, xr1200 and a fat bob, the forty eight was the most fun. The xr1200 is just too rigid (due to the suspension setup not the chassis) and the brake and clutch levers require far too much effort. The fat bob was cool but it's just too big and too heavy. The forty eight finds a relative balance when compared to other cruisers of sporty response and cruiser stability and the engine plays with the chassis perfectly.
In my opinion, the Harley XL1200 Sportster is the best bike in the Harley lineup, because it uses the EVOLUTION engine design with Metal Gear Drive to operate it's 4 cams, no Roller Chain drive here, like on the big twin, Harleys with their PLASTIC cam chain tensioners, which are designed to wear out and to be replaced, and failure to replace them will crater the engine. Also, since '04, all Sportsters are rubber-mounted, thereby, virtually eliminating the engine vibration of older Sportys. The Sporty also uses a bolted together flywheel, unlike the Twin Cam's pressed together, flywheels, which can twist out of true and crater the engine. Also, Sportys run a lot cooler, than the TC engines, and finally, the Sportster's right side, final drive belt, is quick, easy and inexpensive to replace, compared to the Twin Cam's high cost and time consuming way to change a belt when the time comes to do so. Sportsters Rule the road!
is their a similar bike look to the forty eight but with a second seat in the back for a passenger? thinking of one of these instead of a motorsport. thanks guys
This channel need so many more subs
Harley's are not about numbers on a spreadsheet. A Harley is for the pure motorcycle experience. I do agree with his assessment of the forward controls. I have mid-controls on my XL1200N. I think forward controls are more useful on the big highway bikes.
Whats the reason to buy a harley ? There is nearly no other bike out there, where you can feel the engine so close (and hear the sound of every mechanical piece working) like on a harley. Especially the old 1200 evo engine is lively and sometimes nearly brutal, more than the weeker and smoother 883 - and even more than the refined 103. If you don't like that direct feeling, a harley is the wrong bike for you. And of course, it's heavy, old fashioned and expensive.....Nevertheless, the new 48 2016 is very nimble and suspension is much better than of the older version - last week I had a nice Test-drive - and you can really feel the stiffer front fork.
Toni R fook u
Excellent review! Very honest and thoughtful for a harley-sceptic person 😉
The Harley has the most iconic sound of any other American Brand, its funny because you would think that to have one true old school American engine you would have to own something like one Indian with that amazing thunder stroke engine i mean its one 1800cc of true American school but even this bike don't sound has pure has one Harley sportster 1200cc with Vance Hines exhaust.. The sound of the Harley is just incredible is brutal.. Harley's will be bad ass for life if they keep making this engine... recently i was watching other iconic bikes because the Classic segment is very rich on this days and i was smiling watching the different aspects of each machine in the past and its exactly what you fell when you look at this bikes right now on the market... Want one solid bike build to be has gentle has the wind on a summer day buy one Honda cb 1100 ex just like it was with the 750cc its a perfect bike in every seance, now if you want to feel a big piston exploding on the American style you have to feel one Harley Sportster... Its one motorcycle build to feel the vibe of the past on a good day, just relaxing at a cruising speed and you will feel has fresh has one guy that buy a motocross motorcycle and go have some fun.. Its not to use everyday, sure you can do it but you will feel the disadvantage of using it all the time especially in Europe city roads , if you have one Elenor like in the movie 60 seconds you would not that use that car daily, its special... I love Vtwins so if i had the money i would love to have one Harley in memory of the good petrol days =)...
A sportster with mid set pegs and straight bars can be fun to ride and can keep up with many sport bikes in the twisties. That stretched our position is merely for profiling.
I have two Harley's, My Sporty is built for fun.
I thought it was a great review and very reasonably positive given the performance levels of bikes today. Nice job and Imo you presented this in a very honest way that also made me consider owning a bike like this.
There's only one reason I can see and that's it's looks. If you like them, then I guess it's as good a reason as any to own one. I completely agree with the reviewer that trying to make a case for it based on any other metric compared to modern machinery is essentially impossible.
FWIW, I test rode a 1200 Sporty Custom last year. I liked the ergos and found it nimble enough, but the engine was crap. Shook everywhere and was only just adequately powered. Rode a 103 Wide Glide just after and it's engine felt like a magic carpet by comparison, though it felt vague in corners and lacked anything resembling a front brake.
A lot of Harleys are about looks and being part of a social club. Nothing wrong with that, but panning a guy's review because he openly admits that this one simply isn't performance oriented or practical is like being mad at someone who notices that computer generated dance music has less nuance and emotion than an Eagles record. He's not saying it to be mean, he's saying it because he's ridden a lot of bikes and has the experience to make a credible comparison.
Another excellent review. I kinda like the 48.
I had a demo on one last year and although it isn't my kind of bike it does have a charm which really surprised me.
+McCritter von Bystritz Physically - no, both similar weight and size. The 48 is 1200cc, so has more power and torque.
Excellent info, short but focused review. Will you be able to test HD Fatboy lo in the near future?
No, his mum won't let him.His next review is of the new Vespa.
Is the 48 a good fit for someone 6'1"...195lbs?
now where did he get those gloves!
Why Harley Davidson? Because NOBODY gets 'Honda' tattooed on their body. :-)
+Corky341 haha, so true, but maybe I should get V Strom tattooed, lol.
SO you had FUN and admit that's what it's all about. Short of answers and cancels out all your other concerns. I would think,,
My friend got his bike's delivery yesterday..
the long and short of it these sportsters are fun to ride
In the end, I can't deny the fact that there are faster, more comfortable bikes out there, and I really think this guy is kind of right in some aspects, but for me, a practical bike is that one which lets you do lots of things and offers a huge range of parts and accessories, and no other brand gets this better than Harley does.
Did I see a RE 500 in front of your 48?
Is there a way to upgrade the fuel tank?
How
Jonathan Palacios A lot of people swap it out with a Nightster tank or an 883 tank
See after I ride 48, my hands shake a bit, so I can't enjoy my evening cup of tea...😝😝
Was going to buy one as my first Harley but not sure now. Any suggestions on buying a first Harley?
First your gonna want to assess the situations youll be in
Touring bike - road glide
Sunday drive - road king
Everyday rider - fat boy
But if your gonna ride pretty often you should go with this since your not used to the weight its lighter and not to little power to have fun i like mine alot and i ride everyday its amazing and my 6th harley good luck
+HEIST THERAPPER THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I LOVE THE FAT BOY AND NEVER CONSIDERED IT A EVERYDAY RIDER. MUCH RESPECT, THANKS
+iz wa Yea... don't.
I just bought one as my first bike. the feet in front of you takes a few seconds to get used to but as soon as I got out onto the rode, it all made sense. it's my first road bike and I'm addicted.
+iz wa Just buy one ride the crap out of it, sit with a beer & a whiskey looking at it as it tink tink tinks & cools down, that is her talking to you by the way, she loves you! after that jump on some other plastic crap more modern more efficient bike & you will want to get back on the Harley trust me its the truth! but we are all different so let me know how you get on ok. Peace...
Why don't you do more reviews, Steve? *sigh*
your on two wheels riding with views over the med, whats not to like?
I just bought one. it's my first road bike and I couldn't be happier. I've wanted a 48 for a long time and I'm glad that I waited for 2016. the bike does corner well and I'm sure it'll only get better as my skills grow along with my aggressiveness. it's funny because it's the size of my buddy's wife's Honda rebel 250 yet it has 952cc more. I know here in the US people say that sportsters are for women but to me having something small and nimble with 1202cc is great. I work with a few guys who have Street glides and ultras and they all like my bike too. it's a good raw bike. nothing fancy, just a motor and wheels.
Does the bike have storage under the seat?
+XtremeGaming123 not that I know of. I believe there is a spanner wrench or an Allen wrench under the seat for the suspension. it's not readily accessible. I bought a tool pouch for the forks
Shane Miller alright thanks. I just wanted some space for the insurance and registration
+XtremeGaming123 yeah, my tool bag hasn't come and I swear I forget my paperwork every day. la Rosa makes a bad ass saddle bag with a spare gas bottle for like $250. probably a good investment since I made it about 62 miles b4 the fuel light came on lol.
+Shane Miller yeah the tank size seems like an issue. Does the low fuel light come on when it's half empty?
your review of this bike is more like a negative personal opinion.
A dwindling faith in humanity I would have to agree with you. It just seems he was paid to point out what he hated just like their marketing team is only pointing how it's loved.
If H-D emphatically diversifies motorcyclists, are you a typical a) sportster, b) 48 rider?
So you hate American cruisers, we get it.
Yes its uncomfortable and unpractical, from my experience, a terrible commuter, but what a fun ride it is, love mine.
This bike, and other Harley's....are designed to have a different, rugged and rough feel. You're supposed to shake, and be loud. It's old school, it's a different flavor of testosterone. I enjoyed my buddies Ninja zx6r very much, but because of how light it was, it felt like a toy I was supposed to abuse. On a harley, it feels more like a vehicle, and less of a toy....even though it is a toy lol. To each his own.
You sound like Ricky Gervais
nobody who buys this bike has bought it cos its a "good" bike they have been sold on the looks and the Harley image, and the enjoyment factor yes their are tons of better bikes for the price but none that will give you a bigger smile on your face
Harley Davidson ,,,nothing else like it ,
why harley? cause harley rocks period.
the first thing you do is remove the throttle ,mirrors and the handlebars...higher more comfortable bars and tighter more feed back throttle and grips.,mirrors shaped like a skeleton hands flipping people off...thats what you do with a harley with those low ass bars and dingleberry mirrors suck!
maybe buy and build into something interesting? but this is my least fav HD. Nothing in the package that is interesting.
Good review.
Sure, a Harley's not the most practical choice. But neither is getting a motorbike, period. So you may as well go full-hog.
Stop having sport bike riders review cruisers.
He hates everything but tose tupperwared engined things
we get it. you don't like harley. lol.
This guy just complains about everything on this bike. It's not for everyone but that's why there are so many other bikes out there. He's not a good reviewer for this product.
It’s for Americans . Get a Trumpet .
This guy only likes european or triumphs, its kinda well known
did they paid you to trash the bike what is this ? :D you dont even say anything good about it
worst review i have seen...
I hate english accent can't keep up