By Odeisel

Harley Davidson is classic America; machismo, muscles, and mutiny all rolled into a package of steel and rubber manifested as machine. These aren’t bike you wheelie and do tricks with, they are touring motorcycles built from the long haul appropriate as its parent is one of the few businesses to survive and prosper following the Great Depression. But even classics, now and then, can use a bit of spit and polish.  It was in that spirit late this week when Harley introduced a new motocycle, the 2010 Sportster Forty Eight in NYC. Planet Ill was on the scene and of course we were available to give you the low down on HD’s latest masterpiece.

The new machine brought a return to classic composition with the return of the peanut style steel gas tank, abandoned in 2007. I’m sure many long-time Harley loyalists will appreciate that particular style point. The Forthy Eight is sleek and stealthy, with an engine draped in black rather than the showy chrome shine that so many bikes have embraced. Also “blacked out” are the fenders, the bike chain and the air cleaner with little more than the exhaust and a few lines along the bike getting the bling treatment.

Below are the specs, along with live photos from the event. Try not to ruin your keyboards. Peace

Harley-Davidson introduces more new models than ever before. 34 new metal masterpieces. 9 brand new models.
Check it out at Harley-Davidson® 2010 Motorcycles

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Photographs By Joann Gomez of MLLT Photography

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