New 2023 Harley-Davidson Nightster Special announced

FEATURING revised styling, improved ergonomics, new wheels and a pillion perch, the 2023 Harley-Davidson Nightster Special bounds into view, hot on the heels of the original 2022 Nightster launch last April.

The all-new Nightster burst onto the middleweight scene and quickly became the pretender to the throne of the hugely popular, and sadly departed, 883 Sportster. It brought a new engine platform to the table in the form of the Revolution Max 975T, an all-new frame and chassis, and distinctive modern-retro cruiser styling.

Refusing to rest on its laurels, Harley has quickly followed the original bike up with an updated ‘Special’ version, featuring aesthetic and technical changes. The new bike will be on sale alongside the current variant, which will continue as the base model in the Nightster range.

For an overview of all the new 2023 Harley-Davidson models announced so far, you can check out this article covering the new bikes and 120th Anniversary Editions.

2023 Harley-Davidson Nightster Special announced

The biggest changes to the new Nightster Special come in the form of significant styling updates. The headlight is now nestled in a neat-looking headlight nacelle, while new tank decals help to instantly identify the bike as the updated version. The badging is important on this one, as it’s a style that harks back to H-D’s Sportster models of the 1970s. A handy addition to the model is the inclusion of a mudguard-mounted pillion seat, with footpegs mounted just below the panel cover. While the pillion seating position doesn’t look like the comfiest in the H-D range, it does though mean you could bring along a friend when you’re out for a (short) ride!

Another tweak for the new Nightster Special comes in the form of tweaked rider ergonomics. The bars now sit in risers, lifting them 2-inches up, 1-inch closer to the rider. The revised riding position is claimed to offer a more ‘commanding’ stance on the bike – we translate that to mean it’ll probably be a bit more comfortable on a longer ride.

The updated model also features a big step up in technology over the current bike, with the addition of a full-screen TFT dash. The move allows the rider to link their phone up to the bike, allowing for turn-by-turn navigation, and the option to answer and decline calls on the move when using a Bluetooth headset. The system replaces the current bike’s analogue/LCD system, and all the controls for the TFT are located on the left-hand switch cube. The 2023 Nightster Special also gains cruise control and a USB port, as well as the same traction control and 2-channel ABS system as the stock bike.

One dramatic visual change for the newly announced bike is the change from seven-spoke to 14-spoke cast alloy wheels. The new rims are attractive-looking bits of kit, that include a tyre pressure monitoring system and a fresh, more modern look for the model.

2023 Harley-Davidson Nightster Special price and availability

The new Nightster Special will be landing in official Harley dealerships in the Spring of 2023 and will be listed with an SRP of £15,395. The price is important for this model, as, at £12,995, the stock bike represents the entry point into H-D ownership. While the new Special model represents a step up in cost, it also offers a big jump in spec, some of which (namely the TFT, retro graphics, and wheels) cannot be bought as an accessory for the base model. The 2023 Nightster Special is arriving in Vivid Black, Bright Billiard Blue, Industrial Yellow, and Black Denim colour schemes. The Vivid Black option is £15,395 with the colour options coming in at £15,770.

More information on the new 2023 Harley-Davidson Nightster Special can be found on the official H-D website.

Harley-Davidson Sporster S Review 2021