Harley Davidson XL1200N - Nightster!

**James Deuce** · 10th November 2007, 19:07

Wellington Motorcycles - Ride A Harley Day

Remember that really big kid in Standard 4 when you started school who turned out to be 13? Remember how he could grab you by the shoulders and shake you so hard your loosening baby teeth started falling out? I know it's a cliche but them Harley things don't half shake at idle! I used to have fillings. Pete assured me that it smooths out as you get going. All I could say in reply was, "uh uh uh uh uh uh uh, g-g-g-g-g-good-dd-dd-dd".

I've been checking out pictures and reviews of this bike on the Net and in magazines since it appeared. For some reason its diminutive proportions, matte paint, and exceedingly clever engineering allied to some of the best styling I've seen Harley pull off the drawing board of late had piqued my interest.

It's probably an age thing. I hope. Or not.

The last Sportster derivative I rode was an 883. A base-model carbed 883 struggles to hold 100km/hr in a headwind. This Dawg has the fuel-injected 1200 and the peak HP figures do not do justice to the power delivery. A bunch of the lads testing the big blocks nailed it away from the lights on Aotea Quay and the Nightster was in no way embarrassed. The Night Rod had as big a gap on us as the cars were behind us though. The Rod engine deserves better from the faithful.

I had high hopes that the Nightster would have some ground clearance but sadly no. It offers about the same sort of lean angle as a M109R, and I'm not a great fan of going scriiiitch all the way around roundabouts. You can see where this is going right? The problem may well be me I guess, failing to get the point as usual. I understand the Euro version gets longer shocks for increased ground clearance. The other problem is, I REALLY like the way this thing looks. I love how everything looks like it has been hewn from solid lumps of mild steel. There's a distinct "quality" that Harley Davidson lend to the bikes they build that is unlike any other manufacturer. This particular quality has good and bad bits to it though. An ugly galvanised bolt connects the steering head to the upper triple clamp, but the upper triple clamp is a thing of beauty.

Riding down the motorway was a laugh. Even on the "little" Harley, the gearbox is really just there to help you get into top gear and cruise mode. Kids wave at you. Parents cringe. Lads in 10 year old BMWs try to hide behind an oddly positioned sun visor and a spare hand. That motor is superb. Harley have obviously made a point of giving the Sportster some motorway teeth. No need to change down to overtake, simply wind the noise handle on. Speaking of which, Harley's Aural Engineering division need a Nobel Prize. Some of these bikes are painful to stand next to, and the Nightster certainly sounded positively delicious to sit upon. I deliberately left the earplugs in my pocket and it was in no way painfully loud. Just "right". Or is that righteous? Travelling home, I passed the last group returning from Petone and I couldn't hear them from the other side of the motorway. Only a concrete barrier separated them from me, as well as our 200km/hr closing speed. But there was no noise pollution at all. Sitting in the middle of the gaggle had been a hoot! Decent noise all the time.

20 minutes isn't enough time to get to know a bike of any sort, but the crude suspension irritated me and I struggled with the right hand indicator button. The bumpy road and light throttle meant that the engine hunted a little when trying to maintain a steady speed, but I suspect that either heavier throttle return springs or just plain old practice would sort that.

Even so I feel bad about what I am about to say. My 15 year old Katana 400 felt like a highly developed mega-buck thoroughbred in comparison. I got on, took off and wafted down the road like a maglev train. The direct instant comparison was at "stunned mullet" level. I almost ran a red light on Kent Terrace.

For me the Nightster is a frustrating set of contradictions. A bobbed-Sportster. That oughta go some way toward nudging what used to be the fastest sports bike in the world back up the sports tree a little. Instead I'm left wondering how that gorgeous engine will go in the XR1200.

All in all the Nightster is a bit like the Dad from "The War at Home". 90% of the time the Dad is outrageously inappropriate, reading situations and people horribly wrong and managing to get on the wrong terms with just about everyone. 10% of the time though, he's on the money, and not smug like you'd expect. Given time you'd get to know this bike and I'm sure a bit of effort and cash could "fix" things. Probably with the help of a Harley catalogue if I'm not mistaken.

I could own this bike. It's not a righteous Bro's bike, more of a solo cruiser for the self-confident. And it'll be that big Standard 4 kid looking at you with a measure of respect and a smidgen of uncertainty when you thud up next to his people carrier at the lights, sneak him the finger, blow his wife a kiss (with added wink), and wave happily to the hoard of unwashed offspring filling the back of his Previa with a foetid stench.

Hasta La Vista, Sucka.

**98tls** · 10th November 2007, 19:11

If nothing else a very enjoyable read with a few chuckles along the way,well done.

**White trash** · 10th November 2007, 19:17

That folks, is how to write a review.

**Bonez** · 11th November 2007, 04:25

Great reveiw Jim. I too like the look of the Nightster. It finishing that does not blind you when the sun comes out and doesn't look like it was thrown out of a disco. A very minimalistic m/c, back to basics. Those rubber boots on the forks look more like condoms grandad use to use though.

**Badcat** · 11th November 2007, 07:30

start writing professionally Jim.
you're truly talented.
or move to auckland.
then we can drink together.

ken

**Harry33** · 11th November 2007, 07:43

Originally Posted by White trash

That folks, is how to write a review.

What he said

**deanohit** · 11th November 2007, 07:59

Yep, ya did good on that write up mate, had m e in stitches all the way through, and it's bloody all true as well.

**Colapop** · 11th November 2007, 08:00

I saw you ride past... It was the grin that I saw first!!

**tri boy** · 11th November 2007, 08:47

Originally Posted by Bonez

Those rubber boots on the forks look more like condoms grandad use to use though.

Willy's have shrunk since then.
Grandad was a bit of a stud. Scrambler has them too......

**SlashWylde** · 11th November 2007, 08:53

Originally Posted by White trash

That folks, is how to write a review.

It definitely is. Thanks for sharing Jim

**xwhatsit** · 11th November 2007, 11:52

Originally Posted by Jim2

I understand the Euro version gets longer shocks for increased ground clearance.

What have they got that we haven't? Certainly not any more corners or bumpier roads.

**scumdog** · 11th November 2007, 12:56

Still not sure if you approved of the bike.

Or not.

But colourful write-up.

**jrandom** · 11th November 2007, 13:32

Yes, great writeup, Jim.

The XL1200 certainly doesn't sound like a bike I'd be interested in.

I know where Jim's coming from with the annoyance of a RH indicator button. Indicating while holding the throttle steady is a PITA.

You get used to it after a few hours riding; at least, I did on the K1200RS, but in my view it's an inferior design to a single toggle switch on the LH.