Harley-Davidson Nightster specifications, dimensions and price
Harley-Davidson · Cruiser
The Harley-Davidson Nightster is Harley's smaller-displacement liquid-cooled cruiser, using a 975T version of the Revolution Max engine shared with the Sportster S but tuned and priced as the more accessible entry. It has a six-speed gearbox with belt final drive, and Harley prices it at $9,999.
Harley-Davidson motorcycle directory
Harley-Davidson Nightster
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Class | Cruiser |
| Engine | Revolution Max 975T |
| Displacement | 59.5 cu in (975cc) |
| Bore x stroke | 3.82 in x 2.6 in (97 mm x 66 mm) |
| Compression ratio | 12:1 |
| Transmission | 6-speed, belt final drive |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Front brake | 320mm disc, four-piston caliper |
| Seat height | 27.1 in (laden) |
| Wet weight (in running order) | 481 lb |
| Wheelbase | 60.8 in |
| Fuel capacity | 3.1 gal |
| Starting MSRP | $9,999 |
Numbers for the entry Harley
The Nightster's 975cc engine sits in a 60.8 in wheelbase with a 320 mm front disc and a four-piston caliper. It weighs 481 lb in running order, 21 lb less than the Sportster S, has a 27.1 in laden seat and holds 3.1 gal. Its $9,999 price is $6,000 below the Sportster S.
Nightster against the entry cruisers
Indian's Sport Scout Sixty is $10,499 at 549 lb and its Scout Sixty Classic $11,999 at 551 lb. Yamaha's Bolt R-Spec weighs 542 lb, and Kawasaki's Vulcan 900 costs $9,599 at 619.6 lb. The Nightster is the lightest of them by 61 lb or more and is priced within $500 of the Indian and the Kawasaki.
Its engine is liquid-cooled and it has belt drive.
Harley-Davidson Nightster — specification reference2026 Harley-Davidson Nightster compared to the Sportster S
The Nightster shares its Revolution Max architecture with the Sportster S but in a smaller 975T displacement that Harley-Davidson prices $6,000 lower. The output gap Harley-Davidson's own pages state, 91 hp/72 lb-ft here against 121 hp/93 lb-ft on the Sportster S , tracks the 76.4 cu in versus 59.5 cu in displacement difference instead of a different state of tune on the same engine.
The listed Nightster seat is 27.1 inches laden and its weight is 481 lb, 21 lb below the published Sportster S figure used in the comparison. Check the stated measurement basis and actual rider reach; those figures do not establish that one bike fits every new rider. Sportster S Sportster S Sportster S
2026 Harley-Davidson Nightster compared to the Road Glide
RevZilla’s 2022 Nightster ride explains the under-seat fuel tank and the low placement of its fuel mass. That report concerns the launch-year bike, rather than a measurement of the current model’s fuel range or reliability.
RoadDirt ran a Nightster Special long term. The tester says they would look for a bike with a lower seat height, an upright and comfortable riding position, an affordable price and under 750cc, noting that the Triumph they compare it with is a 900 but feels and handles like a much smaller bike.
The same review says there is a distinct engine cadence and exhaust note that belies the overhead valve and cam housed in that frame.
The Nightster shares its Revolution Max architecture with the Sportster S but in a smaller 975T displacement that Harley-Davidson prices $6,000 lower. The output gap Harley-Davidson's own pages state, 91 hp/72 lb-ft here against 121 hp/93 lb-ft on the Sportster S, tracks the 76.4 cu in versus 59.5 cu in displacement difference instead of a different state of tune on the same engine.
What the Nightster does not give up is seat height and weight: at 27.1 in laden and 481 lb, it sits lower and carries 21 fewer pounds than the Sportster S as published, which is why Harley-Davidson positions this as the more approachable entry into the Revolution Max platform, not a stripped-down version of the same bike.
The Nightster and Road Glide sit at opposite ends of Harley-Davidson's current lineup, not competing for the same buyer. The Nightster is an unfaired cruiser under $10,000 and under 500 lb wet; the Road Glide is a full touring platform with a frame-mounted fairing, weighing 838 lb and priced at $25,999 as published: more than 2.5 times the Nightster's weight and price.
They do not share an engine family: the Nightster's Revolution Max 975T is liquid-cooled and displaces 975cc, while the Road Glide's Milwaukee-Eight 117 is air/oil-cooled and displaces 1,923cc, nearly double.
A liquid-cooled Revolution Max 975T of 975cc, the smaller version of the engine in the Sportster S, with a six-speed gearbox and belt final drive.
Harley lists 481 lb in running order, with a 27.1 in laden seat and a 3.1 gal tank. The price is $9,999.