Harley-davidson Softail Deluxe vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Harley-davidson Softail Deluxe vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight. Harley-davidson Softail Deluxe: 86 hp @ 5,020 rpm (2018+ Milwaukee-Eight 107) hp, 318 kg (curb weight, 2018+ model) weight, top speed 175 km/h (estimated — note: not a performance-focused model), 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 Softail Deluxe
Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Horsepower (hp)
86 hp
60 hp
Torque (Nm)
145 Nm
97 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
175 km/h
170 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
318 kg
253 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
86 hp @ 5,020 rpm (2018+ Milwaukee-Eight 107)
60 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
145 Nm @ 3,000 rpm (2018+ Milwaukee-Eight 107)
97 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
175 km/h (estimated — note: not a performance-focused model)
170 km/h
Weight
318 kg (curb weight, 2018+ model)
253 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
6.5 L/100km (approximately 15.4 km/L, real-world average)
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Harley-davidson Softail Deluxe
7.5/10
"Buy 2018-newer and you get a genuinely excellent slow-lane companion."
Pros
+Stunning retro visual presence
+M8 107 torque delivery
+Comfortable all-day riding position
Cons
−Limited cornering ground clearance
−Runs hot in traffic
−Pre-2018 cam tensioner issues
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.
