Kawasaki Vulcan S vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Kawasaki Vulcan S vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight. Kawasaki Vulcan S: 61 hp @ 7,500 rpm hp, 228 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 185 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 Vulcan S
Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Horsepower (hp)
61 hp
60 hp
Torque (Nm)
63 Nm
97 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
185 km/h
170 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
228 kg
253 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
61 hp @ 7,500 rpm
60 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
63 Nm @ 6,600 rpm
97 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
185 km/h (estimated)
170 km/h
Weight
228 kg (wet/curb weight)
253 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
4.5 L/100km (approx. 22 km/L typical real-world average)
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Kawasaki Vulcan S
7.5/10
"The sensible cruiser that actually makes mechanical sense used."
Pros
+Adjustable ergonomics suit everyone
+Parallel-twin engine lives forever
+Low maintenance belt drive
Cons
−Stock seat punishes longer rides
−Styling divides opinion sharply
−Low resale value retention
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.
