Harley-davidson Softail Standard vs Harley-davidson Nightster
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Harley-davidson Softail Standard vs Harley-davidson Nightster. Harley-davidson Softail Standard: 68 hp @ 5,020 rpm hp, 298 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 177 km/h (estimated), Motoryk rating 7.5/10. Harley-davidson Nightster: 89 hp @ 7,500 rpm hp, 220 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 185 km/h (estimated), Motoryk rating 7.8/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Harley-davidson Softail Standard
Harley-davidson Nightster
Horsepower (hp)
68 hp
89 hp
Torque (Nm)
145 Nm
95 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
177 km/h
185 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
298 kg
220 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
68 hp @ 5,020 rpm
89 hp @ 7,500 rpm
Torque
145 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
95 Nm @ 5,000 rpm
Top Speed
177 km/h (estimated)
185 km/h (estimated)
Weight
298 kg (wet/curb weight)
220 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
6.2 L/100km (approximately 16.1 km/L) — estimated real-world average
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Harley-davidson Softail Standard
7.5/10
"A dependable, stripped-back cruiser that rewards practical buyers over posers."
Pros
+Milwaukee-Eight torque is addictive
+Bulletproof parts availability
+Solid chassis post-2018
Cons
−Stock seat is genuinely awful
−Rear suspension purely cosmetic
−Chrome pits without careful maintenance
Harley-davidson Nightster
7.8/10
"A genuinely good motorcycle that earns respect beyond the badge."
Pros
+Revolution Max engine is excellent
+Actually corners with confidence
+Low, manageable seat height
Cons
−Stock seat is punishment
−Cramped for tall riders
−Limited wind protection
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
