2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight Specifications

Name: 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight
Brand: Harley-Davidson

Custom / cruiser • Specs last verified 13 July 2026

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2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight Overview

Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight is a custom / cruiser motorcycle, displacing 1201.25 cc. Power comes from a V2, four-stroke engine running Double Overhead Cams/Twin Cam (DOHC) valve actuation, a compression ratio of 9.7:1. Bore and stroke come in at 88.9 x 96.8 mm. On the performance side, it delivers 107.12 Nm @ 4000 of torque. Top speed is factory-quoted at 45 km/h. On the road, the 2013 Sportster Forty-Eight tips the scales at 259.9 kg, carries a 7.95-litre fuel tank, offers a seat height of 660 mm and spans a 1,519 mm wheelbase. That's roughly 40.7 kg lighter than the average custom / cruiser motorcycle in our database. The full 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight spec sheet below covers every technical detail, from suspension travel to tyre sizes.

2013 Sportster Forty-Eight - Pros & Cons

Strengths

Fuel injection: Fuel injection means consistent cold starts and clean throttle response without the fussiness of a carbureted setup.
Accessible seat height: A 660 mm seat height keeps this manageable for most riders, which helps confidence at parking-lot speeds.
Low-maintenance final drive: Running Belt final drive cuts out the regular chain cleaning and tensioning that most bikes need.

Considerations

Modest fuel capacity: Range between stops is limited by the 7.95-litre tank - plan fuel stops accordingly on longer routes.

Wear Points & Servicing Notes

Fuelling & injector care

The fuel injection on the Sportster Forty-Eight needs little beyond good fuel and periodic use of an injector-cleaner additive - no jetting or float-bowl maintenance to worry about.

Valve clearance checks

With Double Overhead Cams/Twin Cam (DOHC) valve gear, the Sportster Forty-Eight needs periodic clearance checks; caught early they're a cheap adjustment, left unchecked they accelerate valve seat wear.

Brake disc and pad wear

Braking up front comes from Single disc. Dual-piston - solid stopping power, with disc and pad wear best checked on the same schedule as tyre changes.

Suspension condition on used examples

The Sportster Forty-Eight's suspension runs Independent coil springs and hydraulic dampers at the front. The rear uses Independent coil springs and hydraulic dampers. Fork-seal condition and rear linkage play are the two things worth checking before buying used.

Final drive maintenance

The Sportster Forty-Eight runs belt final drive: no lubrication or frequent adjustment like a chain, though belt tension and wear are worth a periodic look.

Handling the weight at a standstill

259.9 kg puts the Sportster Forty-Eight toward the heavier end of its class. It's most noticeable at walking pace; once underway the mass settles into the handling rather than fighting it.

Sportster Forty-Eight - Buying & Maintenance Guide

What to check before buying

Before handing over money for a used 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight, cover the fundamentals: service book and oil change history, chain and sprocket wear, and any sign of oil weeping around the casings. Cold-starting it yourself tells you a lot - a healthy Sportster Forty-Eight should catch quickly and settle into a smooth idle.

Oil and filter changes

Nothing protects a Sportster Forty-Eight's engine like disciplined oil changes - stay on the manufacturer's schedule (roughly every 6,000 km or annually). The sump holds 2.60 litres, so budget for that volume of quality motorcycle-specific engine oil. Match the viscosity grade to what the owner's manual specifies, not what's cheapest.

Fuel system care

Fuel injection on the Sportster Forty-Eight needs little attention beyond decent fuel and an occasional system-cleaner additive. Anything left standing for three months or more should have its fuel drained and replaced before it varnishes the injectors.

Valve clearance service

Valve clearances are easy to overlook on a used Sportster Forty-Eight since a bike out of spec doesn't always feel obviously wrong - but the wear it causes is real. Ask the seller for documentation before assuming it's been done.

2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight - Frequently Asked Questions

What engine does the 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight have?

The 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight uses a V2, four-stroke engine with 1201.25 cc of displacement.

What is the top speed of the 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight?

The 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight has a factory-quoted top speed of 45 km/h. Real-world speeds vary depending on rider weight, conditions and state of tune.

How much does the 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight weigh?

The 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight weighs 259.9 kg. This is the manufacturer's wet figure.

How much power does the 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight make?

The 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight produces 107.12 Nm @ 4000 of torque.

What is the fuel tank capacity of the 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight?

The 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight has a 7.95-litre fuel tank. At around 5-6 litres per 100 km, that is roughly 132-159 km between stops.

Is the 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight suitable for shorter riders?

The 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight has a seat height of 660 mm. This is a comfortable, accessible height for most riders.

What brakes does the 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight have?

The 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight uses Single disc. Dual-piston at the front and Single disc. Single-piston at the rear.

What tyre sizes does the 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight use?

The 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight runs 150/80-16 front and 150/80-B16 rear tyres. A good selection of sport, touring and all-weather rubber is available in these sizes.

How much oil does the 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight take?

The 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight takes 2.60 litres of engine oil at a full oil and filter change. Always verify against the dipstick or sight glass after filling.

Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight Spec Evolution

The Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight was produced across 8 model years (2013-2020). The table below highlights the key specifications that changed across the production run - useful whether you are comparing years or tracking down a specific variant.

Specification	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Wet Weight	259.9 kg / 573.0 lbs	259.9 kg / 573.0 lbs	259.9 kg / 573.0 lbs	257.0 kg / 566.6 lbs	252.0 kg / 555.6 lbs	252.0 kg / 555.6 lbs	252.0 kg / 555.6 lbs	252.0 kg / 555.6 lbs
Dry Weight	250.8 kg / 553.0 lbs	250.8 kg / 553.0 lbs	250.8 kg / 553.0 lbs	247 kg / 544.5 lbs	247 kg / 544.5 lbs	247 kg / 544.5 lbs	247 kg / 544.5 lbs	247 kg / 544.5 lbs
Engine Detail	Air-cooled, Evolution®	Air-cooled, Evolution®	Air-cooled, Evolution®	Evolution® engine	Evolution® engine	Evolution® engine	Evolution® engine	Evolution® engine
Seat Height	660 mm / 26.0 in.	660 mm / 26.0 in.	660 mm / 26.0 in.	710 mm / 28.0 in.	710 mm / 28.0 in.	710 mm / 28.0 in.	665 mm / 26.2 in.	665 mm / 26.2 in.
Fuel Capacity	7.95 litres / 2.10 gallons	7.95 litres / 2.10 gallons	7.90 litres / 2.09 gallons	7.90 litres / 2.09 gallons	7.90 litres / 2.09 gallons	7.90 litres / 2.09 gallons	7.90 litres / 2.09 US gallons	7.90 litres / 2.09 US gallons
Oil Capacity (Quarts)	0.17 quarts	0.17 quarts	0.17 quarts	0.17 quarts	0.17 quarts	0.17 quarts	2.75 US quarts	2.96 US quarts
Oil Capacity (l)	2.60 litres	2.60 litres	2.60 litres	2.60 litres	2.60 litres	2.60 litres	2.60 litres	2.80 litres
Ground Clearance (mm)	99 mm	99 mm	99 mm	110 mm	110 mm	110 mm	110 mm	110 mm

Key Specifications

Engine

V2, four-stroke

Power

Not published by manufacturer

Torque

107.12 Nm (10.9 kgf-m or 79.0 ft.lbs) @ 4000

Top Speed

45.0 km/h / 28.0 mph

Weight

259.9 kg / 573.0 lbs

Fuel Capacity

7.95 litres / 2.10 gallons

Full 2013 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight Specifications

Comments Amphibian.

Colours Hard Candy Coloma Gold Flake, Ember Red Sunglo, Big Blue Pearl, Vivid Black

Ground Clearance (mm) 99 mm

Ground Clearance (in.) 3.9 inches

Seat Height 660 mm / 26.0 in.

Wheelbase 1,519 mm / 59.8 in.

Height 1,400 mm / 55.1 in.

Length 2,250 mm / 88.6 in.

Width 1,600 mm / 63.0 in.

Oil Capacity (Quarts) 0.17 quarts

Oil Capacity (l) 2.60 litres

Dry Weight 250.8 kg / 553.0 lbs

Fuel Capacity 7.95 litres / 2.10 gallons

Wet Weight 259.9 kg / 573.0 lbs

Top Speed 45.0 km/h / 28.0 mph

Max Torque 107.12 Nm (10.9 kgf-m or 79.0 ft.lbs) @ 4000

Fuel Control Double Overhead Cams/Twin Cam (DOHC)

Engine Type V2, four-stroke

Displacement (ci) 73.30 cubic inches

Displacement (cc) 1201.25 cc

Bore x Stroke (in,) 3.5 x 3.8 inches

Bore x Stroke (mm) 88.9 x 96.8 mm

CO2 113.7 CO

Engine Detail Air-cooled, Evolution®

Fuel System Injection. Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)

Compression Ratio 9.7:1

Engine Lubrication Dry sump

Exhaust E Type 9

Fuel Consumption 4.90 litres/100 km (20.4 km/l or 48.00 mpg)

Starter Electric

Valve System 4

Clutch Multi-plate with diaphragm spring in oil bath

Final Drive Belt

Gearbox 6-speed

Primary Drive 57/38 ratio

Suspension - Front Independent coil springs and hydraulic dampers

Suspension - Rear Independent coil springs and hydraulic dampers

Trail 107 mm / 4.2 in.

Instrumentation 4-inch Speedometer mounted low and integrated into handlebar clamp electronic speedometer with odometer, time-of-day clock on odometer, dual tripmeter, LED indicator lights

Lighting system High beam, neutral, low oil pressure, turn signals, engine diagnostics, low fuel warning, low battery, security system (optional)

Brakes - Front Single disc. Dual-piston

Brakes - Rear Single disc. Single-piston

Rims Black, Laced Steel

Tyres - Front 150/80-16

Tyres - Rear 150/80-B16

Specifications are compiled from manufacturer documentation and cross-referenced technical sources, and corrected on an ongoing basis. Spot an error? Let us know.