Harley-davidson Sportster 1200 Nightster vs Harley-davidson Nightster 975
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Harley-davidson Sportster 1200 Nightster vs Harley-davidson Nightster 975. Harley-davidson Sportster 1200 Nightster: 63 hp @ 5,500 rpm (estimated) hp, 263 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h (estimated), Motoryk rating 7.2/10. 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.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Harley-davidson Sportster 1200 Nightster
Harley-davidson Nightster 975
Horsepower (hp)
63 hp
90 hp
Torque (Nm)
97 Nm
95 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
175 km/h
185 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
263 kg
218 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
63 hp @ 5,500 rpm (estimated)
90 hp @ 7,500 rpm
Torque
97 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
95 Nm @ 5,000 rpm
Top Speed
175 km/h (estimated)
185 km/h (estimated)
Weight
263 kg (wet/curb weight)
218 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L) — estimated real-world average
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L) — estimated real-world average
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Harley-davidson Sportster 1200 Nightster
7.2/10
"A flawed but charismatic bargain that rewards patient, mechanical buyers."
Pros
+Cheap to buy used
+Massive aftermarket parts availability
+Satisfying torquey mid-range
Cons
−Vibration causes fatigue long-distance
−Charging system reliability concerns
−Suspect modded examples everywhere
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
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
