Qualifiers

Harley Davidson FortyEightSilver

LATEST HARLEY-DAVIDSON FUELS MINIMALIST REVIVAL FOR YOUNG AMERICA

Forty-Eight Continues Hot Rod Tradition of Sportster Line, Epitomizes Rebelliousness in Today’s Modern Nomad

MILWAUKEE (March 15, 2010) – At a time when 66% of young adults are cutting back on excess and 48% believe that life has become too complex, Harley-Davidson answers the call for a minimalist revival with a bike stripped of excess parts leaving just you and the engine. The company’s new Forty-Eight motorcycle is a factory custom with an unconventional look and feel. The latest introduction to Harley-Davidson’s Dark Custom collection of raw and elemental bikes, Forty-Eight pushes the limits on style and performance and is stripped down to what really matters —the same way today’s young generation of freedom-seekers live their lives.

The Forty-Eight may resemble a classic Sportster, but this bike is about as unconventional as it gets. And that’s okay, because fitting in isn’t exactly what Harley-Davidson is going for. From its “peanut” fuel tank and under-bar mounted mirrors to its slammed stance and fat tires, the Forty-Eight takes motorcycle design as close to the edge as possible.

Harley Davidson FortyEightSilver

“We wanted to create a bike that pushes the limits of design. Forty-Eight’s classic bulldog shoulders, distinctive look, and low profile could only come from Harley-Davidson,” said Ray Drea, Harley-Davidson Senior Director of Styling.

Harley-Davidson Sportsters, like the Forty-Eight, have retained an aura of rebellion since their introduction in the 1950s, when the foundation of custom culture was being laid by military veterans, swaggering greasers and anyone else familiar with spending time in the garage. Sportsters became an iron canvas for many legendary choppers of that hot rod era and beyond – and today’s urban warrior is primed to be a flame keeper of that custom tradition. As a Harley-Davidson Dark Custom, the Forty-Eight is ready to ride as a radical custom and also primed to take on its rider’s character and personality.

“Other companies look at Harley-Davidson for design inspiration; we look in the mirror,” said Willie G. Davidson, Harley-Davidson Chief Styling Officer. “The Forty-Eight has a collective past life experience and broken-in look that is raw and authentic.”