MR R Burns, noted Scottish bard, wrote "to see ourselves as others see us" about a nit. Not the nit on the Harley-Davidson Nightster (me) but a nit found in the hair, writes Tony Long.

I've included the photo to show the smooth lines of one of H-Ds sleekest models and also the dangers of taking too much leg length off a new pair of Draggin Jeans.

It also proves that H-D knows a lot more than I do trimming down bulk and weight. I really have to do something about my waistline!

And now to condense Harley's history and place the Sportster into perspective.

It was 105 years ago that the company began building compact machines with more bicycle than motor.

As H-D grew, so did the bikes, the better to carry riders around the gigantic American continent.

The familiar V-twin engine grew in capacity and the cycle parts (mudguards, fuel tanks etc) became larger for rider comfort and protection - large windscreens and leather saddlebags became the established dresser' H-D style.

Fifty-one years ago, to combat imported (notably UK) bikes that were lighter, slimmer, better handling and able to leave those big dressers on the turns, the K model Sportster was developed.

Today's XL designated Sporties derive from those first sports models that took Harley to the winners' podium on race tracks and provided two-wheel hot rod fans with lighter, quicker handling, tuneable machines.

Often Sportsters are dismissed as not a real Harley' or a girls bike' - wrong, they provide plenty of joy and thrills on the road and respond best to being treated as what they really are, a lighter H-D sporting bike. Not an all-out American sports bike though - that would be a Buell.

Harley-Davidson offers a wide selection of big twin cruisers, tourers and custom-style bikes - go for one of those if that's the style you are after.

If a nippy, torquey, slick and sleek V-twin from the land of opportunity is your want, then try a Sportster - and yes, they are cheaper than the big twins.

H-D is all about option; XLs come in two engine sizes - 883cc and 1,200cc - and eight styles.

The company's products have provided the source for customisation (personalisation or individualisation if you prefer) and so been treated by the kiss of hacksaws and grinding wheels and the swapping of parts for something better'.

H-D saw this and began designing bikes with a custom look.

In this case it's the XL1200N Nightster, a minimalist machine with no rear light - the rear led indicators serve as rear marker, turn signals and brake light - a solo saddle and many parts that reflect what's going on in the aftermarket scene.

After a few weeks with a matt black (in my opinion a perfect colour option for this bike and an obvious match for the grey engine) Nightster I became very partial to the 1,200cc engined XL.

It had loads of grunt off the line (72lb/ft of it), power to make it comfortable on long rides and handling that allowed me to enjoy that power through bends.

The minimal look is carried over to the instrumentisation - you get a speedo, that's all you need to know what's legal anyway.

The feelers' on the mid-mounted foot pegs were longer when I first rode it than when it went back. They grounded out a little earlier than I'd like, but no problem - I just held the bike down through bends (the pegs pivot up) and that problem was soon gone in a trail of metal fillings.

Power plants are now rubber-mounted and fuel-injected, so don't display the raw feel of older Sporties.

But that's no bad thing, I was able to spend hours in the low (just 642.6mm off the ground) saddle without suffering from aches and pains. But, and this had to be mentioned, riders don't sit in the saddle for hours at a time due to the fuel tank only holding 12.5 litres of liquid gold.

Where there's a will though, there's a way. A pal toured France on his flat track Sportster and overcame the problem by strapping a petrol can on the back.

The Nightster provided all my solo requirements - no pillion and only able to carry what I could cram into my pockets and a backpack (pretty much standard for sports bikes any), although soft luggage could be added for trips.

That's how to overcome any shortcomings of the XL1200N, if you really need to.

I found it gave me back the simple things in biking - fun and enjoyment on a machine that is basically an engine and two wheels, a hot rod in fact.

On a personal note, I must diet and stop using fabric glue to take up my jeans - know a good seamstress?