Harley-davidson Nightster 975 vs Harley-davidson Sportster S
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Harley-davidson Nightster 975 vs Harley-davidson Sportster S. Harley-davidson Nightster 975: 90 hp @ 7,500 rpm hp, 218 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 185 km/h (estimated), Motoryk rating 7.5/10. Harley-davidson Sportster S: 121 hp @ 7,500 rpm hp, 228 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 210 km/h (estimated; Harley-Davidson does not publish an official figure), Motoryk rating 7.5/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Harley-davidson Nightster 975
Harley-davidson Sportster S
Horsepower (hp)
90 hp
121 hp
Torque (Nm)
95 Nm
127 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
185 km/h
210 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
218 kg
228 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
90 hp @ 7,500 rpm
121 hp @ 7,500 rpm
Torque
95 Nm @ 5,000 rpm
127 Nm @ 6,000 rpm
Top Speed
185 km/h (estimated)
210 km/h (estimated; Harley-Davidson does not publish an official figure)
Weight
218 kg (wet/curb weight)
228 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L) — estimated real-world average
6.5 L/100km (approx. 15.4 km/L, typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Harley-davidson Nightster 975
7.5/10
"A flawed but genuinely exciting used buy with real character."
Pros
+Punchy, characterful 975cc motor
+Genuinely agile handling
+Strong build quality overall
Cons
−Terrible stock seat comfort
−Short real-world tank range
−Cramped for taller riders
Harley-davidson Sportster S
7.5/10
"The most exciting Harley in decades, but buy one carefully."
Pros
+Revolution Max engine is exceptional
+Handles nothing like old Sportsters
+Strong used value proposition
Cons
−Ergonomics punish taller riders
−Early battery and software gremlins
−Limited aftermarket compared to others
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
