When it comes to the best cruiser bikes in the world, Harley-Davidson has played a major role, and its reputation among its loyal followers speaks louder than television ads. While all Harleys are beautiful, some models seem to stand out above others. And if you asked Harley purists the reasons for their choices, the answers will be as many as the Harley-Davidson models available in the market today.
One of the most beautiful and awesome Harley models is the Sportster Forty-Eight. This bike stands firm as one of the best Harley-Davidson motorcycles ever made. From the aesthetic point of view, the Forty-Eight is one of the gorgeous cruisers ever built. Its lines come to remind you of the old school bobbers and the craftsmanship of a bygone era. And even when parked, you can tell the machine is forever ready to kick ass.
10 Forward Controls And Low Handlebars
When it comes to badass cruiser motorcycles, the low slung, aggressive look of the machines contribute greatly to the amount of love the bike receives. Forward controls are a staple in the cruiser bike market. They look awesome on some bikes, and on others, not so much.
One of the motorcycles that look amazing with forward controls and low handlebars is the Sportster Forty-Eight. They play a major role in this cruiser's low slung, aggressive look that every Harley enthusiast loves.
9 16" Wheels
One of the reasons the Forty-Eight looks badass even when it’s parked is due to the fat wheels it rolls on. They are also very key style factors of the bike as they make it very beautiful to behold. The 16-inch front and rear wheels give the Sportster Forty-Eight the one primary thing that makes it so popular among enthusiasts, the vintage, raw, brawler feel.
The large front wheel does, to some extent, soften the ride, and even though its success comes from several factors, the massive wheels do look killer on this bike. And people love it for that.
8 The Flipped Mirrors
So, cruiser motorcycles are about beauty and aggressiveness. And we cannot leave one of these out when talking about one of the most popular cruisers of all time, the Sportster Forty-Eight. One of the things that make this motorcycle very attractive is the flipped mirrors. They make that area around the handlebars look stunning.
Tucked underneath the bars, these rearview mirrors keep the front of the bike very neat and nice. At first glance, it's like you have no mirrors at all, you can only see your hands and the bars.
7 Suspension Upgrades
The older generation Sportsters have always needed some work done on the suspension. That changed, starting with the 2016 Sportster as the bike received some upgrades on the suspension department. The 2016 Sportster Forty-Eight came with new cartridge shocks in the rear and upgraded 49mm forks in the front.
Although many bikers believe that the upgraded suspension didn’t do as much as expected, it gave the modern Sportster a big boost in performance and handling. You can now switch direction swiftly without doubting in the suspension.
6 The Seat
Cruiser bikes are best known for long-distance cruises. You cannot ride for miles and miles sitting on an uncomfortable seat. The solo seat on the Sportster Forty Eight is made of leather, and it provides a comfortable riding experience, even for long drives. And if the stock seat doesn’t feel as good as you want, the aftermarket is full of options for you to upgrade.
Apart from the luxury, the solo seat also plays a significant role in this bike's styling cues. It’s low, minimal, and maintains that signature line that the Forty-Eight is well known for.
5 Its Engine Is Iconic
When an element has a proven winning reputation, there is no need to think of perfecting further. That is the case with the engine powering the Sportster Forty-Eight cruiser. The Evo engine found in this bike has been used since 1984 and is the most bulletproof engine H-D has ever made.
The engine has a four-cam gear train and overhead valve design that goes way back to Harley-Davidson’s race program, and the surge of torque you feel whenever you twist the throttle is a confirmation of that.
4 It’s A Stunner Inside And Out
While the Sportster is a beauty to behold, the technology used to develop this bike is also quite impressive, and it has a big influence on the bike’s outward appearance and performance.
The Sportster line has been constantly updated over the years, but Harley uses its highly advanced technology to make the bike better, not to make fancy gizmos that confuse you.
3 It’s Easy To Customize
The bike does not necessarily need any tweaking to perform well. Still, every rider has their preferences, and Harley-Davidson knows that, which is why they built this cruiser with easy to customize features.
The Sportster Forty-Eight comes with a potent 1200cc Evolution engine and some more performance features from the factory. If you need something more than that, all you need to do is order parts online or take it to a customizing shop and have it built to what you want.
2 The Modern Sportster 48 Features ‘70s Nostalgia
The modern Sportster Forty-Eight comes with a mixture of new and old. To start with, the design team at Harley-Davidson thought it wise to keep the iconic peanut gas tank – a throwback to the old school Harleys. The gas tank and the graphics that enhance the bike's aesthetics are just some of the visible features from the ‘70s.
The new parts of the cruiser include the upgraded seat, suspension, the new lightweight mag wheels, and the brakes. The bike is built with some of the most advanced technology features in the modern motorcycle market. And the tech doesn’t create some fancy gizmos that stand in your way. They have maintained the clean lines by putting the innovation only where it counts the most.
1 Special Chassis
The Sportster became popular when the factory hardtail left. And unlike many motorcycle builders who copy older platforms to build new bikes, Harley-Davidson did not do that; they built a whole new chassis for the Sportster Forty-Eight. The tubular frame follows the regular double-downtube with a yoke-style, two-sided swing arm.
For the fiercer riders out there, the Sportster is built strong from the factory. The chassis is designed to enable this cruiser to manage lean angles up to 27.1 degrees safely.