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Harley-Davidson Nightster Special vs Harley-Davidson Sportster S

ESTIMATED SIMULATION

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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 simulationHarley-Davidson Nightster SpecialHarley-Davidson Sportster S
Classcruisercruiser
Engine975 cc1,252 cc
Power88.5 hp120.7 hp
Wet weight225 kg228 kg
Power-to-weight (75 kg rider)295.0 hp/ton398.3 hp/ton
0-100 km/h (speedometer)3.17 s2.97 s
100-0 km/h braking distance49.1 m44.7 m
Top speed (calc.)180 km/h194 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.

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