Motorcycle specifications Harley-DavidsonRH 975 S Nightster Special 2024 A shadow in the night.

As a sign of Harley's new doctrine, the entry-level range is no longer powered by an engine worthy of the 50s (remember the Ironhead in the 883 and 1200 Sportster). Today, it's a 21st-century, multi-valve, liquid-cooled, variable-timing engine that's offered at the front of the catalog. The motorcycle that hosts it is not there to laugh but to shudder; it's called the Nightster.

Far more modern than the Sportsters of yesteryear, it can't boast the same success: less traditional, far more expensive, not quite as "small-bore" as the Iron, it has a whole new territory to discover and conquer. To make a little more room for itself, it hunts in the night with a new companion: the Special. It's an even better-equipped model, with more ergonomic features for the rider.

Simply changing the handlebar risers and the position of the handlebar (5 cm up and 2.5 cm back) was enough to convert the riding attitude. When the Nightster asks you to grab the front, the Special invites you to laugh at the road.
But not alone. A passenger can take a seat, with the addition of a saddle.... Almost extra. That's fine for a night out or a charming getaway, but don't expect any promises of touring.

Fortunately , that's not all. The Nighster Special also boasts new rims, TPMS tire pressure monitoring as standard, cruise control, a USB port and a more technological TFT screen. Apparently borrowed from the Sportster 1250 S, this 4-inch window provides all the info you need, and can be paired with a smartphone via Bluetooth. This allows you to manage your calls or install a navigation system via the H-D app.

The Nightster also features an engine derived from that of the Pan-America. Revised for displacement and power, this "Revolution Max 975T" twin is a far cry from the brand's canon. Its super-square dimensions and very correct compression ratio, 89 hp at 7,500 rpm and 9.7 mkg at 5,750 rpm, are clearly freshening things up. Almost identical values to the sporty old XR 1200... but with a very different character.

and driving assistance that its ancestor couldn't even imagine. The RH 975 is equipped with three riding modes (Road, Sport and Rain), ABS, traction control and a residual torque control system, to "digest" the return of power from the rear wheel in the event of sudden deceleration.

The engine and chassis do not differ in any way between the Nightster and the Nightster Special. Nor do the 11.7-liter fuel tank under the saddle, with filler hole hidden under the seat, the brakes with a single disc per wheel - 320 and 240 mm, the all-LED lighting, the minimalist frame, the Showa fork or the two rear shocks. From one to the other, the riding position changes, but the machine remains the same.

The 975 Nightster Special is more different than special. It's better equipped, less selfish, more inclined to defend itself at night. Like its sibling, it's A2-compatible.

M.B. - Manufacturer's photos