Kawasaki Nomad 1600 vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Kawasaki Nomad 1600 vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight. Kawasaki Nomad 1600: 74 hp @ 4,800 rpm (estimated) hp, 372 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 185 km/h (estimated), Motoryk rating 7.8/10. 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 Nomad 1600
Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Horsepower (hp)
74 hp
60 hp
Torque (Nm)
122 Nm
97 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
185 km/h
170 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
372 kg
253 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
74 hp @ 4,800 rpm (estimated)
60 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
122 Nm @ 3,000 rpm (estimated)
97 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
185 km/h (estimated)
170 km/h
Weight
372 kg (wet/curb weight)
253 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
6.5 L/100km (approx. 15.4 km/L) — estimated real-world average
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
Yes
No
Individual Reviews
Kawasaki Nomad 1600
7.8/10
"A genuinely capable tourer that punches above its used asking price."
Pros
+Shaft drive, zero maintenance
+Fuel injection runs flawlessly
+Hard bags genuinely waterproof
Cons
−Stock seat punishes long distances
−Heavy at 750lbs wet
−Specialist mechanics hard finding
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.
