Harley-davidson Deluxe Softail vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Harley-davidson Deluxe Softail vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight. Harley-davidson Deluxe Softail: 93 hp @ 5,020 rpm (Milwaukee-Eight 107, 2018+ models) hp, 317 kg (curb weight, 2018+ model) weight, top speed 175 km/h (estimated; note: electronically limited in some markets), Motoryk rating 7.5/10. Harley-davidson Forty-eight: 60 hp @ 6,000 rpm hp, 253 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 170 km/h, Motoryk rating 7.5/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Harley-davidson Deluxe Softail
Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Horsepower (hp)
93 hp
60 hp
Torque (Nm)
145 Nm
97 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
175 km/h
170 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
317 kg
253 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
93 hp @ 5,020 rpm (Milwaukee-Eight 107, 2018+ models)
60 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
145 Nm @ 3,250 rpm
97 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
175 km/h (estimated; note: electronically limited in some markets)
170 km/h
Weight
317 kg (curb weight, 2018+ model)
253 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
6.0 L/100km (approx. 16.7 km/L) — estimated real-world average
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Harley-davidson Deluxe Softail
7.5/10
"A gorgeous slow-road cruiser that rewards patient, style-conscious riders generously."
Pros
+Stunning visual street presence
+Milwaukee-Eight torque delivery
+Excellent two-up comfort
Cons
−Limited cornering ground clearance
−Fork seal failures common
−Heavy for tight maneuvering
Harley-davidson Forty-eight
7.5/10
"A charismatic city scramblers that demands realistic expectations about range and comfort."
Pros
+Bulletproof Sportster engine reliability
+Parts availability everywhere
+Genuinely stunning visual presence
Cons
−Tiny tank, terrible range
−Seat punishes longer rides
−Many dropped examples exist
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
