Yamaha Road Star 1600 vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Yamaha Road Star 1600 vs Harley-davidson Forty-eight. Yamaha Road Star 1600: 61 hp @ 4,750 rpm (estimated; Yamaha did not officially publish power figures for this model) hp, 310 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h (estimated; note: not a performance-focused model), 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
Yamaha Road Star 1600
Harley-davidson Forty-eight
Horsepower (hp)
61 hp
60 hp
Torque (Nm)
120 Nm
97 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
175 km/h
170 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
310 kg
253 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
61 hp @ 4,750 rpm (estimated; Yamaha did not officially publish power figures for this model)
60 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
120 Nm @ 2,500 rpm (estimated)
97 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
175 km/h (estimated; note: not a performance-focused model)
170 km/h
Weight
310 kg (wet/curb weight)
253 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
6.5 L/100km (approximately 15.4 km/L) — estimated real-world average
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Yamaha Road Star 1600
7.5/10
"A dependable, characterful cruiser that rewards patient, experienced riders."
Pros
+Bulletproof engine reliability
+Strong low-end torque
+Excellent highway comfort
Cons
−Heavy, punishing low-speed drops
−Dated suspension technology
−Limited performance aftermarket
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.
