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PREVIOUS DRIVE TIMES October 11, 2007 Cooked In 60 Seconds - Goodwood's American Breakfast October 1, 2007 Parking Rules, OK? September 9, 2007 REVIEW: Harley Davidson Nightster |
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DRIVE TIME Harley Davidson Nightster 
The Harley Davidson Sportster range is the entry level machine for those contemplating the
whole Harley Lifestyle. Not that there is anything wrong with that - or them. Compared to
some bikes in the range they are and always have been somewhat minimalist, but maybe that’s
what attracts many people to them. According to Harley, eighty-two per cent of Sportster
buyers are new to HD and of these thirty-three per cent are new to biking full stop.
So, a great way to start a career on two wheels is with a bike that everyone across the
world has heard of and one that is going to hold its value.Sure, the real aficionado is going to say that none of the Sportster range are real Harleys, but who cares? As a previous owner of a 1200 Sportster Sport, I know what great bikes they are for town use and just going out on for a hassle free blast. However, you cannot live by reputation alone and Harley are now very carefully modifying bikes to suit the European market a little better than their home grown product. After all we have bends in Europe, and rain! So for 2008 Harley-Davidson is offering its most diverse line of Sportster models in the 51-year history of the legendary XL platform. Probably the most interesting for the UK market is the very minimalist, neo-retro-chic XL 1200N Nightster. Harley say this offers “a burst of adrenalin with a head-turning combination of exceptional performance and an underground urban feel. By blending a unique new style with the power and torque of the rubber-mounted Evolution V-Twin engine, the Nightster offers a sharp ride for the street.” Although new to the UK it was first introduced to the U.S. market earlier this year. It features longer travel rear suspension for improved lean angle to deal with our bends. Or, put another way by none other than Bill Davidson, Harley-Davidson Director of Motorcycle Product Development. “The XL 1200N Nightster is a blacked-out street bike that continues a half century of Sportster tradition of innovative, fun and versatile motorcycles”. So is it really a new bike or just another variant of an old one? Well the answer is both. Yes it is new, but as the changes can be summed up as more ride height and increased ground clearance, you can see how you get the same answer! Like all Sportster models, it is powered by the Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injected (ESPFI) XL Evolution V-Twin power-train; in this case the 1200cc version giving 72 ft/lbs of torque. As with any Harley, this latter figure being far more important than bhp, which is just 55 for those who must know. The power-band has been tuned for road use and changes to the clutch make it very light in operation. The engine et al are powder coated in a medium grey color to fit in with the overall styling effect, although certain areas like some of the covers,are as one might expect, polished. Drive to the rear is by carbon fiber reinforced belt as per usual. The powerplant/train is rubber-mounted in the steel spine frame to reduce vibration. Conventional telescopic forks complete with old school gaiters suspend the front end, while long travel twin shocks support the rear. For those that want a shorter or ‘slammed’ look, HD offer shorter units through their official spares operation. 
Given the styling cues of ‘stripped down and gritty’, the Nightster reinterprets the Sportster
legend with rugged, minimal neo-retro styling. A solo seat adds to the uncluttered look, as do
clipped front and rear fenders that expose chunky tires. Wheel rims (19” inch front 16” rear)
and hubs, forks and handlebars, hand and foot controls are finished in basic black. The classic
12.5 liter fuel tank is topped with a simple silver-satin cap. Exhausts are chrome, staggered
dual exhaust mufflers.The Harley-Davidson Smart Security System is standard equipment on all European Sportster models. However, the biggest news on this bike is really the neat new LED stop/turn/tail light design that is a first for the two-wheel market anywhere in the world. It fits in well with the minimalist style of this particular bike and cleans up the rear end a treat! In simple terms, the number plate with a small light sits above the perfectly clean looking rear fender. The rear lights are now part of the indicators mounted in the normal place. These are on all the time as we have now come to expect (and the law dictates) and when you signal the center flashes amber. Very simple, but not a retro fit, for those reaching for the phone. Given all that, is it a good ride? Well, like any Sportster, a sports bike it is not, despite the title. However it is a genuine Harley giving you all the same feel, satisfaction and riding experience of the larger machines. Just because it is smaller and cheaper does not mean you get short changed! What you do get is crisper acceleration and better handling. Around Oxfordshire's back lanes the bike proved to be quite nimble and grounded out on corners far less than any of its predecessors. It is snappy in its acceleration and the response to the throttle is instantaneous. Brakes are more than capable of dealing with all the performance available (100mph tops) and give good feedback at all times. The lighter clutch makes life less tiring especially in traffic where the bike showed a well-balanced manner that made it quite pleasant in traffic, if you can ever regard town riding as that! The five speed box is quite usable and precise, always letting you know it was dropping into place, just as you come to expect. Likewise the grunt and pull of the motor is as good as it always has been despite the new levels of technology and sophistication that now abound on the new models. The bike certainly still has pose value and attracts admiring glances, even with a standard exhaust system in place. There is no doubt that a Harley makes you feel good and as a result you tend to enjoy the ride more. Certainly you see more of the countryside as you enjoy a relatively slower pace than you might choose on another machine. Don’t let the words “entry level” put you off, this is a real Harley and for £6,695 it is a bargain. Check one out now at your local dealer, you might be surprised after a ride! |
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