The 2026 Triumph Bonneville Bobber combines classic styling with modern performance, powered by a 1200cc liquid-cooled parallel twin delivering 77 bhp and strong mid-range torque. Ideal for riders seeking authentic bobber character with everyday usability, it features premium Showa and KYB suspension, dual riding modes, and a slip-and-assist clutch for confident handling. Best known for its minimalist aesthetic and genuine retro appeal backed by contemporary technology.
The 2026 Harley-Davidson Nightster is a middleweight cruiser designed for riders seeking modern performance in a compact, nimble package. Its 481-pound frame, responsive handling geometry, and 91-horsepower Milwaukee-Eight engine deliver accessible power and agility, making it ideal for both new and experienced riders exploring urban riding and lighter touring.
Both are cruisers, so this is a like-for-like choice.
2026 Triumph Bonneville Bobber: Built primarily for stylish, relaxed cruising and short-to-medium rides where looks and feel matter as much as outright capability.
2026 Harley-Davidson Nightster: Built primarily for stylish street cruising and weekend riding rather than outright speed or long-distance touring.
Verdict: Choose the 2026 Harley-Davidson Nightster if you want more power and lighter weight. Check the full table below for every figure, and the size comparison for fit.
| Specification | 2026 Triumph Bonneville Bobber | 2026 Harley-Davidson Nightster |
|---|---|---|
| Other | ||
| Category | Cruiser | Cruiser |
| Fuel Tank Material | Metal | Plastic |
| Rake | 25.4 deg | 30 |
| Engine | ||
| Capacity: | 1200.0 ccm (73.23 cubic inches) | 975.1 ccm (59.50 cubic inches) |
| CO2 Emissions | ✓105 CO2 g/km | ✓128 CO2 g/km |
| EPA Certificate No. | TTDXC1.20DBO-016 | - |
| EPA Est. Fuel Consumption | 4.49 L/100km (52.4 US mpg) | 5.45 L/100km (43.2 US mpg) |
| EPA CO Emissions | 2.0 CO g/km | 1.2 CO g/km |
| Engine Type | Parallel Twin, four-stroke | V-Twin, four-stroke |
| Bore x Stroke | 97.6 x 80.0 mm (3.8 x 3.1 inches) | 97.0 x 66.0 mm (3.8 x 2.6 inches) |
| Compression | 10.0:1 | 12.0:1 |
| Cooling System | Liquid | Air |
| Fuel System | Injection | Injection |
| Starting | Electric | Electric |
| Ignition | Digital-inductive type via engine management system | - |
| Aspiration | Naturally aspirated | Naturally aspirated |
| Valves Per Cylinder | 4 | 4 |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 76.9 HP (57.5 kW) @ 6100 RPM | ✓91.0 HP (66.9 kW) @ 7500 RPM |
| Torque | ✓106.0 Nm (10.8 kgf-m or 78.2 ft.lbs) @ 4000 RPM | 97.6 Nm (10.0 kgf-m or 72.0 ft.lbs) @ 5750 RPM |
| Power/Weight Ratio | 0.3373 HP/kg (dry) | 0.4342 HP/kg (dry) |
| Chassis & suspension | ||
| Frame | Tubular steel, with steel cradles | - |
| Front Suspension | Showa 1.85 in (47mm) cartridge forks | 41mm (1.6 in) SHOWA® Dual Bending Valve conventional forks. Aluminum fork triple clamps. |
| Rear Suspension | KYB monoshock RSU with linkage and preload adjustment | Rear suspension is dual outboard, direct-acting (no linkage) emulsion technology shock absorbers with coil springs and a threaded collar for pre-load adjustment. |
| Front Wheel Travel | 90 mm (3.5 inches) | - |
| Rear Wheel Travel | 77 mm (3.0 inches) | - |
| Rake (fork angle) | 24.5° | 30.0° |
| Trail | 92 mm (3.6 inches) | 137 mm (5.4 inches) |
| Ground Clearance | - | 109 mm (4.3 inches) |
| Transmission | ||
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 6-speed |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Final Drive | Chain | Belt |
| Clutch | Wet, multi-plate assist clutch | Multi-plate with diaphragm spring in oil bath |
| Brakes & wheels | ||
| Front Brakes | Twin 12.2 in (310mm) fixed discs, Brembo 2-piston floating calipers, OCABS | Front: axially mounted, 4-piston caliper; Rear: floating, single piston caliper |
| Front Brakes Diameter | 310 mm (12.2 inches) | - |
| Rear Brakes | Single 10 in (255mm) disc, Nissin single piston floating caliper, OCABS | Expanding brake (drum brake). ABS. Floating, single piston caliper |
| Rear Brakes Diameter | 255 mm (10.0 inches) | - |
| Front Tyre | MT90B16 | 100/90-19 57H |
| Rear Tyre | 150/80 R16 | 150/80B16 77H |
| ABS | - | Yes |
| Dimensions & weight | ||
| Wheelbase | 1500 mm (59.1 inches) | 1544 mm (60.8 inches) |
| Overall Length | 2225 mm (87.6 inches) | 2250 mm (88.6 inches) |
| Overall Width | 800 mm (31.5 inches) | 838 mm (33.0 inches) |
| Overall Height | 1055 mm (41.5 inches) | - |
| Seat Height | 690 mm (27.2 inches) | ✓688 mm (27.1 inches) |
| Dry weight | 228.0 kg (502.7 pounds) | ✓209.6 kg (462.1 pounds) |
| Wet Weight | 251.0 kg (553.4 pounds) | ✓218.2 kg (481.0 pounds) |
| Fuel Capacity | ✓12.00 litres (3.17 US gallons) | 11.70 litres (3.09 US gallons) |
| Oil capacity | 4.50 litres (4.76 US quarts) | 4.50 litres (4.76 US quarts) |
"Best" (✓) reflects that single spec only, not overall suitability - a bike can win on paper and still be the wrong choice for you. Ties are all marked; specs with no clear better/worse direction (e.g. displacement, wheel size) are never marked, only tinted where bikes differ.
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This tool puts up to four motorcycles side by side across their full specification sheets, drawn from a database of 43,000+ models and 1.60M+ individual specifications. Wherever a spec has a clear "better" direction - more power, less weight - the strongest figure in that row is highlighted automatically.
Pick a make, model and year for each bike; the model and year lists update to match what you've selected. Two bikes are enough - use "Add another bike" for a third or fourth. Comparisons work across model years too, so you can compare a bike against its own earlier generation. Once you're happy with the lineup, use "Copy share link" to send it to someone else.
Specs are pulled from the same categories used throughout the site: engine and transmission (capacity, power, torque, gearbox), physical measures (weight, seat height, fuel and tank capacity), frame and dimensions, speed and acceleration, and brakes, suspension, frame and wheels (including tyres) - plus general information and maintenance data where it's on record for a bike.
A highlighted cell means one bike has the clearly better raw number for that spec - more power, less weight, and so on. Fields where "better" genuinely depends on the rider - seat height above all - are deliberately never highlighted: a lower seat isn't automatically the right choice, it's a fit question only you can answer. Winning a row also isn't the same as winning the comparison - a bike can lead on paper in half the rows and still be the wrong bike for you.
Yes - the tool doesn't restrict what you compare, though a highlighted spec means less when the two bikes aren't really doing the same job.
It shows as "-" and is never highlighted as a winner - a missing figure never beats one that's actually reported, and never blocks the rest of the row.
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