Kawasaki Mean Streak 1600 vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Kawasaki Mean Streak 1600 vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight. Kawasaki Mean Streak 1600: 72 hp @ 4,800 rpm (estimated, as Kawasaki did not officially publish power figures) hp, 326 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 185 km/h (estimated; manufacturer did not publish official figure), 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 Mean Streak 1600
Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Horsepower (hp)
72 hp
60 hp
Torque (Nm)
116 Nm
97 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
185 km/h
170 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
326 kg
253 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
72 hp @ 4,800 rpm (estimated, as Kawasaki did not officially publish power figures)
60 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
116 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
97 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
185 km/h (estimated; manufacturer did not publish official figure)
170 km/h
Weight
326 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 Mean Streak 1600
7.5/10
"A genuinely tough muscle cruiser that rewards patient, experienced buyers."
Pros
+Torquey, characterful V-twin engine
+Aggressive styling ages well
+Strong used value proposition
Cons
−Seat comfort fades quickly
−Soft suspension limits cornering confidence
−Carb issues on older models
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.
