The team at HD is finally dipping their toes into new waters by introducing their first adventure touring model. It is complete from the ground up design not just a soft-tail with a raised suspension. I find the Pan America quite an interesting prospect, with a market flooded with BMW GS’s it’s nice to see an alternative. Well, the idea of a Harley-Davidson powered adventure bike seems like a good idea as their V-twins have always been known for their low down grunt. Torque low down is what you need when straying off-road.
Powerplant.
Speaking of the engine, the new Revolution® Max 1250 60′ v-twin is an all-new design made specifically for new H-D bikes. There is also a 975cc version made for their new Bronx streetfighter. The Pan America makes use of the 1250cc lump which has 145HP and 90lb-ft(122nm) of torque. which is about par for the class. They say that the new engine is a lot more rev-happy than previous generations. This I fear might mean the power is higher up the rev range and let’s hope it hasn’t lost any tractability. In terms of braking, H-D approached the geniuses at Brembo to take care of that which is a good thing. Bespoke co-branded tires from Michelin were developed for the bike.
Based on these images it will have a fully digital instrument panel and I’m sure a host of electronic gadgetry to keep you safe. I have now details regarding suspension or what the electronic package will entail but if H-D has done their research it should be fairly comprehensive. The most decisive thing about the Pan-America is the looks which has a storm-trooper like face, I find it quite nice because it’s different. The Pan America will go on sale in late 2020 for 2021. I am sure there will also be a long list of option available but we will know closer to the time.
