Harley-Davidson Nightster: Sportster philosophy with a revolutionary engine [ROAD TEST]

La Harley-Davidson Nightster it is one of the most recent innovations from the Milwaukee house, a younger sister of the model Sportster S, characterized by sporty lines reminiscent of the iconic 883 and equipped with a new engine 90 horsepower V-twin.

An aesthetic that expresses character

At the front there is a curate 16 inch alloy wheel single brake, combined with a four-piston Brembo caliper. The market has accustomed us to the double disc, but this solution works 320 mm it guarantees good braking and in any case transmits confidence. An exposed steel trellis is grafted onto the headstock, using the engine as a structural component of the motorbike. This coupling is unprecedented among other Harley-Davidson double cradle frames. The fork is Showa from 41 mm, chromed and with traditional stems. In the upper part it is incorporated by a minimal dashboard in glossy black. The single round headlight is LED and, on this bike in particular, the riding position is dictated by the matte handlebar with a straight bend which guarantees excellent control. The Nightster is equipped with rear-view mirrors placed at the ends of the knobs, this streamlines its lines but requires caution in traffic.
This motorbike, like most of its sisters, was born as a single seater and just above the rear cylinder there is the comfortable black leather seat, while under it there is the fuel tank. 11,7 liters, reachable with a simple move by lifting the saddle to access the cap. Overall, this Nightster appears to be well made and ready for customization of each of its components, the only flaw being the finishing of the wiring surrounding the engine and radiator. In fact, plastic covers break, leaving wires and connectors exposed.

Dashboard and controls

The system appears essential. On a mixed speedometer the speed is indicated by a pointer, while through a small integrated display you can scroll through the menus with a summary of engine rpm, actual km, distance until the next refueling, as well as two trips. The instrumentation shows everything you need, the button panels are well made and the controls are solid and ergonomic. In summary: the sensations are excellent. In addition to the classic controls, on the left block we find the button to manage the display menus, while on the right the command to select the engine map and deactivate the traction control. On this Nightster you can choose 3 mode driving: Sport, Road e Rain , respectively ordered from the most lively to the most conservative.

In the saddle

Riding the Nightster the feeling is good, the saddle is placed at 705 mm from the ground in a typically rearward position. The correct placement of the rubber-coated footrests and the straight handlebars guarantee good triangulation, which is not tiring. Overall, with this young Sportster it is possible to sustain even long journeys, also thanks to the silent engine with limited vibrations. Between curves, thanks to a straight and very wide handlebar, the front is easily manageable. The bike is agile and a lot of torque at the bottom guarantees just as much fun, plus the belt transmission system and leaner mappings, developed according to the regulations Euro 5, they shape an interesting character.

Motor

Il Revolution Max 975 it is a liquid-cooled engine, it equips this Nightster, helping to make its look even more modern. It is a liquid-cooled 60-degree twin-cylinder. Heads and cylinders, this time without blades, guarantee greater cleanliness and eye-catching contrasts on the front. Horses are 90 delivered at 7.500 rpm, even if the most appreciated quality appears to be its torque 95 Nm at around 6.000 rpm.

Cost

The price is 15.600 euros fc for the basic version black, you need to add another 300 euros for the colors Grey and in red.