I'm from Germany and after me and a friend did a (car-) road trip along the us west coast in 2008, I decided to finally get a motorcycle. Back then I remembered being fascinated by the XR 750 which I once saw on photographs. Out of curiousity, I checked the Harley models - when I discovered the Nightster (in ORANGE / black) I was blown away by its looks. Of course I bought it. Still ridin' it. Love it.
I also agree! HD should bring him back on board - AND LISTEN TO HIM! HD's new designers are OK, but they miss the mark - consistently!! I bought my first HD 30 years ago, and loved them for many years, before that.
@@CORYSart The new roadster has dual 11.8 inch discs with crappy calipers, the Buell XB used a single 14.5 inch rotor with either a 6 piston caliper or 8 piston perimeter caliper. The Roadsters brakes are closer to the XR1200 brakes, and that is in looks only. The XR has a better master cylinder and Nissin 4 piston calipers.
Do you still have it? I can’t find a decent review on it. I’m a new rider and it’s on my radar next to the sportster 1200 custom. I found one with 8k miles for $4500 2007
My first Harley was a 2007 Nighster and for me, this has been the best cruiser model that HD ever made. Perfect riding plus the coolest and bad ass looks.
Matt I personally love when you do vids like this. Even more than model reveals and rides. You should do more such as this one! Its informative and gives insight on an Era of motorcycles.
Sportster 48 was my first bike. Love it! 6 years later I still own it a ride it a love the hell out of it. I also have a street glide but my sporty is my first love! Great vid Matt!
Great job, Matt!!!! Keep coming out with this type of videos. You spark discussions about different topics related to Harley and it is a nice change of pace from the awesome review videos. I started on a 2005 883 Custom, then eight months later went to a 2006 1200 Custom. I put 21k miles on the 1200 Sporster before hand it to my sister who within a month took it from Philadelphia to Sturgis SD, RIDING IT!!!!!!
The moniker of Sportsters being a "girls bike" probably comes from the older chromed Sporties like the 883 Low. The blacked out look did away with that. I just traded a 15 Fat Boy for an Iron 1200 because I wanted a more limber bike. Riding is more exciting now!
@@MattLaidlaw perhaps "Urban Bike" its better suited for the riders of today! Question Matt, does the 1200 have different gearing than the 883? Thanks for the videos!
Ive been ridin bikes for 25+ years. I got an iron 1200 last year and i love it. A 1200cc motorcycle is not a girls bike at all. I just didnt want a bike heavy ass bike plain n simple
My first Harley was a 2007 Nightster with the blue paint (Suede blue pearl) and I loved it. It was so awesome! I’m on my third Harley now, so to say the Nightster got me in the door and hooked, is rather an understatement. I hope HD doesn’t ditch the Sporty line, maybe pare it down because there’s a lot of different Sporty models. If I could find that bike again, I’d buy it.
My first bike, the 2007 Sportster XL1200 Custom, will always have a special place in my heart. I'm a chrome guy, but the black stuff looks pretty cool too.
I stopped by a dealership in Carrolton Tx during the day to kill an hour before a meeting with no thought of buying a motorcycle. This was in June of 2007, and right in front of the entry was a Vivid Black Nightster with VH Short Shots, a Screaming Eagle K&N conical air cleaner, and Sport tuner. I had always liked the Sporties but never owned a Harley. I took it home that night and still have it today.
I own an '08 OD Green and Black Nightster I purchased brand new. Got the all black Vance and Hines short shot pipes, extended pegs, and a stage 1 air intake. Love my bike! 28000 + miles on her!
I fell in love with the Nightster as well as the Night Train in 1998, I was 14 and put the pictures on my bedroom wall and PC wallpaper. Really beautiful bike.
Awesome video Matt! I’ve had the privilege of owning a Sportster Iron 883. When I heard that HD was discontinuing the Dyna I traded in the Iron for the Dyna StreetBob. I’ve been fortunate to own and ride two iconic Harley Davidson Motorcycles.
Bought a Nightster in '09 when I got back from Afghanistan. Just wanted to cruise and be alone. I was 19 at the time and it's the best, still have it and I won't let it go. Didn't want what my father had or grew up with, I was part of a new generation of combat veteran and the Nightster suited me. I'll love Harley forever for giving me something that no other seller could.
Great video Matt, I agree that “the writing is on the wall” the demise of the Sporty is here! I hope HD keeps them, maybe make upgrades , but please don’t delete the line totally! My wife still has her 883 low , ‘08 model, still going! Long live the Sportsters! “Potato,potato,,potato Harley!
I’m glad the Sportster is still around. After four touring models I bought my first Sportster to go with my Ultra Classic. I love the lil Sportster. Harley should NEVER eliminate the Sportster lineup. Just put a 6 speed transmission in them and introduce a scrambler model with some good ground clearance and off road suspension/tires/handle bars.
Great video! I had forgotten how much I wanted a Nightster back then. It was absolutely the bike that made me look long an hard at HD. I never rode a Nightster, but it was the bike that led me to Harley-Davidson.
Didn't look at Harley once until my dad bought a 05 street glide for a grand. I rode it once found the nightster and I'm in love I'm doing everything I can to own one.
I love my 2008 Sportster xl1200n Nightster! I absolutely will never sell mine! 12” Bars,white wall tires, Coil and ignition relocation,a Saddleman seat, swing arm bag,front fork bag and a 2” tank lift. It’s perfect to bop around town! I even sometimes leave my Road king in the Garage when I go on decent trips.
My first bike I bought in 2015 was an 07 nightster 1200 with custom paint and lots of willie g skulls, white walls, spoke wheels, loud exhaust, under tank lights, it was uncomfortable but it hauled ass and it got me on the road. It was good bike to get me rolling. I just sold it a few weeks ago and bought a 2016 Road Glide Ultra. I will miss that bike and it’s style but it served it’s purpose and I will always be grateful for that
Matt I think your spot on. The sportster line has been great for HD but with all the new models coming online and let's face it; hd is having sales issues right now......they need to trim the lineup and offer a new direction. The demise of the dyna line and consolidation of the softails was a shocker but looking back was a great move. I think the next couple of yrs will either be a make or break for hd. They better do something because current situation is not working.
I love my 2015 Iron 883. If I ever get a new bike, I'm not going to trade it in. Gonna keep my sporty forever. It's kind of sad that Harley is going to phase them out. Great video Matt
Just got a new Sportster 48 and I'm glad I got mine before the Sportsters were phased out. I don't plan on trading it in if I get a bigger Harley, like the Soft Tail DeLuxe.
Super informative video Matt! Thanks :). Brings back memories of when I just got my motorcycle driver's license added to the rest. A good Harley friend of ours recommended the Nightster to me, but I was going to move abroad to the US for 3 years, so waited to buy one. Came back, and 6 months later I bought the FLS slim which I still ride today :)
i literally no nothing about motorcycles so i come i with no preconceived notions, and i have to say. i absolutely LOVE the sportster in this video. the one you're riding is perfect. i love everything about it.
I remember when I first saw a nightster, but know one had to tell me what it was. The motor co. doesn't create trends. They copy or mimic what they see you and i do to our bikes. Motor co. employees are at all of the major bike events and shows looking at our bikes to determine the next or a knew style, trend to mimic. They are very good at it. Mgmt. does determine what line of bikes makes it or not but believe me that it is us that determines style of that line of bikes. So get it right. They'll be watching...
Very nicely done! So good, in fact, that I think you could make this a genre of videos: identifying for various models in the current Harley-Davidson lineup earlier bikes that prefigured or influenced the current model’s design. Again, nicely done.
I have a 2008 Fat Bob, black denim. I think there will always be room for the smaller cruiser bikes. I always considered the Sportster a great, "My first Harley", bike to get people introduced to Harley Davidson. It's light, nimble, and was affordable ,for a Harley. I also think that Harley is starting to price itself out of the market. What you get on a Street Glide Special, you get standard, on a Indian Dark horse. (LED lights, 111cc, infotainment Center, ABS, better suspension ,and it's cheaper) I hope Harley makes improvements on their suspension, and starts making LED lights standard across the board. I do like the Milwaukee eight, I can actually see what model car is behind me. Not just, there's a car behind me, as it shakes in the mirror.
I bought an 2007 that was salvaged / totaled in a accident and rebuilt it myself. I fell in love with it. I will post a video of it this week on my sight.
Yeah, I remember when this and the Night Train came out. That's when I really started looking at buying a new Harley. Also, that's a pretty tempting deal Harley's got going with the new Sportsters...
I think the Sportster is something that needs only a little change and not a complete make over. I have to admit, the blacked out theme was something I disliked at first. I grew up loving chrome and I did not understand why some people didn't care for it. I bought a 2008 1200 Custom (which is laden with chrome) and modified it with mini apes white grips and pegs with mini floorboards and Avon Cobra whitewalls. I loved (and still love) but traded that bike. I wish I still had it. The blacked out look is something I now really like, as well. The bike Matt is riding in this video is so good looking it eclipses most bikes I commonly see. I know they have to gain acceptance with new customers, but the guy that bought my Sportster never had a Harley before and is 21 years old. He loves it.
Thank you for these videos...been riding my street 500 for 11 months and 1 week so in 3 weeks I get to upgrade to full licence. Your reviews have kept me frothing for my next Harley and while my head says get a sportster and then go the full size bike in another year or 2 of riding, think my heart will win out and a new Fat Boy will be on order!!!
I was a sport bike freak...never like the Harley. But one day I sat on one...fire it up and I was in love with the machine. What I love most is how it rorr and feel the kick from the engine. The only engine that play beat to me... I own my 2019 sportster and I enjoy ridding it.
A month ago I bought my first bike, a Sportster 48. The first time I saw it was on a youtube video, with the hard candy custom color, and instantly loved it. I'd never seen a 48 in person until a month ago. I test it and didn't need more than a few miles to know that I really wanted this to be my first bike.
I've been a hater of harley for many years...not really the bikes but rather the idiotic and exclusive attitude of harley owners here in Australia. But at 56 years young, I was tempted into the HD showroom (I rode there on my Norton Commando) to check out the Roadster. This actually my type of bike! I will have to eat some humble pie with my biking mates though!
I grew up around motorcycles I love them. When I was 14 my friend took me to the Harley-Davidson dealership were her father's friend worked. He let me walk around sit on the different bikes. This was just after the nightster was released and they don't have one yet. But I sat on a 1200 custom and from that point forward I wanted a Harley-Davidson. I agree with Sportster is going the way of the Dyna very soon. I want to buy a 48. Just so I can have a brand new 48 before they cancel it. But I just bought a street bomb sale maybe I'll get one right after they cancel it lol. Thanks for the content! I really appreciate someone in the industry reaching out to the buyer base.
I out grew my 48 but every time I see a picture of it in various photo galleries I get nostalgic and start looking through used bikes for a 2015 or older 48 (I like the spoke wheels vs. the mag wheels).
Miss my 07 Nightster. Customized the hell out of her. Got nothing but compliments. Never understood the Sportster hate. Fun, flickable, no-nonsense bike.
Great video. I would hate to see the Sporty line end. Back in 1965 I flat tracked a Sportster, I am 73 now and still enjoy riding my 02. Please rethink how you ride through traffic.
I own two 2018 HD baggers, but love my 2007 Sportster & what it stands for, great history on them. It would be horrible to drop this line of bikes, I think anyway. Thanks ML for another awesome video!
I think the sportster is due for an overhaul. I'm hoping for a 6th gear bigger displacement engine and a better insturment cluster put a gas gauge on them for Gods sake! But I'm pretty sure a mono shock suspension is coming for the sportsters for sure! Might be some exciting changes? I for one like the improvements in the new softails! Not crazy about some of the styling but man do they run!
@Moto Danny I might be interested also? I have 2 touring bikes road glide and a street glide and my wife has a 48 special. I would sell the street glide for a smaller lighter fun bike for short hops! Been thinking about a street bob? Going to wait and see what happens?
I was afraid to purchase a Harley as my first ride, so I picked up Yamaha 535XV to practice, that lasted about 1 month! I found a used 08 Nightster that I became obsessed with on FB Marketplace. Love it!
I just brought my first Harley-davidson 2 months ago. I didn't buy a sportster I picked up a street glide. And for the last few month I've been looking at sportsters for a month now. I love the look and what you can do with them.
I am on my 3rd sportster, had chrome and blacked out, love both. It will be interesting to see what they come out with. As long as they don't go electric we should be ok once over the initial shock!
At the time I had a completely chromed Vrod, which is the bike that brought me into the HD family. I loved the Nightster it was the polar opposite of what I had done. Two yrs later added the Iron to the stable w/ 1250 kit it was great! Thanks for the video Matt, these videos need to be seen by everyone that has said Harley hasn't had a new idea in 100 yrs..........Ride hard or stay home😎 ......ps: love the Evo motor but really love the M8 as well. Scrambler/ Tracker would be a great edition but I think HD is a little behind the curve on trends in the entry level bikes. In the last five years HD has lost some great visionaries and risk takers to retirement. Beals, Willie G and a couple others are hard to replace. Hopefully we'll see some some new styling and out of the box thinking from HD. The FatBob and FXDR are good starts but the price point for new riders is a bit out out line. Here's to the next 100 yrs of being leaders and not followers in the mc industry! Lead, follow or get out of the way!...Lee Iacocca
Nightster’s are cool as hell. Idk why they stopped making them. I was looking for one back in 2014 but couldn’t find one and ended up buying a 48. Not complaining tho, I love the 48.
I'm 28 and a 09 nightster was my first bike. My friends all had/got street bikes. Now I still have a nightster and my friends sold the street bikes one got a nightster also, 1 got a 48, 1 got 72 . Brought my generation to Harley.
So I got myself the 2017 sporster 48 and I honestly love this ride. I'm also having a lot of fun putting mods on it as well. Can't wait til I'm done with it. Great vid 👌
I went to a Harley dealership looking for battery cables to hook on my Vespa for my gps. Came in and the Iron was right there. I was amazed and surprised! I had no idea Harley made such bikes. At the time, I thought of Harley as a brand for older people. I bought the battery cable and kept going my way to the Vespa scene. However, the Iron stayed on the back of my mind. Several years later, I went into the same dealership and bought the Iron. I have since upgraded to another icon, the Softail Blackline!
My uncle has been a through and through Harley boy my own whole life here in UK, I’ve never known much about harleys other than they’re built like they’re still stuck in the 60s and they sound absolutely awesome. As a young motorcycle technician at my mates shop for the last 3 years I’ve seen all kinds of bikes of all walks of life’s such as Movistar GSXR’s, 90s Ninjas, Fireblades, Bandits, CBR’s, R1s and a whole variety of V twin bikes like marauders, but only recently we bought a beaten up second hand Nightster in white and black and I’ve had the pleasure of spending 2 weeks repairing and repainting every thing on it to sell it. I can honestly say it’s the only bike in the years of working on all sorts of bikes that I’ve genuinely wanted to buy on the spot and fallen in love with, I don’t have a bike license and my riding experience is limited to 30mph up and down the yard moving bikes in and out the shop, but the nightster will now always have a place in my heart, the way it feels, the idle noise, the roar of that lumpy V twin opening up and the way it rocks when you blip it and the way it looks just strikes so many chords with me. One day I’ll get a license and one day I’ll buy one and fix one up just to ride around town to and from the shops to experience the pleasure of it for my own
Matt I absolutely loved the video and great content! You should really do a video on the dynas next! For example how the Dyna Low Rider S was the last dyna and was a badass bike, etc. (Owner of a 2016 FXDLS) ;)
This video caused me to buy an 08 nightster, thanks Matt lol. Hopefully the sportster family doesn't come to an end but if it does I have the icon of the blacked out sportsters 👍
I just bought a 2019 Iron 1200, as my first bike. It's a great bike and I have had a blast on it so far. I knew a guy who had a Nightster a few years ago and I credit that motorcycle as my first introduction to Harley-Davison.
Very nice video. I have a 08’ Nightster and really love it. Like you said, Nightster was the first Sportster model in this new bobber era. Sportster is a perfect HD street riding.
These will be the bikes that save Harley Davidson, something that’s peppy and agile but still has its lineage. It has so much character and they’re pretty quick too! By far my most favorite little cruiser (1200cc “little” lol) and I want one so bad. Best of all, they’re CHEEEAP too! Stay upright my friend, great video.
Nice!! Bad Ass bike. Just brought home the iron 883 dead wood green. Love it. But this nightster harley is amazing love the style!!!!!! Thanks for these awesome videos!!!!
If it is true that the end is near for the Sportster it will be the final nail in the coffin for harley-davidson, mark those words! Matt I love your videos!
Im a 33 year old male looking to buy my first bike. I've always adored cruisers and i'm looking to get the Forty-Eight. Of the upcoming new line, i really like the Custom 1250. If i bought the FXDR i would probably change the exhaust and the headlights for some twin lamps
Comming from more of the British Cafe world I never considered Harley until they came out with the Sportster Roadster. I love it! And so do all of my friends who ride Nortons and Triumphs. At first they made fun of me for getting a Harley until, they saw my bike, and now they totally get it. I'll be sad to see the Sportster discontinued, but I'm more excited to see Harley focus on more performance oriented bikes.
First keep on with the vids and the channel! Always looking for your next vid. Really enjoyed this vid because I did not know the history and significance of the the Nightster. It had been 20+ years since I had owned and ridden a motorcycle, but one day in 2016 I got this idea that I should get back on a bike because it would fill a void inside of me and make me feel alive again. I started looking around at different makes and models at first was attracted to low hp (500 cc or less) and low cost and really thought I was set on one particular model. Harley wasn't on my radar but something made me go online to check them out and when I saw the Iron 833, I was blown away by it's blacked out looks-it just looked mean and modern. I had to see it in person. My next day off I went to a local HD dealership and was blown away! I bought one that very day. I loved everything about that bike. It also was a great learning platform for customizing, which I did a lot of. Two of my friends saw my Iron and went down the next weekend and bought their own Irons. Keep in my that all three of us were in our 50's at the time. This platform did for us emotionally want very few things in life could. All of us kept our Irons for about a year, but then felt the need for more power and the ability to go longer distances. There are days I wish I just held on to it and when the day comes that HD decides to ax the Sportster line, well I can definitely say that there will be a little bit of my soul lost.
I never gave Harley a second thought after they shutdown buell. I never had much interest in them even growing up outside Milwaukee and taking a school field trip to the engine plant. I grew up riding a a kawi 80cc two stroke trail bike and was hooked on motorcycles. then one day, I saw an ad for the street rod 750, that got my attention until I found out it was way too small for me. then the sales guy showed me a roadster, which was interesting. then he introduced me to the low rider S, which wasn't too shabby. but non of them really did it. then the 2018 fatbob landed and I HAD to do a demo ride. I was shocked by how much I liked it, HD finally made a bike I could call good. the price is still steeper than I think it should be but they at least made me believe they could make a bike that backed up some of the hype. I am very interested in the 1250 custom (baby fatbob) hopefully they start getting more info out on them, and hopefully they do not disappoint in performance or in price. personally I think HD is heading in the right direction and making "sport cruisers" and that they should look at competing with ducati more directly. ducati maintenance and reliability turn a lot of riders off, if Harley can get in there and offer something ballpark, I think they will snag some market share.
I just traded in this past Saturday my 2015 Street 500 extra for a 1200cc 09 nightster and I absolutely love it that was a bike that I wanted when they first came out with it and now in 2019 I got it she does have some custom parts on it that's how I wanted it and pictured it as if I would have made it my own
Really enjoyed this video. I hope you do more of this style of video along with your regular content. Maybe like How the Street Glide Changed HD, or something else along those lines.
Matt excellence video. You rightly give the Nightster it's due. It is still the coolest Sporster in my book and I really like Sporsters. I'm in my 60's and have been riding 52 years. I have owned 4,Sporster plus several big Harley's but the Sporster will always be my favorite model. I'm currently in the market for one and looking for a Nightster in my area.I think they are keepers !
Loved the Nightster when it was released but the 1200S came first. My 2001 Sportster Sport is mostly blacked out as stock including the exhaust and has a dull grey finish to the engine. Still looks great.
Hey man this video was great, I do like that you mentioned that Nightsters phasing out. I'm glad I've just bought mine. It's nice to be unique in the Sportster Family. Great vid again.
The Sportster 48 is IMHO one of the coolest, best executed bikes HD has ever produced. Stock, with no modifications. The seat was P in-the A literally and the rear suspension needed the improvement that came years later. But as far as looks and cool factor, man... I was the proud owner of the very first one to be sold in Mexico. And was presented with it on stage in the first Love Ride Mexico. ⚡️ The Nightster was the first step towards this and now I'm very hopeful for a complete (and controversial) overhaul of the Sportster line.
My first HD was the first year 883, it was actually THE bike they used in our Cycle Canada review, bought it with 2,200 klms on it for $5,999. and no tax, great first Harley. That was almost 20 HD's ago, lol
I love that nighttrain came out in 1998 . One of the best looking bikes and yeah it had that blacks out late nineties vibe. Love the crossbones. Harley needs to bring a revamped version of that. And oh yeah lower their prices. Lol.
![FNAF Into the Pit has A LOT of Unused Graphics | LOST BITS [TetraBitGaming]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6YhZCRdipl4/mqdefault.jpg)
I'm from Germany and after me and a friend did a (car-) road trip along the us west coast in 2008, I decided to finally get a motorcycle. Back then I remembered being fascinated by the XR 750 which I once saw on photographs. Out of curiousity, I checked the Harley models - when I discovered the Nightster (in ORANGE / black) I was blown away by its looks. Of course I bought it. Still ridin' it. Love it.
I think HD would have been way ahead had they listened to Eric Buell and kept him on.
totally agree
I also agree! HD should bring him back on board - AND LISTEN TO HIM! HD's new designers are OK, but they miss the mark - consistently!!
I bought my first HD 30 years ago, and loved them for many years, before that.
@@davidt9841 noticed the new roadster sportster forks and front brakes look almost off a buell xb
@@CORYSart The new roadster has dual 11.8 inch discs with crappy calipers, the Buell XB used a single 14.5 inch rotor with either a 6 piston caliper or 8 piston perimeter caliper. The Roadsters brakes are closer to the XR1200 brakes, and that is in looks only. The XR has a better master cylinder and Nissin 4 piston calipers.
I have a 2007 nightster. I got it used in 2009. I’ve since fully built it into a purpose built sporty. I love it and don’t plan to ever sell it
Do you still have it? I can’t find a decent review on it. I’m a new rider and it’s on my radar next to the sportster 1200 custom. I found one with 8k miles for $4500 2007
@@jamalymall yeah I still have it. A 1200 sporty is a great bike. Cheap. Reliable and easy to work on / upgrade
@@ONLY_FXRS thanks for that feedback. I’m going to research it a bit more. Seems like that bike is still slept on
I can’t imagine the Sportster ending: Such a simple and easy to modify bike! I say go further; bring back a Kick Start!
That would be cool
The kick starter would sell a lot
I thought one of Matt's employees had a street bob he put one on.
kick start with a dual relief valve for easy starting.
Yep kicks are wonderful.
My first Harley was a 2007 Nighster and for me, this has been the best cruiser model that HD ever made. Perfect riding plus the coolest and bad ass looks.
For sure. That’s cool it was your first bike.
@@MattLaidlaw Thank you for this great video, and the rest as well.
Matt I personally love when you do vids like this. Even more than model reveals and rides. You should do more such as this one! Its informative and gives insight on an Era of motorcycles.
Sportster 48 was my first bike. Love it! 6 years later I still own it a ride it a love the hell out of it. I also have a street glide but my sporty is my first love! Great vid Matt!
I was 12 when the Nightster came out and it’s the bike that made me want to start riding. 14 years later and I finally got one and I’m lovin’ it 🤙🏼
Great job, Matt!!!! Keep coming out with this type of videos. You spark discussions about different topics related to Harley and it is a nice change of pace from the awesome review videos. I started on a 2005 883 Custom, then eight months later went to a 2006 1200 Custom. I put 21k miles on the 1200 Sporster before hand it to my sister who within a month took it from Philadelphia to Sturgis SD, RIDING IT!!!!!!
My first Harley, 2016 Iron 883, now I'm all in.
The moniker of Sportsters being a "girls bike" probably comes from the older chromed Sporties like the 883 Low. The blacked out look did away with that. I just traded a 15 Fat Boy for an Iron 1200 because I wanted a more limber bike. Riding is more exciting now!
Nice man. Yea the "Girls Bike" thing is just way off.
Nice A cups
@@MattLaidlaw perhaps "Urban Bike" its better suited for the riders of today! Question Matt, does the 1200 have different gearing than the 883? Thanks for the videos!
@Matrox One now popular with Victoria's Secret Angels
Ive been ridin bikes for 25+ years. I got an iron 1200 last year and i love it. A 1200cc motorcycle is not a girls bike at all. I just didnt want a bike heavy ass bike plain n simple
My first Harley was a 2007 Nightster with the blue paint (Suede blue pearl) and I loved it. It was so awesome!
I’m on my third Harley now, so to say the Nightster got me in the door and hooked, is rather an understatement. I hope HD doesn’t ditch the Sporty line, maybe pare it down because there’s a lot of different Sporty models.
If I could find that bike again, I’d buy it.
Yeah. These bikes definitely got my attention to Harleys. Nightsters, Irons, 48s, and Street Bob. I have a Street Bob now. DYNA
@@janetabigeal8977 shut up
Sportster line is an iconic, true Harley Davidson. Raw, fast and fun. Love my 72. Thanks for making this Matt!!
My first bike, the 2007 Sportster XL1200 Custom, will always have a special place in my heart. I'm a chrome guy, but the black stuff looks pretty cool too.
I just bought a new 48. Didn't want to miss out. If this is the end of Sportster I have one of the last. I'll keep it.
I stopped by a dealership in Carrolton Tx during the day to kill an hour before a meeting with no thought of buying a motorcycle. This was in June of 2007, and right in front of the entry was a Vivid Black Nightster with VH Short Shots, a Screaming Eagle K&N conical air cleaner, and Sport tuner. I had always liked the Sporties but never owned a Harley. I took it home that night and still have it today.
Really love ur calm tone of voice. refreshing to hear someone speak how u do in a day of forced enthusiasm that exists on youtube nowadays.
I guess you're not a fan of Shade Tree Surgeon then ? I just can't listen to the guy .
I own an '08 OD Green and Black Nightster I purchased brand new. Got the all black Vance and Hines short shot pipes, extended pegs, and a stage 1 air intake. Love my bike! 28000 + miles on her!
I fell in love with the Nightster as well as the Night Train in 1998, I was 14 and put the pictures on my bedroom wall and PC wallpaper. Really beautiful bike.
Awesome video Matt! I’ve had the privilege of owning a Sportster Iron 883. When I heard that HD was discontinuing the Dyna I traded in the Iron for the Dyna StreetBob. I’ve been fortunate to own and ride two iconic Harley Davidson Motorcycles.
Nothing like the Nightster
Bought a Nightster in '09 when I got back from Afghanistan. Just wanted to cruise and be alone. I was 19 at the time and it's the best, still have it and I won't let it go. Didn't want what my father had or grew up with, I was part of a new generation of combat veteran and the Nightster suited me. I'll love Harley forever for giving me something that no other seller could.
Great video Matt, I agree that “the writing is on the wall” the demise of the Sporty is here! I hope HD keeps them, maybe make upgrades , but please don’t delete the line totally! My wife still has her 883 low , ‘08 model, still going! Long live the Sportsters! “Potato,potato,,potato Harley!
I hope not, I'm waiting to get an Iron 883 in a few years! Still got to pass some tests over here in the UK.
Matt can you explain Harley’s alphabet soup in a video? FLHX, FXDR and so on.... you do a great job with all your info on Harley’s
Yea I have thought about doing that video. Thanks for the suggestion.
FLH, the big touring forks, touring frame, wider front tire
FX smaller front end, cruiser frame etc.
I’m glad the Sportster is still around. After four touring models I bought my first Sportster to go with my Ultra Classic. I love the lil Sportster. Harley should NEVER eliminate the Sportster lineup. Just put a 6 speed transmission in them and introduce a scrambler model with some good ground clearance and off road suspension/tires/handle bars.
Great video! I had forgotten how much I wanted a Nightster back then. It was absolutely the bike that made me look long an hard at HD. I never rode a Nightster, but it was the bike that led me to Harley-Davidson.
Right on man. Thanks for the comment.
Didn't look at Harley once until my dad bought a 05 street glide for a grand. I rode it once found the nightster and I'm in love I'm doing everything I can to own one.
Had my 2007 Nightster for 3 months now. I’ll never look back and have zero regret. Hands down my favorite motorcycle
I love my 2008 Sportster xl1200n Nightster! I absolutely will never sell mine!
12” Bars,white wall tires, Coil and ignition relocation,a Saddleman seat, swing arm bag,front fork bag and a 2” tank lift. It’s perfect to bop around town! I even sometimes leave my Road king in the Garage when I go on decent trips.
My first bike I bought in 2015 was an 07 nightster 1200 with custom paint and lots of willie g skulls, white walls, spoke wheels, loud exhaust, under tank lights, it was uncomfortable but it hauled ass and it got me on the road. It was good bike to get me rolling. I just sold it a few weeks ago and bought a 2016 Road Glide Ultra. I will miss that bike and it’s style but it served it’s purpose and I will always be grateful for that
Watching this now. In 2022 because the new Nightster. Cant wait for your take on it. Thanks Matt.
Matt I think your spot on. The sportster line has been great for HD but with all the new models coming online and let's face it; hd is having sales issues right now......they need to trim the lineup and offer a new direction. The demise of the dyna line and consolidation of the softails was a shocker but looking back was a great move. I think the next couple of yrs will either be a make or break for hd. They better do something because current situation is not working.
I love my 2015 Iron 883. If I ever get a new bike, I'm not going to trade it in. Gonna keep my sporty forever. It's kind of sad that Harley is going to phase them out. Great video Matt
Just got a new Sportster 48 and I'm glad I got mine before the Sportsters were phased out. I don't plan on trading it in if I get a bigger Harley, like the Soft Tail DeLuxe.
Super informative video Matt! Thanks :). Brings back memories of when I just got my motorcycle driver's license added to the rest. A good Harley friend of ours recommended the Nightster to me, but I was going to move abroad to the US for 3 years, so waited to buy one. Came back, and 6 months later I bought the FLS slim which I still ride today :)
i literally no nothing about motorcycles so i come i with no preconceived notions, and i have to say. i absolutely LOVE the sportster in this video. the one you're riding is perfect. i love everything about it.
I remember when I first saw a nightster, but know one had to tell me what it was. The motor co. doesn't create trends. They copy or mimic what they see you and i do to our bikes. Motor co. employees are at all of the major bike events and shows looking at our bikes to determine the next or a knew style, trend to mimic. They are very good at it. Mgmt. does determine what line of bikes makes it or not but believe me that it is us that determines style of that line of bikes. So get it right. They'll be watching...
I just recently bought a Roadster because of my love of Nightsters growing up
SeanWarner I bought an Iron 883 in 2017 but the roadster is the bike I should have bought.
I love the all blacked out look and I also love HDs with a ton of chrome.
Very nicely done! So good, in fact, that I think you could make this a genre of videos: identifying for various models in the current Harley-Davidson lineup earlier bikes that prefigured or influenced the current model’s design. Again, nicely done.
Thanks. I might have to make a new play list for them. Much appreciated. Thanks for the comment
I have a 2008 Fat Bob, black denim. I think there will always be room for the smaller cruiser bikes. I always considered the Sportster a great, "My first Harley", bike to get people introduced to Harley Davidson. It's light, nimble, and was affordable ,for a Harley.
I also think that Harley is starting to price itself out of the market. What you get on a Street Glide Special, you get standard, on a Indian Dark horse. (LED lights, 111cc, infotainment Center, ABS, better suspension ,and it's cheaper) I hope Harley makes improvements on their suspension, and starts making LED lights standard across the board. I do like the Milwaukee eight, I can actually see what model car is behind me. Not just, there's a car behind me, as it shakes in the mirror.
I bought an 2007 that was salvaged / totaled in a accident and rebuilt it myself. I fell in love with it. I will post a video of it this week on my sight.
Yeah, I remember when this and the Night Train came out. That's when I really started looking at buying a new Harley. Also, that's a pretty tempting deal Harley's got going with the new Sportsters...
I think the Sportster is something that needs only a little change and not a complete make over. I have to admit, the blacked out theme was something I disliked at first. I grew up loving chrome and I did not understand why some people didn't care for it. I bought a 2008 1200 Custom (which is laden with chrome) and modified it with mini apes white grips and pegs with mini floorboards and Avon Cobra whitewalls. I loved (and still love) but traded that bike. I wish I still had it.
The blacked out look is something I now really like, as well. The bike Matt is riding in this video is so good looking it eclipses most bikes I commonly see. I know they have to gain acceptance with new customers, but the guy that bought my Sportster never had a Harley before and is 21 years old. He loves it.
Thank you for these videos...been riding my street 500 for 11 months and 1 week so in 3 weeks I get to upgrade to full licence. Your reviews have kept me frothing for my next Harley and while my head says get a sportster and then go the full size bike in another year or 2 of riding, think my heart will win out and a new Fat Boy will be on order!!!
I was a sport bike freak...never like the Harley. But one day I sat on one...fire it up and I was in love with the machine. What I love most is how it rorr and feel the kick from the engine. The only engine that play beat to me... I own my 2019 sportster and I enjoy ridding it.
A month ago I bought my first bike, a Sportster 48. The first time I saw it was on a youtube video, with the hard candy custom color, and instantly loved it. I'd never seen a 48 in person until a month ago. I test it and didn't need more than a few miles to know that I really wanted this to be my first bike.
Young people just don't understand letting out a clutch on a Harley-Davidson it's very personable just you and the bike thanks for the video take care
Thank you. Enjoy the ride.
I bought my first bike last year! An 07 nighster and I'm so glad I did, I love my bike and I get complements on it all the time.
I've been a hater of harley for many years...not really the bikes but rather the idiotic and exclusive attitude of harley owners here in Australia. But at 56 years young, I was tempted into the HD showroom (I rode there on my Norton Commando) to check out the Roadster. This actually my type of bike! I will have to eat some humble pie with my biking mates though!
I grew up around motorcycles I love them. When I was 14 my friend took me to the Harley-Davidson dealership were her father's friend worked. He let me walk around sit on the different bikes. This was just after the nightster was released and they don't have one yet. But I sat on a 1200 custom and from that point forward I wanted a Harley-Davidson. I agree with Sportster is going the way of the Dyna very soon. I want to buy a 48. Just so I can have a brand new 48 before they cancel it. But I just bought a street bomb sale maybe I'll get one right after they cancel it lol. Thanks for the content! I really appreciate someone in the industry reaching out to the buyer base.
I out grew my 48 but every time I see a picture of it in various photo galleries I get nostalgic and start looking through used bikes for a 2015 or older 48 (I like the spoke wheels vs. the mag wheels).
Miss my 07 Nightster. Customized the hell out of her. Got nothing but compliments. Never understood the Sportster hate. Fun, flickable, no-nonsense bike.
Great video. I would hate to see the Sporty line end. Back in 1965 I flat tracked a Sportster, I am 73 now and still enjoy riding my 02. Please rethink how you ride through traffic.
I own two 2018 HD baggers, but love my 2007 Sportster & what it stands for, great history on them. It would be horrible to drop this line of bikes, I think anyway. Thanks ML for another awesome video!
Thanks for watching.
I think the sportster is due for an overhaul. I'm hoping for a 6th gear bigger displacement engine and a better insturment cluster put a gas gauge on them for Gods sake!
But I'm pretty sure a mono shock suspension is coming for the sportsters for sure! Might be some exciting changes? I for one like the improvements in the new softails! Not crazy about some of the styling but man do they run!
That would put in Softail (new frame) Street Bob and Low Rider territory. They have to avoid overlap.
@@ramonburgos6351 wasn't the dyna just a bigger version of the sportster? We will see what happens? But I bet at the very least it gets a mono shock
@Moto Danny I might be interested also? I have 2 touring bikes road glide and a street glide and my wife has a 48 special. I would sell the street glide for a smaller lighter fun bike for short hops! Been thinking about a street bob? Going to wait and see what happens?
I was afraid to purchase a Harley as my first ride, so I picked up Yamaha 535XV to practice, that lasted about 1 month! I found a used 08 Nightster that I became obsessed with on FB Marketplace. Love it!
I absolutely enjoyed my bobber made helluva alot of great memories. With that said, I'm older now and enjoy my touring. Great vid👍
I just brought my first Harley-davidson 2 months ago. I didn't buy a sportster I picked up a street glide. And for the last few month I've been looking at sportsters for a month now. I love the look and what you can do with them.
I am on my 3rd sportster, had chrome and blacked out, love both. It will be interesting to see what they come out with. As long as they don't go electric we should be ok once over the initial shock!
At the time I had a completely chromed Vrod, which is the bike that brought me into the HD family. I loved the Nightster it was the polar opposite of what I had done. Two yrs later added the Iron to the stable w/ 1250 kit it was great! Thanks for the video Matt, these videos need to be seen by everyone that has said Harley hasn't had a new idea in 100 yrs..........Ride hard or stay home😎 ......ps: love the Evo motor but really love the M8 as well. Scrambler/ Tracker would be a great edition but I think HD is a little behind the curve on trends in the entry level bikes. In the last five years HD has lost some great visionaries and risk takers to retirement. Beals, Willie G and a couple others are hard to replace. Hopefully we'll see some some new styling and out of the box thinking from HD. The FatBob and FXDR are good starts but the price point for new riders is a bit out out line. Here's to the next 100 yrs of being leaders and not followers in the mc industry! Lead, follow or get out of the way!...Lee Iacocca
I always wondered how you guys handled when the light turns green while your filtering in traffic
Nightster’s are cool as hell. Idk why they stopped making them. I was looking for one back in 2014 but couldn’t find one and ended up buying a 48. Not complaining tho, I love the 48.
I'm 28 and a 09 nightster was my first bike. My friends all had/got street bikes. Now I still have a nightster and my friends sold the street bikes one got a nightster also, 1 got a 48, 1 got 72 . Brought my generation to Harley.
So I got myself the 2017 sporster 48 and I honestly love this ride. I'm also having a lot of fun putting mods on it as well. Can't wait til I'm done with it. Great vid 👌
I went to a Harley dealership looking for battery cables to hook on my Vespa for my gps. Came in and the Iron was right there. I was amazed and surprised! I had no idea Harley made such bikes. At the time, I thought of Harley as a brand for older people. I bought the battery cable and kept going my way to the Vespa scene. However, the Iron stayed on the back of my mind. Several years later, I went into the same dealership and bought the Iron. I have since upgraded to another icon, the Softail Blackline!
My uncle has been a through and through Harley boy my own whole life here in UK, I’ve never known much about harleys other than they’re built like they’re still stuck in the 60s and they sound absolutely awesome. As a young motorcycle technician at my mates shop for the last 3 years I’ve seen all kinds of bikes of all walks of life’s such as Movistar GSXR’s, 90s Ninjas, Fireblades, Bandits, CBR’s, R1s and a whole variety of V twin bikes like marauders, but only recently we bought a beaten up second hand Nightster in white and black and I’ve had the pleasure of spending 2 weeks repairing and repainting every thing on it to sell it. I can honestly say it’s the only bike in the years of working on all sorts of bikes that I’ve genuinely wanted to buy on the spot and fallen in love with, I don’t have a bike license and my riding experience is limited to 30mph up and down the yard moving bikes in and out the shop, but the nightster will now always have a place in my heart, the way it feels, the idle noise, the roar of that lumpy V twin opening up and the way it rocks when you blip it and the way it looks just strikes so many chords with me. One day I’ll get a license and one day I’ll buy one and fix one up just to ride around town to and from the shops to experience the pleasure of it for my own
Matt I absolutely loved the video and great content! You should really do a video on the dynas next! For example how the Dyna Low Rider S was the last dyna and was a badass bike, etc. (Owner of a 2016 FXDLS) ;)
I might do that video. Thanks for the suggestion.
This video caused me to buy an 08 nightster, thanks Matt lol. Hopefully the sportster family doesn't come to an end but if it does I have the icon of the blacked out sportsters 👍
Haha. It looks like the Sportster might stick around a little longer.
I bought a 2019 Fat Bob a few months ago and love it but still kept my nightster. You just can't beat a good Sportster. Another awesome video Matt!!
I just bought one with 9k miles and allot of upgrades for 5k. Can't wait till spring
Enjoy man. 🤙🏼
Need to bring Crossbones back! That said.....Sportsters are great!
I just bought a 2019 Iron 1200, as my first bike. It's a great bike and I have had a blast on it so far. I knew a guy who had a Nightster a few years ago and I credit that motorcycle as my first introduction to Harley-Davison.
Thanks for the history lesson, young feller. Nice to hear a story alongside the reviews.
The nightster was my first bike. I really enjoyed it
Nice! 👍🏻
Great program to get new riders into the market... gangster sidewall tires look so cool...easy bike to make it all your own...
Considering a 2012 nightster right now. Put a hold on it. Have to decide soon.
What handlebars are one the nightster? Thank you!
Very nice video. I have a 08’ Nightster and really love it. Like you said, Nightster was the first Sportster model in this new bobber era. Sportster is a perfect HD street riding.
These will be the bikes that save Harley Davidson, something that’s peppy and agile but still has its lineage. It has so much character and they’re pretty quick too! By far my most favorite little cruiser (1200cc “little” lol) and I want one so bad. Best of all, they’re CHEEEAP too! Stay upright my friend, great video.
Nice!! Bad Ass bike. Just brought home the iron 883 dead wood green. Love it. But this nightster harley is amazing love the style!!!!!! Thanks for these awesome videos!!!!
Thanks for watching man
If it is true that the end is near for the Sportster it will be the final nail in the coffin for harley-davidson, mark those words! Matt I love your videos!
Im a 33 year old male looking to buy my first bike. I've always adored cruisers and i'm looking to get the Forty-Eight. Of the upcoming new line, i really like the Custom 1250. If i bought the FXDR i would probably change the exhaust and the headlights for some twin lamps
Do a story some time on here about the evolution and history of the Breakout! You do a good job with putting em out there Matt
Totally agree the Nightster was great for the new generation & I'm so glad to have owned one 🤘
Comming from more of the British Cafe world I never considered Harley until they came out with the Sportster Roadster. I love it! And so do all of my friends who ride Nortons and Triumphs. At first they made fun of me for getting a Harley until, they saw my bike, and now they totally get it. I'll be sad to see the Sportster discontinued, but I'm more excited to see Harley focus on more performance oriented bikes.
I have the 2007 black on black Nightster and I love it! I feel so lucky to have it. Thanks for this video!
First keep on with the vids and the channel! Always looking for your next vid. Really enjoyed this vid because I did not know the history and significance of the the Nightster. It had been 20+ years since I had owned and ridden a motorcycle, but one day in 2016 I got this idea that I should get back on a bike because it would fill a void inside of me and make me feel alive again. I started looking around at different makes and models at first was attracted to low hp (500 cc or less) and low cost and really thought I was set on one particular model. Harley wasn't on my radar but something made me go online to check them out and when I saw the Iron 833, I was blown away by it's blacked out looks-it just looked mean and modern. I had to see it in person. My next day off I went to a local HD dealership and was blown away! I bought one that very day. I loved everything about that bike. It also was a great learning platform for customizing, which I did a lot of. Two of my friends saw my Iron and went down the next weekend and bought their own Irons. Keep in my that all three of us were in our 50's at the time. This platform did for us emotionally want very few things in life could. All of us kept our Irons for about a year, but then felt the need for more power and the ability to go longer distances. There are days I wish I just held on to it and when the day comes that HD decides to ax the Sportster line, well I can definitely say that there will be a little bit of my soul lost.
The Nightster is my first Harley, nothing beats the look of drag bars on a Sporty!
I never gave Harley a second thought after they shutdown buell. I never had much interest in them even growing up outside Milwaukee and taking a school field trip to the engine plant. I grew up riding a a kawi 80cc two stroke trail bike and was hooked on motorcycles. then one day, I saw an ad for the street rod 750, that got my attention until I found out it was way too small for me. then the sales guy showed me a roadster, which was interesting. then he introduced me to the low rider S, which wasn't too shabby. but non of them really did it. then the 2018 fatbob landed and I HAD to do a demo ride. I was shocked by how much I liked it, HD finally made a bike I could call good. the price is still steeper than I think it should be but they at least made me believe they could make a bike that backed up some of the hype. I am very interested in the 1250 custom (baby fatbob) hopefully they start getting more info out on them, and hopefully they do not disappoint in performance or in price. personally I think HD is heading in the right direction and making "sport cruisers" and that they should look at competing with ducati more directly. ducati maintenance and reliability turn a lot of riders off, if Harley can get in there and offer something ballpark, I think they will snag some market share.
I just traded in this past Saturday my 2015 Street 500 extra for a 1200cc 09 nightster and I absolutely love it that was a bike that I wanted when they first came out with it and now in 2019 I got it she does have some custom parts on it that's how I wanted it and pictured it as if I would have made it my own
Really enjoyed this video. I hope you do more of this style of video along with your regular content. Maybe like How the Street Glide Changed HD, or something else along those lines.
He already did a history of the street glide video, you should check it out!
Matt excellence video. You rightly give the Nightster it's due. It is still the coolest Sporster in my book and I really like Sporsters. I'm in my 60's and have been riding 52 years. I have owned 4,Sporster plus several big Harley's but the Sporster will always be my favorite model. I'm currently in the market for one and looking for a Nightster in my area.I think they are keepers !
Loved the Nightster when it was released but the 1200S came first. My 2001 Sportster Sport is mostly blacked out as stock including the exhaust and has a dull grey finish to the engine. Still looks great.
Got a 1200 custom love it keep it till my grandson is going to be able to ride
Hey man this video was great, I do like that you mentioned that Nightsters phasing out. I'm glad I've just bought mine. It's nice to be unique in the Sportster Family. Great vid again.
The Sportster 48 is IMHO one of the coolest, best executed bikes HD has ever produced. Stock, with no modifications. The seat was P in-the A literally and the rear suspension needed the improvement that came years later. But as far as looks and cool factor, man... I was the proud owner of the very first one to be sold in Mexico. And was presented with it on stage in the first Love Ride Mexico. ⚡️ The Nightster was the first step towards this and now I'm very hopeful for a complete (and controversial) overhaul of the Sportster line.
My first HD was the first year 883, it was actually THE bike they used in our Cycle Canada review, bought it with 2,200 klms on it for $5,999. and no tax, great first Harley. That was almost 20 HD's ago, lol
I love that nighttrain came out in 1998 . One of the best looking bikes and yeah it had that blacks out late nineties vibe. Love the crossbones. Harley needs to bring a revamped version of that. And oh yeah lower their prices. Lol.
I grew up in the 1950's. My older brothers, who has passed on now, were Sportster riders. To me the Sportster is a great beginning tread bike.
The Nightster was my first bike... now i how a denim black 2017 street glide... nightster was a super cool bike