Honda Rebel 500 vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Honda Rebel 500 vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight. Honda Rebel 500: 46 hp @ 8,500 rpm hp, 191 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 160 km/h (est. — note: Honda does not officially publish top speed), 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
Honda Rebel 500
Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Horsepower (hp)
46 hp
60 hp
Torque (Nm)
43 Nm
97 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
160 km/h
170 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
191 kg
253 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
46 hp @ 8,500 rpm
60 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
43 Nm @ 6,000 rpm
97 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
160 km/h (est. — note: Honda does not officially publish top speed)
170 km/h
Weight
191 kg (wet/curb weight)
253 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
3.5 L/100km (approx. 28.5 km/L typical real-world average)
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Honda Rebel 500
7.8/10
"The most competent beginner cruiser Honda has ever built."
Pros
+Honda reliability, near-bulletproof
+Comfortable low seat height
+Better handling than expected
Cons
−Highway cruising feels strained
−Wind protection essentially nonexistent
−Styling divides opinion sharply
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.
