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Harley-Davidson Nightster Special vs Harley-Davidson Sportster S
ESTIMATED SIMULATION
Run the comparison →The Harley-Davidson Nightster Special (2025) and the Harley-Davidson Sportster S (2025) are compared with the same Moto Kıyas physics model under identical conditions: flat dry asphalt, no wind, a 75 kg rider and no passenger. The Harley-Davidson Nightster Special is a cruiser with 975 cc, 88.5 hp and 225 kg; the Harley-Davidson Sportster S is a cruiser with 1,252 cc, 120.7 hp and 228 kg. Power-to-weight with the rider: 295.0 hp/ton versus 398.3 hp/ton. On this measure the Harley-Davidson Sportster S is 35% ahead.
In the simulation the Harley-Davidson Nightster Special covers 0-100 km/h (speedometer) in 3.17 s and the Harley-Davidson Sportster S in 2.97 s; the Harley-Davidson Sportster S is quicker by 0.20 s. In the 100-0 km/h brake test, braking distance without the 0.3 s reaction time is 49.1 m for the Harley-Davidson Nightster Special (ABS unknown, class assumption: no ABS) and 44.7 m for the Harley-Davidson Sportster S (with ABS). The Harley-Davidson Sportster S stops 4.4 m shorter. Calculated top speed: 180 km/h (estimated from power and drag) versus 194 km/h (manufacturer claim).
All values are an estimated simulation, not road-test measurements. Technical data comes from the sources listed below; the model uses model-specific parameters calibrated against published road tests for both. Open the interactive app (currently in Turkish) to watch the run side by side and change the load.
| Estimated simulation | Harley-Davidson Nightster Special | Harley-Davidson Sportster S |
|---|---|---|
| Class | cruiser | cruiser |
| Engine | 975 cc | 1,252 cc |
| Power | 88.5 hp | 120.7 hp |
| Wet weight | 225 kg | 228 kg |
| Power-to-weight (75 kg rider) | 295.0 hp/ton | 398.3 hp/ton |
| 0-100 km/h (speedometer) | 3.17 s | 2.97 s |
| 100-0 km/h braking distance | 49.1 m | 44.7 m |
| Top speed (calc.) | 180 km/h | 194 km/h |
Data sources and calibration
Specifications: the sources below (manufacturer pages, plus road-test or spec sites where the manufacturer gives no figure). Acceleration, braking and top speed: Moto Kıyas physics simulation (power/torque curve, gearing, drag, traction and wheelie limits, ABS assumption), calibrated against published road tests where available. Estimated, not measured.
- Harley-Davidson Nightster Special: www.harley-davidson.com
- Harley-Davidson Sportster S: www.harley-davidson.com, www.team-bhp.com
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