Harley-davidson V-rod vs Harley-davidson Nightster
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Harley-davidson V-rod vs Harley-davidson Nightster. Harley-davidson V-rod: 122 hp @ 8,250 rpm (2012+ V-Rod Muscle; original 2002 model produced ~115 hp) hp, 295 kg (wet/curb weight — V-Rod Muscle variant) weight, top speed 225 km/h, Motoryk rating 7.5/10. Harley-davidson Nightster: 89 hp @ 7,500 rpm hp, 220 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 185 km/h (estimated), Motoryk rating 7.8/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Harley-davidson V-rod
Harley-davidson Nightster
Horsepower (hp)
122 hp
89 hp
Torque (Nm)
116 Nm
95 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
225 km/h
185 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
295 kg
220 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
122 hp @ 8,250 rpm (2012+ V-Rod Muscle; original 2002 model produced ~115 hp)
89 hp @ 7,500 rpm
Torque
116 Nm @ 7,000 rpm
95 Nm @ 5,000 rpm
Top Speed
225 km/h
185 km/h (estimated)
Weight
295 kg (wet/curb weight — V-Rod Muscle variant)
220 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
7.5 L/100km (approximately 13.3 km/L) — estimated real-world average
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Harley-davidson V-rod
7.5/10
"A genuinely capable cruiser that rewards riders who do their homework."
Pros
+Porsche-developed engine is exceptional
+Genuinely strong top-end power
+Handles better than expected
Cons
−Parts increasingly hard to find
−Heavy and awkward parking lot
−Specialist servicing costs hurt
Harley-davidson Nightster
7.8/10
"A genuinely good motorcycle that earns respect beyond the badge."
Pros
+Revolution Max engine is excellent
+Actually corners with confidence
+Low, manageable seat height
Cons
−Stock seat is punishment
−Cramped for tall riders
−Limited wind protection
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
