Nightster characteristics?
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Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2008
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Nightster characteristics?
I bought an 07 nightster with 2900 mi on it for my girlfriend this weekend. I didn't get much of a chance to test ride it because it was raining and I had to drive 14 hrs to pick it and get back home with it that day. When I did get it home I unloaded it and a buddy of mine took it down the road to try it out ( mainly because he always wanted one and bought a Kawa instead).
He brought it back and told me he thought it was missing badly. This bike has been sitting up and not run for at least 6 months so we both agreed that it may be bad gas. I siphoned the tank dry as I could and then filled it with fresh gas. I then ran it all over town to get the "bad gas" out of it and see if it straightened up.
I'm now almost convinced that its straightened out and possibly was nothing wrong with it to begin with. My friend is VERY conservative with the RPMs when he rides and I'm thinking he was just lugging the engine. In higher RPMs it runs smooth with lots of power and I only notice the studdering when its turning really low RPMs. I've never rode a sportster before and I'm wondering if this is normal. It also seems to have a severe vibration after revving the engine just before the speed drops to idle. Also it seems to take longer for the RPM to drop compared to my softtail. I thought maybe this might be because of the Rinehart slippons and lack of back pressure. Does this sound like typical sportster behavior or should I get the bike looked at?
He brought it back and told me he thought it was missing badly. This bike has been sitting up and not run for at least 6 months so we both agreed that it may be bad gas. I siphoned the tank dry as I could and then filled it with fresh gas. I then ran it all over town to get the "bad gas" out of it and see if it straightened up.
I'm now almost convinced that its straightened out and possibly was nothing wrong with it to begin with. My friend is VERY conservative with the RPMs when he rides and I'm thinking he was just lugging the engine. In higher RPMs it runs smooth with lots of power and I only notice the studdering when its turning really low RPMs. I've never rode a sportster before and I'm wondering if this is normal. It also seems to have a severe vibration after revving the engine just before the speed drops to idle. Also it seems to take longer for the RPM to drop compared to my softtail. I thought maybe this might be because of the Rinehart slippons and lack of back pressure. Does this sound like typical sportster behavior or should I get the bike looked at?
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 743
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From: Cape Town
Gear ratio.
When i first got my nighty,I was surprised at the gear ratio to speed range,man these bikes don't like slow trafic.sitting in 40 km/h trafic i have to cruise in 3rd,over 70km\h it's as happy as can be.
It doesnt help the bike being a trafic stopper and the cars slowing to look at your ride.LOL.
Hope you get hours of happy ridding done.
It doesnt help the bike being a trafic stopper and the cars slowing to look at your ride.LOL.
Hope you get hours of happy ridding done.
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18
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From: Durham, North Carolina
see and with my 09, i thought something was wrong and have been back to the mech twice, but ya'll are right, they don't like to sit in traffic!
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6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 12
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From: St. Clair Shores, MI
I bought a used 08 with 700 miles on it, stock air intake, and Rush slip ons with 2" baffles. I had the same problems you're discussing.
I pulled the plugs and they were really white, (too lean). I was so close to the 1000 mile tune up I took it into the dealer and they re-mapped the computer to match the exhaust/air intake set up.
She runs great now! Warming up does take a while, but after she's hot no problems!
I pulled the plugs and they were really white, (too lean). I was so close to the 1000 mile tune up I took it into the dealer and they re-mapped the computer to match the exhaust/air intake set up.
She runs great now! Warming up does take a while, but after she's hot no problems!
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