Harley tells us it’s the real deal — and it’s coming soon.
Using nearly every marketing adjective possible in the dictionary — raw, slammed, bulldog-stance, classic, radical, straight-on style, bad attitude, distinctive, authentic, broken-in, blacked out, aura of rebellion, custom cool styling and the ever fav “low profile” — to describe the new, but “old” Forty-Eight model.
The new motorcycle is a factory custom in the Sportster line and joins the Dark Custom family which includes the Nightster, Iron 883, Cross Bones, Fat Bob and Street Bob. More on the Dark Custom motorcycles is located HERE. The 2010 H-D Sportster Forty-Eight is priced at $10,499 in black and $10,789 in silver or orange.
Sportster motorcycles became the starting point for many legendary choppers of the 1960s, and were also getting pumped up for dirt racing and daredevil stunt riding in the 1970s. The 48 try’s to retain regain the aura of rebellion from the late 50’s, when the custom culture was formed by the hot rod era.
I hear a lot of guys say they think Sportsters are starter bikes. I’m not so sure, but they are typically short hop bikes unless you’re into punishment. Given the economy and the price, H-D has just hit a bunch of folks straight in the face with this machine. It’s a beauty!
Photo courtesy of H-D
Northwest Harley Blog 
It is a beauty, but I wish Harley would forward as well as back. If Buell was still around we might have ended up with a beauty like this
http://magpulronin.com/
(I have no connection to them)
PS Am I your only English reader?
@Nergalicious – Thanks for the link. Cool bike! There are several ‘brits’ who weigh in now an then if that was your reference.
That was my reference. Thanks, I’m in London
I see some real simularitues here to the same issue that has plagued the automoblie industry, how many modles of the same basic bike do you need? With their new plan of offering factroy accessorized bikes they are driving the basic bike cost up, not smart in this economy. They make ever bell and whistle a person could want as an accessory. Produce basic bikes (lower intial price) and let the rider spend their money on adding the chrome.