What Does The 48 Mean On The Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight?

While Harley-Davidson has dabbled in some strange designs in the past, it has also produced some pretty great looking bikes, including the Sportster Forty-Eight. The model features a small peanut tank, which was first introduced in Harley-Davidson's lineup with the 1948 125 S. Decades later, Harley-Davidson paid homage to that model by making its debut year part of the newer model's name: the Forty-Eight.

With a 2.1 gallon capacity, there's a popular myth that a single full tank on the Forty-Eight will give you around 48 miles of riding, with the name referencing the mileage — but that's not true. Rather, according to Harley-Davidson, the bike gets 48 mpg — a fun coincidence — giving it a range of around 100 miles on a full tank. That means it's not one of the best motorcycles for long-range riding, but great looks can override other factors when shopping. For example, the Forty-Eight Special, which had a sexy '70s vintage flair, could definitely make a few heads turn.

However, beauty fades, and it wasn't enough to keep the Sportster Forty-Eight on the market. In an effort to take out all the Evolution (Evo) Engine-powered Sportsters from its line up, the Forty-Eight was simply collateral damage. Considered one of the best Harley-Davidson engines out there, the Evo is widely believed to have saved the company from closing up shop during tough times. But with the typical progression of the industry, it was only natural that the model was phased out when better designs came along. That said, while the Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight is no longer in production, there are ways to get your hands on one.

Harley-Davidson has been producing Sportsters since 1957. While the Sportster S lives on, the last Sporster Forty-Eight was the 2022 model that sold for $12,299 — a little more if you wanted it in other colors. The Forty-Eight ranked third in a 2022 SlashGear survey of the coolest Harley models. Because of this popularity, there's no shortage of used examples for sale in the United States. 

As of this writing, Autotrader has 37 listings with prices that average around $8,600, and Cycle Trader has dozens more listings for the beloved bike for as little as $3,500. And of course, if you don't have the budget for a full-sized working version, you can also get a Maisto 1:18 model Harley Forty-Eight for under $20 on eBay. And if you like the vibe of the Forty-Eight but don't feel like it's the right model for you, there are plenty of other retro-styled bikes out there.