Harley-Davidson has unveiled two new Sportsters - the Harley-Davidson Iron 1200 and Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Special - as part of the company's plans to launch 100 new models in the next five years. Both the new Sportster models are powered by Harley's 1202 cc, Evolution 1200 v-twin engine, the same engine that powers the current model Roadster, 1200 Custom and Forty-Eight models. The new models though draw inspiration from the 1970s custom bike scene and have factory fitted mini-ape bars.
Both bikes get ABS and standard smart security systems
Anti-lock brakes and the Harley-Davidson Smart Security System are available as factory-installed items on the new models. According to Harley-Davidson, the new fuel tank graphics distinguish the two new Sportsters, combining bold colour stripes with graphic elements popular in the 1970s.
"A Sportster is a relatively easy bike to strip down and reinvent. What we've done to create the new Iron 1200 and Forty-Eight Special is what Sportster owners have been doing with their own bikes for generations," said Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson VP of Styling & Design.
The 2018 Harley-Davidson Iron 1200 will be the least expensive Sportster
In the US, the new Harley-Davidson Iron 1200 is priced at $9,999 (around Rs. 6.5 lakh) and is now the least expensive of the 1200 cc Roadster models. The Iron 1200 gets a bigger engine than the Iron 883, increasing torque output by 36 per cent to 98.9 Nm from 72.9 Nm on the Iron 883. The design of the Iron 1200 is similar to the Iron 883 with a blacked-out engine with chrome pushrod tubes and tappet covers for contrast. The nine-spoke alloy wheels are similar as well - a 19-inch front and 16-inch rear, but without the chrome highlights. The headlight comes covered with a small cowl, and the mid-rise ape handlebar will make the rider sit a little more upright than the Iron 883.
The 2018 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Special gets similar dimensions as the Forty-Eight
The 2018 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Special shares the same beefy front end as the regular Forty-Eight, with a 130 mm front tyre, 49 mm forks and large forged aluminium triple clamps. The lower half of the Evolution 1200 engine is chromed on the Forty-Eight Special, with chrome finishes on the pushrods. The fuel tank capacity on the Forty-Eight Special is 8.2 litres, and wheels are 16-inchers at both ends shod in Michelin Scorcher rubber. The Harley-Davdidson Forty-Eight Special is priced at $ 11,299 (around Rs. 7.35 lakh) in the US, the same price as the regular Forty-Eight and Roadster.
Harley-Davidson India will be launching two new Softail models in India soon, in all likelihood the new Softail Slim and the Sport Glide. We expect the new Roadsters to be launched in India as well, sometime by mid-2018.
