A New Age of Sportster? 2024 Harley-Davidson Nightster Review | Daily Rider 

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Harley: "Make it look nice!" Engineer: "All around?" Harley: "No, just the side you see on product images." Engineer: "Say no more!"

Just wanted to mention to the Revzilla team how talented Zack is at presenting these videos. Every single one is entertaining to listen to him from start to end. Keep it up, Zack!

Honestly it looks like a Korean knock-off of a Japanese cruiser.

I’ve never been so turned off a bike from a walk around like this before. It feels like Harley put this bike out to fail

“Hey, I’m missing the end tube of my leaf blower, has anybody se….” That’s the moment John saw the exhaust pipe on his neighbors new Harley

Biggest wtf moment in daily rider history when Zack walked to left side of the bike... seriously WTF???

Harley needs to ask triumph how to do a water cooler bike that looks good.

Another great vid, man. I hate to be negative in the comment section, but I really hate the engine covers. It’s like opening the hood on a corvette and seeing the big plastic cover. I can live with it under the hood of a car, but man, it makes that bike look like a crappy toy.

Getting so hard to hear a “real” review on this platform. It’s so refreshing to hear someone who is passionate and prepared to have an opinion. Keep up the great giggles and work Zack

Left hand side looks like a hacked together development mule built for testing.

The engineer who designed that engine cover must have had a Big Wheel trike as a kid.

Rode one last fall, actually really liked it and felt like a really good platform to customize. I own 3 Japanese bikes but every time i ride a Harley i smile a little bit more. I feel like a lot of the hate in the comments is just for the sake of hating a bike and brand that isn’t your style.

I have had my Sportster for 25 years. She makes me smile 😁 Everytime I start her up. Makes me feel good just to ride her. Economical, reliable and dependable transportation. Daily driver as l don't have a car. 400,000 miles on the original engine. Goes like the Energizer Bunny. How they can call this pos a Sportster is beyond me. Killing off the EVO Sportster was a huge mistake on HD's part. I bet the SVM. Storm breaker will do well.

Harley advertises it as being $13,000 but that’s a joke. After freight, prep and whatever other BS charge they can come up with it’s closer to $16K. There’s a reason all of the glamor shots are of the right side of the bike. The left looks like crap with hoses and plastic parts hanging out in the air.

The Nightster makes the Street line look good! 😂

I don't even like cruisers let alone Harleys, but I feel bad for Harley fans that this bike exists. You guys at least deserve a bike that's fully assembled...

Zack is really diplomatic about reviewing a crappy bike. He still finds something positive 😂

My Nightster Special is my third and favorite Harley-Davidson. The Special has the features Zach mention as well as 6 axis traction control, ability to install heated grips & cruise control. My only big complaint is the right foot heat in stop & go traffic. My fuel economy is phenomenal at around 60 mpg. The rear suspension does bounce you but is predictable especially in twisties. My least favorite Harley-Davidson was my Dyna Low S which is insanely uncomfortable. Anyhow I understand that many Harley dudes hate this offering. For my 5'10" 185 frame it's profoundly comfortable for knocking out those 300-400 mile days.

For a brand that once prided itself in the appearance, if not performance, of their bikes, I am stunned at what an eye sore this bike is. Seems that HD struggles when they get away from their Big Twin cruiser styling. I am thinking about how much more appealing the Indian Scout looks. For a guy with a degree in industrial design, I have a hard time looking at this bike. Looking away now. Ahhh, that’s better.

I’m sure it felt really odd to use the word “refinement” in an HD review, but yet… you did. Always enjoy these videos no matter what bike it is. Even a bike I’d never consider like this one. Thank you Zach.

I owned a 2022 Nightster and while it was a fast and nimble bike, I had numerous problems with it. Check engine warning light at high altitude, no start problem due to electronic issues with the handlebar control modules, defective welds in the handlebar, inoperative front ABS where the wheel would lock up and a fuel pump which imploded at 15,000. I got lucky as Harley Davidson and my Dealership agreed to buy my bike back and sell me a new bike of my choice at basically cost.

Whatever crap you test, it‘s always fun and entertaining without losing solid information. Great job. I‘d go for a scout, sure it‘s not better, but looks better and isn‘t worse.

Zach - great review - your rhetoric is always genuine and when you get that goofy giggle going - which occurred relatively often with this review- it’s a positive in my view! Thanks again

This is the first person I've seen say that this bike was uncomfortable. Most people praise the comfort of this bike. I own one and absolutely love it. It is ridiculously comfortable to ride for hours at a time. Those bikes are also ridiculously fast. They blow away any previous sportsters in stock configuration. There's too many people in the harley community that are stuck in the past. I think it's a good looking bike. It might not have the greatest sound but who cares? Does the sound make the performance better? No... There's nobody that seems to want Harley-Davidson to fail more than hardcore Harley guys. They want Harley to stay 40 years in the past.

What I like about my 2018 Iron 1200 is the ease of working on and modifications. The sound, with the duel Rush exhaust is just music to my ears. The fit and finish makes it so visually great. With my tune, it has all the extended rpms that I would want. I have a nice sissy bar that holds my sissy bar bag along with my back packing bag and tank bag for longer camping trips. I have longer14" Legend 110 shocks with 1" lowering blocks on it which makes it so comfy. All this with a lot less money than the new Nightster. I haven't seen any of the Nightsters outside of the Harley dealerships. Most of what you will see is Road Glides, Street Glides, Road Kings, and Heritage of which I also have. I can't bring myself to sell my Sportster even though I have 2 cruisers now. The Sportster is part of my heart now.

This bike should be renamed The Harley Davidson Half-Ass, because this bike comes off as an incomplete half-assed job. The engine cover on only one side says it all.

Zach, dude you have a way with words. “Beer you can see through”, “barking up the nightster tree” I love your turns of phrase man. Keep doing what you do and I’ll gladly watch/listen.

@Zack: Thank you for this video! Here in Germany everyone loved the Bronx!! When you talk about a modern streetfighter / roadster from Harley Davidson - the Bronx was exactly that in the perception of the people. The Sportster S was and is very much appreciated also, but more as a fan service from HD on the new platform. Then we got the Nightster instead of the Bronx. Nobody buys it. The new Special has better sales numbers, but the amount of units sold in 2023 is the same amount the Sportster S lost compared to 2022. The Pan Am sales dropped 75% (!) in 2023 and I'm afraid the CVO won't change much. No motorcycle from HD can be found in the 2023 top 50 sales list 😢

I waited and got a left over 2022 nightster. I have had zero issues with mine. I didn’t pay msrp a lot less but they had the bike on the floor for over a year. No I don’t see it as a popular bike at all. All the points you mentioned are true. It’s not like a 883 iron or anything like the older version like the 1200. It’s a good in town bike back roads bike. I have owned a few Harley’s in my life and I can’t really compare it to any. It’s different it’s quick. Not sportster S fast.

Just got a quadlock mag charger from you guys. Love the channel and content. This bike doesnt catch my eye but i still like learning about what you guys ride.

I went to get my first Harley back in the spring. I test rode one of these and a sportster 48. The new nightster was a nicer bike in almost every way, but I smiled the whole time I was on that 48. The 48 is on my carport right now. 😊

The Nightster Special has heated grips standard. Also - you are probably too tall to appreciate the Nightster - I have short legs and this this feels great for me. The throttle response, I'm glad you mentioned it - I only like riding it in sport mode.

I like the engine sound of this 975, it's very mechanical, not overpowered by pipes or intake.

Zack...you truly have the gift! You can make any bike sound reasonable, useful and....maybe desirable?😊

I bought the Sportster S on spec and have been extremely happy with it. It actually is fairly well priced compared to other bikes with the same power output. The Nightster never impressed me much on paper as it delivers 26% less performance for a reduction of only 10% of the price. The market price on that needs to be under 10K to compete with bikes of similar power.

A bit late to the show, but on all of the Revmax engines, if you hold in the clutch, it will freely rev. Also, the factory exhausts don't do the engine note any justice. It'll never sound like a traditional Harley, but because they're using a 60° Vee angle combined with a split pin crankshaft, it has a 90° firing order, which causes it to sound more like a true 90° V twin, like a Ducati. So we're clear, it doesn't sound exactly like a Ducati, but it doesn't sound like an Indian either. Somewhere in between. I have 2022 Sportster S. First motorcycle I've had in probably 15 years, so basically a new rider. I used rain mode exclusively for the first few thousand miles. Once I got comfortable there, I moved up to road mode. Same thing, stayed there until I was comfortable. Now I'm usually in sport mode if I'm in town. The throttle response works perfectly for in-town riding. When I'm on the highway, I use road mode. It dulls the throttle response a bit, but it actually makes highway riding easier.

I've never seen the left side of one of these bikes before and HOLY SHIT!! I don't like the engine covers on the right side either, but why wouldn't you make it match side-to-side? What the hell? The engine is a neat piece of tech but that packaging is... insulting.

Zach and Ari GOAT motorcycle knowledge base

A most un-Harley exhaust sound.

Bought 1 about a year ago. Love the look of the 1i saw all blacked out and got it for a good deal without the mark up at the time. Fun bike to ride initially. Handled almost as good as a naked bike, somewhat comfortable and power that is very unlike a Harley. Then came a persistent issue that left me stranded often. A module as Harley would regret to it would burn out seemingly while the bike just sits out of it did burn out while the bike was running wouldn't allow for certain functions to operate. Needless to say it wouldn't start, wouldn't push start wouldn't try to fire at all. 4 times in a row needed to be replaced plus a head gasket failure on rear cyclinder had me at my breaking point. Lemon law kicked in got money back and bought a z900 that had been nothing but amazing from day 1. Buyer beware on Harleys new bikes with this and the larger engine on the panamerica. Likely to share same electrical gremlins.

Thanks. The very wide angle lens distorts the view of the bike proportions

New Harleys waayyyyy too much money. Old Harleys waayyyyy too much money.

OMG Zack, you are the master of the thunderstorm analogy. Very well done!

I’ll keep my old Honda shadow, looks nice sounds good and it’s payed for also it has all its covers

The constant praise of the engine makes the "delay" (OK, we know it was dropped but I hold out hope) of the Bronx concept so much more heartbreaking.

I have a 16 year old bullet 350....no electronics and drum brakes....love it😊

I own 05 sportster 1200 and 2023 nightster love both of them. Modern and old school.

Im 20yr old male, I have this Bike Specifically A 2023 Nightster Special, the photos compared to real life the bike is a beautiful bike, I get compliments on it all the time, I changed the exhaust and it does sound like a real Harley with aftermarket slip on exhaust, on the special version the electronics are very impressive from gps built in, to seeing engine temp and tire pressure, the bike is overpriced I have to admit, but seeing it on video and in person are extremely different I do enjoy my bike a lot I don’t regret buying it

Impressive that Harley found a way to completely remove the character out of the bike that introduced most people to Harley Davidson, all whilst distancing most younger riders from their now premium motorcycle brand. Somehow, I don’t think this will turn out the way they thought it might in the long run.

It's one of those bikes that is an easy punching bag from all sides of the aisle. I think once they've been around for another 3-5 years and the prices get down into the $5-7k range, that's when the bike will become a decent value for the money and you'll start to see people on HD that you otherwise never would have. HD also needs to make more variants with the 1250 Revmax, and give it the full 150HP to make a proper power-cruiser. And seeing the Bronx come to fruition would be amazing!

Ive owned a 22 Nightster for about 2 seasons and 9,000 miles. Is the second bike ive owned, I had sportster 1200 for 2 months before i bought it. Great review and assessment on the bike. It has a fantastic motor, but the rest is a bit weird and not great. It's a shame that Harley isn't doing more with that motor because it has so much potential.

I find the engine covers look to toy like

For a 1000cc moto, and 3 gallon tank of 120 mile total range. That is going to the gas station every other day. Let's put a 5 gallon tank on there!

I never had a Harley before and I love my Nightster, such a fun and good bike. I don't understand all this hate about "not looking good" or "not the Harley spirit" etc. I see an amazing engine so fun to ride. Just enjoy guys! FYI: KTM has dirt bikes, roadsters, trailbikes, all sorts of models. Different styles for everyone. None of the KTM fans go on hating the models they don't like. I don't get Harley fans xD

Hey! I see you out there rocking the TTD shirt (now Cycle Smith)! Great organization! PS Harley needs to build the Bronx with this engine, they would sell a ton

The only thing more disappointing than the Harley was how many cars Zach had to pass on the right on the highway.

Hope to see the new Ducati Monster on Daily rider soon😊

I love your motorcycle reviews. Because of watching your channel, I have ordered parts and accessories from Revzilla! I would love to see you review a Harley Davidson Road Glide Limited, or even a special. Not sure if it is anything you would consider doing, but I would love to see it. Please keep these coming!

Unreal how the bike is so different one side to the next. Its just natural to be a little different due to the exhaust sometimes but to have a bike that looks like it stopped loading halfway through is completely unacceptable, doubly so because the competition is not just HD anymore. But a quality review as always.

Great review, but I cant imagine who would actually buy that bike. Its the complete opposite of what a typical Harley owner wants. And for non Harley people there are tons of better options

What's with the rev limiting? Even when warm it won't let you rev it up when stopped? Or did I misunderstand that? I get it when the motor is cold, but after driving it all the way to work...?

Lovely to see you riding from LB to San Pedro

I've been waiting for this one! Thank you!

I bought the 23 nightster special as my first bike, and I absolutely love it. The sport mode scared the hell out of me at first but now I almost exclusively ride in sport mode because I love the throttle response. I have also beat my buddy who has a ninja 400 in a race. There’s a lot of hate on this bike for absolutely no reason other than that it’s not a traditional Harley. I’m not a Harley guy, but this bike convinced me to give it a shot and I like the direction Harley is going. It’s a terrific bike that is fun, fast and turns heads.

I vote for the Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello next.

100 lbs less than the air cooled Sportster, more power, gas tank under the seat is brilliant, feels like a 400lb bike when you sit on it. Would like to see what it looks like when a lot of the covers and plastic stuff is removed. As far as giving Harley people what they want, they did that with the Milwaukee 8 engine. Less heat and vibration, more power. Look at the used market closely for awhile and you can find low mileage newer Harley’s for half or two thirds of what they go for new.

Bought my 24 Nightster 2 days ago💪🏻 Cant wait to get it next week.

Please review triumph t120 too

Everything looks plastic instead of mechanical these days. Why hide what makes a rider fall in love with a bike in the first place? One of the many reasons I prefer “cheaper” and less sophisticated rides from companies like RE. May they never change.

Point 'A' to point 'B' is always a competitive market and this price is more in line with what the market will bear. Good review.

Not a huge fan of the sportsters, but in regards to the versatility of the bike...the now discontinued sportster line was one of the most widely customized bikes I've ever seen. From dirtbike/tracker/adv conversions to cafe racers and even mini touring bikes, how does it not have that in your eyes? Different bars, different seat, even adjust the foot control location and add a wind-screen? I think with that motor its got MASSIVE potential for versatility. Just my thoughts.

That soft limiter is going to piss off some show boaters.

Sporster is the one I love from HD I won't buy it because in the Netherlands we gotta pay 18k euros being atm 19.6k USD like it's not even funny.

Excellent review thanks.

dude, the Z900 has MORE TORQUE. yet you're saying the nightster engine is better because it has more punch. what does everybody have against the Z900? it makes no sense. but hey, love you Zack! great content as usual. keep it up. ooh, if you wanted to mix things up a bit, see if you can get two bikes at once and do a two-fer with Ari.

Make a review on Harley Davidson soft-tail standard

I really feel sad for dedicated Harley riders, of which abmittedly I am not, but I just don't see anything desirable about their newer models. Harley have forced their dealers into taking on a lot of debt/overhead which has lead to a less than enjoyable buying experience. If I was a betting man I would short the company stock.

I really liked my demo ride on the Nightster and Nightster Special. Very comfy rider's triangle, and that new engine is fun to wind out. I just cannot justify the price of the Special. The Nightster Special should be priced where the Nightster is, IMO. I just don't see the value at $14,999. So many other bikes in so many different segments out there for that price.

Y'all going to do a video on the 2024 Softail Standard? A very affordable bigger bike. Keep up the great work!

It is an aesthetic disaster in any case, and they appear to have managed to create the World’s first V-twin sewing machine

Great review as always. Daily Rider is something I look forward to on these cold winter days.Harley charges exorbitant prices for their 1942 technology motorcycle, but they have some of the best looking bikes IMHO. Then they make two of the ugliest motorcycles in the Nightster and Sportster S. Did they intend to make the bike look like it was tossed together by high chimpanzees? It looks like parts are going to cartoonishly fall off of it while sitting on the stand. These go with the Honda NM4 as the most hideous bikes ever made. Just $12000 plus dealer mark up, freight, assembly, fuel surcharge, Harley surcharge, general surcharge, computer chip surcharge, shipping surcharge, salesman hourly rate surcharge, mechanic tool surcharge, inflation surcharge, livewire failure surcharge and tax.

She’s a stunt bike, don’t see the complaints people are making. Solid bike, solid build and performance ready cruiser.

Thanks Revzilla for this content, and I’ll continue to buy accessories from your website.

Maybe take a note out of Triumphs book by hiding away all the wiring, plumbing and radiators etc?

Please review the Royal Enfield Super Meteor

Lol. You just talked me out od a Nightster with that storm description. Literally what happened during the outdoor receltion at my first wedding. Divorced 7 uears later, adter it failed in 4. And yeah. As that would be a toy in the fleet, pass. Alreay have a couple in that role. I'd go woth the 48 as well. Wife rode a coworker's 48 last summer. and has been checking the used market since. And I still have a promise to keep toom, sfter selling my Heritage in 03 to help her and dad cover her medical bills. She was Not happy with me letting it go, as it was my rethink, reassess, and adjust myself build, that put mw where I needed to be, for myself. How I ran onto an pld froend, who sat for a mutual friend, so O coukd take her wirh on her brother's memorial dice run. Her husband was TAD over in Germany for a year, and couldn't make it back, and she felt safe riding with me and my parents, so I got asked. Came back with the bike, and her car, and visited. Went to pay her, and she asked about a trade. Never been on one. Her 4 year old was enamored with the bike, so I asked if she wanted a picture of her on it. She took pne of just her, then me and her, and Kate took pne of the three of us with her on it, us standing with. First pictire with my wife and daughter hangs in my shop office, over my left shoulder, 23 years later. Still have trust issues thanks to wife one. I think this one's earned her Harley. Stsyed through my divorce, stood by me when I left the deslership to open an honest shop, a mental breakdown, and becpmong an above knee amputee. Pushed my wheelchair to appointments, dragged me to PT on days that I wanted to give up. Rebuilt my old 2 stroke YZ 125, and helped me create adaptive foot contfols, as well as picking up a Ural and. Spyder for days where the prosthetic is not an option. Time to browse the market, and see what's out there.

Well, glad that Zack took that out of the way early on. Ready for the next one…

It's reasonably quick and handles well. Other than that it's an overpriced plastic piece of junk that sounds absolutely horrible both stock and worse with pipes. Harley could've modernized their Sportster engine line and implemented new tech while still retaining their style, quality, and traits that were big selling points and stood them out from the competition, but instead, they chose this...and there's a reason nobody is buying them.

I’m still wanting the Harley X family to come to US. That’s what the academy uses. But traditional HD fanboys don’t want a non American bike, even though that’s how Harley could expand and gain the attention of younger and less fortunate riders. Honestly, 975 is too expensive and too powerful for the average 18-24 year old.

I bought an early Nightster (and reached out to Zach to review in 2021 haha) and have some feedback regarding the questions people asked. -is it good for a new rider? Yes. The lighter weight and low CG make it an easy bike for a newbie to handle. -will you want to trade it in for a bigger more comfy bike? Yes. -can it be made more practical/versatile? Not really…aftermarket support isn’t there yet. -This or a 48? Get a 48…aftermarket support isn’t comparable…and these are plagued with electrical issues.

Footless stops I've noticed are a lot easier when you alternate left and right on the handlebars

I want to love harley, I really do. I love the heritage and the style. But then i look at the prices and realize I wont be able to even get dual front brakes with my 15K. How come I end up getting more bang for my buck spending 13k on an Italian bike, import fees and all, as compared to the domestic brand? Piss poor value for my money.

The titanium engine covers(only on the right side?)give the bike a coin operated carousel appearance. Like something you'd see at the front entrance of a Target. I've been back and forth on ever owning a Harley and this one absolutely turns me off.

I must be the only person that likes this bike. I have various bikes but my Harley journey was Iron 883 > 48 > Street Bob 114 > Nightster. The Nightster handles better and has the pace of the 114. As for looks, it's a bit Mad Max on the left side for sure...

So you are choosing this or Indian Scout, looking to get first cruiser bike comming from Ducati Monster, any suggestions? Thanks and keep up with great work Greetings from Slovenia

Seems to have an import vibe

For 12 k plus setup and tax (15k out the door) you get an ugly vanilla looking cruiser that sounds like a moped and is embarrassing to be caught on

I really like the sort of hooligan cruiser nature of this bike, and was pretty surprised the way it ripped off wheelies, as well as how it did as a scrambler over those loose rocks and wet railroad ties. That's how Harley should advertise it, lol, a hooligan cruiser. The two-face finished right side and unfinished left is bizarre though and it bothers my OCD. I wonder if you can take off the magnesium covers and leave it bare. I wish either Harley finished off the other side or at least left the right side naked. There is something cool and grungy about bikes with modern internals... not as sexy as an old school V-Twin, but all the wires, hoses, etc left exposed looks kinda badass. Great review as always!

I guess HD's old engines really was turning gas to sound without the side effect of HP. Now that it's turning gas to HP, it doesn't have the sound anymore.