Like most Harley-Davidsons, the Night-Rod Special is a rolling contradiction; it's an efficient commuter that's difficult to ride in heavy traffic, a well-tuned tourer that becomes uncomfortable on long rides and a kick-ass, show-them-who's-boss power cruiser that's a real pain to keep looking good because its matte black paint shows every speck of dirt and can't simply be wiped down with a squirt of polish.
The Harley-Davidson Night-Rod Special is an urban warrior for riders who wear 'distressed' leather, who make a fashion statement out of always looking a little scruffy. It has so much attitude it would be faintly ridiculous if it didn't back it up with solid, no-nonsense straight-line performance.
But it does.