Harley-Davidson announce two new Sportsters

Harley-Davidson have announced two new 1200cc Sportster models as they continue to chip away at their promise of 100 ‘high-impact’ bikes before 2027.

Both new models use the Evolution 1200 V-Twin engine and will be in dealerships from May with the Iron 1200 available from £9395 while the Forty-Eight Special is priced from £9995.

2018 Harley-Davidson Iron 1200

The Harley Sportster’s have been around for more than 60 years and these two new models continue with the firm’s focus on size, power and character while being easy to strip and customise. The two new models line-up in the Sportster range alongside the Roadster, Superlow and 1200 Custom among others.

At 73 ft-lbs the Iron 1200’s motor provides 36% more torque than the its smaller sibling, the Iron 883, and comes with a blacked-out air-cooled engine for an extra mean look.

The 1” (25.4mm) satin black Mini Ape handlebars, part of the nod to the Sportster heritage, have an 8.75-inch rise, 32-inch spread and 6.5-inch pull back and have a gloss black speed screen framing the headlamp.

The 248kg (dry) model has a 12.5l tank and a 735mm seat height, comes in three colour options - Vivid Black, Twisted Cherry and Billiard White - and is fitted with 9-spoke black wheels; 19” on the front and 16” on the rear.

Setting the new Sportster models apart from the rest of the range are new 70s style fuel tank graphics combining bold colour stripes with a formal typeface, colour and graphic elements.

2018 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Special

Swinging straight out of the 70s-style paint shop alongside the Iron 1200 is the Forty-Eight Special also with three paint finish options in either Vivid Black, Wicked Red or Billiard White.

The low 705mm high solo seat sits behind the tiny yet traditional 7.9-litre ‘peanut’ fuel tank and over the air-cooled 1202cc, 5-speed, V-Twin.

Up front a 130mm Michelin Scorcher front tyre on a cast aluminium 9-spoke black 16” wheel is framed by 49mm forks secured in massive forged aluminium triple clamps topped with a gloss-black, 7.25-inch high Tallboy handlebar.