Now comes the first information about the Pan America model year 2023!
Right at the market launch, Harley-Davidson its own Pan America accessories . The Pan America Adventure Bike from Harley-Davidson has been on the market since 2021. It's time to look around and see who among the manufacturers is interested in the well-off Harley-Davidson clientele and can shine with a good product range for the Pan America.
Before we refer to the providers of other accessories, a few general words about Pan America.
If you look back over the last 1 1/2 years, you can really say that Harley-Davidson has done a good job with the Pan America. I am still of the opinion that the target group lies less with the largest competitor, BMW.
I know a lot of Harley riders who have got the Pan America as an additional bike in their garage, and they are often older bikers, which is surprising at first. In the second moment you notice that some of them are very sporty guys who are just up for something like that.
Pan America 1250 Special Harley Davidson
Who are the customers for Pan America?
There are certainly some new customers from the Yamaha camp, because it doesn't look like Yamaha is placing a 1200 Supertenere in Germany at the moment and if you want displacement with plenty of power, the Pan America definitely on your shortlist.
In addition, many Harley-Davidson dealers, salespeople and employees are electrified and after Harley-Davidson delivered the Quickshifter (automatic shifter) for many other interested parties in the 2022 model year, it was initially hard to get. By September the situation will be back to normal and anyone who wants one now will almost certainly be able to get one from their authorized Harley dealer.
Pan America cockpit
The Pan America was not spared from teething problems
When it comes to teething problems it was a bit strange, it's clear, there's always something and basically you'll find it with every manufacturer. The Pan America had software problems with some models, anyone who was affected really had a problem. If it had been a component, the matter is quickly clear, but with software it becomes complicated when it only affects individual models and they are all actually supplied with the same software.
One solution lies in the operation; when starting up the software or starting it from a cold start, you have to give it time until everything is loaded and only then start the engine. If you are too hectic, you may have to expect that the system will not be fully loaded and that a warning light will light up if it starts at all. I had this problem once when I was still in the learning phase, but it was quickly resolved with a restart. You have a 2-year manufacturer's warranty and a 2-year follow-up warranty.
Harley-Davidson Pan America 2023
According to current information, there will be no changes to the Pan America next year; according to Harleysite information, there is more likely to be a further price increase for the Pan America 2023.
In the spring I already reported on the leak about the Pan America 975 and 975S, which showed that these model names appeared in the online accessories catalog, where they have now disappeared again. In Germany, the 975 Revolution Max was already expected for the Pan America this year. According to current information heard on the radio, there will be no smaller engine variant on the German market in 2023 either.
This is particularly annoying for interested bikers with small driving licenses. They'll probably have to convert a Sportster Nightster into an Enduro.
The other Pan America accessories providers
It has to be said that some well-known companies have jumped on the Pan America bandwagon. Hepco & Becker has long been known for its luggage systems and also has some accessories for the Pan America in its range.
This includes a side stand plate made of aluminum, the enlarged standing area is particularly suitable for the terrain or soft ground. Also for tough use, there is a powder-coated handle guard made of solid tubular steel, which is mounted in front of the standard handle guard. A stainless steel heat shield and of course various pannier rack systems for the Pan America.
K&M Harleyworld has special holders for TomTom and Garmin
The Harley-Davidson authorized dealer Hämmerle in Allgäu , for example, is one of the Harley-Davidson authorized dealers who are fully involved in the Pan America matter. He had some parts developed for the models himself, including cases and special holders for TomTom Rider and the Garmin XT Zumo.
MRA Vario Touring Screen and Disc
MRA is particularly specialized in windows and spoilers . Upon request from MRA, development has already been completed and a production date is expected shortly - as of August 23, 2022. This is for the information of those who would like to use this manufacturer. Anyone who has already had good experiences with them when it comes to windows or spoilers will be happy to know that there is also something in the pipeline for the Pan America.
Lowering kit from MIZU
MIZU has a lowering for the Pan America with ABE in its program. This means you can lower the Pan America by 25mm to get a little closer to a secure position.
SW-MOTECH accessories for the Pan America
SW-MOTECH has listed an extensive range of accessories for the Pan America. The manufacturer of motorcycle accessories is a leader in the field of tank bags, bags, suitcases and other attachments that are intended to protect the Harley-Davidson adventure bike. SW-MOTECH is the official supplier for the large ALU cases with the Harley-Davidson brand, which can only be purchased through authorized Harley-Davidson dealers.
However, you have to look for something in the online shop, they don't really have it. When I “Pan America” , I see 32 matching products, but that’s not really all of them. For example, you have a “ PRO Cross WP strap tank bag. 5.5 l, with strap holder and waterproof” in the program, it is not shown there. If I go directly to the item and do a bike check, the customer will see, as in the screenshot, that the item fits the Pan America.
So they have more on offer than you might think at first glance. You have to know what you want and then check the article to see whether it fits.
SW-Motech bike check
TOURATECH – professional for luggage systems
TOURATECH currently has around 27 parts for the Pan America in its accessories range if you use the direct search. Unfortunately, the Pan America has not yet made it onto the homepage at TOURATECH, so you have to make the selection in the box a little less conveniently and select the “RA 1250 Pan America” in order to get to the ones you want Parts to come. That's a big minus!
The professional for case systems and many other detailed solutions has been in the motorcycle accessories business since 1990 and has made a good name for himself. It's worth taking a look at products such as the folding mirrors with extensions; you can adjust their length, which can play a role when you have a large load, for example, in order to continue to have a good view to the rear.
TOURATECH has many protectors on offer, for the front suspension struts, or protection for the brake fluid reservoir, which is actually very inconveniently installed on the Pan America along with the lines. In addition to the stainless steel manifold protection, the GPS mounting adapter is a good idea for installing an additional GPS system or roadbook above the instrument unit. All in all a very extensive offer, unfortunately as a Harley fan you have to search a little longer to get to your destination.
Wunderlich Adventure – recommendation!
A great Pan America website welcomes the customer
When you Wunderlich Adventure website, your heart immediately opens. Here the visitor immediately gets the feeling that they really take Pan America customers seriously. An absolutely perfect website, here you are taken directly to the respective model, you first make the choice between the Standard and the Special.
I would now like to be able to switch to the block view instead of the list view in the desktop view, but that is complaining at a high level.
Wunderlich Adventure Pan America
The beginnings at Wunderlich were at the end of the 80s. Before my Harley days, I bought the first parts for my XT 600 from Wunderlich. At that time, Yamaha was still popular at Wunderlich, before they specialized in the BMW product range .
The Wunderlich Parts for the Pan America
The offer for Pan America is really well rounded and superior. The first thing I notice is the stabilization for the raised window, that really makes sense. The original disc and this well-thought-out construction are too flimsy for me. I generally see great potential for further expansions, where the system could be expanded modularly with a construction made of aluminum or coated stainless steel.
The bench seats also look well thought out, the original ones are good, but you would like more comfort on long journeys. Depending on your height, the handlebar risers are a good investment. If your hands fall asleep, they change the pressure point on your hands. As long as the problem doesn't come from the seat, the higher risers will help.
Wunderlich has an extensive program of very good images and when you see the entire presentation of Pan America accessories , it is clear that there is more to come from Wunderlich.
For the Pan America fan, this site is one of the favorites.
If you have any further tips about other providers in the Pan America area, please feel free to leave the information in the comments.
Now that Harley-Davidson can deliver again, there is naturally more movement in things. It's good if accessory manufacturers don't just leave this market to the manufacturer and remain committed to developing great parts. Let's hope for many more innovative ideas that will round off the Pan America Adventure even more.
Text: Harleysite August 25, 2022
Camping in Norway with the Pan America 1250 Special.
All contributions to theHarley-Davidson Pan America
HARLEY-DAVIDSON® FIREFIGHTER MOTORCYCLE: GET ON THE SITE FASTER WITH THE PAN AMERICA™
Harley-Davidson® donates converted machine for emergency services in North Rhine-Westphalia
NEU-ISENBURG, June 20, 2022Harley-Davidson® is now in use for the fire department in Kall, North Rhine-Westphalia. The professionals from the legendary motorcycle manufacturer from Milwaukee converted a Pan America™ Special so that it is ideal for fire and disaster protection.
Last Saturday, Harley-Davidson® Germany handed over the slightly different emergency vehicle as a gift to the Kall fire department in the North Eifel, whose company motorcycle was destroyed in floods after severe storms with heavy rain in July 2021. Harley-Davidson® Germany, many of the authorized dealers and the Harley Owners Group (HOG™) were already involved in various aid projects for flood victims in the affected areas last year.
Always ready for an emergency The Pan America™ is the adventure touring model from the US motorcycle manufacturer, robust and ideal for both long distances and off-road discovery tours. Before the machine met the requirements of a fire service vehicle, a few modifications were necessary: In addition to blue lights and sirens, the bike was given a special navigation device that allows it to communicate with other emergency services.
Harley-Davidson® also equipped the motorcycle with a radio system, first aid kit and a fire extinguisher.
An additional battery including a special charging system ensures that the extensive special equipment can be used even during longer periods of downtime. The look of the bike has also been adapted, as European guidelines specify special signal colors for fire engines. The tank, rear frame, rims and the radiator cowl of the Pan America™ were painted accordingly. “It’s a very special moment for us at Harley-Davidson® Germany,” says Nils Buntrock, Marketing Manager DACH at Harley-Davidson®. “On the one hand, we can use the machine to make a further contribution to helping on site and hopefully use the campaign to give a little boost to reporting on the consequences of the flood.
And on the other hand, we are proud that we have created the first professionally converted Harley-Davidson® Pan America™ fire engine motorcycle in the world." " We are very happy about the new addition to our fleet and thank Harley-Davidson® Germany for the donation," says Daniel Rütz, head of the Kall fire brigade of the volunteer fire department.
Text copyright Harley-Davidson Photo credit: Frank Ratering
Rumors about two smaller Pan America engine versions have been floating around the internet for a few days. There is talk of a RA965S and RA975 version. These type identifiers were discovered by chance; they were included in the designation of parts from the new Harley-Davidson “Wild One” Collection. Motorcycles.com first reported on it.
Pan America RA965S and RA975 Rumors 41
What the terms really mean would be pure speculation at this point. I would even go so far as to say that if Harley-Davidson wanted to bring these two models to Europe during the season, they would have introduced small Pan America models together with the Sportster Nighster.
Another clue could be the starting price of the Sportster Nextster, because it's not really attractive in terms of price. If the smaller engine versions are not noticeably cheaper than the larger ones, then where is the selling point of the small ones? The scarce transport capacities are currently being allocated to models that bring more profit.
Let’s wait and see, anything is possible at Harley-Davidson at the moment.
The accessories for the Pan America Harley-Davidson 2022
On Saturday at 9 a.m. the video about Pan America accessories will go online on YouTube (4K) and Facebook (HD). Together with Malte Kreke, from Harley-Davidson Bremen Stuhr, I went through the current range of accessories for the Pan America. We hope that we have raised some interesting points for you with the film.
It goes online on Saturday, February 5, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.!
The accessories for the Pan America from Harley-Davidson on the Harleysite YouTube Channel
The differences between the Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Standard and Special 2022
The appearance of the Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 was truly a success for Harley-Davidson in 2021. I was a guest at Harley-Davidson Bremen-Stuhr and spoke to Malte Kreke in great detail about the two Pan America models, Standard and Special. Where exactly are the differences between the versions and what you as a customer should pay attention to if you want to decide between the Standard and Special.
Important tips for the big tour!
There are a few tips on what you should pay attention to, for example when it comes to the power supply and how exactly it works with the Adaptive Ride Height (AHR) chassis. Who needs a lot of power for external devices and why with the AHR chassis you only need to worry little about the chassis settings.
I hope the effort was worth it and we were able to give you some helpful information.
Many thanks at this point to Malte Kreke and Steffen Börjes from Harley-Davidson Bremen-Stuhr for their support with the video.
Pan America 1250 Standard vs Special – Harleysite YouTube Channel
Harleysite January 2022
Further information about the Pan America models can be found here:
“HOW TO” ADVENTURE TOURING: WITH THE PAN AMERICA THROUGH THE PYRENEES
Harley-Davidson is an official partner of the Adventure Country Tracks (ACT)
NEW ISENBURG, November 18, 2021 - Away from the asphalt on trails through the middle of nature - this is what freedom feels like on an adventure touring bike. Harley-Davidson wants to preserve the opportunity to responsibly drive unpaved and legally accessible routes and is now supporting the Adventure Country Tracks as a sponsor. At the start of the partnership, Nils Buntrock, Marketing Manager Harley-Davidson Germany, accompanied the ACT Pyrenees 2021 at the Pan America from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic.
Five days on the motorcycle, on and off paved roads
Five days on the motorcycle, on and off paved roads, 1,200 kilometers through breathtaking landscapes: The ACT Pyrenees 2021 marked the start of the partnership between Harley-Davidson and the Adventure Country Tracks association. On the route from the Mediterranean (Cap de Creus) to the Atlantic (San Sebastián), the three Pan America 1250 S showed how much power they have under the saddle and became the favorite of the participants on predominantly unpaved roads.
“For us, the decision to get involved with the ACT was no question, as with the Pan America we have the perfect bike in our portfolio to also compete on trails,” says Buntrock. “Harley-Davidson stands like no other brand for the constant longing for adventure, for 'Freedom for the Soul'. With our commitment, we want to show that this type of enduro travel is possible for many enthusiastic motorcyclists in a responsible and sustainable manner.”
The decision to take part in the ACT Pyrenees himself was a conscious one for the marketing manager: “The Pan America is the perfect bike for getting started with adventure touring, because with all of its features, such as the Adaptive Ride Height, it makes it that way Easy for drivers to cover long distances. She did great and in this case was definitely able to do more than me, her driver,” said Buntrock.
The Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 has enjoyed great popularity among journalists and dealers since its launch. Mirko Nagler, board member of Adventure Country Track eV, is also particularly enthusiastic about the performance and handling of the bike: “The various off-road modes in particular offer all the options you need to master the various challenges of the route.
We are very pleased that Harley-Davidson will not only be supporting our club as a sponsor for the next three years, but will also be there with the Pan America in the Pyrenees and face the real challenges on site.”
The great BTE Autozug trip with the Pan America to the Allgäu and Tyrol 2021
The tour into the mountains of beautiful Tyrol – Part 2
I'm now taking the Pan America to the BTE Autozug in Lörrach - After a nice evening, I'm off again, I've decided to go to that gas station in Stanzach again to deal with the trauma of the forgotten gas key. I completed the 120 kilometers quickly, which the Pan America does very well, it's really fast and cuts a very good figure if you want to be a little sportier.
Here is the first part of the tour
The Pan America attracts curious looks
The loading staff is very friendly and shows me the waiting area for motorcycles, where I park the Pan America first. Over time, other bikers also arrived and it was clear that there were curious questions about Pan America, and people were particularly interested in its acceptance in the Harley community. In my opinion it was very difficult at first, but the mood has changed for the better.
The cornering lights on the new Harley are an issue
In general, I heard from other riders that they really like the new Adventure Harley, although some still have to get used to the design. The headlight bar above the actual headlight is particularly curious; most people assume that it is the high beam, but it is the cornering light that illuminates the road in three levels when cornering. Depending on how far you drive into a curve, the further the light is scattered outwards.
Thomas his snack at the car train
But today there are no more curves, everything is fine so far, I have moved into my compartment and across from the wagons is Thomas, with his grill on the car train. Many bikers already know it; I'm surprised that so many bikers use the car train.
Sometimes there are entire rocker clubs, as Thomas tells me, and there are many bikers from Scandinavia who want to quickly get from the cool north to the sun and Swiss people who want to go up north. In any case, I can recommend his currywurst with fries and especially the currywurst sauce.
Arrival in Hamburg Altona
Before we arrive at the Hamburg Altona train station, there is shunting again, the cars with the vehicles have to go to the front and so we drive into the train station. The luggage is lashed on the car train, or shortly after leaving the carriage in the train station. Any passenger will also be picked up there and everything can be checked again before moving on.
It was noticeably cooler in Hamburg that morning than in the south of the republic. On my journey further north, it became wetter and the fog rolled over the fields. The 130 kilometers to home were not an issue, I arrived home rested, which was a rather unusual feeling for me.
My conclusion about the BTE Autozug!
The cabins are ideal for 2 people, if you have luggage with you and still want to move around, otherwise it would be too narrow. If you find a solution for luggage, you can of course save a lot if four people share a couchette. The advantages are that you arrive rested and can set off straight away, but the biggest argument seems to be with other bikers that they don't feel like driving over 800 kilometers on the always overcrowded motorway in their own country.
That's just the way it is, the infrastructure in Germany is completely overwhelmed and has been completely neglected in recent years. Unfortunately, traveling on German roads is becoming less and less fun! Overcrowded streets, few opportunities to overtake and therefore traffic jams and a snail's pace - that's what you can deal with in a relaxed manner with the car train. I had fun trying it out, it's definitely a good travel option for touring riders who don't want to waste their kilometers pointlessly!
Explore the Pan America Sound! KessTech “Explorer” for Pan America now available!
In June we released the prototype of our non-adjustable system “Explorer” for Pan America. ...and now we are ready to deliver this world first from today!
Order now and experience the real Pan America sound! (external link)
By the way: Last week we also released the pre-production version of our adjustable exhaust for Pan America! At the moment we are working hard on the production version of the adjustable Pan America exhaust.
The Great Relay 21 – Pan America from Bremen to Hamburg
In 90 stages, a Harley-Davidson Pan America will be passed across Northern Europe by 90 European HOG chapters. It is a distance of 15,000 kilometers in total, and in addition to the Pan America, the baton is also handed over to the respective chapter. On Saturday, a HOG chapter from the Netherlands came to Harley-Davidson Bremen to hand over the baton and the Pan America to the Aller Weser Bremen Chapter.
Handover of the Great Relay 21 baton- Allerweser Chapter Bremen - Metropolitan Chapter Hamburg - Hamburg Chapter
The journey continued on the same day, from Bremen to Hamburg
The next step was taken on the same day, after the driver change we went from Bremen to Hamburg to the Harley-Davidson Hamburg Nord authorized dealer, where the Metropolitan and Hamburg Chapter was expecting the convoy from Bremen. They arrived a little earlier than planned, but you never know what the traffic will be like in the direction of Hamburg, turning up late wasn't an option!
When we arrived in Hamburg, discussions about the new Harley-Davidson adventure bike started straight away. Dieter vom Allerweser, the driver from Bremen, didn't want to give it up anymore, even though he already drives a more advanced Road Glide, he wanted more.
Harley-Davidson Great Relay 21 Pan America Top Case
But that's not how the project works, because Jürgen from the Hamburg Chapter was already ready to take them on the trip to Denmark on Sunday. A distance of around 230 kilometers awaits him and his team until they reach their destination in Rødding/Denmark. There they pass the Pan America and the baton on to the next chapter, then they go to Norway and so on until the Pan America arrives in Ireland.
14 weeks and 15,000 kilometers are on the road map of “The Great Relay 21” tour, which started in London and takes in Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland and Ireland will go.
Short film excerpt from the arrival in Hamburg
The stage symbols are the respective stickers on the top case of the Pan America. At every stop, one of them is glued. At the end of the tour, it will probably be difficult to find a good place on the top case.
After everyone was well taken care of, you noticed how good the general mood was; after this long period of abstention, something was finally happening in the fresh air again. You can drive together again and go on short tours and of course you are happy when activities like this take place again that help to promote community.
The background of this campaign is not only to pass the Pan America through Europe, but also to collect donations for a good cause.
In addition, the good cause should not be forgotten, because the respective chapters all collect money diligently. The current aim is to purchase motorcycles, which are incredibly helpful in providing healthcare in Africa. "The Great Relay" supports the aid organization Two Wheels For Life , because they play a very important role in healthcare, especially in the current pandemic.
The HOG Chapter at the handover in Hamburg
You can also win something, in addition to a Hero 9 and a TomTom Rider 550, the first prize is a 7-day trip to Gambia. Maybe a somewhat unusual holiday destination, but the country and the people are worth a trip. The Gambia is located in West Africa and is not particularly big. I have been there many times myself. The Gambians are very friendly and always have a smile on their faces. the aid organization “Two Wheels For Life” supports the lives of people in the countries of Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, Gambia, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Liberia.
After everything was clarified, the group photo was mandatory, probably one of the first this year. Jürgen received his technical instruction at the Pan America and although he seems to be a typical and bearded Harley biker, he is obviously very happy that he has the honor of being able to ride it to Denmark on behalf of both chapters.
Incidentally, an interesting tenor, even if I didn't want to buy it, it's good that Harley-Davidson can build a motorcycle like this and based on previous experience, they really can. The bikers were particularly interested in the seat height and how it could be adjusted and the new riding modes aroused curiosity. With the Harleysite recommendation of perhaps not setting off straight to Denmark in race mode, the ride will certainly be a success! 🙂
The Pan America presentation at a historic location, in the Westerburger Land!
HARLEY-DAVIDSONPAN AMERICA RIDING REPORT - Harley-Davidson flew 25 of the new Harley-Davidson Adventure models to the European presentation of the Pan America. Those responsible have emphasized several times that this is the first official international Pan America presentation and will give German and Austrian journalists the first opportunity to test the standard and special models in suitable terrain.
Harley-Davidson has set the priority of the two important markets high. The fact that Pan America was the first to be officially presented in Germany was intended to show how important the German-speaking customers are to them, for whom we report at the end. I found this statement very interesting.
The Pan America celebrates its official premiere in the Stöffel-Park industrial adventure park
Harley-Davidson has located Stöffel Park in Westerburger Land, an ideal place to test the Pan America. At first glance, the 140-hectare industrial adventure park is probably intended more for geologists, but as it later turned out, there is hardly a better place than the historic basalt quarry. In my imagination I can see the connections directly, a historic company from Milwaukee is essentially letting the boiling magma shoot up from the inner volcano on which we will ride the new Pan America.
Stöffel Park Pan America Adventure area. Photo credit: Harley-Davidson
The area is full of basalt, which was formed during a volcanic eruption millions of years ago. And that's exactly how they imagined it, they're launching the new Pan America into a new segment like a volcanic eruption, destroying everything that came before it and when the volcanic ash has settled, the competitors are wondering what happened now.
The admission numbers will tell us at the end of the year whether that will remain my fantasy. The 2021 contingent is limited, but Pan America will get its market share and its success will only be slowed down by low production numbers. Harley-Davidson is also addressing a completely new target group in addition to its existing customers, which will change a lot in the future.
What once started on a blank sheet of paper will cause quite a stir this year, I am very sure of this statement.
Harleysite
The new Revolution Max engine in reality
I'm starting now with the new Revolution Max engine , because that's the heart of the Pan America , around which everything else has been built. In addition, he will play a very important role Harley-Davidson This will also have an impact on the community and events; sometimes I already have the feeling that two different worlds are meeting here.
The new Harley-Davidson Revolution Max engine
A very big topic is variable valve control , they haven't reinvented it, but they have implemented it very well. The engine has an incredible all-rounder quality, I wouldn't have expected that. The Revolution Max can run smoothly in rain mode and gets really angry in sport mode.
Harley-Davidson has placed emphasis on smoothly realizing low-end torque delivery at low speeds and off-road driving through throttle control. In the appropriate driving modes, the Pan America knows exactly what is required.
The Revolution Max Motor is adaptable!
And it was exactly this situation that I noticed immediately and positively in the field. This is one of the most important features of the engine, especially off-road. When off-road mode is activated, the driving behavior is completely different than, for example, in sport mode. From now on, a performance evaluation of the engine is only possible in combination with the specified driving mode, because that can change everything.
In any case, despite the cool temperatures, there were plenty of tarnished manifolds. Harley-Davidson has moved the second cylinder a little further to the left, so the rear manifold has better exhaust gas behavior and does not build up directly at the exhaust when the gases are transported away. Nowadays, engine temperatures can also be controlled by software. The more you can regulate in advance mechanically, the better, you might have thought.
The Revolution Max motor is water-cooled, so I won't be able to find out whether heat is a problem for it until the summer months.
Harley-Davidson Pan America Revolution Max engine
The Revolution Max engine is a completely new development and cannot be compared with the Milwaukee-Eight. It is not a typical long-stroke engine, revs much higher, has less cubic capacity and adjustable engine management via the driving modes. There are hardly any noticeable vibrations, which was intended with the Milwaukee-Eight.
What is extremely noticeable is how smooth it runs and that it is very quiet, there is no clattering or rattling. I would never have expected Harley-Davidson to build something like that, whether they think it's good is another piece of paper, but they can definitely do it.
Pan America sports fashion – only flying is more beautiful
The engine and this whole system fit very well with the Pan America, the possible differences are really stark. I went up the highway in sport mode, you really have to hold on tight, I immediately felt my abdominal muscles again, especially the day after.
My colleague from Reitwagen in Austria measured about 6.6 seconds from 100km/h to 200km/h using GPS. That's really intense, according to the speedometer, the end was only announced for me at 227km/h. The Michelin studded tires are only permitted at 170 km/h, they are not intended for more than that, although I can attribute very good driving behavior to both tire versions. I was particularly impressed with the road version on wet roads, which I usually am not with the Michelin Scorcher. The tire performed well on dry roads anyway, although the outside temperature was only between 2 and 5 degrees. It will be interesting to see how this combination of power and grip performs in long-term testing.
Pan America spoke wheel
The spoked wheel would be my favorite, the individual spokes can be changed without removing the wheel.
The different driving modes work tremendously
It would be too easy to just look at the performance data of the engine; those days are over with the Pan America. The driver now has the opportunity to configure the character of the engine itself and can copy and reconfigure a driving mode, there are 5 settings, Road, Sport, Rain, Off-Road and Off-Road Plus. In the standard version one mode can be customized, in the special version there are two. Even the engine braking effect is taken into account here, and the cornering ABS and cornering traction control adapt to the required situation in the same way. These options are new in the Harley world and they were absolutely convincing in the off-road and on-road test drives.
Harley-Davidson Pan America riding modes
Lots of questions in the community
A reader asked me whether the Pan America would be suitable for a driving school. I would clearly say yes, because the driving mode configuration gives the driving instructor the opportunity to either set up a tame house cat for the student or for an advanced one Students a wild tiger to prepare him for anything. The Pan America only has full performance in Sport mode, which is hot and in this mode something really happens.
The Pan America is at home everywhere and is a corner chaser in sport mode.
In rain mode you have plenty of safety reserves, so if you can't cope with that, you should probably reconsider riding a motorbike. Furthermore, the rain mode is ideal for novice drivers, even on dry roads; in this mode the Pan America is more in control. The new technology is amazing, but it will cause malice among purists, but it has always been that way.
Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements
This is a package of electronic assistance systems that makes driving very safe. A sophisticated sensor system that even has the lean angle under control. During the test drive on the road we had everything you could have, from rain, sleet and dry roads, everything was there. In rain mode, it is really tame, but it still starts moving without losing contact with the road and gives the driver a very safe driving experience even in the rain, which is where the sensors come into their own. It has cornering-optimized electronic brake force distribution, a cornering anti-lock braking system, cornering traction control and cornering traction control.
Off-road with the Pan America
I drove on the Basalt terrain on the first day and the maximum I could do was second gear. I didn't even get to use the real power because it was already moving so fast in the lower gears that I couldn't even do it as a driver I came along. We had two professionals with us who showed us around the area. When you saw how Busty Wolter and Tobi Weiser rode the Pan America, I really still had room for improvement. The two of them got us on track, I last went off-road 35 years ago, but that made me want more! I can only recommend such training with professionals to everyone, it really puts you in a good mood.
A terrain where she had to endure water and rockfalls.
Great handling off-road, it can do something!
My first concern was weight distribution and handling. In first gear you can stop easily and slowly start moving again after a few seconds of standing still. When you do balance exercises or balance yourself to go up a hill, the Pan America shows itself at its best. The Pan America weighs around 258 kilos when ready to drive, but you don't really notice much of it off-road. Their weight distribution is perfect; the word “mass centralization” is heard more and more in the development of new motorcycles.
Harley Davidson Pan America
The foot brake lever can be adjusted without tools! The footrest rubber was removed for off-road use. Part of the standard scope.
On the stony basalt terrain, I give her spurs!
Basically, the first two gears are easily enough here, if I turn the second gear up to 9000 rpm, flying is even nicer. It is brutal and tame at the same time, as soon as I turn off the accelerator, it immediately makes its power available and when I juggle it downhill between stones, I work with the engine brake and the easy-to-adjust Brembo brake.
Gravel, jumps, water and always full of energy!
There was a full program, going through the water, up the hill and back down again. There was gravel in the form of basalt everywhere, which immediately raised a few questions from some users who follow me on Facebook. The cooling fins are visually completely in the endangered area. When asked by the developers at Harley-Davidson, they tested it extensively and, just like with the battery, which is also housed there, they discovered no problems.
The battery is still easy to access, but protected from water. I can't really say that about the battery, we had two models that are registered in the Netherlands where the battery was discharged twice, that could have been due to the batteries, or because they were simply not charged enough and had been drained the others did not have this problem. It feels like it needs a strong battery, which will become apparent in a longer test window.
Pan America cooling fins and the battery – underrun protection item no.: 49000191 €454
The cooling fins really can withstand a lot; none of the machines suffered any damage, which speaks for a good material. Harley-Davidson offers underbody protection in its range of accessories, so you can drive on the safe side and it visually rounds off the design.
There are plenty of accessories for the cross area
You can definitely improve the look of it, there are some accessories that you can make, but there are also some that you have to make. On the Harleysite Facebook page I gave the tank pad a must-have recommendation, you wouldn't believe what was going on there. Anyone who drives off-road and is annoyed about scratches, etc., I don't want to go into it any further.
Pan America tank paditem no.:57300291/ approx. €65.00
It's all about preserving the value as much as possible, and the tank pad contributes to that, because it's exactly at this point that I saw the paint starting to become matt and dull. This is because as a driver you build up stability there and you can do that particularly well when these pads are on. That's actually it, you can of course also use 3M film, but at some point it becomes unsightly at the edges and doesn't provide any support.
Pan America Exhausts - The size ratio in the photo isn't quite right, but this is what they look like after a decent ride through the terrain.Above: The approved Screamin Eagle exhaust, it is 42% lighter than the original silencer (accessory)Item number: 65600389 approx. €1199
Main stand, radiator guard and lamp grille
If you really want to go off-road often, the radiator guard and the lamp grille certainly make sense; they look quite good. If you have the Pan America Standard on your bill, you should definitely order the main stand as well, as the Pan America can be set up very quickly and safely, which is particularly beneficial on unsafe surfaces. Quickly grease the chain, on ferry crossings or when tensioning the chain and assembling the wheel, the main stand always pays off. You can find more information about accessories in this article on the Harley site.
The Pan America lighting concept
LED lighting is very important on the Pan America, and on the Special there is even additional cornering light. The Adaptive Daymaker Signature headlight includes three additional LED lighting elements per side above the Daymaker main headlight. The system works, I tried it out a little in the field in the evening. The topic comes later in the long-term test.
You get full illumination with the additional Auxiliary LED Forward Light Set. Installed as a pair, each light performs three functions in one housing: fog lights, additional low beam and off-road lights. The lights were developed together with the machine, which is why they are easy and precise to install.
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Daymaker LED Forward additional headlight Art. No.: 68000340 approx. 650.-€
The indicators are pure indicators and no additional lights. Overall, the lighting provides very good illumination, although the standard does not have cornering lights.
Pan America 1250 Special with adaptive seat height and semi-active chassis
To understand the whole thing, you have to know that there are actually two systems, only the Pan America Special has the semi-active chassis and that can also be upgraded with the Adaptive Ride Height System.
Harley-Davidson and the Showa chassis
The semi-active chassis consists of a complex system that receives information from various sensors. The damping at the front and rear is electronically adjusted to the respective ground and road conditions. Here Harley-Davidson worked in cooperation with the renowned chassis manufacturer Showa, with the control software being from Harley-Davidson itself.
It has 191 mm of suspension travel at the front and rear, and a Showa upside-down fork with a 47 mm standpipe diameter and semi-active damper control is installed at the front. The rear spring element is a Showa (Balanced Free Rear Cushion-lite) central spring strut with electronically controlled preload and semi-active damping control.
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The vehicle loading control system registers the weight of the driver, front passenger and luggage and automatically adjusts the spring preload of the rear shock absorber. These are cool features, to sum it up, the sensors pass on all the information to the software in order to get the most optimal driving behavior for the driver.
Now to get this whole theory back into practice, everything worked great in my test rides, no bottoming out on the terrain, at high speeds over 200 km/h in a long curve there was no need to commute and want to ride on one bike They only drive if you give full throttle in Sport mode. It is very easy to control.
Adaptive ride height system
And now we come to the Adaptive Ride Height System, the automatic chassis lowering. At first I didn't understand at all how it works and especially why it doesn't do what I expected in certain settings. There is the option to deactivate it via the menu navigation if you are a little taller and don't want to use this feature. But I hadn't deactivated it and had probably activated a driving mode that it doesn't work with. When you come to a stop, it goes down very smoothly and goes back up again when you start.
When I want to turn it off, I'm in lowered mode, when I get off and come back after a short while, it's up. Only when I sit on it and start the engine does it shut down again. This is the point where I would have liked an additional switch to manually intervene in this system. This may change in the future via a software update, because in my opinion it would otherwise be contradictory.
This basically only affects smaller drivers, because you have to sit on it, otherwise nothing happens. I don't want to rule out that I did everything right. Otherwise it works very well and taller drivers get an even better feeling of standing, especially when stationary. You have to say that Harley-Davidson is really ahead of the game here; I never knew of a system like that before. And as soon as the name Showa was mentioned, I was amazed at the price announcement, which I still do today.
In the following photo, I am standing in lowered mode. I'm 1.83cm tall, from the floor to the top of my trousers it's 1.07m with boots on. The lowering is 25 to 50 millimeters, depending on the automatically adjusted spring preload on the rear wheel. In addition, the seat is height-adjustable in two levels on both models.
In lowered mode - I'm 1.83cm tall, from the floor to the top waistband I'm 1.07m with boots on.
The 6.8 inch touch screen display
Pan America Adventure helmets and clothing
What's a little lacking now is the 6.8-inch touchscreen display; it can be swiveled and is easy to read. The first difference to the Boom!Box is that the touchscreen cannot be operated by touch while driving and there are no speakers. At Pan America everything is done via a headset, which is recommended anyway. There are already helmets from Harley-Davidson for adventure bikes that are prepared for a headset with a recess inside.
I personally am using the Harley-Davidson Bluetooth Helmet Boom! Audio N02 Full-Face - 98208-20EX has been on the road, a system from Sena is already integrated here. Harley-Davidson is probably planning to release another cross helmet in the future, also with a similar system to the full face helmet. But I'm very happy with what I have, it has the mesh system to communicate with other drivers and can do everything you need, it just doesn't look like a crosser.
Now the Harley-Davidson Pan America driving report 2021 168
There's so much going on inside the touchscreen that I can't fit it all into this report. It should be mentioned that the driver can easily connect his cell phone to the Harley-Davidson system via Bluetooth; this requires the HD Connect APP. Navigation is activated via the cell phone, it does not require any map updates, the infotainment system gets this information via the cell phone and even saves the maps offline in the HD Connect APP.
HD Pan America infotainment system
And if you have a cell phone on board, you may also need some power! What I discovered almost knocked my socks off. What many manufacturers in the electronics industry have not been able to achieve to date, I now find at Harley-Davidson. They have installed a USB-C plug, which is hard to believe, so you are really up to date, so you can stay in the German language. I installed my system straight away and it worked great.
On the road with the Pan America
Now I've gotten to know her with a completely different character, for the first time I'm driving in street and sport mode. It's hard to believe, now it's time to hold on tight, the music starts playing at just 2000 revolutions and it only stops at an incredible 9000 revolutions. When driving on winding roads, road mode is sufficient, so the safety systems are fully active if necessary.
Sport mode also means sport for the driver!
On the highway, however, the Sportmode makes its appearance, hold on and go. I have to keep telling myself that I'm sitting on an enduro, a Harley one at that, and the digital speedometer is marching with me to 227 km/h. That was really an experience, not really anything new for me, but definitely in connection with the Pan America. At times I felt like I was sitting on a burner. But of course, it has 1250 cubic meters, 128 NM and 152 HP, there's something going on! I don't want to know what's going on with her when she gets an expert mapping.
Whether it can withstand all of this in the long term and what its suitability for long distances is will only be found out with the really longer test. The driving behavior with luggage, the consumption and what happens after 5 hours of motorway driving, how comfortable is the seat really, it was great, but the cards are reshuffled on long journeys.
The Harleysite conclusion!
They always say that first impressions count!
The first WOW effect for me was still the price announcement, nobody expected that it would even end up under 20,000 euros. In that case, I'll immediately forgive her for a few weaknesses that I noticed. The steering damper on the Special, only she has one and it was able to totally irritate me. Off-road I always wanted to let the front wheel go its way and it always pushed back slightly. The developers have said it was built specifically for the site so there would be no harsh setbacks. In talking to colleagues, I found that opinions were actually divided, there were advocates, so it's probably a very individual view.
In the curves on the road it was a similar situation for me, I don't like it, this slight counter pressure irritates me. Unfortunately it is not adjustable, but I can imagine where it will actually find its purpose, namely when traveling at full speed with luggage. If the aluminum case system is installed, I could imagine that it contributes significantly to stable driving behavior. But that's just a guess, the whole case story has to come later, the accessories weren't the focus now, this was mainly about the Pan America itself.
Harley-Davidson Pan America revolver grip
I don't like the large window, it breaks the lines of the road markings, I would replace it, and it's too flimsy for me. The disc adjustment system is ingenious, press the trigger like a revolver and the disc can be easily adjusted with one hand. But the plastic seems too cheap to me; an aluminum concept would have shown much more value here. The only question is, would the price have been able to be maintained?
And now? That's it, there's nothing more to complain about from my side, I think she's hot! The engine and electronics really blow your mind, the set-up even works as intended. For those who have already bought the Standard or Special, you can rest assured, the first impression is great and you are getting a great bike! There is a difference between the standard and the special, but it's better to have the standard than none at all.
The chassis is really great, the standard is not really inferior to the Special, because it has fewer accessories, it weighs less and is a bit purer. My recommendation would still be the Special, it simply convinced me, and I have to mention that I also drove it more. For me, the heated grips, the main stand and the chassis would be important, otherwise I'm sure that both models will be seen on the roads often in the future, because it was a lot of fun!
Thumbs up!
Thumbs up Harley Davidson Pan America Harleysite
The Harleysite Pan America report as a podcast
The live interview about Pan America, with Heinz Christmann from Dream Machines on YouTube
Pan America 1250 (RA 1250) and Pan America 1250 Special (RA 1250S)
Power kW (HP)/rpm:
112 (152)/8.750
Torque Nm/rpm:
128/6.750
Empty weight including operating materials (ready to drive) kg:
245 (RA 1250S: 258)
Fuel consumption l:
approx. 5.5
Guarantee:
four years
Expected to be available in Germany/Austria:
June 2021
Recommended retail prices Germany
Pan America 1250 (RA 1250): from 15,995 euros (plus transport and setup fee of 560 euros)
Pan America 1250 Special (RA 1250S): from 17,995 euros* (plus transport and assembly fee of 560 euros) *Surcharge for cross-spoke wheels: 500 euros, surcharge for Adaptive Ride Height System: 660 euros
Recommended retail prices Austria
Pan America 1250 (RA 1250): from 18,995 euros (including transport and setup fee)
Pan America 1250 Special (RA 1250S): from 21,695 euros* (including transport and assembly fee) *Surcharge for cross-spoke wheels: 505 euros, surcharge for Adaptive Ride Height System: 700 euros
![KessTech exhaust system for the Pan America from Harley-Davidson](https://www.harleysite.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/HD_Pan_Ammerica_KessTech_Auspuff.jpg "KessTech "Explorer" for Pan America now available! 78")
