Honda Vt600 Shadow Vlx vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Honda Vt600 Shadow Vlx vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight. Honda Vt600 Shadow Vlx: 44 hp @ 7,000 rpm hp, 221 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 155 km/h, Motoryk rating 8.0/10. 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 Vt600 Shadow Vlx
Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Horsepower (hp)
44 hp
60 hp
Torque (Nm)
47 Nm
97 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
155 km/h
170 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
221 kg
253 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
44 hp @ 7,000 rpm
60 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
47 Nm @ 4,500 rpm
97 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
155 km/h
170 km/h
Weight
221 kg (wet/curb weight)
253 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
3.5 L/100km or approximately 28.5 km/L
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Honda Vt600 Shadow Vlx
8.0/10
"The most sensible used cruiser under $3,500, full stop."
Pros
+Near-indestructible Honda reliability
+Massive used parts availability
+Comfortable all-day ergonomics
Cons
−Carbs gunk up when stored
−Fork seals leak with age
−Underpowered for highway cruising
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.
