Harley-Davidson Nightster LONG Journey Review. The Ol' Man Gets Lost AGAIN & Customisation Must Do's 

Totally agree about the air intake cover, that’s annoying.

completely agree re the things to change, and reduce some of the plastics. Good video!

I said it on your review of this and I'm saying it again now. Harley Davidson are so out of touch with the masses. Not because of the bikes they produce, but the PRICES are absolutely ridiculous.

That bike has to many plastic parts on it that make it look cheap. I agree with you, since the fuel tank is under the seat, why not make storage space inside the fake fuel tank.

My Friend Old Man, the bike looks like the sportster 883 or 1200, nothing against this motorcycle model and its audience, I just pray that Harley doesn't change the classic engine for this "modern" engine! hug ! 👍👊

it really comes down to this, an old style Sportster 1200 or a Honda Rebel 1100, which has USB & Cruise control... and I wonder what I could do with all that extra cash I save on the Honda... side note... we are too spoiled with modern technology... I want paper maps and my memory back! thanks for the review

The things you pointed out I agree - it could be tidied up.... By the time youv'e changed all the bits you dont like , you might wonder why you didnt buy a bike you do like. But wait - actually you did ! - you bought that beautiful BMW R18.

I think its a perfect bike for commuting, weekend night outs, bar hopping with friends, and occasional cruising...long journey where I am is like LA to Dallas (1,500 miles)...there are more suitable bikes for that kind of trips...like someone's R18 :D :D :D

I’m sure it’s a fine motorcycle, but it’s outrageously expensive for the smaller Harley! It’s like 17k here in Tulsa Oklahoma where I’m at and that’s only if you can get your hands on one? Idk but it might be even more now because of how hard it is to get ahold of? Of course it’s like I tell everyone about paying over 20k for my ‘21 Low Rider S, “if you want a Harley Davidson, then you have to pay for a Harley Davidson.” I would consider this bike if it had the 1250 engine. I’m not at all interested in the smaller 975 engine.

Watching video with my grandaughter all she keeps saying start it up, great review

Agree, engine covers, regardless if metal or plastic, looks like a cheap plastic Brutus cover. Either show the engine or put a redesigned cover on it.

Nice Honda, is that a leaf blower???

The Harley Davidson "Different" . Not much you wouldn't change but the front end. I agree. May want to pick up a portable power bank :)

The leaf blower exaust is horrendous lol . Not a fan of that bike or the revolution max at all lol. Another great review. Respect

Riding out and getting somewhat lost is part of the fun of riding in my view. Some of my riding friends do not see the humor in that...LOL! If they comment at me I tell them to ride off on their own any time they wish!!! Always enjoy the local history of an area. It will be interesting to see how many other Harley models get that motor down the road.

Oooh man, I finally got some slacking time to enjoy your videos again! Another week and then a much needed vacation! Lovely and pleasant videos as usual!

This is one, just one of the many reasons Indian Motorcycles is growing...

Absolutely love your channel guys! I enjoy the beautiful scenery and sights you show..very nice. Your suggestions for modifications are spot on in my opinion if I were to buy one, but love my Breakout that I got (thanks to your review of it) way too much. Ride safe guys. ✌️

I bought this bike. Changes so far 1. Harley Davidson engine bar. 2. Kuryakyn Highway begs. 3. Passenger seat. 4. Nelson Rigg Touring tail bag (held on by straps under the seat which allows for easy snap on and off of the bag). 5. Leather front fork tool bag. 6. Maybe a new Corbin seat. 7. I also would like something for the air cover. Have any of the Nightsters in your Country have a starting problem. Some of the first models have defective handlebar modules. Connection is on either side of the air box. Unplug and plug in these modules or remove and reinstall the negative battery terminal to get the bike started. I had Harley Davidson replace my modules. Hopefully this will correct the problem. I am leaving on a 5 day trip on the Nightster. I am curious as to my impression of this bike for touring.

You're all time the best Motorcycle reviewer Ol'man.i like every episode of Reviews made by you because of your expertise openion

After actually riding this bike I have also changed my mind. It really handles beautifully. Would I buy it? Yes, -I probably will, if I can afford it alongside my Super Glide!

Just got mine a few weeks ago, thanks for the video, helped me out a ton

My stock 2001 Sportster 1200S looks much nicer. Would love a Heritage 114.

Hi! You should buy an anker powerbank. Very handy. If I understand you correctly, this Harley is very cheap to buy, because Harley did not figure out that the dummy air cover would get in the way of one's knee.So you have to ride around with a uncovered airhole ( pardon my french) , until either one becomes a fabricator or some firm makes a new cover. The radiator area is ugly. The cylinder covers are cheap nasty plastic. Cheap nasty pieces in the frame. Might as well replace ugly exaust. Cheap nasty plastic on other side. Hideous cooling fan from what I can see. And a plastic petrol tank with ( wait for it) nasty plastic cover. Sounds like Harley need to open a Aluminium factory to make attractive trim for their motorcycles. Kind regads .Aiden

I just realized you got a new leather jacket Iam loving it!! I’m glad your channel is growing!!

Great review Ol’Man

Great point at the end about Harley being able to make bikes that are different from the usual. Also, about putting a flap on the tank to store the phone...I have an Oxford tank bag that has a zippered pocket on top to store a map. I tried putting my phone in there a few times and it worked great, but noticed that it overheated. Perhaps a tank flap on this bike would do the same in hotter climates like mine.

Went to Harley the other day to get my M8 FatBob serviced. It's still my favourite model they do.

I had a Sportster 1200 48 a few years back which i chopped about and loved the fact I could own an authentic sounding Harley in my price bracket. I don't see anything wrong with the way they're going with the Revolution motors but it's a big shame they couldn't be an addition to their lineup and still also keep an authentic small twin as well for people with a limited budget to get the grins of their beautiful sounding engines.

AWESOME VIDEO ! ! ! ! ! ! ! AMAZING ! ! ! ! ! !

Brilliant video as always James! love the random jaunts and getting lost, I too think that bike should have a better exhaust to open it up, even with my limited knowledge on bikes at the moment; also not much a fan of the plastic parts too.

It's interesting you got lost. Men here in the US never get lost. Sometimes we have no idea where we are, but we're never lost. If we can't find where we needed to go we probably didn't need to be there anyway. Good video. My vote is for the lowrider s so far.

I got this bike, I have a Jekyll & Hyde exhaust and it makes a world of difference! As you mentioned need to do something about the plastic

Nightster special has the USBC port.

Gotta love the reviews where shit goes wrong as well as the perfect ones!!

I’d get a triumph over this any day and I’m a Harley guy.

One side of it it fairly good looking. :)

Good review on the bike

Am I the only one who thinks H-D should have called this bike the Sportster S and called the Sportster S the Nightster? The Nightster looks alot like the old Sportster. To me, it looks like the next generation of the Sportster. I think both bikes are really nice, but a touch overpriced. I believe this new Revolution Max engine will prove to be a great move for H-D. I still love my 2007 Sportster 1200, but I can see myself picking up one of these newer bikes used down the road.

A bit sanitized, so I agree that the exhaust needs work but not too loud. Little rear suspension travel, so the center mounted controls help you stand up if you hit a bump in the road. The gearshift travel is short, almost like a sport bike. A very clean snick snick. The gear indicator on the speedo is a very useful touch. A very pleasant bike, but needs just a touch more Harley personality

I can appreciate this bike and see nothing wrong with it at all "well maybe some like the exhaust 😁" but since seeing your vid on the Low Rider S 117 I am totally smitten with this bike and cannot entertain any other but ! the price for me is just to rich I totally get why it's the price it is ,and that's fine and maybe one day I will just say to myself to hell with it I've just gotta have on 😊great watch cheers 👍

The nightster is an amazing thing and a great feat of engineering but at $23K AUD and the amount of plastic and technical issues it’s putting people off. I have an Iron 883 and it’s never skipped a beat. I did test ride the nightster didn’t like it. But that’s just me. Pretty much prefer lowrider ST best bike Harley have made now bring back the Dynas

Great review! Loved the ride too! Your suggestions are spot on! Any bike that does not need to adhere to classic design should have some kind of location for phone mounting. Its the equivalent of bluetooth and apple car play/android auto. Auto manufacturers started offering Bluetooth connectivity in the early early 2000s. Time for the motorcycle industry to catch up. Your tank location suggestion is great!

I just use earbuds as it stands as google maps disappears but the audio still works. (if you switch off though haha you think "was it B...or the.."). Fun ride! Am in Wales soon just a heatwave to contend with. Am tempted to not film the first part as not sure if my chin mount will melt😜🤞 (might start filming in Oxfordshire, although could miss the Chilterns so am in 2 minds). P.s I carry 2 phones. (just in case)

Talking through the mods you never mentioned the special satnav holder I saw fitted to the handlebars. Where would one get one of those? Seriously I love the honesty of your reviews and your subsequent rides. I've always shunned Harley's in the past but you definitely piqued my interest. Your point that it's not trying to be traditionalist is very relevant. Keep 'em comin! (And I write down my rout and then get it wrong .. I'm sure it's an age thing 🤣🤣)

Nice enough bike , but has'nt got the sound and character of the previous pushrod engine. Has a lot more plastic on it too than the previous bike.

Its a Mk1 Geoffrey Quill said "there's rarely a good anything MK1" I'm sure the next edition will be neater and better

The styling reminds me of the Yamaha Bolt which has the same issues with the air cleaner hitting your knee. The exhaust looks a little like a leaf blower, might look better with two into two instead of two into one. The architecture is amazing!

Great video well done for saying that it's different from the same old same old HD. Rightly so that HD has something totally different. If I had one I probably try to make it look like the nightrod in the colour scheme and where possible to give it similar lines. Didn't get a nightrod due to circumstances but really really thought that bike was cool.

Great channel

I am 54 yrs old and have owned 2 - 883 irons, 1 -1200 sportster, 1 - street rod 750, 2 - heritage classics -17 and 19, 1 Ultra Limited Low and many Liter bikes. I have a CB500F in the stable currently. I just purchased a new Nightster 975 and I really do like this motorcycle. It’s quick and handles very well. Is it a touring bike? Nope……. Soon after purchase I took a 2 day 500 mile trip and my butt was feeling the pain. On the way back I decided to take the toll interstate and run like hell. That was a difficult task. With a little higher winds and many semi trucks the ride became more of a job trying to hold it between the lines. Top speed is around 110 mph which is a shame because you get there so quickly.

You were not lost ! You were just alternatively situated....

Any chance you can do a review on a sports tourer bike like a suzuki gt 1000? It suits big blokes like yourself✌🏽💪🏿

Your riding conditions are atrocious Sir.... God love ya. If you ever come to the states I’ll take you on some proper roads. You are obviously well skilled.

Nice video and good points at the end. The old schoolers can still get the traditional bikes. But wait til the Chinese made Harleys hit the shores. Going to be a few coronaries 🤣

Beautiful buildings and scenery

Dear Sir.. Love your content and the way you put it across to your viewers.. Thank You and God Bless you.. Since Adventure bikes are the call of the season.. Can you please have a video done comparing the new Versys 650 2022 and the Suzuki V Strom 650 and Triumph 660... We have many viewers who are keen to see the camparo please 🙏.. Looking forward for your videos 😊😊😊.. Till then Cheers🍻

It doesn't do it for me. By the time you have finished replacing all the plastic bits better to buy another model. You look a bit underbiked on it unlike your R18. Looking forward to the Lowrider review.

Dude, watsup with those huge plates on your bikes, here in the US, we can use small plates . Do you have to keep them or can you get smaller plates? Beautiful scenery. Great review! Like watching your reviews!! Keep riding!!!

I’ve got an Indian but I kinda like the way the exhaust looks on the nightster, makes it look unique. If it was a bit louder I’d just just leave it as is

How about an after market 5 gallon gas tank? I tour 6-700 miles per day, and some times longer. 3 gallons? Let's get real here.

I brought the 2023 Nightster Special . It has a micro USB plug LH side with a round screw off cover . I did 2000km trip in 2 days on it last week . Can get upto 240km on a tank of fuel . With a Sissy bar can tie on a bag. Still waiting on my Swingarm bag . Great Power, Good Brakes . Suspension travel is fine . I also ride a 2019 Softail Slim . Except for the Exhaust note the Nightster Special is a far far Better bike than the 2 x 883 Irons I have owned . I waited for the Nightster Special over the Nightster for the extra features . all the knockers of the New Nightster really need to ride one before they open their mouth . On the Nightster Special you can display your maps on the dash via the Harley App . I understand what you are saying about the storage under the fake tank but is no room under there . would need to make larger to do so .

My new Nightster is currently sitting in the dealers spare bike room. It was experiencing non-start issues associated with the start button. The dealer is giving minimal feedback on the situation, except to say that a new part has been ordered under warranty from the factory. I am very much 'up in the air' with this whole situation, a new model beset with starting, reliability issues and zero feedback from dealer/factory. Can anyone shed any light on this issue? Ps, my standby bike is my 09xl 1200 Sportster, she may be heavy and underpowered, but she sure is damn reliable...

Whoever it is in your government that persIsts with these huge numberplates needs to be sacked immediately.

Really liked the concept of what Harley is reaching for here but the amount of issues people are already reporting with this platform turned me away. Fortunately Triumph landed me with a 660 Trident for my daily I’m just waiting for the Baja Orange to arrive in the states. One of the few bikes I honestly thing there’s nothing to change on but some accessories will be added

If I could warrant a new bike right now it'd be a black 117 Lowrider S with a Jekyll and Hyde 21 exhaust, a brown or oxblood Saddleman seat and a sissy bar. That J+H would be black headers, black pipes and a bronze slash cut at the end to really sell the black and bronze thing. Oh and heated grips because Raynaud's is a bitch.

My nightster has a charger built in to the left front near the fork connection.

I wonder if it were cost cutting to only have vvt on the inlet valve.

*That whole fake tank thing is a lost opportunity for storage that's always been lacking on non-bagger Harley bikes.*

I love mine

Do you recommend this bike or a Triumph Scrambler 900 as a do-everything comfortable bike to carve the canyons and cruise the city streets?

Considering buying my first harley after many many road and sports bikes,a 2018 sportster 1200 Iron,I'd prefer a larger street bob but out of price range as is the sportster tbh but I won't tell the wife the price😏

Mil saludos esa harley esta super y la escenografia natural parecen castillos de la epoca medieval👍👍👍👍👍🤘🤘🤘🤘

One of the things i have always loved about Harley is you get metal. Enough said. Now go get that real Harley

Harley's been getting lazy with hiding ugly wires and lines lately. For instance, the M8's are all oil cooled, and they place the oil cooler in the front, between the frame where a radiator would be on a liquid cooled bike. This would certainly be fine, if it didn't block airflow to the air-cooled engine, and hurt the looks of the bike a bit. Also, the oil lines are run all in the open above the engine, and look quite bad, like a rats nest of wires and oil lines. Indian, for example, also has all oil cooled engines, yet the radiator is hidden and there are no ugly oil lines or wires all over the place. The new Chief being the perfect example of that. With this bike, it's worse than the M8's. This bike should've had the radiator in-between the frame, and all the coolant lines being out in the open, it's just ugly, and quite frankly, lazy. If the Japanese can make liquid cooled bikes without coolant lines hanging out everywhere, and Indian can do it with the Scout, Challenger and Pursuit, why can't Harley? Many of Harleys design decisions as of late seem very, very lazy.

As long as you have gas (petrol) in your tank you are not lost.

One thing it's sure, it looks better and sounds better than the sportster s, anyway i will not change my 883 for any of them, or other hd nowadays are more expensive than ever

Been watching a lot of your videos, lads. Really good content. Never been interested in cruisers but I might be coming around.

Far too much cheap plastic for such a premium machine.

my nightster makes me back hurt, i think it needs a bar that lets u sit up a little more

My one concern would be (if I remember correctly) the tiny fuel tank. Did you have issues with this when you got lost?

I often get lost..still fun though. I'm slowly starting to take an interest in the Legend that is Harley Davidson Nice video Thank you!

Well, every bike has good points, though they are not always the same - it would be a disaster if every bike was just like the others. Because people are different and there are many different uses for bikes. Some people do not understand a thing, it seems. I don't know what goes round there in their minds (if anything).

I have criticized you in the past, Mr. Darcy, but this is a brilliant review.

It's a good bike. I didn't buy it, because the levers are too far out even in shortest settings for my short fingers and my missus didn't like it. Indian Scout it is.

Oh well ... ya gotta have da _CLUNK!_ S PS: Sorry, what's the "PT man"?

So basically.....just buy a different bike that doesn't look like its made from Legos lol

I'm not trying to hate, or much of anything, but listening to the video, where the sound was working, it seemed to me to be kind of mechanically noisy, whirring and the like. It could have been microphone placement, but whatever it was, it kind of puts me right off. I like that you stop, and we get to see, well, different stuff, but at 10 pounds a pop, it would put me right off too. You weren't lost, you were "adventuring".

The Royal Enfield Shotgun is what Harley should of made this engine could have worked for that, in theory. My mate got one and it been in the shop 4 times problems with fuel leaks and that stupid unreliable build quality. Really disappointed with it he was. Okay try and find the battery, well my friend Harley put it behind the radiator, in a not so easy place, took us 2 hours to get to it.

The left side of these engines looks like a Rats Nest, that’s the side they need to clean up.

I'll be interested in seeing how reliable these new Harleys are.

If you don’t progress , adapt and invocation you won’t last . Harley are not abandoning their traditional customer base but they are certainly looking to appeal to a new one at the same time which can only make them stronger .The Pan America looks to be selling well I’ve seen quite a few on the road and I think this model will too .

If only Harley could figure out a way to water cool these with the look of a Triumph Bonneville's radiator and piping. I can see the basic profile of a Sportster there, but the cooling system kind of ruins it.

💯💯👍👍

Every Pot has a Lid somewhere....All the fake bits and pieces and wires and rubber water hoses are god awful ugly....but not as bad as that awful noise coming out of those pipes...Hey ! How about a Church visit maybe from out in the yard for you while they are singing ? Might want to stand under a tree so a bolt of lightning has a harder time finding you...lol...nice weight room machine ...I need to get back at that stuff...

The engine look is a big turnoff. I am looking at triumph now

Ps I'd throw it in the Bin lol

As an owner; That seat ain't doing it any favors.

If you compare it with your R18 or with any japanese cruiser (except rebel), it looks like semi-finished product of dubious quality and no word about design yet. It is not about hating HD, I just found out, that probably every reliable brand produces better technically and better looking motorbikes. HD has great name, but in current competition is far far behind. Unfortunately Victory was killed, they produced beautiful cruisers and choppers. I liked Indian Chief, but the "Elvis" design was too heavyweight for now and the new models look the same as HD. Bad luck. In the fact, not much good looking cruisers remains, especially in EU :(

Maybe it's just me, but it seems that there's so much "visual fakery" going on with the Nightster, that it probably would be mocked by H-D-enthusiasts if it didn't have the bar and shield logo on the "tank". This might sound like blasphemy, but it reminds me in quite a few ways of the Yamaha Virago 535 of old. From the top of my head: That one also had a fake "tank" that was actually only an airbox-cover ... plus it had semi-fake exhausts and it used dress-up parts to make the engine look much bigger than it actually was. I also don't like the fact that this is another modern cruiser whose only idea WRT finish is "black and more black" - plus they currently only sell the entry-level Nightster in black or dark grey - which doesn't help to elevate the look of the thing, IMO. If it was me, I'd probably get all the decorative parts I could get in chrome or brushed metal finish and throw those on. I'm usually not a fan of a "chrome on top of more chrome"-aesthetic, but this bike clearly needs some visual highlights. Also: Get rid of the factory headers and muffler - the whole exhaust system looks almost comically oversized, but not in a good way. And it's another all black part on a bike that's nothing but all black parts... :) Problem with all that is that by the time I'd be done, I would've spent spent so much on custom-parts that I could've bought the Sportster S. Or, better still, a brand-new Softail Standard or a young, 2nd hand Dyna Wide Glide. And the Nightster probably still wouldn't look "perfect" to my eye - for one thing: There would still be the left side of the bike which just looks like an unfinished mess to me.