Get Hotcars Premium. Start your free trial today

The 2022 Harley-Davidson Nightster has plenty of modern features, and picks up where the old air-cooled Sportster left off.

The evolution of a bike can take many forms. The bike's engine can take on a life of its own, where a company like Harley-Davidson perfects their powertrain, from the Ironhead engine of the fifties, that powered the Sportster, until now. Just need to check out the old Harley-Davidsons that every biker should ride and compare them. Or then there is the technological developments, where we are now using rider modes to negotiate different weather conditions.

The evolution is no more apparent than with the 2022 Harley-Davidson Nightster, taking its inspiration from the fifties. The Nightster re-envisions the Harley-Davidson Sportster and creates a new chapter in its evolution. It is powered by the Revolution Max 975T engine with its compact chassis, incorporating all the technological perks we desire. There are so many reasons why we love the Harley-Davidson Nightster, so let's take a closer look at some of them.

Related: 10 Reasons Why The Sportster Is The Best Harley-Davidson Ever

Step back to the 1950s, when we were getting our first glimpse of the Sportster, with its 55 ci V-Twin. It was lightweight and nimble, intended to compete against a strong European market. It certainly lit up our garages as its sales soared. It endured the test of time. We were in love.

65 years later, this love affair continues. Meet the 2022 Nightster. It brings the classic old-school affair with the Sportster to a new level of sophisticated desire. The Sportster may be one of the most important Harley-Davidson motorcycles in history, but the Nightster lives up to expectations.

Trust is everything when it comes to a relationship, especially one with two wheels. And as with the Sportster tradition, we find ourselves enraptured with its latest evolution, where old-school nostalgia meets technological prowess.

With its technological advancements, the 2022 Nightster offers everything we want for the 21st century. With the allurement of sweets, like its ride modes, transporting this bike into 2022, the Nightster seduces. But it also evokes a distinct Harley-Davidson identity.

Related: 10 things We Just Learned About Harley-Davidson And Its Motorcycles

Not opting for a hoop-style frame, Harley-Davidson created a compact and lightweight bike, weighing in at 481 lbs. With everything we know about the Harley-Davidson, there is one thing that stands out, and that is its irresistible look. It has an air of confidence about it with its tight frame and low-slung presence.

With a choice of colors, including vivid black, gunship gray, and redline red, our passion rises for the Nightster. But it will soon burn when we discover what makes this bike sing with power.

Cast your eye back to the fifties with the Sportster's V-Twin then glean the evolution of the Harley-Davidson engine, from the Ironhead to the Evo engine, we appreciate the technological refinement of the Revolution Max 975T engine. Just need to take a closer look at Harley-Davidson's first water-cooled engine in the entry level Nightster. The 60-degree liquid-cooled V-Twin packs the power, delivering 70 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm, cranking out a sweet 90 horsepower.

The Nightster's powertrain offers us the strong acceleration that we crave. The engine is a stressed member of the frame, meaning that it reduces the weight, gives more rigidity to the chassis, and enhances strength and compactness.

Related: These Are The Coolest Mods For Your Harley-Davidson Sportster

With its low-rise handlebars and mid-foot controls, it sets the rider in a comfortable posture, not to mention its low 27.8 inch seat height. This bike allows the rider to take those curves with more confidence and control.

The Nightster has a surprisingly longer wheelbase at 61.3 inches. The 32-degree lean angle improves the maneuverability and performs well on the twisties, but also makes for a great ride on the highway.

Taking those corners, you can be assured that Harley-Davidson will deliver a set of wheels of the highest quality, that will perform with this nimble and lightweight Nightster. And performance is one of the reasons why the new Nightster could be a game changer for Harley-Davidson.

The Nightster is fitted with a 16-inch rear wheel and a 19-inch front wheel. As for braking, the bike offers the single 320 mm disc at the front with the four-piston caliper and the 260 mm disc with the single-piston at the rear.

Cushioning the bumps, the Nightster features exposed dual rear shocks, reflecting the previous Sportster chassis. It comes fitted with the 41 mm Showa forks. But there are other shocks that may surprise.

The Nightster has been carefully designed to manage the weight distribution on the frame. Under the seat, we find the fuel tank, transferring the weight of the fuel on the chassis, meaning a lower center-of-gravity. The airbox has the appearance of a regular gas tank.

One of the sweet perks with the Nightster are the ride modes. You can take on different conditions with a selection of rain mode, sport mode or road mode, enhancing performance and give you the confidence of a better riding experience.

By adjusting the engine braking, power delivery, ABS and TCS (Traction Control System) settings, the modes give you more control and better handling. The rain mode controls the power and throttle response to enhance your confidence on those wet days. Road mode is for those day-to-day rides. Sport mode offers the quickest throttle response with full power.

Related: 14 Best Harley-Davidson Bikes Ever Made

Like a kid in a candy store, we want to take home the whole shop. Well, it feels like we can with the Harley-Davidson Nightster. The Nightster can be accessorized with saddlebags, detachable windshield, passenger seat, foot pegs and higher handlebars.

As we have seen, with all the sweeteners and the luscious enticements, there are numerous reasons why we'd rather ride a Nightster. And like every candy store with a welcoming mat, the Nightster is accommodating for beginners and more advanced riders. But it begs the question, how much will it cost me to take home this sweet ride?

Riding home with a 2022 Harley-Davidson Nightster will cost you from $13,499. Taking home one in Redline Red or Gunship Gray will mean an extra $400 at $13,899.

The 2022 Harley-Davidson Nightster certainly offers a sweet package for the price. It is a lightweight, compact bike with a powertrain that delivers on acceleration, power and performance. Add in all the sweeteners, like the ride modes, the accessories and more, the Nightster ticks the boxes. When you stamp that with the Sportster tradition and a strong identity as a Harley-Davidson, then the Nightster makes perfect sense as a great ride.

Joshua Irvine is a writer, researcher and historian. His interests include the history of the automobile industry, including the history of cars in pop culture and cinema. He holds a Bachelor of Social Science degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.