Harley Davidson XL1200X Sportster FortyEight 2022 Service Manual

2022 closed out an era: this was the last model year for the XL1200X Forty-Eight before Harley retired the Evolution-engine Sportster line entirely in favor of the new liquid-cooled Sportster S platform. Fittingly, the bike that goes out is essentially the same stripped-down bobber formula that made the Forty-Eight a fan favorite since its 2010 debut — no dramatic send-off changes, just the classic recipe one last time.

Power comes from the air-cooled Evolution V-twin, displacing 1,202cc via a 3.5 in. bore and 3.8 in. stroke, with a 10.1:1 compression ratio running through electronic sequential port fuel injection. A 5-speed transmission (Sportster models kept the 5-speed even as Harley's bigger bikes moved to 6-speed boxes) sends power through a carbon fiber belt final drive. The signature peanut fuel tank, holding just 2.1 gallons, sits at the heart of the Forty-Eight's low, bulldog-like stance, showing off the mass of the engine rather than hiding it.

Styling stays deliberately minimal: black staggered exhaust with slash-cut mufflers, black split 9-spoke cast aluminum wheels with machined highlights, and a low, rawboned frame that kept the seat height down to a genuinely accessible 26.2 inches. Dimensions run 85.2 in. long with a 58.9 in. wheelbase, shipping at 545 lbs (556 lbs in running order). 2022 pricing started at $12,299.