Why are people so critical of the Sporty S/Nightster?

[Nibelungen]

out of town... with a range about 100 kms with a full tank... you risk to not made it between a gas station and the next...

you have to design routes like on a boat

[rokytnji]

Will see as time passes how well they handle metal fatigue in the desert southwest summers.

Heat is metal fatigues friend.

[OCRyder]

I 100% agree they should have switched the names. The only issue I have with these bikes is the lack of reliability info on the new platform. Seems like there might be some issues to be worked out there. It reality doesn't matter to me as my sportster will out live me if it doesn't get wrecked and I am not going to buy a second one.

[psycho69]

I will never fault a company for trying new things. That’s how we ended up with the Dynas, after all. External factors are driving the changes HD is making, whether it’s emissions control, competition, or shrinking demographics. It is as simple as adapt and survive.

Do the new Sporties look as good? No. Do they look like junk? No. The biggest selling point issue is just that: the selling point. The new bike is simply too expensive to compete in the middle weight market. Even the Triumph T120 or the Speed Twin 1200 beat the Sportster in price, and they are considered expensive by middle weight standards.

The Rebel 1100 is the new Sportster killer. Overall it outperforms the Sportie when you combine: engine power; road performance; availability and dealer network; and price. It is a seriously good package and HD cannot compete.

You can argue that people just want a Harley that looks like a Harley, but I am willing to bet most of those people are like the folks here at the forum: older, in love with the old bikes, and, most importantly, are not in the market for a new bike. All of us have criticized HD (justifiably) but have loved some of the models they released, like the Sportster XR 1200. That was universally loved on this forum. And universally not purchased. It had what most were asking for for years, but no one bought because they already had a bike they liked and weren’t going to buy a new one anyways.

So the old(er) timers are more or less off the market. That leaves the younger demographics, which overwhelmingly don’t want to be seen on grandpa’s bike. They’re young so they want something sportier and sleek, and, more importantly, affordable. The new Sportie is none of those things. My local dealer had the Nightster marked up $5000! Jiminy Christmas, that’s insane.

The other manufacturers are attracting the younger crowd in numbers that matter. ESPECIALLY Royal Enfield. They are absolutely destroying the competition world-wide with their kick-ass 650s. HD will never be able to do that.

Let’s face it, gentlemen: HD is truly becoming a luxury brand that is pricing itself out of the average Joe’s price range. I mean, they were already doing that for a couple decades, but now it is becoming shockingly transparent. They have advanced the tech in their bikes, that is unquestionable. But I think we all know that the new leadership is less concerned about heritage and more concerned about pushing the brand into luxury status.

I respect their drive to finally move their technology into the future, but they could have retained more of the classic styling the way Triumph has. Who knows, perhaps they will be able to do just that in a couple years, but we all know that despite the looks of the bike, it will still be exorbitantly priced, ensuring that the younger crowd will stay away.

I wrote a lot.
Planet Stench consumes all.
None of us are safe.
Enjoy the shish kabob.


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[bagster guy]

My biggest concern would be the variable valve timing. It could prove to be an issue down the road.

[thebisch]

Originally Posted by DrMotorcycle

It's unfortunate that from what I can tell, just about everyone on all sides of the isle are just slamming these bikes, even the Nightster, which addressed a lot of the issues people had with the look of the Sportster S.

The elder statesmen Harley riders Say it looks to Japanese/Plastic (fair point), the mid 30's-40's crowd looks at the Nightster in particular as a beginner bike, and the young guns say it's too expensive in comparison to Japanese counterparts (Rebel 1100 in particular).

I guess I'm the only one that really thinks they nailed it w/Nightster, particularly the Special. The only thing the MoCo got wrong in my eyes is they should've flip-floped the Sportster S and Nightster's names. The Nightster should be named the Sportster S and vice versa, and they should've released the Nightster first.

What says you?

I haven't read the thread, and I haven't had a Sportster in a few years (I LOVE Sportsters), but the Nightster is a visual mess on the left side. A Yamaha Bolt looks better. The bike stirs no emotion. The price is ridiculous. At this point I would rather try a Honda Rebel 1100 DCT.

To summarize, the bike brings nothing to the table but the Harley badge and a high price. A very sad day IMO.

[bagster guy]

The big question here is how do these other companies do it and still manage to be priced way below a Harley. All they're doing is catching up to everyone else.

[ChinCactus]

Originally Posted by bagster guy

The big question here is how do these other companies do it and still manage to be priced way below a Harley. All they're doing is catching up to everyone else.

Harley is a union shop for one.

[bagster guy]

Originally Posted by ChinCactus

Harley is a union shop for one.

With the new Sportster being the same price as some of the bigger bikes or even close to it I'd have to be pretty impressed to buy one.

[bagster guy]

I'm not riding a Sportster because I'm dedicated to Sportsters I'm riding a Sportster because it was within my price range at the time.

I'd rather be the bagster guy than hey look my shit just got repo'd guy