Nightster

[Folkie]

Originally Posted by legsakimbo

£6995. chap at work priced it up sat 25 aug 2007
cheers ...

Hmmm, pretty good for a 1200.

[Black Rain]

The Nightster to me seems somewhat over priced compared to the cheaper 1200R. On the face of it the latter would seem to have a better spec with the inclusion of the rev counter. I am under the impression that all the 1200 Sporties share the same engine. If I am wrong and the Nightster has a tricked up Buell motor then it would certainly be more interesting. I guess the price of the Nightster is at the end of the day a marketing decision. Interesting that some other makers who produced a nearly all black bike priced them as the base model. I am thinking of the Ducatti Dark and the Triunph Bonneville. I appreciate that these where not as all black as the nightster and where a lower spec. Anyway I do like the look of the Nightster with the exception of the front fork gaiters which I think look naff. And did'nt these go out of fashion because of water getting trapped and causing corrosion.

[Folkie]

I've just looked the 1200R up, it seems to be £6,995 too. Hadn't realised they were quite that cheap. Yes, all 1200 engines (for the same year) are the same. Some dealers in the States have been pushing the 1200Rs and the Nightsters, saying that they have 'high compression, high flow heads, and performance cams'. The fact is that all the engines have got these. You only need to check the parts books to see that the 1200R engine and the Nightster engine do not have any different parts from those in the 1200 Custom and Low or the XL50.

the nightster , is £6.600 otr. price has been reduced by H-D

i have had one in my garage since saturday...
1st 08 bike out of manchester H-D.
the european bike is higher and does not have the side mounted plate but i have one coming from the states.

[Black Rain]

I have just noticed that the Nightster appears to have a single disc front brake compared to the twin disc of the 1200R - to my mind the 1200R wins hands down on a value for money basis.

[Folkie]

Originally Posted by Black Rain

I have just noticed that the Nightster appears to have a single disc front brake compared to the twin disc of the 1200R - to my mind the 1200R wins hands down on a value for money basis.

They're completely different bikes. The R has got the original standard height suspension and is aimed at a more spirited riding style, with a tach and, as you say, dual disk front brakes.

The Nighster is the lowest Sporty you can get (along with the '07+ 883L). It's got shocks even shorter than the Custom and the other Lows (11" instead of 11¾") and has a fork even lower than the 1200 Low and pre '07 883 Low (same as the '07+ 883 Low). As low as it is, the Nightster cannot be cornered as fast as the R (or even a Custom) since it has less lean angle; parts are gonna scrape!

Having said that, not everyone wants to ride their Sporty as though they're trying to pretend it's a sport bike!

The R better value for money? Depends what you want from your bike really. If you want or need a lower bike, the Nightster gives you that in style.

Oops, when I wrote the bit about the Nightster shocks, I forgot that for Europe it's got higher shocks (and fork?) than in the US. How much higher? Don't know.

Can someone who's got one measure their shocks please?

the seat height on the us spec is 25.3 inches
the european one is 27.04 ...

[Folkie]

Originally Posted by jono_1uk

the seat height on the us spec is 25.3 inches
the european one is 27.04 ...

Um. From experience, H-D's seat height, ground clearance, and lean angle specs are a bit suspect. Jono, can you measure your shocks, eye to eye, please, I'd just like to know how much longer they are than the US ones? Ta.

[YOFFI]

Shocks for the uk are the ones of the 883r.

already got hyperpro springs on the way that apparently make a big difference

[Folkie]

Originally Posted by YOFFI

Shocks for the uk are the ones of the 883r.

already got hyperpro springs on the way that apparently make a big difference

That's weird, in the US it's got the shortest shocks of any Sportster, and in the UK it's got the longest.