Harley-davidson Forty-eight vs Harley-davidson Sportster 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 Sportster Iron 883
Horsepower (hp)
60 hp
50 hp
Torque (Nm)
97 Nm
68 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
170 km/h
177 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
253 kg
247 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
60 hp @ 6,000 rpm
~50 hp @ 6,000 rpm (estimated; Harley-Davidson does not officially publish power figures for this model)
Torque
97 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
~68 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
170 km/h
~177 km/h (estimated; note: electronically limited in some markets)
Weight
253 kg (wet/curb weight)
247 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L typical real-world average)
5.5–6.5 L/100km (approximately 15–18 km/L, 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 Sportster Iron 883
7.5/10
"A character-packed starter Harley that rewards upgrading and honest riding."
Pros
+Bulletproof parts availability everywhere
+Iconic aggressive blacked-out styling
+Excellent resale value holds
Cons
−Stock seat is genuinely terrible
−Runs out of highway breath
−Compensator sprocket wear expensive