The Budget Harley That Doesn’t Feel Like A Compromise
Harley-Davidson has long been the gold standard for premium cruisers and tourers. It is not just an American automotive icon; it is also very much a part of the fabric of this great country. Choosing a product with the Bar and Shield on the tank meant joining a brotherhood, but historically, that privilege carried a big premium with it. Harley-Davidson is a luxury motorcycle manufacturer, and that premium positioning has helped solidify its legendary status over the decades. However, the other side of the coin is that very rarely were prices sensible. They worked because the exclusivity was part of the draw of the brand.
Modern Middleweight Buyers Prioritize Agile Handling Over Raw Size
Harley-Davidson has also entered the middleweight segment to expand its brand presence. It also works as a strategy to help funnel new buyers into the brand in the hope that they’ll trade up to the premium cruisers and tourers later. However, the middleweight cruiser market has evolved such that consumers prefer lightweight, modern tech, and affordability.
They also turn away from cruisers that weigh a lot because of the low-speed handling friction. This has presented a big challenge to Harley-Davidson: it could either stick to what worked traditionally and alienate the middleweight cruiser customer of today, or reinvent itself.
A Redesigned Sportster Platform Introduces Modern Liquid-Cooled Performance
Harley-Davidson took this challenge head-on and completely reinvented the Sportster series of mid-size cruisers. They are now thoroughly modern cruisers that run short-stroke, high-revving, liquid-cooled engines with variable valve timing.
The chassis are modern trellis frames that use the engine as a stressed member, and they even use components like a TFT screen, Bluetooth, navigation, and a whole suite of electronic safety components. They still are very recognizably Harley-Davidsons, and that makes them excellent mixtures of old and new.
Modern Chassis Tech Preserves Iconic Harley Styling
Usually, when brands that have been doing things successfully one way for many decades try out a new way of doing things, they tend to get some things wrong. However, Harley-Davidson has shown time and again that it has its finger on the pulse of the market.
The new Sportster range meets the expectations of new customers by offering a motorcycle with thoroughly modern features and performance. At the same time, it has managed to retain and deliver on the expectations of the traditionalists with products that look and feel like a Harley-Davidson.
The Harley-Davidson Nightster Special Is The Budget Harley That Doesn’t Feel Like A Compromise
The Nightster plays an immensely important role for Harley-Davidson because it needs to introduce new people to the brand, so it needs to be affordable while still remaining premium. The Nightster Special is a small step up in price, but it delivers uncharacteristic value from a brand notorious for expensive options lists.
It also offers some of the best performance in its segment with an authentic V-twin engine, and its shortcomings are easily forgiven for the sheer value it offers. Coupled with the benefits that the brand offers its customers, the Nightster Special does not feel like a compromise despite being a budget Harley.
A $12,499 Base Price Delivers Significant Factory Upgrades
The job of the $9,999 bare-basic Nightster is to provide an entry point to the brand by being the cheapest brand-new Harley you can buy. As such, it lacks a number of features that one would expect in a modern premium motorcycle bearing the Bar and Shield on the tank. The Nightster Special corrects that for not too much more money. Its base price is $12,499, which means you pay $2,500 more for it over the base Nightster.
For the money, you get a pillion seat and footpegs as standard, different wheels, a cowl for the headlamp, and better instrumentation. Also, like models across Harley’s current range, the base price applies to the flat black and billiard gray colors, and you’ll have to pay more for the other paint schemes. At $12,499, the Nightster Special makes a bold promise—but whether it keeps it depends entirely on one engine.
The Revolution Max 975T Engine Delivers Class-Leading High-RPM Power
Harley has gone all out with the Sportster series and given it an extremely modern engine. The Nightster has the Revolution Max 975T that is wholly liquid-cooled and has variable valve timing on the intake valves. This is also a high-revving, short-stroke, high-compression design with a compression ratio of 12:1. It generates 91 horsepower at 7,500 RPM and 72 pound-feet at 5,750 RPM from its 975 cc.
It puts this through a six-speed manual gearbox with an assist and slipper clutch and belt drive to the wheel. The technology and high-revving nature give the Nightster Special a boost in performance that leaves the competition in its wheel tracks. The only thing it lacks is a quickshifter to cement its credentials as the performance cruiser to beat, but none of the products in its class have one either.
The Trellis Frame Offers Great Handling, But Rear Ride Can Be Rough
The Nightster Special has a trellis frame that uses the engine as a stressed member. This keeps weight down and performance up, but it can be a little difficult to customize. Suspension is extremely traditional, with 41 mm Showa Dual Bending Valve forks in the front and twin outboard shocks at the rear.
The only suspension adjustment available is rear preload adjustment, but the single-rate springs are an anachronism and can make the ride a bit harsh. It could also be a function of the short three-inch travel available at the rear; the front is a little better with 4.5 inches of travel.
There is a single 320 mm front brake disc paired with a four-piston fixed axial caliper, while at the rear there is a 260 mm disc with a single-piston floating caliper. Alloy wheels are present with a 19-inch in the front and a 16-inch at the rear; they are shod with tubeless tires. The Nightster Special’s chassis choices make for an everyday cruiser that nevertheless feels special. The only downside is the size of its tiny underseat fuel tank.
A Low 27.1-Inch Seat Height Enhances Low-Speed Confidence
With its 60.8-inch wheelbase, 88.6-inch length, and raked profile, the Nightster Special sits as a classic long-and-low cruiser with great highway stability. The seat height stands at 27.1 inches and the ground clearance at 4.3 inches. Finally, the curb weight is 481 pounds ready to roll. The seat height, coupled with a narrow V-twin engine layout, makes it perfect for short or beginner riders. This is made even better with the low curb weight.
A Four-Inch TFT Display Modernizes Cockpit Technology
The Nightster Special adds the features that the base Nightster requires to be a more grown-up, complete motorcycle. Visually, it has a cowl over the headlamp and a different wheel design. The pillion seat and footpegs are standard on the Nightster Special, but the biggest difference is a circular four-inch TFT display that also has Bluetooth and navigation that makes it feel premium without the price.
The electronics are quite comprehensive, with a by-wire throttle offering access to ride modes. There is also ABS, traction control, drag torque slip control, and tire pressure monitoring as standard. Again, this makes the Nightster Special one of the safest motorcycles in its class.
Tiny Tank Range And Harsh Rear Suspension Are Big Compromises
While the under-seat fuel tank helps lower the center of gravity and increase confidence in beginner riders, it is simply not big enough for a weekend ride. The 3.1-gallon capacity will have you stressing about filling up in just 120 miles. In the same vein, the single-rate springs at the rear have very little travel, so you need perfect tarmac for them to feel enjoyable.
The Indian Scout Bobber Commands A Higher Price For Less Standard Tech
The Nightster Special’s direct competitor is the Indian Scout Bobber. It has a larger engine that generates more power and keeps winning riders over, but it also weighs significantly more than the Harley thanks to its traditional cradle frame. You have to pay $500 more than the Nightster Special for it; however, the pillion seat on the Indian is an optional extra, and the only safety feature it offers is ABS. Overall, the Nightster Special comes across as the better buy with more value.
However, if it’s value you seek, then the Honda Rebel 1100 will exceed your expectations. It is so good that an argument can be made that it is one of the finest cruisers in the world. It has a five-inch rectangular TFT display with Bluetooth and navigation. It has an assist and slipper clutch, using the Africa Twin driveline to great effect. The power figure might be low, but the torque is spread quite evenly across the rev range. What’s more, you could also spec it with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, and it will still cost you less than the Nightster Special.
Source: Harley-Davidson USA
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