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Harley-Davidson · Motorcycle
Forty Eight News & Updates
₹13.49 Lakhex-showroom · last updated 2026
- Engine
- 1,202cc
- Power
- 65.7bhp
- Mileage
- 20kmpl
- Weight
- 252kg
06 / News
Harley-Davidson Forty Eight Latest News in India
April 2023 - Officially Discontinued in India Harley-Davidson pulled the plug on the Forty Eight in India in April 2023, ending an 11-year run for the model in the country. The discontinuation was not India-specific - Harley retired the entire Evo-powered Sportster lineup globally after the 2022 model year. The reason: the Revolution Max engine platform (which now powers the Nightster, Sportster S, and Pan America) is the future, and the four-decade-old Evolution engine is simply no longer part of Harley's product roadmap. The Forty Eight did not get a Revolution Max successor - it was allowed to retire as a standalone icon.
2021 - Hero MotoCorp Takes Over India Operations In a significant shift, Harley-Davidson exited its direct India operations in 2020 and entered a licensing and distribution deal with Hero MotoCorp. Since January 2021, Hero has been handling sales, service, and parts distribution for Harley-Davidson in India. For Forty Eight owners, this means your bike is now serviced at Hero-authorised Harley centres rather than standalone HD dealerships. In practical terms, service quality and parts availability have remained consistent in major metros.
2020 - BS6 Update Launched The Forty Eight received a BS6 compliance update in 2020, with fuel injection recalibration to meet India's tightened emission norms. The update was transparent to riders - the engine character and performance were largely unchanged, and all core specifications were retained.
2012 - India Launch The Forty Eight was introduced to India in 2012 as part of Harley-Davidson's Sportster range, positioned as the bobber-style option in the lineup. It established a cult following among Indian riders who wanted Harley character without the full-size cruiser footprint.
Official Updates (4)
Harley-Davidson officially discontinued the Forty Eight in India in April 2023, ending its 11-year run in the country. The model was retired globally along with all other Evo-powered Sportster variants as Harley-Davidson transitioned its Sportster lineup entirely to the Revolution Max engine platform.
Hero MotoCorp announced 2021 model year Harley-Davidson prices in India, with the Forty Eight BS6 priced at ₹13,49,000 (ex-showroom). This was the last official price revision for the model, managed under Hero MotoCorp's newly assumed distribution and service network for Harley-Davidson India.
Hero MotoCorp took over Harley-Davidson's India sales, service, and distribution network from January 2021 under a licensing agreement, following Harley's exit from direct India operations in late 2020. Forty Eight owners are now served through Hero-authorised Harley-Davidson service centres.
Harley-Davidson updated the Forty Eight to BS6 emission norms in early 2020, recalibrating the 1202cc Evolution V-twin's fuel injection system to comply with India's stricter standards. The BS6 update brought Dual Channel ABS as standard, upgrading from the single-channel front ABS on BS4 variants.
What comes next for buyers who want a similar experience? Within the Harley lineup, the Nightster (975cc Revolution Max, ₹14,54,000) is the closest spiritual successor - it is smaller, more modern, and liquid-cooled, but lacks the raw mechanical simplicity of the Forty Eight. The Sportster S (1,252cc Revolution Max, ₹18,05,000) is more powerful but significantly more expensive. For used Forty Eight buyers, the Hero-Harley network remains active and parts availability is currently good - though availability of Evo-specific components will naturally tighten over the next 5-7 years.