2007 Harley-Davidson XL 1200N - Nightster On The Prowl

Dunlop 401 tires wrapped around black-rimmed laced-steel rims hugged the road tightly enough to reach the roughly 30-degree lean limits on either side. Up front, a standard two-piston caliper stops well enough with help from the rear's single-piston unit. Blacked-out, low-rise handlebars, controls, and speedo keep with the dark theme of the bike while providing a comfortable riding position. Clutch effort is very manageable, as is the shifting from the well-honed XL five-speed gearbox. Our test bike came with the two-tone brilliant silver denim and black denim paint option that adds $395 to the $9,595 MSRP for a Vivid Black version. Other new two-tone color options are mirage orange pearl and vivid black, olive pearl denim and black denim, and suede blue pearl and vivid black. The denim hues are matte finishes that complement the lack of chrome very well. H-D used a satin metal treatment on the gas cap, oil dipstick, and headlamp trim ring-these little touches make a stock bike like this come off as custom.

In fact, there isn't a place on this bike that wasn't thought about and gone over. It works from an aesthetic standpoint, as well as being one heck of a fun ride. Are you going to want to tour the country on it? Probably not. But if you want to have that feeling of pure unadulterated two-wheeled fun, this bike is for you. The new breed of Sportys no longer qualifies as the paint-shakers of yesteryear. Instead, you get all the Sporty's traditional torque, agility, and attitude combined with the reliable technology of today. Stop into your local H-D dealer, or go online at www.harley-davidson.com to see more specs and colors.