Nightster Specifications

The Harley-Davidson Nightster is built around the Revolution Max 975T - a 975cc, liquid-cooled, 60-degree V-twin engine that produces 89.7 PS at 7,500 rpm and 95 Nm of torque at 5,750 rpm. It drives through a 6-speed manual gearbox with a belt final drive, eliminating the chain-maintenance routine that many Indian riders dread.

On paper, those power and torque numbers sit comfortably ahead of most 650cc twins in this country, though the Nightster's kerb weight of 221 kg means it is not a sprinter - it is a torque-forward cruiser that rewards smooth throttle work and relaxed highway miles. The belt drive, combined with the liquid-cooling system, keeps mechanical noise and maintenance requirements low compared to older Harley models.

Braking comes from a dual-disc setup - a 4-piston caliper up front and a single-piston unit at the rear - with dual-channel ABS as standard. The Nightster also gets traction control and a drag-torque slip control system (DSCS) that prevents rear-wheel hop under aggressive engine braking, a useful safety net on rain-slicked NH stretches.

Suspension is handled by 41mm Showa dual bending valve forks at the front and preload-adjustable twin rear shocks - basic but adequate for Indian road conditions on a bike in this category. Wheel sizes are 19 inches at the front and 16 inches at the rear, with tubeless tyres.

At 705 mm, the seat height is genuinely low for a 975cc motorcycle. Fuel tank capacity is 11.7 litres, giving a theoretical range of just over 200 km on the ARAI-claimed 18.18 kmpl figure. Ground clearance is 110 mm - sufficient for clean tarmac and managed speed breakers, but you will want to go slow on unmarked village road humps.