Harley-Davidson XL 1200N Nightster Rocks on the Road
New Sportster Model Fuses Fiendish Formula of Performance and Style
ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Harley-Davidson Sportster motorcycles get a burst of adrenalin with the launch of the new XL 1200N Nightster. With a wicked combination of exceptional performance, unique design and a low seat height, the Nightster has a gritty, urban feel offering a sharp ride for the street.
The new Sportster model was announced today at the Harley-Davidson Winter Dealer Meeting in Orlando, Fla. Blending a low seat height and mid-mount controls with the powerful torque of the rubber-mounted Evolution V-Twin engine, the XL 1200N Nightster adds another exciting option to the Sportster family.
“The XL 1200N Nightster is a blacked-out street bike that continues a half century of Sportster tradition of innovative, fun and versatile motorcycles,” said Bill Davidson, Harley-Davidson Director of Motorcycle Product Development. “With loads of truly select features and components, the Nightster takes all the enhancements made to the Sportster family in recent years to an entirely different level.”
The distinctive look and feel of the XL 1200N Nightster centers on a low seat height of 25.3 inches that makes it comparable to the XL Sportster 883 Low, an inch lower than the XL Sportster 1200 Low and among the lowest riding of all Harley-Davidson models. Besides enjoying the lower seat height, the Nightster rider goes solo with a one-piece, Sportster classic seat.
The mood gets drastically darker on this new Sportster, as the Nightster features a host of black components. Black wheel rims and hubs contrast with chrome spokes, while the front forks and clamp, headlight cover, handlebar, levers, turn signals and air cleaner insert are all finished in black.
The rear belt guard and front fender clamps are also black, but are opened up with a bullet hole pattern. The rear fender is cut back to show more of the rear tire. The back of the Nightster rides without a separate tail light, as that feature is integrated with the rear turn signals.
Taking the latest Sportster design for a ride into the past, the Nightster features a side-mounted license plate holder and front fork gaiters. While the side-mount license plate is a street design cue, the fork gaiters are a retro component that can help protect the fork seals from dirt and debris.
The Nightster rides smoothly with a 1200cc Evolution engine, which features a new Medium Gray finish with polished and black treatments. The transmission and airbox cover also sport the new finish. The Evolution engine provides a responsive throttle and high performance, while the integrated transmission has quietly meshing helical cut gears and lightweight dog rings that reduce shift effort.
Like all 2007 Sportsters, the Nightster has Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI), reduced clutch lever effort, redesigned gauges, high performance carbon fiber belts and improved front brake lever effort.
As part of the original Harley-Davidson hot rod motorcycle family, the Nightster has a design refined from the racetrack to the street that is primed for customized creativity.
The Nightster is available in Vivid Black, as well as four two-tone paint schemes with a unique Harley-Davidson fuel tank graphic. The fuel cap, headlamp trim ring and oil dipstick cover are coated in a new Silver Satin finish. The Nightster is offered only in North American markets.
The XL 1200N Nightster features:
Rubber-mounted 1200cc XL Evolution engine
Medium Gray powder-coated engine with polished and black treatments
Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
High-compression, high-flow cylinder heads
High-performance cams
Smooth, quiet transmission
Light clutch lever effort
25.3-inch solo seat height
Low front and rear suspension
Black front forks with gaiters
Bullet hole rear belt guard and front fender clamps
Black, low rise handlebar with brake and clutch levers,turn signals
and air cleaner insert
Side-mounted license plate holder (dealer-installed rear mount option)
Brake and tail lights integrated with rear turn signals
Black mid-mount foot controls
Black-rimmed, Laced Steel wheels
Chrome staggered shorty slash cut dual exhaust
Silver Satin finish fuel cap, headlamp trim ring and oil dipstick cover
Optional Smart Security System
Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE:HOG) is the parent company for the group of companies doing business as Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Buell Motorcycle Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces heavyweight street, custom and touring motorcycles and offers a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel and general merchandise. Buell Motorcycle Company produces sport motorcycles in addition to motorcycle parts, accessories and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. provides wholesale and retail financing and insurance programs to Harley-Davidson/Buell dealers and customers.
First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:
Source: Harley-Davidson Motor Company
CONTACT: Paul James, Harley-Davidson, Inc., +1-414-343-8735, or
paul.james@harley-davidson.com
Web site: http://www.harley-davidson.com/
Technorati Tags: motorcycles, harely-davidson, sportster, nightster, motorcycle news, biker blog
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January 30th, 2007 at 3:15 am
Hey!
I’m throwing this out there just to kind of open up discussion. What do you think about the future of HD? There has been a lot of speculation on both sides as to the long term profitablility of the company. Surely a shifting demographic base, an uneasy economy and the upcoming presidential elections all play a factor (yes, there are those who do think two years out, at least…
)
But, I think there are other factors at play that I just don’t have my finger on right now. For one, there is the growing influence of metrics. For another there continue to be a seemingly endless retinue of “stock customs” so that a buyer can get his/her dream ride for about the same or a little more than what would be paid for a stock Harley.
There are lots of choices and I’m not advocating one or the other. I’d just like to open up some discussion here (and on our site, if you so choose
)
Seriously, this is an issue that must be addressed, and relatively soon. So, let’s hear it from all of you! The people deserve to know!
(All hyperbole and exxageration is due to the author’s state of extreme exhaustion and cannot be held liable in a court of law. At least I don’t think it can
)
Train
February 11th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
I have owned 12 Harleys since I bought my first, a 1974 Superglide, and I have enjoyed them all. The reality however, is that they don’t perform like their foreign counterparts, and they are not evolving fast enough (if at all). I will always own a Harley, but it will always be accompanied by a sister bike in the garage. One that I can lean over without scraping a casing; one that will let me get from point a – b, on time, and without a broken back. There are tons of Japanese, German and Italian bikes that can do it.
Harley has to find away to grow their performance while retaining the macho mystique that has carried them this far. Until then, I will continue to scrape my pipes while attempting to keep up with the sportys.