Hey there,
I picked up a '10 Sportster 48 last Sept. I traded in my '09 Buell 1125CR on it given the 1125 was having soooo many electrical issues... and I luv'd the looks of the 48 so my desire to pursue a fix for the 1125 instantly went away... I wanted this 48.
I've owned a '06 Sportster XL883, the aforementioned 1125CR, and currently own a '08 Buell XB12S... ... and of course the 48.
I probably get just as many if not more "cool bike!" comments and looks than I do with the Buells... I LOVE this thing.
A couple cons I've noticed out of the gate- The thing is a ROUGH rider with the stock seat\suspension. I expect a raw ride on a Sporty but there are times when this thing seemed outright dangerous. Going 60~70 mph on a highway jolted the heck out of me when hitting the slightest imperfections... if I was riding 2up I may have lost my passenger...?
Also the stock tank is SMALL. It looks cool but the functionality of it... ehhh... I use my bikes to commute to work which is 80 miles round trip. Every day I topped it off twice to ensure I was good to go. I was getting about 70 miles on a tank... reserve light would come on at about 55 miles.
BUT... once these 2 situations are taken care of its a GREAT bike! I put a Reach seat on which really helps alleviate those jolts... I hardly feel them now. I also replaced the stock 2.2 gal tank with a 3.3 gal Nightser tank. It looks really mean with a rough bulldog sort of front heavy profile.
Recently I had the Stage 1 done to it... Cool looking Screaming Eagle Heavy Breather (naked filter), HB remap download, and V&H Slip ons. It looks, sounds, and takes off amazing. Laying the Hammer down induces the ear to ear grins.
From what bit of research I have done the Stage 1 takes the 48 to about 69~70 RWHorsepower... about the same as the stock XR1200... so its fast (not Buell fast... but certainly fun fast!). I'm hoping to get my bike dyno'd soon to confirm the horses.
Luv'in the 48!
