New HD Sportster Forty Eight

[RetroGrouch]

Harley has never marketed the Sporty as a long distance bike. It's always been regarded as a lighter, quicker, cheaper alternative to the big Harleys. I've seen Sportsters with Softail tanks and they look out of proportion. If you want to do distance on an HD, get a Road King.

[AGAVE]

OK fine ... but you have to concede ... a 2.1gal tank on a modern bike is absoutely ridiculous.

You can still achieve a "look" with proper function

The fact that we are talking about having to spend money to swap out tanks on a brand new bike that retails for $12,500CDN is silly

Agreed, thats why i swaped out my tank, for the 4.2gal

As a Harley owner, i'll be the first guy to say, never buy a new one.
I do find them overpriced, which is why i always say buy used.
Very easy to find low mileage bikes in rich peoples garages.
It is the #1 poser bike for posers and the #1 riding bike for riders, some people found out riding wasn't for them afterall.

You can make any Sporty look just like the new Forty Eight without much trouble.
The market sucks right now, i wish i had money to buy a bunch of these cheap bikes, there are 2000-2009 bikes for sale from 4k to 8k, all day long.
(btw Sportbikes are seriously on sale in Quebec now)

[sinic]

Harley has never marketed the Sporty as a long distance bike. It's always been regarded as a lighter, quicker, cheaper alternative to the big Harleys. I've seen Sportsters with Softail tanks and they look out of proportion. If you want to do distance on an HD, get a Road King.

I'm not saying that they should make a sporty capable for long distance touring, but 2.1gal is virtually unuseable ...

It's a city bike ... if you plan on leaving the city, you better have every gas station mapped out because you're not going far without it. One of the beauties of going out on the bike is that you can go somewhere without a plan and really enjoy the day ... I just don't see it being possible on this bike

They should have just called it the Sportster BarHopper ... that's all it's good for

[RicoChet]

They should have just called it the Sportster BarHopper ... that's all it's good for

LOL

[Barneycanoe]

Ugliest things I've ever seen!

[myT_busa]

found this sportster at the New York Motorcycle show last week.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2726264...th/4298886321/

more pics here: http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforum...d.php?t=107191

[V-Tom]

I'm not saying that they should make a sporty capable for long distance touring, but 2.1gal is virtually unuseable
...

My old 1979 Norton 750 Commando had a two gallon gas tank. It got about 50 mpg so that translated into a 100 mile or 160 KM range. It wasn't fun pushing the bike when it ran out. (I don't recall for sure, but I think my Norton didn't have a reserve setting. There was a petcock on each side of the tank feeding a carb and when it ran out you walked. It was better to fill up first.)

..Tom

[etonna]

I had the pleasure of riding a Nightster home for a friend of mine who doesn't ride yet and I really liked it...... I think I'll be in the market for a48 in the spring

[Bumbobee]

With a 17 liters tank you could do 340 km on a single tank assuming you are cruising on country roads and getting 5 liters per 100 km. Specs on the site say it gets 4.13 liters per 100 km on highway, that would make 411 ish' km per tank.

I say swap the tank and you have a pretty good long distance bike

[Bumbobee]

Just for comparisons sake, my V-Rod has a 19 liter tank and that lasts me about 260 km lol.

[Voodoovaj]

I wish they'd put the v-rod motor into more bikes (heck, the entire v-rod power train). It's sooooooooo nice and smooth. So under rated.

I wish actually put sport suspension on the sporty. Make it more like the Ducati sport classic.

[AGAVE]

I had the pleasure of riding a Nightster home for a friend of mine who doesn't ride yet and I really liked it...... I think I'll be in the market for a48 in the spring

http://www.flickr.com/photos/agave1969/4535418770/

[inreb]

I wish actually put sport suspension on the sporty. Make it more like the Ducati sport classic.

Now yer cooking with gas

[klr_guy]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/agave1969/4535418770/

Lol - man you've got too much time on your hands.

Loved the 'holy christ!' moment.

[dhirenbh]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/agave1969/4535418770/

Too funny!

[etonna]

Bawahahaha OMG, I almost just pee'd myself!That was pretty close to how it all went down, you just missed the guy's at the dealership laughing at me!

[R1girl]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/agave1969/4535418770/

LOL - that was hilarious!! Nice job, Agave

[short stop]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/agave1969/4535418770/

Holy crap I just cried a little. LOL x 100000.

I test rode a Nightster at an HD demo day on Saturday. Your video is not much of an exagerration.

[nakkers]

As a current Sportster owner, I love the look of the 48. But, with little to no suspension, meager fuel tank, I guess it's intended use is to drive to the local Timmies and back. Maybe stopping for gas along the way.

There are a lot of folks that pay big bucks for a custom harley with no cruising range so, I think Harley is just trying to cash in on that.

My 12.49L tank gets me 200 kms or so. I don't like to test my reserve or walking for fuel capacity. If I needed more distance, I'd look for a larger tank or different bike.

I love my Sportster and none of my Harley friends consider it a girls bike.

[iridebikes]

Then a beefy sport bike front end with dbl. discs etc. Replace the 120 tire with a 130/70 for the Fat Boy look.

I always try to picture bikes like this Sportster outfitted with big fat inverted sportbike front ends.