Harley-Davidson Nightster Special

The Harley-Davidson Nightster Special looks like a younger, non-intimidating version of the Sportster S. Its neo-retro design exudes youthfulness, while showing the same brutish personality that its predecessors have carried over the years. At the front, it flaunts a classic-looking facade illuminated by a round LED headlamp along with LED bullet turn signals for increased visibility, especially at night.

Unlike with the standard Nightster, the Special version comes with a 4-inch color TFT infotainment display that offers Bluetooth hands-free and is very easy to operate. Additionally, the Special version is also equipped with a pillion seat, which is a bit small and narrow. Consequently, this might compromise the comfort level of your pillion, regardless if you are filtering through traffic at low speeds or going on long-distance trips out of town. But, on the plus side, its main saddle for the rider is soft and comfortable. 

For a more classic touch, this cruiser also features round side mirrors and a classy air box cover inspired by 70s H-D styling. It runs on aluminum cast wheels (19-inch at the front, while 16-inch at the rear). Meanwhile, at the back it gets a small LED tail lamp along with another pair of LED bullet turn signals. 

In terms of dimensions, the Harley-Davidson Nightster Special measures 2,210 mm in length, 853 mm in width, 1,155 mm in overall height, and 705 mm in seat height (unladen). This cruiser comes with a 1,556-mm wheelbase and a 114-mm static ground clearance.

The Harley-Davidson Nightster Special utilizes a suspension combination of 41-mm SHOWA Dual Bending Valve Conventional Forks at the front and Dual Outboard Shock Absorbers with Coil Springs at the rear. This setup is credited for this cruiser’s confident handling on sharp turns or corners. It can effectively absorb small bumps and uneven concrete pavements quite well. However, bigger humps and deeper potholes would reveal this cruiser’s limitation, considering its low ground clearance. Overall, the Nightster Special thrives more on smooth, free-flowing roads. 

The Harley-Davidson Nightster Special is powered by a 975-cc Revolution Max 975T that has a maximum power output of 89 hp and a maximum torque of 95 Nm. This cruiser runs on a 6-speed manual transmission gearbox. 

For a Harley-Davidson bike, its performance metrics might not look the most exciting or remarkable. But, it actually feels surprisingly faster than its claimed output. Its engine’s power delivery is smooth and linear yet non-intimidating at all. In the city, it offers very decent fuel economy. However, its 11.7-L fuel capacity is a bit limited for longer trips. All things considered, the Nightster Special is still a respectable cruiser on the expressway, but it is more suitable for shorter-distance trips. 

In terms of safety, the Harley-Davidson Nightster Special is equipped with a pass switch, an engine check warning, side reflectors, and an anti-lock braking system. This cruiser utilizes a floating, hub-mounted single rotor for front braking, while a solid uniform expansion rotor at the rear. Its front brake comes with an axially-mounted 4-piston caliper, while its rear brake gets a single-piston caliper. 

As cliché as it might sound, the Nightster Special is a great and accessible way to own a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. This is a well-designed cruiser for individuals who are dreaming of using a Harley-Davidson motorcycle as their daily ride in the city.