First Ride Vlog: Harley-Davidson Pan America
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- Опубліковано 11 лип 2024
- This is NOT a review of the Pan America, that will come later when I get my press bike. Ride along with me as I ride one of these new bikes for the FIRST TIME. Has Harley built something to compete with the big boys from Europe? Let's find out.
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00:00 Street
11:19 Walk Around
23:25 Off Road
The Pan America compares to the BMW R1250GS, Ducati Multistrada, Honda Africa Twin, KTM 1290 Adventure, Yamaha Super Tenere, Suzuki V-Strom, Kawasaki Versys, KTM 890 Adventure, BMW F850GS, Moto Guzzi V85TT.
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I own a Pan Am Special, just got it and have 3k km on it.
Went off road on high mountain passes and went on serious twisties we have here in the Alps. It's an amazing motorcycle. Certainly not perfect, but for HD's first try....the future is going to be bright.
Super comfortable, very fast and loves sharp fast corners all the while having its on style....finally a non GS model :) love it. It has a few bugs of course.
Once again, conclusive evidence that you provide the very best bike reviews on UA-cam. Thank you.
My pleasure!
As an R1250GSA owner, I think that Harley made a helluva first effort on this bike. It's my hope that it brings more people into the hobby and that Harley will continue to widen their product portfolio. With that being said, the boxers will always have a center of gravity advantage over all of the V-twin bikes when doing more technical off-roading. All and all, a great effort and a great short review (as your fans would all come to expect.) :)
thanks
Thanks for the video! I had the opportunity to test ride the standard version this summer as soon as it hit my local dealer in western Canada. The very trusting dealer let me climb off my WR250R in all my gear and onto the HD. Honestly, I was covid-bored sitting at home and thought it would be a good way to burn an afternoon riding a bike I had no positive thoughts about.
I was wrong about some stuff, and right about some other stuff, but my general impressions were very similar to yours, and more positive than when I started.
Love that motor! My street bike is a 2016 F-09 Tracer GT, and the HD was a LOT faster, in spite of feeling heavier at low speed. Comfortable ergonomics for me, at 5'10" 32" inseam, but like you, I did not have the opportunity to ride it all day, which is the intended purpose. Controls were not too bad, and I prefer dedicated buttons for stuff you change regularly, such as transitioning from pavement to gravel/FSR. Also, I did not care for the typical HD thunk when dropping from neutral to first gear. Every Honda and Yamaha I have ever ridden was more like a snick than a thunk, which is what I expect from an expensive bike.
I turn 60 soon, so although I am not yet ready to add or switch to a big ass ADV touring bike, my rational side tells me that this day will come. In years, not decades. When that day comes, we will have a better idea about the reliability of the HD vs BMW, Ducati, etc. Except for the Super
Tenere, the competitors do not have substantially better reliability reputations, so it will be interesting to see that play out.
Cheers!
I'll wait for the refresh
Great and fair review! I threw a leg over but didn't ride one. My barely used Super Tenere cost me 1/3, fits my 6'4" better and has a shaft drive. Happy with my bike but I'll never stop pondering others. Thanks for uploading this!
For pure practical reasons, Super Tenere makes most sense or brings best value in this category. It is not practical for every day use by any means though. I put mine on road for exactly $16k in 2018 and have 10k+ miles on it so far (put as many on my other bikes in the same time). I see nothing Pan Am to justify another $10k + their woke marketing is disgusting. They can have that disgusting freak Momoa ride it.
@@oknevals I bought my 2015 Super Tenere ES with 27,000 miles for $8,650. I've had it 5 months and put 10,000 miles on it. I am retired and ride about 4 days a week. It's a fantastic bike to spend long days on exploring the mountains in the Pacific Northwest. I wouldn't trade it for anything else, there is nothing I'd rather ride.
@@got_to_roll I agree, it is really fantastic bike for long rides and unpredictable weather. Most I covered in one day was 550 miles but, it was with late start and crapy weather. Wish I can take it more often to stretch legs :-)
One thing you CAN say is the dealer network is stellar. Every town in the US usually has at least one HD dealer or maybe more. The PA is not my cup of tea but they got pretty close. The engine is a good starting point for the bikes that will come in the near future.
Didn't HD corporate announcement they were closing 200 dealers? I know we lost one out of 2 we have in our town.
You can also garuntee you'll need the dealer network a lot.
"Let me try this SPORT mode thing...GOOD GOD!!"
My experience - Engine is pretty responsive and solid thru the gears...to your point - felt cheap and "plasticy"...standing on the pegs was not comfortable - I'm 6'2'....just wasn't as comfortable as my GS Adventure....I think it's a great entry if you're into the next new thing...but needs refinement and they will. It will push BMW and the others to continue to tweek and upgrade so that's good. Again - BMW been doing for 40yrs this is HD first....so they have a ways to go...but solid start....the few things if you dig - Issues with electronics, the plastic grab bars breaking easy and the radiator is so low that mud and debris off road will kick into that area. The GS does leave it in the dust in gears at 5/6 - but heck we're Dual-Sport - SO the Dirt Glide has a little ways to go...but the engine is a great start!!!! - Great review and keep them coming!!!
Fantastic first impression! I loved your raw reaction! Your first reactions were mine too! Very spot on ( I ended up buying one lol..) Went from my Himalayan to owning both! Now that I have had 5 + months in my stock tires (not Anakee) I realize just how amazing of a road bike this is! Very very sporty if a little higher effort, but great feel (my favorite sport tourer I’ve ever owned!) Decent off road and total holligan capability as well. Spot on and Kudos for not shying away from some of the negatives. PS. No rear brake road feel..dunno why.. I paid $24,500 out the door for my PAS. Oh and off road plus or custom dramaticly offers better low end torque then sport or other modes.
Nice meeting you at the event. I felt similar about my ride with the bike. Really fun engine for touring, but I get more of the "ADV" that I want from other bikes.
Solid first impressions video Ian. I got a chance to ride a standard model Pan Am (not the special) at the IMS Outdoor show in Carlisle, PA a couple months bike. The very first thing I noticed mirrors your experience, that friggin engine is absolutely insane. It’s the highlight of that motorcycle for sure and the most impressive thing Harley has done in a very, very long time. It also felt pretty nimble and had good low speed balance. It was only a street ride but I was able to pull off and do some standing figure 8 lock to lock drills in a parking lot, and it balances very well for its weight and is confidence inspiring. I also had the same thoughts regarding the fit and finish and the feel of the motorcycle in the cockpit. The best way I could describe it is everything feels like a first attempt. It just doesn’t feel “good” or high quality, but it doesn’t feel bad either. Especially the switch gear. The dash is nice, the adaptive ride height I’m sure is excellent and the other thing that Harley did extremely well to bring that kind of technology and convenience to the ADV market. Looking forward to your full review and experience on it when you get the press bike.
i think it looks beefy and cool, the side profile is amazing, and i like its front head, as a short rider 5'3.. this seems like the perfect premium ADV for me
This is probably the best bike review I've ever watched. So thorough, careful, and fair. Thanks!
Glad you liked it!
Great preview Ian. I was very interested in purchasing the PanAm however my first impression was the same as yours regarding the premium looks and feel. I didn’t get a chance to ride the bike but after sitting down with sales the cost configured to my preferences with luggage was a bitter pill to swallow, 27k out the door to be exact and that was without the adjustable ride height option. With limited production and sky high pricing I was less enthused about purchasing this bike anytime soon!
Merica!
Dealership trying to charge you way too much. Got to play the game these days with car, boat, adv, motorcycle dealerships.
You’re right Murph which is why I won’t buy any toys for the foreseeable future!
Very good start for your thoughts .. Can't wait till you get it out for some more rides.👍
You and me both!
Thnku for such an awesome honest review Ian.
Great first impressions video. I’m testing this bike as well as the bmw GS 1250 in the next couple of weeks and deciding on one. Let’s see. 🤙
Hey, thanks for the road test and honest review.
find the Pan America absolutely gorgeous . Simplicity and functionality at its finest . Basic detail like putting the windscreen lever on the correct side . Easy to operate controls . Center stand . Not looking like every other adventure bike ,with that front end that reminds me of some kind of bird . Yes there is plastic but no more then with other bikes . Am I into chain maintenance ? Not really ,but chains have improved a lot and no question use a lot less power then shaft .
Comparing the Pan to the Beemer is like the Sherman to the Tiger . Can't deny German engineering is highest standard , but they did start 2 World Wars and lost both . I feel that the oldest M/c company , Harley Davidson hit it out of the ballpark with the Pan America . American ingenuity ,and know how is why other manufacturers are always copying and stealing our technology . BTW ,I own metrics as well as Harleys , love them all .
Very nice review as usual. Yes the headlight is odd looking, but other testers have said they are very bright. I'm currently on a 12 Tiger and was looking at the Tracer 9 and the Tenere' 7. But I can say that I've never wanted anything from HD, but would certainly give it a second look. As for the stalling, I saw another tester who complained that the TC would cut the engine anytime you were in sand.
Never in my wildest dreams have I considered a HD until this beast. If only the front end hadn't been brutalised with the ugly stick. They did a great job of this from all I've seen/heard. Would I take it offroad? Never in a million years, it's way too heavy, like all the big adv bikes, but it would make a real nice alternative tourer (assuming decent rustproofing on the bike itself, and good weather protection from the rain, which is the normal riding weather often here in Scotland.)
Yet another great review, and it'd be interesting to see Harley letting you use one for a longer term review, come on HD, if you want an honest, unbiased , real world review, here's the rider to do it.
Great first review I think another plus for this bike would be the dealership network compared to BMW, Ducati ect ... Waiting to see full review of maint intervals and cost compared to other ADV bikes in this class. My first add on to my stable along with my Harley Ultra Limited is a Gen 2 KLR witch is a great first all around bike I enjoy it a lot but probably will be looking for a bigger longer haul ADV but will be a used something or other in my price range and your reviews are on point. Thanks for the time and effort 👍
Agreed, because it's gonna be at the dealer a lot.
All Harley-Davidson have premium price, just the price like you said. I hope one day we can get premium bikes too.
Great job! I very much enjoy your UA-cam content.
Well done review. I did demo rides on the PA and BMW 1250GS but in the end I'm in the frugal demographic and ended up with an F850GS after selling my HD Sport Glide. For the price of the base big ADV bikes I have a fully outfitted mid-sized bike that, so far, does everything I need. I'm also in the under 80 mph demographic so I don't need a bike that can rip your arms off and cruise in super sport mode at 100 mph. Now if HD had used their prototype 975cc engine in a PA light that was competitive with the F850GS, I would have went HD just because the HD dealer is within 10 miles.
Rumor has it there will be a 975
I was given the opportunity to borrow one of these for a month and after riding it every day during that time I can confirm all of this. Now, I'm not someone who has an aversion to new tech, I own a Livewire and it's incredible; I thought that the Pan America would be as finely developed as the Livewire would be but it's OBVIOUS the teams working on these two motorcycles had wildly different objectives. I also own a GS, as do many riders looking at this particular motorcycle, and "spoiled" is the perfect description for any of us.
The Livewire, despite being the most alien concept imaginable for H-D and a foray into technology that half of the execs and 99% of their salesmen can't even pronounce (let alone understand), is refined, reliable, and as far as an electric motorcycle goes is as close to perfect as you're ever going to get. Easily a decade ahead of its time, and after a year to this very day of owning it I can't say that I have any major complaints or that I've noticed anything weird. You can tell that making a PHENOMENAL first impression on the entire market was of paramount importance for the team that developed it.
The Pan America, on the other hand, is a different beast entirely. Coming from a Livewire I immediately noticed a lot of that technology implemented in this bike...and it's very well done. Given the team that developed it, it's easy to see how that is. Hardware wise, however, not so much. Coming from a GS you immediately notice some of the ridiculous design decisions here and as you ride it and get get a little more adventurous with it you definitely start to worry about things that you don't worry about on other ADVs. Maybe those are just in your head, but the fact that they're there detracts from the overall experience of this machine. It feels like the main idea behind this was "just good enough." I may be completely mistaken, but the wimpy windshield mechanism, the cheap crappy hand guards, the heat blowing on your leg a-la Buell, and the ridiculous amount of poseur mods available for this like carbon fiber "heat shields" that do absolutely nothing make it seem like it's built to be the adventure bike for guys who want to show up to their nearest mall, park next to the 4Runner TRD Pro with the roof tent that's never been opened and take a few instagram photos of their cute little urban adventure to the Apple Genius Bar.
I, for one, will wait until the second or third generation of the Pan America to see if it becomes a more serious contender.
I own a 2020 Triumph Tigel 900 GT PRO Adventure Bike and love it for touring. I recently rode a 2019 BMW 1250 GS on a solo 5,000 miles 9 state tour - the GS was awesome although I prefer my Tiger in the technical twistees - it just leans and tips into the curves easier than the BMW. Now, as for the Pan Am, I am seriously considering it as my first Harley ever and appreciate your comments. Would love to hear your full review when you do it.
It also has a USBC port on the right side of the display.
It also has a 2 step adjustable seat and a tool kit under the pillion.
That upper headlight is an automatic adjustable cornering light.
The Special also had RDRS as an option, jsyk.
I bought the panam special. I am extremely happy with it. I ride the GSA as well and for most riding I prefer the panam.
Looking forward to your full review on this machine. I am a long-time full-dresser Harley rider with over 100K adventure clicks on the odometer. Some of those miles were off-road fire and jeep trail "oh my, what have I gotten myself and my passenger into?". So, it's natural that I'm interested in a bike that's designed to go off road and not worry about it. Plus, my almost 900 lb. machine is a bit heavy (not impossible) to pick up when I dump it. (I did that only once in sand and I think ABS would have helped me out that time. So my next bike will have ABS for that extra preventative help. Yes, now that my pillion is not riding over the scorched earth as much with me., I'm ready for a lighter bike that looks like it will be a Pan America or a GSA. I need more info. Meanwhile I have a brand new KLR Traveler that will be my off-road training bike until I sell or trade the FLHTCU for more adventure. Thanks for helping old farts in this transition to different riding with your informative objective videos. Also, if I'm going to spend $25K+ on a motor, I expect "premium" fit and finish over horsepower. Thanks.
thanks for sharing
Yes I think your review analysis, though not a full review was very fair lots of good points, and for my 1250 GS ADV if I could I would steal the adaptive ride height and the front screen mechanism both would improve the GS. But as you say even though I haven't seen one in the flesh it does look a little cheap and flimsy in certain parts, as you said the exhaust silencer mount seemed flimsy, suppose it might have purposely been made to flex, but I think Harley have played a blinder with that motor, does need the anti stall though. I think you are spot on with the demographic of the potential suiters to the bike. I look forward to your in depth review. Thank you.
Yeah nothing can crawl along quite like a GS. But great power ha! Also when does it lower - that would be disconcerting when crawling, maybe that can be turned off? The windscreen looks thicker than normal, that’s interesting. Great quick review - you noted some new observations!
I have the GSA as well and this bike has never been on my list as one I would consider. Thanks for the quick look.
@Amaury M. I like to match the mission to the bike and I want to maximize my ability to further dial it in to meet my requirements. The BMW R1250GS Adventure is purpose built for long adventure rides and has pretty much any accessory you could want available. With that said everyone is different and if the HD fits your mission profile and speaks to you then I say Go for it. Just Ride
This is like a gsa 10 years ago
Hi Ian, I also took a test ride at the Rally. Street test ride was fun, especially on the Sport mode. Although I didn't take it in the dirt, my impression would be similar to GS, but not dirt oriented like the KTM.
no shaft drive... that will be a hard pass from me.
Thanks for another honest impression. Haven’t ridden one yet so can’t comment myself. Would love to know if it has fewer niggles and issues than a KTM, which is a bike I’ve generally liked whenever I owned one but always sold due to their tedious owner experience in that regard. Reliability and comfort are primary attributes for any adventure bike in my book with comfort giving way for weight when moving more into the dual sport class. Power is nice, real nice, but not at the cost of above.
Nice first impression. Funny I got to test ride one this last spring here in Albuquerque. I pretty much felt them same as you in regards to finish. When I first got on the bike and pulled away it felt kinda low end. I am comparing it to my 2015 Super Tenere. My ST felt like it was a little more refined and I thought wow I would not pay this much for this bike. As I got out on the open road. Wow! What a motor. A lot faster then my ST. I took it on a semi rocky dirt road and I was not impressed with the suspension but to be fare I did not mess with the adjustments. It felt kinda rattlely if that is a word at slow speed, parking lot. Not as balanced at my ST, or as comfortable. But I will say for a first attempt by HD I was pretty impressed. I would not discount owning one if I could.
Very honest review 👍 I loved the bike how it looks
What a beast of a bike! It's way too big and heavy for me but I liked how it pulls like a freight train.
Honda AT dct never stalls & no quick shifter required ! Also runs on reg. gas. More to adv. than power. Would like to see 975 model. Good first impression Ian.
Long live the AT DCT
Most useful impression video of this bike I've seen, even though it's not a full review. Thanks for your attention to what matters once again. The tall windshield looks like it has distortion 1" - 2" from the top, is that just a camera artifact? I'm definitely considering this bike, in large part because of that engine. Never owned an HD, never was interested in an HD but I'm definitely considering this one. I have owned other "adv" bikes.
I agree about the sense of speed. I looked down and was doing Eighty, rolled the throttle and was going a hundred and nine before I knew it.
I arrived to the test ride in an FZ1, and I expected the PA to feel slow and plodding. It most certainly did not.
I headed out to buy a Pan Am and came home with a 1250 GS.
Hahah somewhat similar story here. Went to see the color scheme the red white and blue cause I was considering a V Strom 1000 and two hours later had the BMW R1250 GS HP 😂😂😂
me too, true story.
Great Review Ian!! I own a PA Special and have 3K miles on her now. I haven't been able to ride off road much at all and have the 80/20 tires on still but I own a set of Anakee wilds I'll mount on the laced wheels and the 80/20's on a set of the cast wheels for road and gravel touring. I like your videos and you're spot on with most if all observations for this bike.
I am a aggressive Harley road rider and been riding Harleys for about 15 years enjoying the fellowship and lifestyle but I knew the limitations of the big Harley and was glad Harley came out with this bike. I do own an older BMW airhead tourer (R100RT 1982) but don't have off road experience. I do plan to get more training and riding off road with this bike. In the future I want to ride the GS1250 and KTM to compare to this bike. I don't like the side stand, I like the center stand, love the engine and I hope to get a lot more experience with off road experience such as the BDR's.
Keep up the good videos!
really cool review im a harley snob and admit this bike is very cool they do make a dark green as well and in my area bike dealers are buying these used for 20k with 5k miles on them and harley dealers pay 24k for them to resell i would think its the hottest bike right now or one of them would love to own one someday
Every time you mention the engine, you seem to like it even more each time you get on the gas. Haaa! I actually kinda like the oddball styling (maybe because I also like my ‘06 vstrom styling too!)
addicting engine
It looks like bender from Futurama up front and reminds me of Sammy hagars "I can't drive 55"
Always been a Japanese bake fan and owner, but this bike has me seriously interested in a Harley, Never thought I would say that, lol! The power looks amazing!!
For me Japanese bikes are the best overall but i am also super glad to see innovation and improvement from other brands always, its makes them all better
I watch all your videos. I really enjoy your reviews. You helped push me toward the T 900 Rally Pro. I detected a bit of snobbery in your review, particularly as a GS guy. My biggest concern is the owner complaint issues like the failure to start, electronic issues and the exhaust. i would like to know if the HD people discussed this. Have they addressed this and do new bikes have updated software or catalytic converter? Is this something that we can be comfortable riding across America on three week adventure? Heated seats and grips?
Fascinating to hear you mention the finish on this bike. The first thing I thought when I saw it in the flesh was 'The finish is rubbish' and 'it doesn't look like a premium bike, but they are charging a premium price'. To me it looked on par with Suzuki's DR650, or maybe the T7. Some of the plastic and black paint looked like it was made in the same factory as the Royal Enfield Himalayan (not the latest one, the older models). If this was twice the price of a Benelli TRK it would be a good deal, but there is no way they should be charging BMW prices, or even KTM 1290 prices, or even Africa Twin prices. Great that they've entered the Adventure bike market and built a pretty great bike - but they need to price their bike differently, or improve the build quality.
agree
You were spot on with the torque. 86 ft/lbs for the Panamerica, 106 ft/lbs for the GS. They tested it at Revzilla. At gear 5 or 6 at freeway speed the GS walks away from the Panamerica. From a stop the Panam beats it.
Until you downshift and say bye GS.
Go the Anakee Wild. I had great performance on my R1250GSA. No problem leaning at 46deg. On the app. Only got about 6000km on rear front would do another round. Great blogs.
Thanks for sharing
Great little video. Better than we all expected from HD but sadly pig-ugly from the front. Awesome big sky country out there! Wisconsin??
This bike moves, compared to any other Harley I’ve ridden nothing compares. If you follow the service intervals to a “T” it’s a lot compared to other Harley’s. I have a 34” inseam and had 30 minutes till I needed a stretch as I was cramping up. Seat was on lowest setting but still. Tall riders make sure you test it out.
This is the only HD I would consider at this point.
This bike is on my list of fun bikes to buy. My very first bike was was an 1973 XLCH (no fancy starter button)... boy was I cool. Painted it to match my custom van, I was really cool. Harley has come a long way since then. Thank God. Those were the days when a Harley was like an STD, you either have it, trying to get rid of it, or will get it. Guess I get it a second time.
haha
Love those mirrors
Harley Dealers are the best and Harley’s support for their dealers and their customers is second to none. This is the only large adventure bike I would risk riding more than 10 miles from home. Yes, it is a first year effort, but Harley Dealers and support are decades old and legendary. I liked the engine, gearing, electronics and smoothness during a demo ride in Colorado.
Wait you would trust this over manufacturers who have been doing this for years and years? This over a Honda AT. Thats bizarre to me.
Nice honest review!
Thanks!
When I rode the PA I noticed that low-end torque isn't there for slow-speed maneuvering. Changing the final drive sprockets could help but I'm not sure what that would do at highway speeds.
Great video. This bike is the full size adventure for us short people.
Sat on a gs once and I looked like a little kid. Couldn’t touch. Mid sizes, some bikes were options but this: it works. That adaptive height is great.
Trading my 21 low rider s stage 2 on a 22 pan am.
Did you happen to get one?
@@mcnuggetapple I did, but it was still a bit tall for 5’7 in the city.
It works, sporty as all get out….but it was still big. If I was “more” into adventure, it’d be a winner but I traded it in.
@@FollowingDopamine dang sorry to hear it didn’t work out , I just got one a week ago and it ended up being perfect for me. What did you end up getting?
Riding mode switches on the right hand side. Does it feel weird? I saw you change the modes with your left hand. Also what are your thoughts on the adaptive seat height adjustment off road, when one might need to put the foot down abruptly. I'd be terrified (vertically challenged), with a higher seat off road.
Did the big stupid today and traded in my KTM 890 for the Pan America. Got frustrated trying to get the KTM comfy enough for my old, big, fat broken body so started shopping around! Took a Pan America for a long test ride and really enjoyed it. Way more pleasant on the highway. I had meant to go test ride all the big bikes but didn't make it past the Harley. I'd love to see you do a head to head against the Triumph GT Pro.
The headlight looks good to me, that long horizontal shape and the way it's faired into the overall shape of the bike is better than the protruding bug-head like headlights on some naked bikes. Also better looking than the derpy beaks a lot of ADV bikes have. Different strokes for different folks I guess.
each their own
Derpy is EXACTLY spot on for most ADV bikes. That gidawful headlight insect look on the KTM just kills it for me. It’s disgustingly ugly. The PAS lights look modern, stout, and perfect for the bike.
Love it!
I have the bike and it grew on me , time is your best friend on this one , wish it had a quick shift
Some of the best Adventure riders in the world were summoned for this bike, the price point is great and the bike does what it is supposed to do for most ADV riders who spend 80-90% of their time on pavement.
Lol, the best adventure riders in the world took one look at it and said OOF.
The stalling at low speed would annoy me. My Oilhead GS pulls like a tractor in first gear. Obviously the PA will leave it in the dust on pavement.
As more I see that bike as more I start liking it. First ever impression was, what da heck is that.
I think it's a pretty good first attempt at an ADV bike from the bar and shield. As far as the stand goes, pretty normal that it doesn't seem fully deployed as is with the rest of the HD fleet.
Watching you crawl in 1st at almost idle speed, seems the engine doesn't have the lower end torque that the GS has and needs to be revved a bit higher.
Not sure if you noticed on the right side of the bike, the exhaust header is sooo close to the bottom radiator hose. might cause premature failure of that hose. Looks like an absolute blast to ride, I wonder if it has backlit buttons?? Thats a big plus IMO.
Thanks for the video Ian.
They don’t have backlit buttons. Just purchased a 2022 Pan Am. I think that is definitely an oversight from Harley. Especially if you are off roading after twilight. Or even on pavement.
I will say it’s a great bike but HD reliability is not the best compared to Japanese bike, add a totally new bike and a high output engine with a compression ratio of 13.0 to 1…..
To me it seems like it’s going to be the GS of the America. Why but off course because of the dealership network… But it has a loooot of links that need to be ironed out and maybe it’ll get where it wants to be… Font have a need for the KTM like power I ride and enjoy the ride, simple as that
The front looks like a Hoover vacuum I used to have, like the engine from what I can see In the video, but where dose it sit in reliability compared to the gs1250 and ktm1290 I no the Africa twin is in a different power level for touring
Cactus at 0:11 are funny🤣
I just traded my Harley Super Glide to a new PanAmerica S. So I’m a brand loyalist that went with something different but staying with Harley and the dealer network was key
It’s got a Mad Max vibe. It didn’t grab me in person, so I ordered the GSA as my first Adv/Touring bike
Much better bike. So much better
Good on H.D. for making an effort. It sounds like they built a very nice street sport tourer that will appeal to their base market demographic. I am happy for Harley that it is a sales success for them. I’ve never owned a Harley, I’ve ridden a bunch of them over the years. My riding reactions have always been at best, “well that was really entertaining for the first 50 miles”, to at worst “wow, what a steaming pile of junk.” They have just never built anything that won me over. I was never their target demographic to begin with, I had ridden and owned far too many other makes and models for them to ever be able to sell me on their brand. The bottom line for me on the P.A. Is “meh.”
No valve clearance inspections or adjustment is a plus and a large dealer network for peace of mind. I've heard from owners they find it comfortable on long rides.
This is probably the very one HD bike I like the look of and would consider owning one. I've never been into this brand but this one stands out. I know my taste is a little bit morbid:)
It's a bit hard to come to a conclusion on this first look. It's an Adventure bike so it needs to be taken on a adventure before you have a good idea what it can do. I must say however that the front end is the ugliest I have ever seen. That wouldn't stop me from buying one but it needs to be improved upon in future models. The bike you took around the water tank was different to the one you rode on the road wasn't it? If so, is there any reason for that?
i heard there is a big problem with the oil pump is it true !!
I wasn’t impressed with overall fit and finish. We should always use the market leader in Adventure market, the BMW for a good baseline. Harley’s first attempt and will surely draw new and existing Adv folks looking for a bit of alt Harley offerings. Just don’t know if Harley will respond quickly to customer feedback as this hasn’t been what the Motor Company ever did with any of it’s core Touring money makers. This market might be good enough growth potential that they will see to it to continue to develop this platform. Hope so.
Can ya do more rides with that bike??
Which one do you like better your gs or the pan am, I knw it was a short ride, trying to figure out what one to go with..
I test rode on in FL for about 30 min. I also kept stalling it when trying to lug through sand. The engine doesnt have the low end torque like the BMW. the engine is a Lot of fun above 4k rpm.. I also run lowered foot pegs on my GSA. So the Pan American was really cramped - RE leg room. Its a great 1st run at an adventure bike.
You have to change the drive mode. That was traction control kicking in, not a lack of torque, 94 ft lbs is plenty of torque and won't bog in sand unless the user causes it.
The engine only looks good from the right side. And only if you disregard the flimsy plastic heat shield on top of the rear cylinder, apparently necessary to protect your right knee from burning it on the rear cylinder head.
The left side is the ugly side with the distributor and spark plug cables floating around. The stock exhaust looks like an oven pipe, so the expensive muffler upgrade is kind of necessary. I also found the way the exhaust pipes are routed close to the right leg prone to heat issues in summer.
I thought this may be a competitor in this segment nevertheless, but reading further in the comments that a poster got a quote for a spec'd model with luggage but without ride height adjustment over $27k, I have to say, this is not a competitive bike.
How this bike will compare with the V strom 1050? For sport touring and off road? I know that the price and power are very different but I think taking that aside, they maybe will be somehow comparable for long distance rides and light off road
Your not the only review that has said its a premium price but doesn't feel premium.
Definitely a fun bike to ride, but if I'm going to get something that heavy I would probably go with the new Africa twin or the GS1200r Adventure. I feel that on long cross country rides the comfort level of those two bikes are untouchable.
R1200GS or R1250GS. Not sure what a GS1200R is.
@@collin228 sorry about that @Collin Dennis I stand corrected let's try this again..
A BMW R 1250 GS Adventure is the cats pajamas!!!!!
Really enjoy your honest reviews Ian and I know your reviews are with the consumer in mind , loved your BMW 1250GS VS Africa Twin honest reviews and so I feel I must add something to this review,
My pal has a pan America for just over 12 months from New on a 2021 and I have to say it looks VERY ROUGH , it has rust on almost every bolt especially around the headlight, the exhaust is seriously discoloured all making his almost new bike look old and shabby, it only has 4000miles on it and hasn't been abused , its very sad really as he can't hide the disappointment in his face 😔
I recently traded in my Africa Twin adventure sport DCT on a 2020 plate and it was immaculate with 4500 miles on it for a BMW 1250GS ADVENTURE RALLYE ON a 2022,
I have to say the Africa Twin DCT was a better bike and I will be going back to a nice new one in 12 months I think but man Honda need to sort that swab of a seat , IMO that is not a serious adventure seat ??
The premium complaint is super valid. I lost interest once I saw one in person, I don’t really feel like the price is justified.
Likely there are better bikes at half the cost, the importance being "better" rather than "cost."
Honda Africa Twin beats it in every way except on-road illegal speeding.. with the PAs compression ratio give the engine 50k to failure or major overhaul..
Is that a cable actuated clutch? I don’t see a master cylinder on the left bar.
I tested the HD Pan America 1250S and because of the extra taxes it cost at least 25000 EUR in the Netherlands.
Two things I didn't like:
1. The sound
2. The heat coming from the engine grilled my legs
But the torque is very impressive.
And I was surprised how easy it is to handle this heavy bike ✅
Another bike I was wondering about… thanks
Glad to help!
That low speed stall is no good for me, my GS also crawls with clutch out and no gas.
And the start button on top is very weird. You shouldn’t have to remove your hand from the grip to get to start button.
I do think it looks pretty cool 👍🏼
wee strom will crawl and cruise 85 too
I think the button placement was to avoid accidently hitting it while riding down the trek.
The heat from the right side and the piping from the radiator near the exhaust? melts? too little too soon !
Nice review. Sounds like Napoleon's brother.