Honda Vt1100 Shadow vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Honda Vt1100 Shadow vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight. Honda Vt1100 Shadow: 50 hp @ 5,500 rpm hp, 262 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 185 km/h, 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
Honda Vt1100 Shadow
Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Horsepower (hp)
50 hp
60 hp
Torque (Nm)
86 Nm
97 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
185 km/h
170 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
262 kg
253 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
50 hp @ 5,500 rpm
60 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
86 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
97 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
185 km/h
170 km/h
Weight
262 kg (wet/curb weight)
253 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
5.5 L/100km or approximately 18 km/L
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Honda Vt1100 Shadow
7.5/10
"Reliable, affordable cruiser that rewards patient riders over aggressive ones."
Pros
+Bulletproof Honda reliability
+Strong low-down torque
+Massive parts availability
Cons
−Heavy, sluggish cornering feel
−Seat comfort genuinely terrible
−Carbs gum up easily
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.
