Kawasaki Drifter 1500 vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Kawasaki Drifter 1500 vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight. Kawasaki Drifter 1500: 67 hp @ 4,800 rpm hp, 329 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h (estimated), 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
Kawasaki Drifter 1500
Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Horsepower (hp)
67 hp
60 hp
Torque (Nm)
119 Nm
97 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
175 km/h
170 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
329 kg
253 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
67 hp @ 4,800 rpm
60 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
119 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
97 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
175 km/h (estimated)
170 km/h
Weight
329 kg (wet/curb weight)
253 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
6.5 L/100km (approx. 15.4 km/L, typical real-world average)
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Kawasaki Drifter 1500
7.5/10
"A gorgeous cruiser worth buying only in excellent condition."
Pros
+Stunning retro Indian-inspired styling
+Punchy torquey V-twin
+Comfortable long-haul ergonomics
Cons
−Parts nearly unobtainium now
−Chrome deteriorates badly neglected
−Carbs temperamental after storage
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.
