TopSpeed’s Best American Motorcycle Of 2024: Harley-Davidson Nightster Special

Summary

• The 2023 Harley-Davidson Nightster Special won the title of Best American Motorcycle of 2024 due to its style, convenience, and technological enhancements.
• The Nightster Special offers superb handling, greater emphasis on performance, and better styling, making it an attractive choice for riders.
• The Nightster Special is not ideal for pillion riders and is priced higher compared to entry-level Softails, but it provides a lot of value for the money.

As we near the end of 2023, it is customary for everyone to recap the highlights of the year before entering a new one, which is why we are happy to go over the results for the Best American Motorcycle of 2024. There were plenty of 2023 and 2024 models on sale in the U.S., and narrowing it down was no easy task. On one hand, Harley-Davidson has been the crown jewel of American motorcycles since its inception in 1903, and going on to produce some of the most iconic motorcycles the world has ever seen. On the other hand, Indian Motorcycles has been Harley’s longstanding rival for decades, and even came back from the dead after 58 years in 2011 to manufacture some very attractive motorcycles made right here in the USA. While there are plenty of worthy contenders, and as passionate Harley-Davidson and Indian riders can be, there can only be one motorcycle left standing on top. Motorcycles were scored based on three criteria: Value for Money, Performance, and Expected Reliability and Safety. After much deliberation, the judges have spoken and the official winner of the Best American Motorcycle of 2024 is… the 2023 Harley-Davidson Nightster Special!

It was a tight battle between many Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcycles vying for the spot of Best American Motorcycle of 2024. The 2023 Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 was one of the brand’s most high-powered cruisers to date, as were the 2023 CVO Street Glide and CVO Road Glide with their enormous engines, plethora of creature comforts, and new futuristic design. The same can be said about the popular Indian Sport Chief, which is one of the brand’s most well-rounded models to date. But after the final scores were tallied, it was the 2023 Harley-Davidson Nightster Special that rode past the competition into first place.

In order to determine the best vehicle in this category for 2024, our in-house experts have voted on a number of factors, including but not limited to value for the money, performance, and expected reliability and safety. The aggregate review score you see in the display card above is indicative of the average score (rated 1-10) between these factors and is based on real-world experience. Further information regarding our methodolgy of rating vehicles can be found on our methodology page.

Why The Harley-Davidson Nightster Special Is The Best American Motorcycle Of 2024

With the demise of the ever-popular air-cooled Sportster 883, the 2023 Harley-Davidson Nightster Special deserves credit for filling some big boots. The Nightster’s Revolution Max 975 V-twin grinds out plenty of torque while Brembo anchors compensate for less aggressive engine braking, which, coupled with sportier geometry and an upright body position, makes it a standout urban cruiser.

Guy Pickrell, TopSpeed Senior Road Test Writer

To anyone new to the Nightster Special, this isn’t your dad’s, nor your granddad’s Sportster. The 2023 Nightster Special is part of a revamped line of Sportsters that put great emphasis on performance and technology, targeted towards intermediate and experienced riders, rather than fresh beginners. Not only to provide a threatening contender against high-performance competitors like Kawasaki and Ducati, but to also cater to a new generation of adventurous and tech-savvy riders. For the Nightster Special specifically, it is a very lean and mean Sportster that is changing how the world looks at Harley-Davidsons. No longer are they seen as the slow and bulky “old man” bike. The Nightster Special, along with its big brother, the Sportster S, is reclaiming the roads from the sports bike crowd with horsepower, torque, and attitude.

With a starting MSRP of $14,999, customers get their money’s worth when it comes to this bike. Previous Sportster models like the Iron 1200, Roadster, the Forty-Eight, and the Iron 883 were fairly priced in the $10k – $12k range for a user-friendly cruiser that helped riders get from Point A to Point B. But with the Nightster Special, customers get a lot more than just a toy to take out on the weekends. It is an entirely new riding experience. On top of being able to produce more horsepower and torque than its predecessors, it also weighs 64 pounds less, taking full advantage of its power-to-weight ratio. There is also the 4-inch Bluetooth infotainment system at the center of this bike, which puts the bike’s entire performance hub at your fingertips. Riders can select through the digital instrument cluster, ride modes, turn-by-turn navigation, music, phone, ride data, and much more! While this bike may cost a few grand more than previous Sportsters, you get a lot more value. In other words, the Nightster Special gives you a lot of bang for your buck.

Given that this bike is capable of great speed and power, safety is also another big factor in its consideration for Best American Motorcycle of 2024. Because of its heavy investment in riding technology, the Nightster Special is loaded up with several safety enhancements that create more confidence and peace of mind for its riders. Features like Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) come standard on this bike, among many others in Harley-Davidson’s inventory. But it also includes more advanced riding features like a Traction Control System (TCS), which keeps the rider in control of the bike when riding through less-ideal riding conditions like wet roads. Another safety precaution that comes in handy is the Drag-Torque Slip Control System (DPSCS), which activates when the rider downshifts to slow down on slippery road surfaces. As a result, it reduces excessive rear-wheel slip while decelerating.

As previously mentioned, the 2023 Nightster Special is the latest member of the family to redefine what it means to be a Sportster. Previous iterations were all about being user-friendly and simple, which worked wonders for new riders looking to build their confidence. But the Nightster Special is a motorcycle made for riders that have already been there before, and are looking for a newer, more exciting option from Harley. Packing more kick in its first gear, the liquid-cooled 60-degree Revolution Max 975T V-twin is a giant leap forward when compared to the air-cooled engines of before. With enough power to send this bike from 0 to 60mph in 3.92 seconds, 90 horsepower at 7,500 RPMs, and 70 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 RPMs, the Nightster Special serves as a significant turning point for the future of the Sportster family. If anything, it serves as a viable option for many sports bike riders transitioning into the Harley-Davidson world. It provides the same kind of high-speed thrills that they are used to when they crank the throttle. But only with a few more bells, whistles, and comfort.

Just like the Sportster S, the Nightster Special is geared more towards aggressive riding, hence its default forward riding position. Whether you’re riding through busy city streets, or long curvy back roads, this bike encourages its riders to be more alert of their surroundings. When faced with split-second decisions, this bike’s responsive handling puts riders at ease knowing that it will go exactly where you instruct it to. Plus, considering that its wheelbase is only 61.3 inches, and a rake at 30 degrees, suddenly there is more on-street parking available to you.

Performance Specifications

Sourced by Harley-Davidson

Best Features Of The 2023 Harley-Davidson Nightster Special

• Bluetooth Infotainment System
• Multiple Ride Modes
• Vintage 1970s Styling
• Dual Bending Valve conventional forks
• Multiple Rider Safety Enhancements

Aside from its on-road performance, one particular feature that steals the show is the 4-inch digital infotainment system as the bike’s center console. Because our lives tend to revolve around our mobile devices, the Nightster Special puts the rider into consideration by allowing it to pair with it via Bluetooth, as well as connect to digital headsets and compatible helmets. This way, the rider can follow turn-by-turn navigation instructions via the H-D app, as well as voice instructions. Music is another standout feature, allowing riders to select their favorite songs when putting together the ultimate Harley-Davidson playlist.

Another huge component of the digital console is the option to select from five different ride modes. The three pre-programmed modes are Sport, Road, and Rain, which adjust the throttle response, traction control, engine braking, and ABS, depending on which one you select. Those who want immediate throttle response will love it in Sport mode, but not to the point where it becomes overwhelming. Road mode is for riders who want things to be more laid-back and relaxed. But Rain mode is the bike’s saving grace for those unlucky moments when it starts to get a little wet outside. However, two customizable modes allow you to change the settings for your riding style. Do you want more throttle response and braking? What about heavier doses of traction control? It’s all up to you!

The Runners-Up

You know we couldn’t finish this summary without bringing up the other models in the running for the title of Best American Motorcycle of 2024! Even though Harley-Davidson won the mantle, there were both Harley-Davidson and Indian models in the running. The 2023 Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 is the new and improved version of the beloved factory chopper with a whole new look and lots and lots of power. While it received decent scores across the board, it also fell short of dominating in any of the three categories. Its MSRP starting at $20,999 was fairly agreeable given its high-demand and improved powertrain. But even if it were set to $19k, it probably would have scored a little higher. Performance-wise, the Breakout 117 excels at high speeds in a straight line. But when it comes to handling, it has its learning curve there. As far as safety and reliability go, it ranked decent, considering its eye-catching design. But as a low-profile Softail, the Nightster Special managed to put a stronger emphasis on safety. Overall, its scores were good, but to become the Best American Motorcycle of 2024, it needed to be great.

Both the 2023 Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide and CVO Road Glide were nearly identical in their scoring. Even though they are both prime examples of the phrase “you get what you pay for”, which includes nearly every engine enhancement, creature comfort, special feature, impressive riding tech, and one-of-a-kind factory paint jobs, the starting MSRP of $42,999 just wasn’t the kind of financial investment a lot of people are willing to make. They both were close in the performance category, with the CVO Street Glide just edging out its sibling, despite both of them being powered by the Milwaukee-Eight VVT 121 engine. The same can be said in the Safety and Reliability category. It was only the CVO Road Glide that came out on top by only 0.125 points! That Shark Nose fairing does come in handy. Even though both CVOs were neck-to-neck with each other, it was the CVO Street Glide that outscored the CVO Road Glide with only 0.041 points to spare. While it was a tight race between the two CVOs, neither one of them was able to pull ahead of the Nightster Special and seize the title.

The 2023 Indian Sport Chief was another big contender for the title, given its popularity and reputation for being one of the brand’s most well-rounded models. It tied the Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 in terms of Value for Money. While its MSRP starts at $19,999, it probably would earn some extra points if it were priced slightly less. The Sport Chief was able to score higher than the other Harley-Davidsons in the Performance category, but it still fell short behind the Nightster Special here too. It scored even higher in the Safety and Reliability category, which was slightly more than either of the Harley-Davidson CVOs. But it still fell in second place to the Nightster Special’s rider safety enhancements.

Final Thoughts And Predictions For This Year

So what did we learn today? Even though we are all entitled to our own opinions and preferences when it comes to the best all-American motorcycle, on paper, the 2023 Harley-Davidson Nightster Special was able to satisfy riders the most when it comes to money, performance, and safety. Chances are more and more future riders entering the Harley-Davidson world will be roaming around this new version of the Sportser family, and the Nightster Special will certainly remain a viable option for customers. But considering that it is setting the standard for both Harley-Davidson and its competitors, it is likely that there will be even greater emphasis on performance and tech in future models.