Harley Davidson released the Nightster last year and further released the Nightster Special in 2023, but is the motorcycle that uses the liquid cooled Revolution Max engine, and is the company replacement of the Sportster chassis, the motorcycle of the future?
The Revolution Max engine is what the H-D critics have been asking for and brings the American brand into the motorcycle 21st Century, but is it nearly enough to compete and wet the appetite of new riders.
The Rev Max 975cc is featured in the Nightster and Nightster S whilst the 1250cc is in the Sportster S and Pan America. Many were predicting that another smaller ADV bike would be announced shortly and that would utilise the 975cc engine too.
However, whilst the Rev Max engine was a welcome addition to the stable, the company haven’t really jumped in with both feet to offer many models. There isn’t anything for the cruiser or tourer bikes and the styling of the Sportster S and Nightster has left many scratching their heads.
Certainly the Nightster appears to be more in keeping with the original Sportster but the use of more modern materials has meant that traditionalists have been more bashful in adopting it, rather preferring that the younger crowd swing a leg over it.
The Nightster, with all of its promise and highly rated performance…well in comparison to other H-D air cooled contemporaries, still lacks bite especially when comparing it to the highly rated Indian FTR but perhaps should be lined up against the Scout instead for a much fairer fight.
The Revolution Max engine certainly has a future if only the company would commit to developing new bikes that would use it, but the Nightster and Sportster S may have limited appeal and with poor sales figures could be that this experiment is short lived for the company.
The Nightster was really seen as the bike to take the company further and be the entry level into the brand but at a starting price of £14195 in the UK…it is hardly appealing to the entry level rider, let alone fans of the brand who are more likely to be seeking the guttural sensation.
The Nightster is a contradiction and a confusion of the senses. It has lots of power, but not really quite enough for it to be exhilarating. From a certain angle it’s design flows and hypnotises, whilst at other vantage points it disturbs and repulses.
The launch and marketing of the bike when first launched also sent tongues wagging too. It was sold as a bike that could immediately be changed and there were numerous custom bike builders invited to create their own version of the bike…and this was in anticipation of the reveal too.
So were customers buying a bike that would suit the masses or were they selling yet another platform upon which to ‘make it your own’? It just didn’t sit well with so many critics. Less of it could be but more about what it actually is!
Having ridden the Nightster, it is a pleasure to ride with nice balance and the engine really purrs but it lacks something. Many would argue it is plentiful enough but I would still argue that a more powerful 1250cc engine would really set this bike apart.
Specs
DIMENSIONS
LENGTH 2,250 mm, SEAT HEIGHT, UNLADEN 705 mm, GROUND CLEARANCE 110 mm
RAKE 30, TRAIL 137 mm, WHEELBASE 1,545 mm
TYRES, FRONT SPECIFICATION 100/90-19 57H
TYRES, REAR SPECIFICATION 150/80B16 77H
TYRE, TYPE Dunlop™ Harley-Davidson Series Bias Blackwall
FUEL CAPACITY 11.7 l, OIL CAPACITY (W/FILTER) 4.5 l
WEIGHT, AS SHIPPED 211 kg, WEIGHT, IN RUNNING ORDER 221 kg
ENGINE
Revolution™ Max 975T, BORE 97 mm, STROKE 66 mm, DISPLACEMENT 975 cc
COMPRESSION RATIO 12.0:1
FUEL SYSTEM Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
EXHAUST 2-into-1; catalyst in header
PERFORMANCE
ENGINE TORQUE TESTING METHOD EC 134/2014
ENGINE TORQUE 95 Nm, ENGINE TORQUE (RPM) 5750
HORSEPOWER 89 HP / 66 kW @ 7500 rpm
LEAN ANGLE, RIGHT (DEG.) 32
LEAN ANGLE, LEFT (DEG.) 32
FUEL ECONOMY TESTING METHOD EU 134/2014, FUEL ECONOMY 5.5 l/100 km
CO2 EMISSIONS TESTING METHOD EU 134/2014, CO2 EMISSIONS 128 g/km CO2
DRIVE TRAIN
PRIMARY DRIVE Gear, 49/89 ratio
GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 1ST 12.21, GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 2ND 9.022
GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 3RD 6.994, GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 4TH 5.641
GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 5TH 4.731, GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 6TH 4.131
CHASSIS
FRONT FORK
41mm SHOWA™ Dual Bending Valve conventional forks. Aluminum fork triple clamps.
REAR SHOCKS
Rear suspension is dual outboard, direct-acting (no linkage) emulsion technology shock absorbers with coil springs and a threaded collar for pre-load adjustment.
WHEELS, FRONT TYPE Aluminum cast, satin black
WHEELS, REAR TYPE Aluminum cast, satin black
BRAKES, TYPE Front: single rotor, floating, hub – mounted; Rear: solid uniform expansion rotor
BRAKES, CALIPER TYPE Front: axially mounted, 4-piston caliper; Rear: floating, single piston caliper
ELECTRIC
LIGHTS (AS PER COUNTRY REGULATION), INDICATOR LAMPS
All LED headlamp, low and high beam with signature position lighting; All LED rear lighting; LED bullet turn signals
GAUGES
4-inch viewable round gauge area analog display with, Speedometer, L/R turn Indication, Traction Control Indication, Coolant Temperature Alert, ABS alert, Fog Lamp Indication, Battery Voltage Alert, High Beam Indicator, Low Fuel Indication, Rear-ABS Disabled Indication, Failure-Indication Alert, Neutral Position Indication, Low Tire Pressure indication, Check Engine Light indication, Oil Pressure Alert, Service Indication.
INFOTAINMENT TYPE
Analog display, SCREEN SIZE 102 mm
VEHICLE INFORMATION SCREEN (AIR TEMPERATURE, OIL PRESSURE AND EITMS)
Total Odometer (Selectable Miles or km), Trip A/B, Gear Position Indication, Fuel Range, 12/24 Hr Clock, Digital Tachometer, Segmented Fuel Level, Ride Mode Indication
RIDER SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) Included
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS) Included
DRAG-TORQUE SLIP CONTROL SYSTEM (DSCS) Included
Colours: Nightster – Vivid Black, Redline Red, Nightster S – Vivid Black, Black Denim, Bright Billiard Blue, Industrial Yellow
Price: Nightster – £14195 + £375 for optional colour: Redline Red
Nightster S – £15395 + £375 for optional colours (Black Denim, BB Blue, I Yellow)