The Affordable Harley That’s Perfect For A First-Time Buyer

Harley-Davidson has long been all about big, burbly V-Twins. These cruiser bikes are high on drama and character but are seldom suitable for first-time riders or buyers. You need some sort of ice-breaker to woo new prospective Harley fans, which the marque did not offer until recent years with its new-age Revolution Max range. More importantly, the new range of cruisers is also priced at the lowest yet, with the cheapest 2025 Harley being under $11,000. The motorcycle in question packs the aforementioned Revolution Max mill and happens to curate the best experience for a first-time buyer wanting to enter the H-D world.

Among H-D cruiser motorcycles, this beginner-friendly offering packs the smallest engine of the bunch while being the least powerful, shortest, and most fuel-efficient. It makes for that with a low seat height and ample modern electronic assist features to be a solid cruiser with the charm that can transform a young buyer into an aspiring fan. With the recent serious tumble in Harley sales, this baby V-Twin cruiser has the makings of being a savior to revive the iconic motorcycle brand.

2025 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S accelerating front third quarter view

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A First-Time Buyer Will Love The 2025 Harley-Davidson Nightster's Engine

A High-Revving, Liquid-Cooled V-Twin With A Beginner-Friendly Attitude

Harley-Davidson Nightster

The highlighting feature of this baby Harley is its ground-up modern V-twin, which is tiny (by Harley-Davidson standards), with a displacement of 975cc. And it is one of the main reasons the Nightster is easier for new riders to tame. This is the smallest and least powerful engine of the Harley family today. But being "tiny" doesn't matter, as the Nightster still packs a punch that can put a wide grin on beginners and experienced riders alike.

Its power is laid out linearly across the rev band and peaks at 7,500 RPM—higher than almost all air-cooled big-twin Harley! The torque curve is meaty from 2,000 RPM and peaks at a sweet 5,750 RPM. The torque surge sure is "quick" for a beginner, but vital assistive features (which we will get to later) are in place to instill confidence. Power is sent to the rear wheel via a final belt drive coupled to a six-speed gearbox.

Engine Specs

Other Reasons Why The Harley-Davidson Nightster Is The Perfect Beginner's Choice

The Engine Is Just Half The Story!

Harley-Davidson

While the engine plays a vital role in welcoming new riders, that's just one side of the story. The other includes compact dimensions, practical ergonomics, a healthy dose of technology features, high fuel efficiency, cool looks, and, of course, a very affordable price tag. Here's how these criteria contribute to building a cool beginner V-twin Harley.

Compact Form Factor, Cool Looks, And An Accessible Seat Height

Harley-Davidson

Dimensions play a huge role in making or breaking a beginner motorcycle. Harley has hit the right spot with the Nightster as it is the lightest Harley-Davidson V-twin cruiser today, with a curb weight of just 481 pounds. It has a seat height of 27.1 inches, which is not the lowest among Harleys, but it fits well when factoring in other parameters. This formula should help new riders find it easy to navigate the Nightster, not just on wide open roads but also on tight urban ones.

In fact, the Nightster is one of the best urban-ready Harley-Davidson motorcycles today. Despite its 'compact' nature, Harley has still managed to replicate the visual essence of the iconic Sportster design. This is evident from the slim fuel tank, the 19/16-inch front/rear wheel size layout, and a noticeable 30-degree rake angle. The icing on the cake is the all-new color-shifting Snake Venom paint job offered with the Chrome trim.

Just The Right Technology And Assistive Features

Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson has judicially packed the Nightster with just the right amount of technology and safety features. You see, a beginner motorcycle rider shouldn't be bombarded with assistive features as it snatches away from the learning experience. But at the same time, things shouldn't be barebones, and the rider should not be left at the mercy of his judgment. There should be a balance of things, and we feel that the Nightster achieves this.

It has three ride modes that tweak the traction control, ABS, and throttle response to curate distinctive riding characters from the 975cc V-twin. Another notable feature is a slip control system that helps reduce excessive rear-wheel spin and also prevents wheel lock-up during hardcore downshifts. This also helps with ride control in slippery road conditions. Its instrument cluster is old-school: a 4-inch analog dial with a segmented LCD at the bottom that shows vital information like odometer readings, Trip A/B, gear position indicator, fuel range, a clock, fuel level, and ride mode indication.

Balances Performance And Efficiency Well

Harley-Davidson

The Nightster might be the least powerful Harley, but that doesn't make it boring. This baby V-twin cruiser does 0-60 in under 4 seconds and has a top speed of 120 mph. Its impressive power-to-weight of 0.1891 hp/lb is a prime contributor to its swift nature. That's the third-best power-to-weight ratio among Harley motorcycles. This is also why it has the highest fuel economy figure among 2025 Harley-Davidson models: 52 MPG. Its exciting acceleration time and efficient nature make it a perfect urban runabout while ensuring cozy mile-munching ease.

The Cheapest Harley-Davidson Today

Harley-Davidson

The cherry on top of this cake is its price tag. Harley-Davidson has surprised us all by slashing the price of the Nightster in 2025. It now sits at $10,499, $1,500 cheaper than the 2024 MY. This makes the baby Harley much more desirable and challenges its arch rivals harder.

Choose Between A Solo Or Two-Up Seat Layout

The Two-Up 2025 Harley-Davidson Nightster Special Is Also More Stacked

Rider on a 2024 Harley-Davidson Nightster Special

The "standard" Nightster is a single-seater Harley-Davidson, and it is priced under $11,000 because it aggressively cuts down on many features. This is evident when we look at the more stacked and two-up version of the same—the Nightster Special. Apart from having a pillion-friendly setup, the Special also comes with unique colors, vintage-styled 70s badging, and cooler-looking cast-aluminum wheels. It also flaunts a more relaxed rider triangle thanks to a slightly raised handlebar.

The-3-Year-Old-Harley-Davidson-Cruiser-You-Should-Buy-Used

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Before the Nightster Special, the Nightster had all the goodies and for a less expensive price

But the most impactful updates on the Nightster Special come from technology. Over the standard Nightster, it gets a fully digital 4-inch TFT screen with Bluetooth that offers hands-free features like voice recognition. It also has a USB port and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). There are a lot of features added over the standard version for a justifiable bump of $2,000. No wonder the Nightster Special is our recipient of the most VFM Harley-Davidson cruiser today.

Features Exclusive To The Harley-Davidson Nightster Special

• Headlight cowl
• Silver cast-aluminum wheels
• Passenger/pillion seat and footpegs
• A fully digital 4-inch round TFT display
• More relaxed ergonomics courtesy of a raised handlebar
• Distinctive visual tweaks, including color options and tank badging

Things Get Sweeter With A Used Harley-Davidson Nightster

Used Prices Start From $6,700

Christian Pierce / Top Speed

If you are on a tighter budget but still want to get your hands on this wholesome Harley, there is a way. Used Nightster models, especially the 2022 MY ones, sell for about 30 percent less than a brand-new one. Since there have been no major upgrades to the engine and platform, there's not much you will lose out on when opting for a used model. Some insanely sweet low-mileage models are selling for under $9,000, including this 2022 Nightster with just 5 miles on the odo. But as we always state, buying a used motorcycle always has an element of risk attached, so kindly research and proceed cautiously.

Battle Of The Cheapest Beginner-Friendly American V-Twin Cruisers

Harley-Davidson Nightster Vs Indian Scout Sixty Bobber

Harley-Davidson

The smallest Harley-Davidson V-Twin powers the Nightster, which is also the smallest American V-Twin motorcycle in 2025. The Indian Scout Sixty Bobber is its arch-nemesis and it has a marginally bigger V-twin. However, it produces less power and torque while also being let down on the versatility front with a 5-speed gearbox. It sure wins the visual drama game with a more old-school-vibing charm, though.

Indian Motorcycle

While marginal, the Scout takes a hit when it comes to agility. On paper, it has a longer wheelbase. Couple this with its extra weight, and the Indian cruiser bike should be less practical in urban conditions. However, the Scout Sixty Bobber has a triumph card in price, starting from $9,999. The difference between this and Harley's pricing has come down from last year, but the Indian is still cheaper.

Specs And Prices Compared