Ridden: Harley-Davidson Nightster

I'm not one to fall for these cynical marketing ploys.

"Sportster sales are flagging so let's paint it black and call it a Nightster," says the marketing guru.

"You're a genius, the public will never know! Here's a million dollars," says the boss of Harley-Davidson, but you're not going to pull the wool over the eyes of this jaded cynic.

GALLERY: Harley-Davidson Nightster

But how wrong could I be? Ten minutes in the saddle of the Nightster and it's clear that I'm riding a very different machine to the Sportster and it's one that I like very much. So what's new? Shorter forks than the Sportster give a more planted stable ride and offer a lot more feedback to the rider. The result is a bike that handles even better around the corners than the Sportster (which was always, in my opinion, the best-handling Harley on the market).

Small changes, big difference

The bars have also been lowered and the seat has been repositioned closer to the tank. It might not sound like this would have such a profound effect on the way a bike feels but it does. Just think what it's like when someone has been driving your car and they move the seat, adjust the backrest and kindly reposition the steering wheel so it digs into your fourth rib when you sit down but cars can be adjusted back, bikes can't. These simple changes make the Nightster infinitely more comfortable and much easier to chuck around.

Like all Harleys, the Nightster is a relatively heavy chap but to be honest you will only ever feel the 251kg dry weight when you're manoeuvring the bike around on the drive. On the road the low centre of gravity and centralised mass make the bike feel half its weight. What's more, the low seat height will give novice riders a lot more confidence - unfortunately, I'm 6ft 4in and just look like a bit of a prat with my knees around my ears.

Proper power

After months riding scooters and in-line four sports bikes I'd almost forgotten the simple joy of cracking open the throttle of a bike with some proper torque. I don't mean that fleeting blast of power you get on the latest 120bhp supersports machine somewhere between 17,000-17,005rpm - I'm talking about gutsy, old school, any gear, any time torque. Sure, if you cast a cursory glance over the tech box below you might see a 50bhp peak power figure and stop reading.

It's true that most 500cc commuters produce as much power as Harley has squeezed out of an engine more than twice their size but this misses the point. I can't remember grinning from ear to ear the last time I opened the throttle in second gear on a CB500. Perhaps we can modify the old adage - it's not the horsepower that counts, it's what you do with it. But it's not all peaches and cream, something was beginning to rust my sparkling relationship with the Nightster, literally.

Rubbing along

By the end of the two-week test period it had become clear that the finish around the engine casing and the exhausts was not made to withstand the elements. I wasn't riding the bike through the grips of a Russian winter; I'd given the machine a liberal soaping when necessary and was fairly certain I'd not been on any round the world trips on it - but despite this the bike was looking rather tatty around the edges. I see so many Harleys on the road that I need sunglasses to look at on sunny days. I can only assume their owners are the sort of obsessive compulsive types. Personally, I'm into riding not rubbing.

A few final notes. Firstly, there's no pillion seat as standard so if you're planning to take a friend then it's time to pull out the weighty tome that is the Harley parts and accessories catalogue. Secondly, the tank is only 12.5 litres and the bike is surprisingly thirsty so you'll be looking at around 85-90 miles range. Finally, the front and rear brakes are weak, probably due to the bike's weight, and require more pressure on the levers and pedals than most modern machines - this isn't a problem as such but will take some adjusting to.

Verdict

If you're thinking about buying into the Harley brand then the Nightster could be the machine for you. It's got all the poke and growl of Harley's gorgeous 45 degree air-cooled twins but without all the camp bells and whistles of some of the higher-end machines in its range. I've always loved the Sportster 1200 just because it's always been such a joy to ride - the Nightster tweaks things here and there and improves on what was a great bike. Plus the moody black makeover is seriously "bad ass" - and on that note, I'm off to shop for a leather waistcoat and join a biker gang.

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