[maximuzz]

Wait for it! This is going to be a treat to the eyes. No words other than just enjoy

A little background, I had ordered this HD jacket in August and I got the phone call that it got here yesterday. So I just could not wait, and rushed to the showroom to pick it up.

Along with the jacket I ended up getting this HD XL1200N for the night for a testdrive in the cold. It was just the perfect weather to wear the jacket and ride. The jacket is totally worth it and the ride was just mind blowing.

Considering the bike is a tad heavier than the bullet with a 1200cc engine, the power, torque and maneuverability is just fantastic. Questions are welcome!!

[axp817]

Very nice! The Nightster is my favorite of all the Sportsters they sell in India.

You already have the jacket, it's only fair you get the bike as well.

[aargee]

Hey Maximuzz, you're becoming the official TD for HD & TBhp

Originally Posted by maximuzz

I had ordered this HD jacket...pick it up.

So is this jacket a simple leather jacket or does it comes with shoulder elbow protections?

Originally Posted by maximuzz

Questions are welcome!!

Thanks

Well, I heard XL1200R has a straight cut exhaust compared to XL883's. However, these exhausts seems to be same as XL883 isn't it?

[BIG SARAN]

You seem to be enjoying a lot.. First you rode the Night Rod Special and now the XL 1200 Nightster. Damn !!! I am envious.
Btw how is the ride quality ? What about the ground clearance? Do the pipes get scraped on bad roads or high bumpers?

If you could then please give a detailed ride report(for the whole day). I think many (espcially me) would really appreciate it.

[maximuzz]

Originally Posted by aargee

Hey Maximuzz, you're becoming the official TD for HD & TBhp

So is this jacket a simple leather jacket or does it comes with shoulder elbow protections?

Well, I heard XL1200R has a straight cut exhaust compared to XL883's. However, these exhausts seems to be same as XL883 isn't it?

Well, I guess I have been lucky that ways to be able to drive most of them available in Inda. As far as the jacket is concerned, it is a simple medium weight leather jacket with provisions for air passage on the lower abdomen and lower back for hotter days I believe. No, there are no provisions for extra armor. I chose the jacket from the official catalogue in the showroom, puposely going for a medium weight one. As this jacket already weighs 2-3 kgs I would not have liked a heavier one which of course had armor options.

I will have to get back on the exhaust question.

Originally Posted by BIG SARAN

You seem to be enjoying a lot.. First you rode the Night Rod Special and now the XL 1200 Nightster. Damn !!! I am envious.
Btw how is the ride quality ? What about the ground clearance? Do the pipes get scraped on bad roads or high bumpers?

If you could then please give a detailed ride report(for the whole day). I think many (espcially me) would really appreciate it.

Ok so here goes. Well it so happens since the Harley Showroom has opened and I have gone on so many TDs, I keep a helmet and my gloves always with me in my car as I don't usually know when I'll to ride it.

So I took off on the bike and immediately got pulled back in my seat because of the intense torque and acceleration and then I thought of what Sid had told me, "Its a light bike with a big engine, it just takes off so be careful". I relaxed the throttle and rode her like a good boy until I had a good feel for her.

The night chill had already started in the North so the engine was responding even more effectively because of the cold air going into the engine. And before I knew it I was touching 110 without much effort just cruising. I tested the brakes on a stretch of road and they seems to be very well balanced and responsive. I found braking during the corners was pretty stable too (front and back simultaneously).

I found the turning ability of the bike was very nice and swift. The downpoint was that even though I could really turn into the corners, what stopped me for going further were the two pointy metals stretching out of the foot pedals, as they would touch the ground if I tilted her beyond a certain point. You can see the metal in the pics above.


As far as ground clearance is concerned, I did not find the exhaust touching the ground when I crossed over speed bumps or road bumps.
The ride was somewhat comfortable but I found the seat a little uncomfortable after riding it for over an hour. I would go for a more cushioned one personally. Other thing I was a little unhappy with was that me being a guy weighing over a 100kg, going at a speed in excess of 120 the bike giving me a feeling of taking off, even though I weigh so much adding to the bike seemed hard to control at those speeds since we get there in under 13secs. But then how many times do you get to drive at that speed in India.

The thing that I loved was also the seating too because if it had more cushion I would keep riding it all day. That's how good the position is unlike the NightRod which you can't ride for over an hour.


The sound of the bike is amazing, I can say its a headturner. People would turn heads 100m before I would pass them. Some cars would chase me but it was hard for them to keep up


That's what all I can think of right now but I'll keep adding more stuff as it comes back to me.

[aargee]

@Maximuz - add one more question from my end; In the pic dscn9289.jpg, what is that thing below the speedo? All the sportsters have that; is it metal or plastic?

[rowhun]

The bike looks great. Are there more color options?
IS there a waiting period for it?

If you don't mind me asking, by the way how much was the jacket for? Congratulations.

[aargee]

Originally Posted by rowhun

The bike looks great. Are there more color options?

There're 5 color options for Nightster, however there's only one for India - Scarlet red & black.

Originally Posted by rowhun

IS there a waiting period for it?

If there's one available from the previous lot of shipment, yes, it available immediately, otherwise I guess the minimum is 3 months.

[maximuzz]

Another pic that I didn't post.

[Invinsible]

How would you compare the ride and handling and turning in and out at slow speeds with the night rod ?
I see online, in the US they option on seats too. Is the option available here ?

[shrini78]

Originally Posted by Invinsible

How would you compare the ride and handling and turning in and out at slow speeds with the night rod ?
I see online, in the US they option on seats too. Is the option available here ?

All HD comes with options...
Thats where they deal or should I stay steal their money from the buyers

[sachinj12]

Lady luck surely is smiling on you. Went to collect a jacket, got to Test ride a HD!! You sure had an enviable night!!

Can you put up a more detailed test report?

[jkdas]

Where is the brake light? And the front mudguard gets additional fitting or so? Rider gonna get his pant drenched in water/dirt.

Bike looks smaller than I thought

[Axe77]

Originally Posted by aargee

There're 5 color options for Nightster, however there's only one for India - Scarlet red & black.

There's a black and silver grey as well. I've seen it in the Bbay showroom if I'm not mistaken.

[maximuzz]

Originally Posted by axp817

Very nice! The Nightster is my favorite of all the Sportsters they sell in India.

You already have the jacket, it's only fair you get the bike as well.

Thanks I am working on the side financial side to buy one for myself.

Originally Posted by aargee

@Maximuz - add one more question from my end; In the pic dscn9289.jpg, what is that thing below the speedo? All the sportsters have that; is it metal or plastic?

That is a plastic cover below the light as said by the sales executive I'll give a detailed description when I get to see the bike again.

Originally Posted by aargee

There're 5 color options for Nightster, however there's only one for India - Scarlet red & black.


If there's one available from the previous lot of shipment, yes, it available immediately, otherwise I guess the minimum is 3 months.

Thanks aargee for that update, yes 3-4 months is the wait time but I talked to the Sales Executive and he said this bike would not be available in 2011 as its replacement Sportster 48 is coming to India around the same price range.

Also the exhaust is same as the 883 and not a straight cut one.

Originally Posted by jkdas

Where is the brake light? And the front mudguard gets additional fitting or so? Rider gonna get his pant drenched in water/dirt.

Bike looks smaller than I thought

If you look at the indicators carefully they circumferance the brakelight ( like a light within a light). Yes the bike could have been a little bigger, I'll post another picture for comparison of how small it really looks.

I am sure there would be extra mud flaps available for wet season conditions, as most of the money is made from accessories.

Hope I covered everyones queries.