Harley-davidson Xl 1200 Ns Iron 1200 vs Harley-davidson Nightster Special
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Harley-davidson Xl 1200 Ns Iron 1200 vs Harley-davidson Nightster Special. Harley-davidson Xl 1200 Ns Iron 1200: 67 hp @ 6,000 rpm (estimated) hp, 253 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h (estimated), Motoryk rating 7.5/10. Harley-davidson Nightster Special: 90 hp @ 7,500 rpm hp, 228 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 185 km/h (estimated; note: factory limited, real-world reports vary), Motoryk rating 7.8/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Harley-davidson Xl 1200 Ns Iron 1200
Harley-davidson Nightster Special
Horsepower (hp)
67 hp
90 hp
Torque (Nm)
97 Nm
95 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
175 km/h
185 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
253 kg
228 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
67 hp @ 6,000 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; note: factory limited, real-world reports vary)
Weight
253 kg (wet/curb weight)
228 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
6.5 L/100km (approx. 15.4 km/L, real-world average)
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L, typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Harley-davidson Xl 1200 Ns Iron 1200
7.5/10
"A flawed but genuinely rewarding urban cruiser that rewards patient riders."
Pros
+Torquey, character-filled engine
+Bulletproof reliability when maintained
+Strong resale value retention
Cons
−Brutal seat beyond 90 minutes
−Stock suspension embarrassingly soft
−Significant vibration at highway speeds
Harley-davidson Nightster Special
7.8/10
"The best Sportster-lineage bike Harley has ever built."
Pros
+Revolution Max engine is exceptional
+Handles surprisingly well
+Modern reliability and electronics
Cons
−Suspension too soft stock
−Seat comfort is poor
−Limited wind protection
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
