Harley-davidson Sportster 1200 Nightster vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Harley-davidson Sportster 1200 Nightster vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight. Harley-davidson Sportster 1200 Nightster: 63 hp @ 5,500 rpm (estimated) hp, 263 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h (estimated), Motoryk rating 7.2/10. 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 Sportster 1200 Nightster
Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Horsepower (hp)
63 hp
60 hp
Torque (Nm)
97 Nm
97 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
175 km/h
170 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
263 kg
253 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
63 hp @ 5,500 rpm (estimated)
60 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
97 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
97 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
175 km/h (estimated)
170 km/h
Weight
263 kg (wet/curb weight)
253 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 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 Sportster 1200 Nightster
7.2/10
"A flawed but charismatic bargain that rewards patient, mechanical buyers."
Pros
+Cheap to buy used
+Massive aftermarket parts availability
+Satisfying torquey mid-range
Cons
−Vibration causes fatigue long-distance
−Charging system reliability concerns
−Suspect modded examples everywhere
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.
