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My Dad is in a "motorcycle club" (more accurately, a POW/MIA and veterans' affairs group that just so happens to ride motorcycles). Anyhow, he met a guy there who works at a Harley dealer, and scored me an amazing deal on my new gas saver: a 2009 Harley Davidson XL1200N Nightster in Vivid Black and Mirage Orange Pearl two tone. Unfortunately it does have EFI (being a bit of a luddite, thats a bigass negative), but it can reasonably easily be re-fitted with the carbs a throwback bike like this should have, and unlike the others the dealer was going to be getting in stock, it also doesn't have the security system. And, it's American made by an American company :flag: . The best part? I'm getting it for MSRP, which never happens at an HD dealer, and they aren't even charging dealer prep. Amazing!

Now, all I have to do is find the fast forward button for mid-August, which is when it comes in :(

Good luck with it. I wish I could get my wife on one. Then I would by one in a heartbeat.

Hi Jcp123:

___What does Harley rate it for (FE wise) per the EPA emissions testing?

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Please, for the love of all that is good, do not make the exhaust loud.

Hi Jcp123:

___What does Harley rate it for (FE wise) per the EPA emissions testing?

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Harley claims 42 city and 57 hwy for the 1200's as opposed to 45/60 for the 883's. Based on my experience with my 1100 Shadow, I'd say the hwy rating is a bit optimistic and the city rating too low - I averaged 47-50mpg just going to work and back, but only got a high of 53 on longer country jaunts. Then again, comparing an air-cooled, heavy-flywheeled pushrod twin to a water-cooled, light-flywheeled SOHC twin may be apples to oranges...

Congrats! I picked up my 08 Street Bob about a month and a half ago. Believe me, you won't mind the EFI. It feels like you're in an alternate universe where bikes just start up when you push a button, as opposed to kick kick kick. Haven't had any problems in the first ~750 miles

Of course, New England is now cursed to have rain every afternoon this summer because I bought a new bike...

Also, those nightsters are easy on the eyes. Good job.

Please, for the love of all that is good, do not make the exhaust loud. make sure that is it super super quiet , the kind that no one can hear, because that way, when drivers that do not see you riding next to them can just plow on to you, and you will not make one bit of noise. making your bike louder than stock so there is a least a chance of you to be noticed comes secondary to my momentary comfort, I mean , geeshh, with your loud bike, I can not talk on the phone while driving, bikers are so rude.


I edited your post, just one little bit, hope you dont mind.
:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Congratulations on that beautiful bike. Riding a bike is a great feeling, and very fuel efficient too ! Thumbs up.

let's hope that they dont leak oil as much as the older ones used to. ;)

Congratulations on that beautiful bike. Riding a bike is a great feeling, and very fuel efficient too ! Thumbs up.

let's hope that they dont leak oil as much as the older ones used to. ;)

Naw, Harley cleaned up all those problems (literally) when they bought themselves out of AMF in the 80's. They've gotten to be pretty reliable bikes.

I understand that the EFI's are pretty seamless, my Dad's Victory Vegas is EFI'd and rides pretty well...nevertheless, bikes should be the essence of simple, and like my car, I simply prefer not having computers on board. Hence why I have no cell phone either :D

The exhaust will be done for looks more than any particular noise level. I'm more of a sound quality than sound volume guy myself, but in this case if the look is right, then the volume will be right by default :D

Good for You!!!

The nightster is a very fine looking machine. You will be glad that you bought the 1200.

Chris

I edited your post, just one little bit, hope you dont mind.
:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Ya, you'll need an aftermarket exhaust to move from being 10x louder than any car on the road to 100x louder in order for other motorists to hear you. Who cares that your ears are being demolished by 120 dbs... :rolleyes:

Kirk

Now, I don't mind a hearty flame-fest, so let me weigh in on loud pipes. :D

Most accidents occur when someone crosses the road in front of a rider. The noise from the pipes is traveling backwards behind the rider for the most part so the car turning in front of the rider doesn't really have a chance to hear the pipes. From a safety standpoint -- basically useless.

What loud pipes actually do is create negative opinions about bikers, increase rider fatigue (thus increasing the likelihood of an accident), and disturb the peace. I have as much respect for loud pipes as I do for thumpmobiles -- I'm just waiting for someone to perfect a high power HERF gun which will discretely mount in the front of a car -- that would make for some good and righteous mayhem (and bad MPGs for the recharge phase). Now, there are no electronics in loud pipes so the Harleys are safe ..... except perhaps for the EFI models. :D

HERF-zap ... engine dies till all the electronics are replaced ... I should order some capacitors, find an old microwave, and start working on a silent trigger ... :lightning: ...

Gettin totally OT about the pipes...the ones I get will be the ones I get, end of discussion.

Anyhow, talked to the sales rep today, he said it may be in a little early even. Not too early, I hope, I'd like to get some more $$ saved before I head down there...but then again, the sooner I start riding, the sooner I save on gas. :D I've found a package of accessories I'd like to get that includes a little luggage rack behind the solo seat, some engine guards, and a windshield for longer trips. Now I just have to find a springer seat...

From the sounds of it, you've ridden before? Congrats on the new bike. I've been going to test rides for several years, and, although I'm not a cruiser rider (prefer something that can take the twisty hill roads here), H-D has been making some great machines lately. They learned from the mistakes of the past, and have expanded their range somewhat to attract more riders.
Keep the shiny side up, watch out for the 4-wheelers, and PLEASE wear a helmet!

From the sounds of it, you've ridden before? Congrats on the new bike. I've been going to test rides for several years, and, although I'm not a cruiser rider (prefer something that can take the twisty hill roads here), H-D has been making some great machines lately. They learned from the mistakes of the past, and have expanded their range somewhat to attract more riders.
Keep the shiny side up, watch out for the 4-wheelers, and PLEASE wear a helmet!

Yeah, My Dad and I have had our licenses since last October. Not so many twisties here. I've had experience riding a Shadow 600, a Shadow Sabre 1100 which was mine, a Kawi Vulcan 1600 (a real tank), and a Victory Vegas. Always with a brain bucket!

I've always wanted a bobber bike, and when HD did half the work for me and covered it with a 2-year warrantee, I couldn't say no.

Doesn't matter how loud your harley is. People can only hear you if your front of them.

Just try your best to stay out of peoples blind spots and assume when anyone gets near you on the road they are trying to kill you.

I've been riding motorcycles for 17 years and only one minor wreck when old lady in a caddy pulls out in front of me lauching me over her hood. Luckily I was 16 at the time and nearly indestructible, If that happened now i wouldn't be able to walk for weeks.
Oh and see claimed i was speeding and should pay for damage to her car. The nerve!! still pisses me off today.

Doesn't matter how loud your harley is. People can only hear you if your front of them.

Only if you're traveling close to Mach 1. I haven't seen a stock Harley that can do that.

Kirk

Got to take a demo ride of the Nightster :) it's everything I expected. Plus being 5'8" it fit my frame much better than most bikes...

As much as I LOVE my Street Bob, there are certain times when I wish I had a nightster too. I love the two tone with the green!

If I had my druthers, I think I would have the Nightster for one up and a Street Glide for two up. And my Dyna. And a Triumph Bonne Thruxton. And a Vincent Black Shadow. ...

Anybody want to buy an 81 Yamaha XS850? 27,000 mi, $1200 OBO? PM me (thought I'd throw that in there, not too OT).

I love the quiet power of my Goldwing. Just a silky smooth hum at highway speeds and kind of a WHOOOOO when you open the throttle. Boring? Yes, I suppose so, but exactly what I want for long rides. The 30 year old bike runs like new but only averages low to mid 40s MPG so I ride smaller bikes around town.

Q

Wel, it just came in!

http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=14833