Harley-davidson Forty-eight vs Harley-davidson Iron 883
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Harley-davidson Iron 883
Horsepower (hp)
60 hp
53 hp
Torque (Nm)
97 Nm
68 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
170 km/h
170 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
253 kg
256 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
60 hp @ 6,000 rpm
53 hp @ 6,000 rpm (note: Harley-Davidson does not officially publish peak hp figures; this is a widely accepted dyno-tested estimate)
Torque
97 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
68 Nm @ 3,750 rpm
Top Speed
170 km/h
170 km/h (estimated; note: electronically limited in some markets)
Weight
253 kg (wet/curb weight)
256 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L typical real-world average)
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L, typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
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
Harley-davidson Iron 883
7.0/10
"A flawed but lovable urban scrapper that earns its cult status."
Pros
+Bulletproof resale value
+Parts absurdly cheap and available
+Low seat, beginner-friendly height
Cons
−Vibration kills long-distance comfort
−Tiny 3.3-gallon fuel tank
−Underpowered stock above 60mph