The Harley-Davidson Nightster is the most affordable MoCo motorcycle in Canada this year. PHOTO CREDIT: Harley-Davidson
So, let’s talk about tariffs.
If you haven’t noticed, the chatter over the winter has been all about tariffs. The U.S. government has been signaling plans to impose tariffs on Canadian goods, prompting us to respond with our own tariffs on American products, including motorcycles. As a result, Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcycles are expected to see price increases until this situation is resolved… with a couple of exceptions.
First, Harley-Davidson successfully imported a significant number of motorcycles into Canada before any tariffs were implemented, which helped maintain lower prices. Smart move.
Additionally, Harley-Davidson shifted its Sport and Adventure production lines overseas in 2024, moving away from the York, Pennsylvania plant (originally intended for EV production); these models are now made in Thailand. This may help them evade tariffs in Canada and Europe (despite previous disputes with European trade courts). Regardless of tariff implications, moving production to Thailand, where costs are lower, will likely aid in keeping prices down.
Producing in Thailand and importing bikes before tariffs have helped keep the Nightster’s price reasonable this year. PHOTO CREDIT: Harley-Davidson
We are already witnessing the benefits with the 2024-model Harley-Davidson Nightster. The Nightster serves as a replacement for the previous Sportster 883, featuring its air-cooled EVO engine. It boasts a 975cc liquid-cooled engine, which is the smaller version of the Revolution Max engine found in the Pan America adventure bike, just as the earlier EVO engines were available in two sizes.
As of March 2025, Harley-Davidson lists the Nightster at an MSRP of $12,499 in Canada, provided you’re okay with the Billiard Gray color option (upgrading to fancy trims or paint will increase the cost). This is only about $500 more than the last edition of the 2021 Sportster 883, which utilized outdated technology and was produced using antiquated tools on a design that has long since been paid off. Given the decline of the CAD against the USD and the expectation of continued unfavorable exchange rates in the coming months, this might be the ideal time to purchase an entry-level Harley.
On the last Christmas Eve, 8-year-old Jacobe Cook caused his parents quite a fright when he started having difficulty breathing and his lips turned blue.
Jacobe had begun to feel unwell the day before and has a history of pneumonia. However, this year’s Christmas 2023 was particularly traumatic for his family as his condition deteriorated rapidly, necessitating a trip to the Freeman Hospital.
Mum, Sarah Roberts, first took him to an urgent care center, then to North Tees Hospital. Initially, the medical staff suspected he had a stomach bug and sent him home, instructing his parents to monitor his condition closely. Sarah and dad Gary did just that, but on Christmas Eve, things took a turn for the worse.
Sarah recounted, “Jacobe was up all night being sick, maintaining a high temperature and complaining of pain in his shoulders and back. By the next morning, on Christmas Eve, he struggled to breathe.”
“We quickly took him back to urgent care and, while we were waiting, his condition worsened significantly. He was working hard to breathe; his lips had turned blue, and his arms and hands were turning purple. He was immediately seen by a doctor who administered oxygen and suspected he might be septic.”
Jacobe Cook with his parents Gary and Sarah -Credit:Sick Children’s Trust
An ambulance quickly transported us back to North Tees Hospital, where Jacobe underwent numerous assessments to rule out meningitis or any infection. An x-ray revealed that he was suffering from severe pneumonia in his left lung, leading to him being kept on oxygen and started on antibiotics.
At this point, Sarah noted that her son was “really poorly,” and they faced a nerve-wracking Christmas Day when a doctor informed them that Jacobe was in serious condition and had fluid in his lungs. She explained, “Hearing that was extremely worrying and frightening for us. A scan was needed to confirm the fluid, but it couldn’t be done until Boxing Day due to the reduced staff.”
The scan confirmed the presence of fluid, but the type was uncertain, prompting a transfer to Freeman Hospital for specialized care. Sarah shared, “We arrived on December 28 and suddenly realized we were an hour away from home, our son was critically ill in hospital, and we had nowhere to stay.”
They stayed at the hospital that first night, and as they tried to figure out their accommodations, the nurses informed them about Scott House, a ‘Home from Home’ that provides accommodation for families with hospitalized children.
Scott House, run by the charity Sick Children’s Trust, offers families a place to stay during their child’s hospitalization. Sarah described it as “an absolute lifesaver.” It provided everything they needed and kept them just minutes away from Jacobe.
“I was determined to stay at the hospital regardless, since I couldn’t be away from Jacobe. The limited space in the wards meant Gary could be with us and then return to Scott House for some rest. Without it, our only option would have been to sleep in the waiting rooms. We couldn’t afford a hotel, especially not knowing how long Jacobe would be in the hospital,” she said.
With everything transpiring during Christmas, Sarah noted, “It made everything feel much more challenging. Traditionally, it’s a joyful time, but to us, it felt like everything had come to a standstill. The hospital had Christmas decorations, and staff kindly gifted Jacobe presents, which was wonderful. However, his illness made us hesitant to celebrate.”
Due to Jacobe’s condition, she explained, “Our lives were essentially paused. The presents under the tree at home remained wrapped, and we didn’t see any family.” She continued, “In reality, Christmas took a back seat for us. We were entirely focused on his recovery.”
Over the following days and into the New Year, the NHS staff worked to drain the fluid from Jacob’s chest. By January 4, it became evident that surgery was required to remove an “empyema,” a pus-filled sac that had caused his lung to collapse.
Thankfully, Jacobe recovered and was discharged on January 12. Sarah commented on her son’s progress since then, stating, “Jacobe has had a few episodes of pneumonia since, but each was managed successfully with antibiotics.”
“Now he’s doing so much better, full of energy, and back to his usual self. He’s looking forward to Christmas, and we can’t wait to have a big roast dinner and spend quality time together as a family, relaxing and playing,” she expressed.
“We will always be thankful to The Sick Children’s Trust for their amazing support at Scott House. If you’re able to contribute to their Christmas appeal, please consider doing so – your donation will mean a great deal to families trying to remain close to their seriously ill children, just as we did.”
