Yamaha Royal Star 1300 vs Harley-davidson Nightster
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Yamaha Royal Star 1300 vs Harley-davidson Nightster. Yamaha Royal Star 1300: 74 hp @ 5,500 rpm hp, 338 kg (wet/curb weight — varies slightly by variant) weight, top speed 185 km/h (estimated; note: governed/limited in some markets), Motoryk rating 8.0/10. 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
Yamaha Royal Star 1300
Harley-davidson Nightster
Horsepower (hp)
74 hp
89 hp
Torque (Nm)
108 Nm
95 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
185 km/h
185 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
338 kg
220 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
74 hp @ 5,500 rpm
89 hp @ 7,500 rpm
Torque
108 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
95 Nm @ 5,000 rpm
Top Speed
185 km/h (estimated; note: governed/limited in some markets)
185 km/h (estimated)
Weight
338 kg (wet/curb weight — varies slightly by variant)
220 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
6.5 L/100km (approximately 15.4 km/L) — estimated real-world average
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Yamaha Royal Star 1300
8.0/10
"A refined, reliable cruiser that punches well above its used price."
Pros
+Bulletproof V4 engine
+Zero chain maintenance
+Smooth highway cruising
Cons
−Heavy and wide
−Thirsty around town
−Shaft maintenance often neglected
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.
