An honest review of the H.D. Nightster
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- čas přidán 9. 07. 2024
- In this video I take a slightly used Nightster for a ride and Give my honest review of the bike.
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I own the 23 Nightster S and I love it. I traded in my 09 FatBob because it was a beast on my commute. This bike is a dream to ride and with the height, weight, and the great handling I hope to ride it into my 60's.
60's ? Keep going bud, I'm 70,have a deluxe and a heritage, I average 14,000 miles a year, including winter rides, keeps me young.
I just learned to ride my wide glide. I'm 55 hope to ride at least 20 yrs
The fat bob is horrid brash
What do you mean by a beast on your commute?
Was it just too big and heavy for daily riding or too much power?
@@noahknight4039 it was too heavy and not tumble for downtown traffic. The Nightster is lighter and more nimble. The Nightster has more power too.
Over the years, I have owned many different Harleys. Now that I am older I have 3 different Sportsters. My 2014 with stage 4 upgrade is my all time favorite. It has so much torche, it seems way too light for the power it has. I don't know how much HP it puts out, but this 2024 an even lighter bike with 90 HP, is what will make me try this new bike out when the snow melts. I love your channel, keep up the great work!
Ive got a 17 XL1200CX, Roadster, with a Stage 4. Its got Bassani Road Rage pipes. The bike just hauls plus the gearing although just 5 speed seems to do quite well on the interstate. The acceleration and the sound are just wonderful. Love the bike.
I test rode a Nightster last year. I absolutely loved it!!!
Cool review on this bike Jerry. Always wondered what it was like to ride as well as the low seat height which for some reason looks high on the kickstand. The different modes, maneuverability, along with abs make this sound like a great bike for those who don't want to spend a fortune. Thanks
Mid controls, 91 hp, 480lbs, looks good on the right side and belt drive. There is a lot to like here. Just park with the left side facing a wall when you can.
I like it. I know what you mean about sound. All the Revolution Max bikes have had the leaf blower style exhaust, fortunately for me I've just upgraded my Pan Am to something that gives a little more rumble.
On paper these bikes sound really good, but the lack of cylinder covers on the left and the cheap looking ones on the right combined with the fat and wide radiator on the front put a bad taste in my mouth styling wise. Even the Bolt has oddities as a Sportster clone, but it nailed the look a lot better. Maybe that's just because the Bolt stuck with air cooling, but there have to be better ways to subdue the look of the radiator on these.
I’ve had my 2023 Nightster Special for eight months now and I absolutely love it. It rides like a Ducati, yet I can put a touring windshield and some saddlebags on this and it becomes a touring bike that’s a smoother ride than the air cooled Harleys. I know because I’ve owned them and compared them on the open road.
I Agee
I like them. This what a SPORTster should be. If people want an entry level air cooled model, the Softail Standard is it for a reasonable price.
Listening the bike while you ride, it sounds like a cross between a dual purpose bike and a riding lawn mower.
Bought the 2024 Nightster Special and I love it!
It’s still quiet as a stock, however I like to be the one to make it LOUD.
rode one at Daytona last year and it exceeded my expectations, the engine and handling are impressive. but you're right, the styling leaves a lot to be desired, it's just kind of missing any sort of wow or cool factor. still finding it hard to get used to the aesthetics of the radiator and the exhaust pipe, not to mention the way it sounds. I think they should have left one or two Evo Sporsters in the line up and rolled this out as an addition to the line up. even better would have been to roll it out in the Bronx package, that I would have definitely been into instead of the Nightster.
I would have loved to see the Evo Sportster continue. However, the air cooled EVO motor couldn't pass the new emmisions regulations here, or in Europe.
Why didn't they do what Triumph have done with the Bonneville range? Make the Sportster look like a traditional air cooled bike along the same lines as the original but with some modern tech.
I agree, gonna really miss the old Sporster @@splodge5714
I bought a 21 1250 Pan America Special Soo much power, sounds great with a Vance and Hines HO exhaust or a Toce exhaust. Gets the nice sound
A honest review from a H.D. lover. H.D. stuck its neck out before with the V-Rod, a damn good motorcycle, and they got bit. It is good that a H.D. guy sees the need for H.D. to build some bikes like this. I think this bike will be more dependable and more alluring to a younger crowd. If H.D. can keep the price right, they may improve tier overseas market also.
I'm a motorcycle lover with experience on all types and makes of motorcycles. It happens that 95% of the people that come to my class are on Harley's and want to see the demonstrations performed on Harleys. Thus H.D. motorcycles fit my needs best. And, within a couple hundred miles of where I live, Harley dealers are the only one's who allow test rides. No metric dealers will let you test their new or used bikes. So unless an H.D. dealer in my area takes in a metric bike, I have no way of riding one. By the way, in the last 2 years I've owned in addition to the Harleys, a Kawasaki, a Honda, and a Triumph. So there 😁😁
Engine: 975 cc V-twin
Power: 90 HP / 67 kW @ 7500 rpm
Torque: 70 ft-lb (95 Nm)
Wet Weight: 481 lb. (218 kg)
Seat Height: 27.8 in. (705 mm)
This is basically the HD equivalent of a Japanese "Liter Bike" but its an HD! Water cooled and tons of horsepower just like the Japanese bikes. I think that this is a great bike and I may buy one before very long.
Nope, nothing at all like a litre bike.
@@Bugoutnow589 Why do you think not?
@@RogerBuffingtonbecause there is literally nothing on this bike that shares any commonality with a Japanese or Italian liter bike. Not in performance, form, function, nothing.
@@DeadRoman How can you say that? 1. The Nightster is water-cooled; 2. The Nightster has the same tech as the Japanese bikes, i.e. road modes, phone interface, etc.; 3) the engine is of similar size, i.e. right around 1000 cc (975). I would (and did) ask you how the Nightster DIFFERS functionally from a Japanese liter bike. I don't see much difference.
@@DeadRoman As a potential buyer of this bike. I compare it to the Indian FTR, Kawi Z900, MT09 and others. Sporty , plenty of power, good handling for REASONABLE speeds. Its a good entry for HD, for them to improve on.
Harley made the right move by reducing the price. I was about to buy a Rebel 1100. The new price managed to changed my mind. It may looks rough at some angle but as a newer rider I don't want to drop or crash a new shiny Road Glide anyway. This one I can throw it around confidently. 😆
The bike is light and easy to handle both in the garage and on the road. The exhaust sound is alright with a slip-on, sounds kinda like a Ducati L-Twin. It also have plenty of power to grow into for many years.
I own a Softail but I think the Nightstar is a very cool bike. I hope it does well.
You always give really good reviews! Please consider giving 0-60 times .
The Nightster Special is a very appealing choice with all the extras like heated grips, cruise control, usb ports, higher risers, better gauge infotainment, 5 riding modes, better rims etc. Im buying one but just wish the aftermarket was more robust because it's still fairly bare. But as long as I can change that exhaust and put a real fairing/windshield on ill be content for a bit.
Wish it held more than 3.1 gallons of fuel. But I do like the fact that the fuel is stored low in the frame.
How is your wife doing, I hope well.
Always enjoy your info.
Thank You and God Bless.
She's doing okay, thank you.
Do a video on strapping a bike on trailer. Where to strap, how tight should straps be.
I like it. Don't care for the Sportster S at all, but the Nightster is a nice ride.
The Nightster is great, and a 9,000 RPM red line dude, on the demo ride the pack was slow never took over second gear , the transmission on it is beautiful 😅
In your California footage, why is the Nightster License plate seem to be hanging in the wind? seems like they could had found a better location.
Jerry i sat on one , it felt like a mini bike , superior ?
Fun fact: The exhaust tail pipe can be used as a leaf blower.
Chief, not in CA, we are going to electric leaf blowers (mandated by Grusome Newsom's gang). It would be too loud and has gas "smellies" so the woke CA complainers would complain to Heir King Newsom's "hitsters."
Good info.
How about comfort Jerry? I’m nearly 80. And still would like to travel. Will it need a seat change? Thanks
I definitely like this better than the Sportster - I curious to see if they’re going to bring back the Bronx.
Thanks for the review. But for the price I’ll take the Indian Scout Rogue.
I was on my XR near my house. I saw a kid on one of the newer AMF looking Sportsters. I have nothing to prove and hardly race anymore. The kid blew by me. So I decided to punish him on Forest Hill Road near West Palm Beach. So I ripped past him. The next thing I knew he was behind me again. I stopped at a gas station and he followed me in. He wasn't on a regular XL Sportster. He was on a new Nightster. It was no match for my XR but it was definitely faster than all those 48s and regular Sporsters.
I want to see what new 2024 models will be shown next week. I hope H-D really hits a grand slam home run, but don’t have my hopes up. That new gray base color deal is a bad move in my opinion, especially since black is my favorite Harley color.
How problematic are the Sportsters? I’ve seen a lot of complaints with electronic issues. Triumph now rules with the Modern classics. Something that is gone with HD now that the Sportsters have the Revmax engine. Glad to see they dropped the price.
It never matters how good a bike is. What matters is if it appeals to potential buyers.
You make it sound more attractive than the thing really is. The unsightly part for me is the motor. It looks like someone put plastic covers over where the cylinders are supposed to be! Maybe some flat black to color them might hide their awful looks a bit but I doubt it!
Nice bike, but it doesn't seem to me to be an HD. People say my '23 Low Rider S isn't ,but my '79 Superglide is. The LRS is head and shoulders above the SG. Anyway, if I was to blow 12k I'd prefer my blue Z900RS. Now that's a cool bike.
👏🤠👍
You're right I really don't care for that body style give me the old Sportster style any day!
Haters gon hate. I love my brand new 2024 Nightster!
The sound has nothing to do with the pipes; as those who have tried know from the SportsterS and the Pan America. The sound comes from the engine; dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder. It does sound like your grandmother's sewing machine... and who cares?
This Revolution Max platform is fabulous. I've owned two of them (not the Nightster), and I love 'em.
Thanks for the vid Motorman; great job as always.
marcus
All the points you mentioned, as well as the (missing) crank.
Looks like I a nice bike, Might be cause I’m a triumph guy. 😀
Why is the license plate in such an awkward, exposed, damage-prone location?
Putting different mufflers on from the factory would cut into HD's bottom line and we can't have that!😅
Fisher Price looking bike.
Why does the HD Nightster look so much like the Indian Scout ????? Just askin !!!!!!
H.D. has been making Sportsters since 1957. Indian was aquired by Polaris in 2011. Indian immediately started copying H.D.'s every model. So the question is why did Indian Scout look so much like the Sportster. Your welcome for the history lesson you needed so badly so in the future, you won't look so uninformed. Hopefully.
When i was looking for my first harley they were pushing the nightster to me. I instead bought a honda rebel 1100 which is cheaper, sounds better, has a lot of aftermarket parts, and rides better. I ride a Sport Glide now but Harley has to do better on their entry level bikes.
A part of the heatshield hits the right leg. very annoying
i think i'd go indian scout rogue over a nightster.
Can't argue that at all. The Rogue looks great and is a great ride. A lot of people complain about the suspension, but if you set the preload exactly as the manual says it's not bad. Really the only complaint on it.
Agree with you Jerry, the styling doesn't look good compared to the older sportster. Just doesn't do anything for me. Needs a rethink.
So,you can have it in primer or spend an extra $300 to have the top coat? 😂
Engine looks like a 90‘s Honda. And sounds like it. Ok. Someone like that
They're spraying the skies here in Arizona too
I have no idea what that means.
@@motorman857 It means that he is in his own mind talking to himself... That is my guess Jerry. Been watching and buying your videos since 2001. Thanks for helping me go from "You don't know shit" on slow speed riding to being able to do U-turns on the street with my 2000 Goldwing 1500 with "no sweat GI" as the Koreans said to me during my 3 tours.
Nope, it will be discontinued in the next few years. Feels extremely cheap and the riding position is confusing to say it nicely.
I am old school, fix it yourself. If a newer Harley breaks down, your ride is over and the flatbed will take you home. Harleys are fly by wire since 2007. I need a special Harley scan tool to DIY the newer bikes. My buddies bitch that after riding through several rain events on their newer bikes, the wet electronic throttle connector threw their bike into limp mode. My stock 2002 FXSTDI runs on reliable cables and doesn't require expensive scan tools. The more electronic crap manufacturers install on bikes, cars, boats, jetskis, etc, forces everyone to bring your vehicle to be reprogrammed at the dealer every time you repair it yourself.
2 things. First, government immissions and safety regulations force car and motorcycle manufacturers to use more and more electronics on their vehicles. 2nd, customers demand more and more electronics on their vehicles. Car and motorcycle companies are in business to make a profit. If they don't comply with the government regulations and they don't meet customers' demands, they go out of business.
@@motorman857 Thank you for offering your skills out to help us avoid mistakes. I thought I was a skilled rider until I watched you and then took my bike to a parking lot. I totally agree that the electronics on bikes make a world of difference. The advancements severely limit the fixers, the DIY guy, unless I can afford the specialty and scan tools, aside from simple maintenance, I will hold to my 02' Deuce and 1998 Toyota. I refuse to pay a mechanic, because I grew up rebuilding my boat engines in dad's oil fleet truck shop 13yrs old. I am 65yrs old and still able rebuild, repair, replace anything but a roof.
That license plate holder…🤔
You told me you wouldn't come to California...
If you paid my airfare, hotel, and food and supplied me with a bike, I'll go to California.
I can't get past two major roadblocks with the nightster. Number one, it's butt ugly, number two, it has a 3.3gal tank. I live 30 miles from town and I would have to fill up every time I rode in.
IMHO HD failed in the design of this bike, they could have put more into what this bike looks like.
Looks like a weird, awkward seating position.
I can't get past the styling on this bike...It doesn't look good from any angle, especially with the giant front wheel paired with an itty bitty single disc. It just looks cheap and odd. Nice camerawork in California though.
America, good taste, yeah right..
I agree. Way too ugly for me.
The radiator, giant toy-like exhaust and plastic toy-like engine make it .. uh.. meh.
The dual crank pin wheels make it sound like a vtx without the displacement.
If you like it, buy it. It's your money. Don't bother buying a shop manual, I bet it's not the sort of bike you can wrench on.
Any product or person whose name ends with the letters STER is not to be taken seriously.
Uhhh, sure, that makes perfect sense. To who? I have no idea.
Too bad they didn’t make it more attractive to the eye.
I can't get past the plumbers nightmare left side. Clearly a good bike but not for me.
They reduced the price by 1500 after they raised for 5K.
The bike is far overvalued and even at the new price, zero desirable. It should be below 11K
Harley 48 rider. it would be a Harley Davidson if it didn't come stock with a heap of sh!tty easily replaceable stuff that they know everyone will hate & change out for some more expensive easy bolt on go faster stuff that any mug with 1/2 clue could in his garage with a few basic tools in a few hours.
10.999 in US and meanwhile they go for 17k € in europe. Harley is destroying their entire fanbase here with their ridiculous prices.
Ever heard of "import-, sales- and Consumption tax"? 😂
Nothing to do with tax, it's Harley pricing strategy. CEO hasn't realised yet that the motorcycle industry is not the same as sports ware. Harley management is currently clueless
@@mot317 the question about "who" is clueless in this matter is debatable 😁
Styling... OK...we KNOW the bike goes great and handles....but so many others do to...... Back to styling.....Ok the drive side of the bike...is not that bad kind of cool.... overall its as ugly as they get... Is this the same company that produced the awesome styled LIVEWIRE...79 Low Rider and current Low Rider S....??????? Yer kidding me...!!!
The Nightster is the least desirable bike since the street 500/750 and will probably be gone by the end of 2025. It’s a more expensive plastic Honda or Indian. It has no market.
The exhaust is horrible looking a different one would improve the looks
It looks horrible. No owner of the original Sportster who loves their bike would be interested in this. My 2001 1200S may not be as fast or as light but it sure is a nicer bike to ride, own and look at in the garage.😂
I agree wholeheartedly. My ol’ Sporty still puts a smile on my face.
I've purchased 2 new Evo Sportsters and would not be against riding one of these babies. I would put mini apes and forward pegs to stretch out. Hopefully the aftermarket would give me some slimmer options on the exhaust.
why is nobody talking about the ugly looking left side , the ugly radiator that harley stuck on the front , the indian scout is water cooled as well but if you walk around the bike everything looks good.yes its quick or quicker than the sporster but why so poorly designed on the engine area . totally wrong for a bike priced that much
A Honda with name HD on the tank,so ugly bike!
You wish...
A Honda would be at least extremely reliable 😂
Why would anyone buy one of these when you could buy a Suzuki, Kawasaki or Honda with a much better record of reliability and for less money? It doesn't make sense unless you wish to pay extra for a name. Anyone recommending one of these and not even mentioning one of the others mfrs. has got their head in the sand. Jerry's a good rider but a very poor recommender.
You might want to actually watch the video before commenting on it. In this video I do mention other motorcycle manufacturers in the same class as the Nightster. As for a record of reliability, the Nightster has only been around for 2 years so it's not possible to compare it's reliability to the competition. The good news is on YOUR youtube channel, you can do your own reviews and recommendations and give your opinion. People come to MY youtube channel for my opinion on various motorcycle related issues as well as training tips and techniques and I'll continue to do so whether you agree with me or not.
Whoops, crashed./.accidently had it in the wrong mode...screw that crap
I would rather come to Florida! Can't stay the communist State of California anymore!!!