Custom Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight Doesn’t Bow to One Particular Style

As you’re about to see, the Aussies over at Ellaspede were already indulging in some pretty awesome stuff several years ago. Having already covered most of their recent endeavors, today we’re putting on our throwback hats and preparing to do things a little differently. This article’s photo gallery showcases a striking Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight they’ve worked on a few years back.

The build wasn’t handled by Ellaspede from the start, though, because its owner was something of a bike-modding artisan himself. He goes by the name of Warwick Lyon and indulges in customization part-time, so a number of modifications had already been performed before Ellaspede came into the picture. Much of his work was centered around the Sportster’s 1,200cc V-twin engine, involving the addition of some new breathing equipment for improved airflow.

Warwick fitted a high-performance Screamin’ Eagle kit on the intake side of things, while swapping the original exhaust with a free-flowing Vance & Hines part. He also remapped the ECU to play nice with these replacements, ultimately managing to extract a peak output of 75 ponies and 85 pound-feet (115 Nm) of torque. Oh, and his custom treatment didn’t stop at the powertrain, mind you.

It continued with the installation of billet aluminum rearsets, as well as aftermarket shock absorbers that raise the motorcycle’s rear end by about 2.5 inches (63.5 mm). By contrast, the original forks are still present at the front, but Warwick had them lowered ever so slightly to toughen up the Harley’s posture. He also deleted the factory handlebar, replacing it with aftermarket clip-ons that carry bar-end mirrors.

A smaller, vintage-looking headlamp made its way onto the front end along with LED turn signals, and this is where Ellaspede’s experts took over. With the 2011-model Forty-Eight delivered to their shop, they were first tasked with creating a bespoke tail section suitable for the owner’s vision. A Styrofoam mock-up was initially carved out to offer a better idea of measurements and proportions for the final part.

Next, the Ellaspede crew translated the design into a CAD rendering, before having it CNC-machined into physical form out of ABS plastic. This new tail was subsequently topped with a two-piece saddle upholstered in kangaroo leather, and its rearmost tip received a thin but bright LED taillight. You’ll spot a pair of aftermarket blinkers a bit further ahead, fitted in close proximity to the upper shock mounts.

Seeking to keep the rear end as clean as possible, the guys added a swingarm-mounted license plate holder made of billet aluminum. Although it’s not pictured here, a bespoke fender can also be attached to this bracket when additional protection against road debris is necessary. Up north, Ellaspede used tailor-made mounting hardware to install the tiniest custom mudguard you’ll see all day.

We still find the Sportster’s stock dial in the cockpit, but it’s been repositioned in order to suit the lower profile. Moving rearward, you’ll come across a replacement fuel tank that can hold more juice while looking pretty much identical to the original item. The last piece of this Harley’s updated attire is barely noticeable at all, it being a discreet inner fender encasing the subframe’s underside. A complete rewire has been performed, as well, with the intent of hiding any unsightly wiring well out of sight.

To prevent things from getting too toasty near the rider’s right sole, Ellaspede came up with a set of stainless-steel heat shields for the exhaust mufflers. These bad boys were ceramic-coated for a further enhancement of their insulation properties, and the exhaust headers got heat-wrapped to benefit the same cause. Warwick’s stylish Sportster Forty-Eight is also equipped with CNC-milled engine covers sporting a stealthy layer of black powder coating.

Finally, the last thing we need to cover is the bike’s monochromatic paint scheme. A glossy layer of gunmetal-grey was used as the base on its upper bodywork, then topped with white pinstripes. As for the lion head motif on the fuel tank and left engine cover, it is a depiction of the logo adopted by Warwick Lyon’s very own customization outfit – Rampant Motorcycles.

All in all, this was one of the rare occasions when the client had already executed a fair chunk of the desired modifications and did it well. It must’ve been a genuine delight for Ellaspede to collaborate with someone who really knows what it takes to build a decent custom two-wheeler, and it certainly made their job a lot easier. With a mixture of bobber, tracker, and cafe racer design cues, this one-off Sportster is truly mouth-watering from every angle!