Honda Valkyrie 1800 vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Honda Valkyrie 1800 vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight. Honda Valkyrie 1800: 118 hp @ 6,000 rpm (estimated, based on GL1800 platform; Honda quoted no official figure) hp, 380 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 185 km/h (estimated; Honda did not publish an official figure), Motoryk rating 8.5/10. 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
Honda Valkyrie 1800
Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Horsepower (hp)
118 hp
60 hp
Torque (Nm)
167 Nm
97 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
185 km/h
170 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
380 kg
253 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
118 hp @ 6,000 rpm (estimated, based on GL1800 platform; Honda quoted no official figure)
60 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
167 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
97 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
185 km/h (estimated; Honda did not publish an official figure)
170 km/h
Weight
380 kg (wet/curb weight)
253 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
7.5 L/100km (approx. 13.3 km/L) — estimated real-world average
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Honda Valkyrie 1800
8.5/10
"The most characterful cruiser Honda ever built, full stop."
Pros
+Indestructible flat-six engine
+Exceptional highway stability
+Incredible torque delivery
Cons
−Seriously heavy low-speed handling
−Carburetor issues after storage
−Parts availability can frustrate
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.
