Maybe, just maybe, the new Harley-Davidson Nightster should have been first. Maybe this bike should have arrived before the Sportster S, the first of the new-generation liquid-cooled Revolution Max-powered machines, simply because it looks more like a traditional Sportster from decades past.
The styling of the Nightster, from the wheel sizes to the pipes to the twin rear shocks and lots lots more shouts ‘Sportster’ rather than ‘new’, despite the fact the machine is actually all new, at least compared to the air-cooled Sportsters of old.
Of course it’s not all-new compared to the Sportster S, sharing an engine platform. The smaller 975 Revolution Max actually displaces 975cc thanks to its heavily over-square bore and stroke, but it’s not designed to be as rev-happy as some machines — low-down torque is a feature, the machine producing 95Nm at 5000rpm before peaking with 90hp at 7500.
That should make it a fun bike to ride, especially with a wet weight of just 218kg, and guess what, it’s aimed at bring new riders to the brand — although I think current owners of Sportsters might be pretty keen too, especially when you realise the bike is designed to be customised.
“The Nightster is an instrument of expression and exploration, underpinned by performance” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO of Harley-Davidson. “By building on the 65-year Sportster legacy, the Nightster provides a canvas for creativity and personalisation, offering the ultimate platform for customisation and expression for new and existing riders.”
The Revolution Max engine is now being built in three guises, as a 1250 in the Pan America and Sportster S, and now as a litre bike in the Nightster. The company’s engineers have spent some time optimising the engine for the new bike, creating a motor with a very flat torque curve and a strong mid-range.
Like the other Revolution max engines, the 975cc version features maintenance-free hydraulic valve adjustment, variable valve timing, internal balancers and liquid cooling. Mid controls and a sporty nature lend the bike toward city and twisty road usage. The chassis uses the engine as a significant component to reduce weight and increase stiffness. The rear subframe is aluminium.
Unlike the Sportster S, the Nightster uses conventional forks (41mm Showa Dual Bending Valve) and twin rear shocks. There’s 32 degrees of lean angle available for cornering clearance.
The front suspension offers over four inches of wheel travel, the rear three — considerably more than the Sportster S and more easily customised too — and the specifications have a listing for optional suspension, although there’s nothing in the press release about that, at least not yet.
With a low seat height of 705mm, wheel sizes of 19-inch front, 16-inch rear and flat handlebars, the Nightster should be a good fit for many people. Paint colour options include Vivid Black, Gunship Grey, and Redline Red. The 11.7 litre plastic fuel cell is located below the seat — what appears to be a traditional fuel tank forward of the seat is a steel cover for the airbox. The fuel filler is reached by lifting the hinged locking seat. Locating the fuel cell below the seat optimises the capacity of the engine intake airbox and moves the weight of fuel lower in the chassis compared to a traditional fuel tank location, which results in a lower centre of gravity.
As you’d expect these days, riding modes and safety technology are built-in. There’s ABS, traction control, a drag-slip clutch and three riding modes (sport, road and rain).
The Nightster should be available in dealerships now.
The Australian Ride Away price is $23,995 (Vivid Black) and $24,300 (colour options).
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