Recently, the product development team of Harley-Davidson is completely killing it. The brand’s new state-of-the-art water-cooled DOHC dual engine, the Revolution Max, is exactly what the Motor Company needed. It could, and could possibly, build an entire line of motorcycles around this powerful and efficient engine. I like the displacement greater than 1250 in Union America and Sportster WILLso I knew I would probably prefer the miniature 975 found in a standard Sportster model.
With Harley moving to a new modular platform that uses the new engine as a tension member, its new bikes are lighter, stiffer and more agile than before. The Nightster is about 80 pounds lighter than the Sportster Iron 1200, which is probably its current closest parallel version. Harley claims the Nightster will tilt more than 32 degrees before pulling the latch. I don’t have a protractor with me to confirm that, but I totally skimmed some of the pegs on the sidewalk. It’s a much sportier bike than the previous Sportster, and carries a lot of classic styling in the process.
(Full disclosure: Harley-Davidson invited me to Santa Barbara to ride its new Nightster. Harley took me to events, put me in a nice hotel, and fed me delicious food.)
What is a Harley-Davidson Nightster?
Based on the new Revolution Max 975T engine, the Nightster is a new kind of Harley. It has 95 horsepower and 79 pound-feet of torque, which is impressive for its size. The old 1200 air conditioner struggled to reach that capacity, and the 883 was just a fraction of it! The engine is the star of this bike, for sure. With a redline of 9,500 RPM, it can really impress if you want to ride this bike on a twisty road. It doesn’t sound quite as good as its larger displacement sibling, especially at low RPM where it sounds a bit like an agricultural lawnmower, but it sounds better than any Harley before spinning the pistons. to the top of the faucet.
The Nightster is a bit more classic than the Sportster S, with a dual rear suspension setup with a huge 3-inch of travel, a two-in-one exhaust, a circular air filter and a stray “fuel tank” , and very cool. middle control. It’s certainly appealing, if you love this kind of bike.
The visual cues that Nightster shares with the old Sportster are just deep layers of skin. Obviously the frame is gone, but it’s visually styled with the exhaust and radiator framing the engine. The “fuel tank” between your legs is nothing more than a metal cover for the air conditioning box, as the fuel tank has been moved below the saddle for better center of gravity. It also allows for a larger airbox and a direct flow of air into the cylinders, which adds extra power.
Along with the modern engine and chassis, the Nightster also has modern electronic driver assistance features. There are three driving modes, Road, Sport and Rain, which adjust throttle response, change power levels throughout the rev range and make modifications to traction control, ABS and dynamic braking. muscle. Never seen any of that on old Evo-powered Sportys.
Weighing in at under 500 pounds, the new Nightster makes good use of its power. It certainly doesn’t feel as quick as its Sporster S 1250 sibling, but it certainly doesn’t feel lazy. This is a fast bike, and if it had been released before the Sportster S, I’m sure even then would have been surprised. Without the Sportster S’s large front tires, the Nightster leans into corners much better, giving the impression of shifting its weight faster. It could probably do with the front brake a bit more, considering the speed it can achieve, but I’ve never felt poor performance, despite spending a few hours hustling this car on some roads. The largest riding track in the world.
The weight reduction made on this bike is immediately apparent as soon as you lift it off the side racks. I prepared for the jerk needed to level up a heavy monster, but pulled too hard and almost flipped it over to the other side. The top also has a lot less weight where it really matters.
The old-school Sporty’s ergonomics remain, similarly copied from the Iron 1200. There’s a low seat, just 27 inches off the floor. There’s a low flat handlebar that you just need to reach a little bit in. There are controls in the middle that help take some of the weight off your butt and onto your legs. I find that last particularly welcome, as they also help the bike feel more stable underneath me than the Sportster S’ forward-leg layout.
When it comes to competition, the new Sportster is all about mopping the floor. Sure, you could buy an Indian Scout or Honda Rebel for less, but do you really want to? The Nightster is more comfortable, more powerful, and in my opinion better looking. Harley is really on to something here. It’s a kick ass platformer that I hope will spawn dozens of new variations. Hopefully a few even less expensive ones. We’ll probably never see a four-figure Sporty again, but can I get one for $11,000?
My judgment? If you like it, get it. It’s really good.
