I got one last Friday. I love it, but there are a few negatives. The most annoying is the gas tank, the actual one. The cap is under the seat. The seat requires the key to open up. The lock is on the left, and so is the hinge for the seat. You unlock the seat and lift it towards you. Annoying. When you get the seat up, you end up leaning over the bike to grab the fuel hose, if you didn't walk around the bike. If you reach over the bike to fuel up, you have to hold the hose away from the exhaust. It's not something I expected to see brought up in this review, and I think it's something potential buyers should know. Now, it's light, flickable, quick but stable. It's ONLY 975cc, but that 90 HP is nice!
@@BlockheadMoto I watched the whole video before commenting, waiting to see if you mentioned it. Everyone I've shown has the same "WTF, Harley?" reaction.
Great riding and hanging with you bro. What a heck of a light little bike with plenty of power. Windy little engine. Keep er' up in the high RPM's for shoa! 🤘
I'm a diehard old school air cooled fan, I own an EVO Sportster and am going to be restoring and EVO Softail Heritage. The EVO engine has so much personality and attitude, and is as reliable as an Amish sawmill. I'm afraid that some of that has been lost in the new RevMax, however I understand that it was time for an update. I love the Indian Scout and am excited to compare it to the new Nightster, as they are both DOHC liquid cooled twins. I really hope this bike is a smash hit for HD and am really excited to see what people do with theirs!
I’ve had two air cooled Harley’s, and now have the sportster S. I was pretty distraught at first, because I thought the revmax had absolutely no soul or personality- but I was wrong. It’s a subtle personality, but you’ll find it if you give it some time, patience, and keep an open mind. It’s such a good engine, and the different modes make it feel like three separate bikes.
WOW! the video production quality has gone up so much from when I first started watching you years ago! I'm proud of how far you've come as a long time viewer!
I've been waiting a while for the new sportster. The Sportster S is is what got me back into motorcycles but wound up going with the Triumph Speed Twin. To me it looks better, better ergos and has a better price point than the S than the Nightster. Would still love a comparison video between them.
That laugh when you got on it haha, I love the high revving engine in these things! My V-Rod sounds like a Nascar with the drag pipes I'm running and I bet these things will sound absolutely rowdy with a set of pipes!
I'd like to suggest something, I think a Blockhead Raw channel would be absolutely Banger. I don't think I'm the only one who misses the pov cruises. Just saying, like if you support
Performance gains and sounds in a liquid cooled engine over air cooled is night and day. I’m shocked they’re popular now when HD had it already with the Vrod. It would be amazing to have a new Vrod. Sporties just got a lot cooler.
I gotta be honest, I hope a bigger version of the RevMax ends up in the touring platforms. Some may say it lacks personality but thats not necessarily a bad thing.
I'm a fan of the RevMax, but my only thing with that is...who wants to rev a tourer to the moon? A light bike you can throw around all day and are comfortable ripping around on, absolutely. A touring bike made for going in a straight line all day comfortably? That's where having the torque and powerband of a traditional Harley V-twin really shines. I think a bigger variation of the RevMax would work really well in the smaller Softail line (Standard, Slim, Street Bob, Fat Bob, Low Rider,) but the Fat Boy, Heritage, and the tourers are used for an entirely different purpose that might make having a really high revving engine with less of that grunt a little exhausting. It's not as if the M8 is really all that anemic up top like the Evos, either.
@@stevem4783 that’s the beauty of the Revolution Max engine is the VVT. You can have your lower in torque and your high rpm horsepower! The Indian challenger has torque and horsepower so just think what a larger Revolution Max engine would bring to the table.
@@KevinButler816 my dude, it isn't the same and you know it. I generally agree with you on these topics but there is a BIG difference between the grunt of a Twin Cam or M8 and something like a RevMax. It isn't always about that peak number, it's where it comes on and how you get there. Nobody wants to run a bagger at 4,500+ all day long.
@@KevinButler816 I know. And that "low-mid range" version of the RevMax still doesn't have the low-end grunt of an Evo, which is my point. On a tiny application like a Sportster it doesn't matter, but on an 800+lb bagger it unequivocally does. You want that immediate torque and feel as soon as you pull the throttle in the 1500-2500 range, no amount of variable valve timing in a DOHC V-twin is going to give you that and for the third time, nobody wants to run baggers where the power doesn't come on until 5k, which is the case even in the S's RevMax.
As someone who’s not a cruiser guy, this is such a cool bike. But, and this is one of the reasons I’m not a cruise guy, at $14k MSRP, I’ll take a MT07/09/even MT10 for that price. Ducati Monster, a whole slew of Triumph Bonnie’s, street triple. Even one of the Indian Scouts. I would be so much more into HD, at least the new ones, if there weren’t so many bikes that meet my needs for (way) less. If I ever got one for free I’d be psyched, but for my own money, can’t justify it
90 horsepower and less than 500 pounds is one of the fastest Harley’s especially over touring bikes. The PA, Sportster S, and 975 best power to weight bikes
Before these new bikes the Street 750 was faster than any other Harley other than the V-Rod and the street only has 50-60 HP as well as weighing 60-70lbs more than this Nightster. Who knew that updating an ancient model to one the rest of the world was already utilizing for years would end up showing up the others
I heard you mention the nightster in your last video and I was like bro.... where's that video?! lol. I appreciate your reviews! Thanks for the content!
This is one of the bikes im looking into for my second bike. Im also looking at a rebel 500, kawasaki eliminator, vulcan s, or indian scout sixty. Any of them would be great, but i need to sit of them and see how the ergonomics are
HI Blockhead. Thank you for the videos. I always enjoy them and have learn a great deal. I have not had a motorcycle in 45 years. I am now 66 and interested in getting back into the hobby. I did some up front work and contacted Harley Davidson for an insurance quote. What a shock $6,992.56 a year. Tried Geico. They were only $4796.76 a year. Apparently, living in Los Angeles is not a good idea when it comes to motorcycle insurance. I found a used 2021 Harley sport glide at a local dealer. Its mileage is 5210 and they want $22,000 for it before Title, tax, and other charges. Looked up the original msrp for a 2021 Sport Glide. It was $18,830 and this bike is used. Looks like I am going to have to settle for the kind of bike one pedals. Thanks again for the wonderful videos.
Move to PA brotha Harley insures me for $175 per year full coverage 2021 Sportster S. I'm 62 no accidents or speeding tickets, HOG member, and needed another insurance company quote to get that rate. The dealer hooked me up when I purchased the bike in Feb.
@@randallzook5570 Thanks Randall. I might just do that. Called my State Farm guy and he quoted me $168 a month. It was a great conversation as it turns out he has been riding since he was 17. We had a good talk. He was saying to go with a lighter bike because people drop their Harley's all the time and they are expensive to repair. Have a good one.
Absolutely hated it at first, and still think the OG nightster looks better. but maybe put some clip ons, new rearsets, proper bullet cowl, and this thing kind of makes a dope cafe sportster.
Good to see Harley do more with a sport cruiser segment. I've not had a chance to ride the Nighster but the Sportster S was a fun little bike to ride. Also, cool to see one of my favorite RU-vidrs on your channel ... Ride to Food - love her stuff. Thanks brother ... PEACE!
It would look better if the engine was blacked out and there was something to hide or cover the the frame just behind the neck. As another mentioned, I'd rather wait for the Bronx.
Bronx was taken off the lineup, sadly. They shut that down a year or two ago. They're working on a race bike now that to me looks like a cross between a Ducati sport bike and a Daytona. Also apparently a new pan am with this 975 this Nightster has
My only dislike of the Revolution Max bikes is that Harley did not put enough effort in making the motor look good from both the left and right side. Indian put the effort in for both their Scout and Challenger line ups. Their bikes look very similar from both sides but the Harley just looks unfinished. However lets be real, this is far more effort than they ever put in the Street line up. These bikes look good. Otherwise after seeing this bike all I can say is, please bring us the Bronx. Surprising how good it sounds from the seat point of view. Would have preferred more standard Harley handlebar controls. Adjustable levers are a good update
I really want one of these but I took my msf last October and haven't yet bought my first bike. I want the evo air cooled sound first. Either iron 883 or a forty-eight as my first bike. Maybe second down the road will be this. I'm very happy with the changes harley has done to modernize but I do hope the dont stop the evo yet. I am in love with the sound.
Harleys are all about feelings it's in all of their ads. This bike, the technology it packs and the athletic way it rides and revs, makes me feel like this is how people felt in the 50's riding those first Sportys! People are worried that these will be harder to mod and self-service, but I seriously doubt it-the whole left side of the motor is exposed hoses and connections, all laid out in plain reach and the rest of it is a modern motorcycle without much groundbreaking or controversial going on. I'm interested to know what an upmarket USD front fork and some tall piggyback shocks do for the ride...
@@TheMarvelous1310 I've heard nothing but great things about the Vulcan 650. I have 2 friends with them and they love them. Pretty quick for what they are too, faster than the old Sportys anyways.
I have the 2021 MT-09 and I'm curious what you feel the level of fun is on the Nightster vs your MT-09. I am not any brand's fan boy and I really just want to own fun bikes. Thanks for the awesome review brother!
I'm 80 yrs old. If I got one of these, I'd put another inch on the rear travel, raise the seat height an inch and hope that it would be good enough. I'm 5' 10" as well. ;-)
Balancing act horsepower and torque with rotating mass. As rpm’s increase more horsepower but loss of torque with higher rpm. The heavy Harley’s need more torque off the line. Light Harley’s need less torque so rpm can increase for more horsepower. KTM Super Duke very unique V2 engine as it offers 104 ft pounds torque/180 horsepower all below 9500 rpm. Harley doing great job with new bikes not just new paints every year. Variable valve timing following the emission chart. Turbos were next at least for cars.
People talking about "how much weight it lost compared to the previous sportster", solid mount sportster weighed 491lbs, and it didn't wobble either. Harley should have kept the Sportster solid-mounted the whole time, it would've felt that much more performance oriented with the more aggressive heads/cam setup that the '04+ bikes had. Solid Mount, Evolution Sportsters with a decent pipe, better valve springs, and a redshift 567/impact 560 will put down close to 90HP at the wheel.
I want to see a larger more powerful version of the rev max engine make it into the softail frames and even the touring frames . The bike I really want to see is the Bronx. And this is coming from a Streetglide ST owner
Nice review... now if we could get the rear end off this bike and put it on the sportster s. Or offer a higher level of nightster, one that has more power and the gauge of the sportster s and its tech.
Better power/weight ratio, better suspension, better brakes, more efficient, more comfortable, far more tech. Price out a Scout Rogue with ABS and any other color than black and you're in the exact same range as the Nightster.
That’s crazy, I live in the town he rode through and saw the beach and was like “that looks familiar” then I saw the buildings and realized where he was
why would you be cramped at 5ft10? Most bikes are designed around a 5ft8 rider model but i think nowadays in many bikes they use a 5ft10 model for designing ergonomics so anyone around average height should feel right at home on just about any bike
Between the Triumph Bobber and Indian Scout Bobber, it's a little on the high-side for price. This Harley is probably the faster bike, but after reading all the problems the Pan Am had with this motor...I question reliability. I'd rather buy the Triumph Bobber which comes with almost all the same feature but with more torque and a bullet-proof engine.
So from the point of view of a former ftr rider I don't get the price point of the nightster. With its 975 engine it has a $13499 price point. The 22 ftr base model is $12999, and the s model is $14999. But the ftr's have a 1200 cc engine. So the nightster is a great bike but when you compare it to the ftr the price point does not make sense. 🤔 What am I not understanding???????????????
Lost me at 4:55 - that just doesn't sound like a Sportster should sound. This would have been the highlight of the ride on an Evo bike - idle and off idle in a tunnel. That blip on the gas sounded like a GS500
Alright I want to get a nightster after I fix my truck I was debating if this would be a good first motorcycle cause I'm 6ft 6,1 around there and I'm a hefty guy so was worried about the size
Have you tried the 2022 Honda shadow Phantom? I've enjoyed mine, but im also new to the cruiser side of riding. I've had kawasaki ninja's for awhile and decided to double up on my riding and get a cruiser as well. I'd love to know what you think of it.
What do you think compared to an Indian scout bobber? Looks like the scout bobber has more power and torque…for someone who’s in the market for a cruiser, what’s the better deal and quality. Love the way both bikes look with the scout looking a little more aggressive..:thanks in advance and safe riding!
Me not being a brand snob, I would save the $4000.00 and get a Honda Rebel 1100. Similar power, similar weight, similar riding position. The Rebel gives you better lean angle, a bulletproof Honda motor, a USB connection, rider adjustable user mode and Cruise control. And as Much as Harley purists hate to admit it, Honda fit and finish is just as good if not better than Harley.
Have you even seen, felt, and been on a modern Honda? It's cheap plastic from top to bottom, there's no comparison to Harleys in finish. That difference in price doesn't just appear out of thin air, it comes in quality of materials. Also, you absolutely come off as a brand snob.
@@stevem4783 yes, I have, and your right, it's no competition. I own a 40 year old all factory Honda Goldwing right now. You will not find a SINGLE Harley on EARTH that can say that. Fit and finish is not simply making everything out of metal, it's making components that stand the test of timel. Welcome to the 20th century, the rest of us are already in the 21st.
@@stevem4783 as for being a brand snob. Nice try, but I'd proudly own a bike from any make or model out there. Yamaha, Suzuki, Triumph, BMW. They all build great machines. Except for those ridiculously overpriced Royal Enfields from Wisconsin. I won't pay 20k+ for a bike that just barely figured out fuel injection.
I just viewed this video and I'm wondering how much $$$ this new bike goes for, would you know? The local HD dealer has a new 2022 in their showroom that they're selling for $12,500.
Do you think it’s work buying the cheap drag bars or do you recommend spending the money on Harley branded drag bars, keep in mind I’m only 17 and spending most my paycheck on insurance 😂
Wanted to say hello..I have your keychain and I proudly tell anyone who asked that it's a great channel for bikers and there are giveaways...if your subs boost..that's me..by boost I mean ten guys 😂
Nice review BLOCK. Harley Davidson has certainly made improvements to the Sportster. The Sportster is now truly "sporty." That new Revolution Engine is a huge improvement. I like the looks of this better than Sportster S. Beautiful. Harley Davidson has a big winner with the Nightster. (Wasn't the ORIGINAL Nightster an iteration of the the fine V-ROD???) I wouldn't be surprised to see the Revolution Engine in the bigger Harley Davidsons. It's definitely a technological improvement. Harley better be careful though, because some of its new motorcycle are so good it threatens their reputation as producing bikes for "knuckle draggers" only. 😭😭 I bet these new motorcycles are actually reliable. Oh, oh ....there goes Harley's reputation.😂😂 Well done Harley Davidson. Keep up the good work.👍🥸
@@candiedorangepiggy3281 Thanks. Night -Rod kinda makes more sense. Then, likely, this one had the 1250cc engine, because I have seen one or two on RU-vid.
Hey blockhead I dropped my sportster first few times out and I don’t know how to fix it needs very little parts but would love to see you guys work on a bike that’s been dropped at like 3-5 mph everything is mainly j scratched and the throttle is not retracting I don’t want to get back on it before everything is safe
