Harley-davidson Nightster Special vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Harley-davidson Nightster Special vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight. Harley-davidson Nightster Special: 90 hp @ 7,500 rpm hp, 228 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 185 km/h (estimated; note: factory limited, real-world reports vary), Motoryk rating 7.8/10. 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 Nightster Special
Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Horsepower (hp)
90 hp
60 hp
Torque (Nm)
95 Nm
97 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
185 km/h
170 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
228 kg
253 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
90 hp @ 7,500 rpm
60 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
95 Nm @ 5,000 rpm
97 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
185 km/h (estimated; note: factory limited, real-world reports vary)
170 km/h
Weight
228 kg (wet/curb weight)
253 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 Nightster Special
7.8/10
"The best Sportster-lineage bike Harley has ever built."
Pros
+Revolution Max engine is exceptional
+Handles surprisingly well
+Modern reliability and electronics
Cons
−Suspension too soft stock
−Seat comfort is poor
−Limited wind protection
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.
